You knew this would happen, didn't you?

The air held a profound stillness as Adeline's words resonated deeply with Ragnar. He stood, a figure caught between his role as a king and his vulnerabilities as a man in love.

"Certainly, it will remain a gem wherever it is and whenever. Even if Lady Sophia loses her memory..." Adeline explained with a respectful tone, pausing to ensure her words sank in, "Lady Sophia remains Lady Sophia, in her first life or even in her thousandth."

"Lady Sophia embodies everything you admire and love, Your Majesty, from her sincerity to her stubbornness in aiding and sacrificing herself for the greater good. Lady Sophia will not change into someone else, even if she loses her memory."

"Can you love Sophia Mary if she isn't herself?" Adeline's question was gentle but pointed, cutting to the heart of Ragnar's turmoil. "I don't think so, Your Highness."

Again, Ragnar remained silent, the question echoing in his mind.