Tsar Nicholas froze, Maverick's words striking him like a slap. He blinked twice, his long lashes sweeping against his cheeks.
The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the small beauty mark beneath his eye, making his stunned expression all the more striking.
"Did he really… forget everything?" Nicholas asked softly, his voice trembling. "Even you?"
Maverick stood with his arms crossed, expression unreadable, and gave a single, curt nod.
Nicholas furrowed his brows, disbelief flickering across his face. "But… when I saw you two earlier, you and Julius seemed… close."
He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "Wait. Don't tell me… he fell for you again? Even without his memories?"
Heat crawled up Maverick's neck, flushing his ears. He quickly raised a hand to shield his reddened face, letting out only a sharp, embarrassed "Hmph."
