[The question has Regis setting down one of the potion bottles harder than he intends as it brings to mind things he really doesn't want to remember. Fortunately, the bottle doesn't break; unfortunately, the sound is not enough to drive away the memory.

A small blonde baby, too weak to even cry. Doctor' rushing here and there doing their best to stabilize him, but having difficulties because they aren't sure exactly what kinds of experiments he haw been put through.

Regis grits his teeth and is well aware that he's avoiding the true nature of Verstael's question when he answers.]

I am aware you created babies whose sole purpose in life was to be experiments.

[He's not as angry and disgusted as Cor is, but he is a father now and with that comes the anger only a father can feel at the thought of what if that was my child?]

[There is a crackle of crystal and with the anger on Regis' face when he turns to Verstael, it would not be surprising if the researcher thought the king was drawing a weapon. He does not, though. Instead, the sound is him merely banishing the potion bottles into the Armiger before he breaks one. When he finally speaks, there is a low warning growl in his words.]

He has a name. We all do. Try using them for once!

[Once those words are out, Regis takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and shoving his anger aside. He knows Verstael isn't going to stop until he gets answers to his questions. Letting anger rule him will only prolong the inevitable.]

I have not talked to Cor about anything. I slept here for five days, but while my body was here, my mind was not. It was home living the five years that occurred after the Founder's Day attack.

Five years. A tumultuous five years.

[The confirmation is probably unnecessary, but with how strange this whole situation is, there is no reason not to give it so they are both on the same page.]

Where do you want to start?

Correct on both accounts.

[Interesting, though, that Verstael doesn't mention his wife's death. Either he doesn't know or just doesn't think it that important. Regis is going to try not to think too hard about that second possibility.]

Considering you jumped right to Cor having told me about freeing the child from your laboratory, I will assume he's covered that in detail with you already?

[Despite his mood, the congratulations draws a small smile to Regis' face. He's not sure if it is because of the irony or not, but he will accept the spirit of the words nonetheless.]

Thank you. His birth was much celebrated and he has turned out o be a wonderful young man. I just wish his mother had gotten to see that.

[Likely Aulea had not been mentioned simply because others were trying so hard to make sure Regis didn't find out. They didn't really trust each other with that information. It only makes sense no one mentioned it to Verstael.]

Yes, unfortunately. Before Noctis was even a year old.

[Regis accepts the condolences as he had the congratulations. Both are stilted, but they are efforts from a man who is much more at home with facts than he is with emotions. They are on the opposite sides of things in this, much like they are on opposite sides of so much else.

The mention of the Emperor having lost his wife rings a faint bell in Regis' mind. It's not something he'd thought much about and it seems like it happened a very long time ago, but everything seems that way now that he's been home and back.]

That was around the time he started to change the most, wasn't it?

[He'd never stopped to think about it before, but now that he feels how much he has changed after losing Aulea, he can't help but wonder how much of the Emperor's change was spurred by his own loss.]

[A soft, sad chuckle leaves Regis' mouth.]

There is no going back to normal after a loss like that. Not if he loved her even a fraction of how much I loved Aulea. One can, perhaps, get good at acting like they have gone back to normal, but that act will never fool the questions and the doubts that fill one's mind afterward.

It's a valid suggestion. One would think that it is an obvious one as well, but if his son reminds him a great deal of his wife, then it both hurts and is comforting to have him around. The dual feeling is confusing and those who have countries to run generally don't have time to think through those feelings and deal with them. Instead, they are often pushed into burying themselves in work instead. Sometimes, they don't even need the push. It is just easier to focus on work and country than to deal with all the pain.

[Regis knows he is just as much to blame for burying himself in work as those around him are for pushing it on him.]

Doing that, though, allows them to forget and detach from things that should never be forgotten or detached from.

I would advise the same, I think.

[Regis answer the question only after several moments of thought.]

It is important for him to remember that even with such a great loss, the man behind the ruler remains. He can't just bury the fragments and ignore the pain because that will mean killing a part of himself. Being with his son will help him, eventually, find something other than just grief waiting when he thinks of his lost wife and the life they shared before. It will give him something to keep him moving forward aside from just his country and the war. His son's presence will ground him when he is hit with those moments of emotional weakness that others may try to take advantage of.

[He pauses and gives Verstael an apologetic look.]

I'm sure this is hard to understand from your point of view, but think of it like this. If you lost all your life's work, you would feel lost, angry, and be looking for a way to fix it at all costs, correct? How easy would it be to overlook a few notes when the chance to regain everything in one fell swoop, no matter how unlikely, is placed before you? His son is like those notes. A small glimmering promise that not all is lost if one only lets themselves see it.

[A sharp laugh slips free of Regis when Verstael makes his comparison.]

Yes, exactly. Sabertusks looking for any moment of weakness so that they can pounce. I think that will be one of the greatest dangers you will have to deal with. Many may not be that well-known in court and will be easy to prune away, but others may be more trusted. You will need to be wary. Not only for his good, but yours as well. If they figure out what you are trying to do, they may try to act against you.

[They both know how dangerous politicians are, but Regis feels the need to reiterate it anyway. After that, though, he falls silent, taking time to think about the question Verstael has asked.]

Sometimes, it is not words, but actions that make the most difference so don't let yourself get overly focused on them. Instead, if you can, find ways for both he and his son to be present for things. If he has a meeting cancelled, see he goes to spend time in the nursery rather than just rescheduling another meeting in its place.

[Words are not Verstael's strength, so let him look for other ways to do what needs to be done.]

Honestly, those who work in the nursery might be some of your strongest allies. Find out what they would like to see him doing with his son. What firsts are coming up? What firsts has he already missed?

[Regis nods, a little surprised that a man who was so focused on science would speak so highly of those in such a different job, but grateful that he understands exactly why such people are so important.]

There are those helping me raise my own son who also helped raise me. They are loyal, not for political gain or money, but because they truly care for those who they watch over. They also happen to have ears in a great many places, some places that those of a higher standing would have no chance of getting information from.

[Staff members overhear things all the time because a great part of their job is acting in a way that allows others to forget they are there. They might not speak of such things to those who are their 'overlords' but among themselves? That is a completely different story. Those who work in the nursery deal closely both with the staff and the royal family. As a result, they can act as a bridge between the two.]