I Need To Remember

Chapter Fifteen

"Maybe I should speak slowly to you, because you're mentally deficient now, aha! Doooo yoooou un-der-staaaanD," She put an extra emphasis on the end of the word, like that was some sort of genius move. "...me?"

Riftan thought he was too old to be patronized like this.

I'm not going to dignify that with a response.

Well, the truth got out just as they were trying to conceal it. How ironic, he thought- and so they were forced into this impromptu meeting. Both the Princess and Maxi sat across from him at his desk as Riftan rolled a pen between his fingers, unashamedly ignoring Agnes. The woman snorted at his silence and turned to his wife.

"I don't think he does."

"No, um...h-he's only nervous right now, that's why he's quiet. We've been trying t-to fix this problem for a while now." When Maxi wrung her hands together, he wanted to hold them, to make her feel better. But they had to get through this grueling conversation first.

And she probably wouldn't let him touch her anyway- when she realized the entire jist of what the attendant heard her say, Maxi looked like she was going to pass out from shock. Her face bloomed redder than the most vibrant rose; and he had to wonder, shit, what did they do...

"What exactly is the problem?" The Princess looked between the couple impatiently, who both shuffled accordingly in their seats. Riftan hid his red ears behind hair, embarrassed at being pulled out of his lustful thoughts.

Then feeling bad for leaving Maxi to do all the talking, he grumbled out:

"I have amnesia." Agnes hardly seemed surprised, but then someone like her must know how hide their reaction. What was she planning?

Maxi jerked rapidly towards the Princess from her seat, leaning anxiously the woman's direction. Her pale, thin hands were clasped together in almost a plee, and his stomach churned at the sight.

"B-But it's already going away, so there's no need to panic...or tell a-anyone..."

"Going away?" The Princess curiously looked over at Maxi.

"Oh yes, he's already started to remember things. S-So it's really not an issue to dwell on." His wife stood up as if to signify the end of the talk, but Agnes roughly grabbed her hand and pulled her back to her seat. Riftan felt like he was seeing red.

"Don't handle her like that." He spoke in a cool, dangerous voice, putting down the writing utensil.

"I'm not doing anything wrong! Besides, Maxi is a dear friend now. I just want to know more about what's going on."

The way her nickname came off of the Princess's tongue so easily bothered him. It was probably insane, but he wanted to covet his wife all to himself sometimes. One of those times being now, as Agnes blinked innocently at him. His eyes narrowed.

"Hurry up and say what you want." He snapped, before glancing at Maxi. Riftan was sure she would rather be anywhere but here, the way she miserably sat as if someone were holding her hostage.

He almost asked if she'd like to go rest while he answered the questions, but knew it would be futile. It was strange, the variety of things he felt on knowing that- he was frustrated that she could be so stubborn, and put herself in an uncomfortable situation. And yet, that she would stay with him anyway...if there was one word for how he felt right now, it was smitten. Riftan carded a hand through his hair, as if he were brushing out the intense ardor that suddenly consumed him.

"Can you successfully run this place in your condition?" The question was, unfortunately, sensible- so he had to answer. The guilt which he had been feeling for his uselessness wracked against his chest.