CHAPTER 446: ’FORBIDDEN SPELLS.’

Heinz teleported back into his chambers, the familiar scent of lavender and faint perfume greeting him before his eyes fully registered the scene before him.

There, sprawled carelessly across the bed, was Florian.

The prince’s pale limbs tangled loosely in the sheets, chest rising and falling in deep, peaceful rhythm. Azure, the small magical beast, lay curled contentedly on Florian’s stomach—his tail flicking ever so slightly in his sleep. But what caught Heinz’s eye most were the butterflies.

Florian’s blue butterflies hovered above his head, gently fluttering, as if they, too, stood on guard. Protecting him. Shielding him. Loving him.

Heinz’s tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

’He’s safe. He’s okay.’

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, a small smile curving the edge of his lips as he stepped closer.

Quietly, he removed his outer robes, then slipped off his satin shirt, leaving only the soft black pants on his frame.

Without a word, Heinz climbed onto the bed and gently scooped Florian into his arms. Azure’s eyes snapped open immediately.

The creature glared.

Heinz blinked at him. "What are you mad for?" he whispered, amused despite himself.

Azure huffed, making a low grumble, before carefully crawling around and positioning himself behind Florian, once again curling into sleep with clear attitude.

Heinz chuckled softly under his breath, wrapping both arms securely around Florian’s slender body, pulling him close to his chest. He buried his nose into Florian’s soft hair, breathing him in deeply.

He still smelled like spring. Like gentle rain on petals.

’He always smells like flowers... I used to hate that scent.’

He closed his eyes and inhaled again.

’But now... I think I love it—because it’s him.’

A long exhale left Heinz’s lips as the tightness in his chest slowly unraveled. The frustration, confusion, and heartache from earlier now dulled into something warm.

"I’m back," Heinz whispered against the crown of Florian’s head, his voice barely audible, soft with reverence.

This—this warmth, this stillness—was what love was supposed to feel like.

’Why did love ever scare me this much?’

He gently tucked Florian’s hair behind his ear. The boy didn’t stir. His lips parted slightly in sleep, his eyelashes fluttering from some distant dream.

"Florian... Aden..." Heinz whispered, speaking to both parts—the one from this life and the one from before. "The two of you who share this body. The person I once loved... and the one I love now."

He paused, swallowing thickly.

’I wonder if either of you can hear me...’

But even if they couldn’t, he needed to say it. He had to say it.

"I haven’t gotten any more visions. And I want to. I want to know what I’ve forgotten. I’m trying—truly trying—to find ways to separate you both, without hurting either of you. I want to understand everything we had. Everything that was taken from us. Everything I took from you."

Images flashed behind his eyes—of the original Florian in that mental space, pressing a desperate kiss to his lips. Pain etched into every movement.

"I don’t even know why I accused you of treason," Heinz admitted quietly. "I thought I did. I assumed it was because you slept with Hendrix... I don’t even remember loving you then. I don’t remember feeling anything."

His voice cracked slightly.

And if that’s the case... why did he care? Why did he even bother accusing Florian of anything if he didn’t love him then?

He closed his eyes tightly, jaw clenched.

’It doesn’t make sense.’

It never did.

If Florian’s affair had been the issue, he could’ve punished Hendrix alone or even from the moment he had relations with Lucius and Lancelot.

Why?

Why hadn’t he ever questioned it until now?

Something was missing. No—taken. He was sure of it now.

Heinz opened his eyes, resting his chin lightly atop Florian’s head.

’This... this has to be the gods’ doing. A punishment for me.’

"The other Gods are not pleased with you, Heinz. They will punish you. I won’t be able to protect you next time. Be careful... of what they send."

Those were the last words spoken to him by the God who had helped him at the moment of his death—words that echoed like thunder in his mind even now.

And then... he had opened his eyes, time unraveled and rewound, the world reset—his second chance handed to him.

And now he had to make things right.

Even if it cost him everything.

"I’ll do whatever it takes," he whispered, voice steady with conviction. "I promise. I owe it to you."

He pressed a long, reverent kiss to Florian’s head, holding him close, as if afraid the moment would vanish.

’I just need to wait for Afton’s connections,’

Heinz thought, trying to steady his racing thoughts. His gaze drifted to the window, eyes narrowing slightly. "But... forbidden magic, huh?" he murmured under his breath.

His fingers tapped idly against Florian’s back.

’Could this be tied to those villages? The ones with an unnatural surplus of high-grade mana stone just like the village of forgotten waters?’

"Your Majesty, before I tell you who may know..." Afton began, his voice quieter than usual, his eyes not quite meeting Heinz’s. "...I need you to promise me full immunity."

That made both Heinz and Lysander look at him with suspicion, eyes narrowing in unison.

"Immunity for what, exactly?" Lysander asked sharply, stepping forward slightly.

Afton hesitated, the tension building in his throat visible in the way he swallowed. He looked down, wringing his hands nervously.

"Actually... I have a family member. They’ve been dealing in forbidden magic underground. I—I know it’s illegal, and I swear, I’ve never been part of it. I cut ties a long time ago, but..." his voice grew faint, "I couldn’t bring myself to report them. They’re still my family."

’Forbidden magic...?’ Heinz’s mind immediately sharpened, his attention now laser-focused.

"Such things exist?" he asked slowly.

Afton nodded, his gaze still fixed on the floor. "Were you... not aware? I heard rumors. Many rogues, unregistered guilds, wandering scholars... They buy these spells, learn them, often along with mana stones sold under the table."

"What kind of forbidden magic are we talking about?" Heinz asked, his tone darker now. ’This is the first time I’ve heard anything this concrete...’

Afton looked genuinely cornered now. "When my family member spoke to me about it... they mentioned spells that could access the memories of others. They said it could help in my work—both as a psychologist and as an Arcanior. At the time, it sounded... revolutionary."

Then Afton’s voice dropped even lower. "Actually... the spell I used on you and His Highness..."

He paused, his fingers trembling at his sides.

"...It was one of them. Forbidden magic."

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Heinz’s gaze narrowed, his tone now dangerously quiet. "What?"

Lysander was the one to snap first. "Afton! Why would you not disclose something that important? That’s—!"

"It’s safe!" Afton cut in quickly, panicking now. "I’ve used it dozens of times! I tested it on myself! I didn’t think— I mean, I know I should have said something, but it’s only forbidden because it hasn’t been regulated! That kind of magic—it’s powerful, but it isn’t inherently evil. It’s... it’s helpful, I swear."

"Please, Afton, just—"

"Enough." Heinz’s voice sliced through the room, sharp and cold.

Both Afton and Lysander fell silent immediately. Afton visibly flinched, his entire posture shrinking in on itself. Fear crept into his eyes—perhaps not fear for punishment, but fear of losing Heinz’s trust.

But then...

Heinz sighed, bringing a hand to his temple, rubbing it slowly. "...I’ll give you immunity. The spell you used helped Florian, and I can’t ignore that. But I need you to bring that relative to me. Immediately."

He looked Afton in the eye, serious and firm.

"I’m not going to have him killed. I need information. Details. If he knows about memory magic... he might know more than you think."

Afton was trembling now, but he nodded without hesitation.

"Understood?"

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty..." Afton whispered, voice shaky. "I’ll contact him right away."

"Hah... Even with Alexandria gone, there’s still more unraveling."

Heinz let out a quiet sigh, the weight of unfinished business still pressing on his shoulders. His mind wandered—there was still that masked man. The one who had approached Florian more than once, always veiled in secrecy.

Heinz remembered vividly how that man had used magic to pull out memories—memories that didn’t belong to this current Florian, but to the original one.

’He might be tied to those underground spells...’

That magic hadn’t been ordinary. It had to be forbidden.

’I’ll have Lucius and Lancelot start investigating. If he’s connected, we’ll find out soon enough.’

But for now... Heinz was tired. Not just in body, but in mind.

The only thing he wanted was this—this moment of peace, holding Florian in his arms like the world hadn’t changed.

"Good night, Ilúvarei," Heinz whispered softly, his lips brushing against Florian’s temple as he pulled him tighter into his chest. "Sweet dreams."