Or both. What seems to be a blindly thrown wrench is sometimes placed with the utmost care, after all.

[That painful note in his voice doesn't go away. It's clear that - whatever the exact circumstances - that's exactly what happened. To the question, he simply nods.]

More than I could bear. Even now...

[Even now. He doesn't know yet quite what to do, with a world without Ardyn in it - truly without him, neither healer-king nor Accursed. For too long has Ardyn been the sun, and then the collapsing black hole, that he revolved around.

The resounding now what in his heart doesn't have an answer.]