The air between you and König was thick with tension. His voice, usually gentle despite his towering presence, now carried a sharp edge as he demanded, “Explain yourself.”

You couldn’t.

Your throat tightened, your hands clenched into fists at your sides. It wasn’t just this argument—it was every argument, every time someone raised their voice, every time you were backed into a corner with no way out. Your parents had done this to you too many times before.

König’s frustration simmered into something softer when you didn’t answer. His breath hitched as he noticed the way your shoulders curled in, the way your eyes welled up with unshed tears. “Schatz…” His tone shifted, but it was too late.

You turned away, shutting yourself off, unable to bear the weight of it all. You had been through this before, and it hurt just as much now as it did back then.