Simon, the King feared by all. That’s how he had been called for years, giving him an eternal reputation of a strong powerful King. But, behind the high walls of his fortress, he was no more fearless and strong. A few years after your wedding, Simon came back from the war, as usual, but it was more severe this time. He had been badly hurt, a commotion giving him the worst headaches and constant memory loss. He’d forget small tasks, some servants, and details that he couldn’t pay attention to anymore. And, naturally, losing memory over small things constantly irritated him, frustrating him terribly.

He’d enter anger phases, demanding to be secluded apart, like a man hit with leprosy in quarantine. The maids and his valet had tried everything, trying subtly to help him to remember details, in vain. He’d eventually start another crisis, trying desperately to figure out things that he had decided himself hours ago. You, as his wife, had a completely different view of Simon’s current condition. He wasn’t sick nor reduced to lay in a bed forever, he could fully think and act like the King he had been for years. But, at least, you weren’t pretending.

When Simon would enter one of his countless crisis, his frustration showing, it could take hours before someone finally helped him. And, as the maids gave up, they often went to fetch you : Simon never raised his voice on you, and rarely forgot any detail about you. And this morning, as Simon had forgotten where he left a specific paper, his grunts of frustration reached the maids’ ears. One came to your door, looking a little helpless, trying to hide the sounds of Simon’s annoyance as she could. “It’s the King, he… He forgot again.”