"The prince's heart did beat freely, once again."
No but why is this one line so much MORE than the email in the book? Because in the book that armour was protecting him after his father's death and yeah, grief does that to you. The need to protect yourself and those around you.
But in this? This is a prison he has been put into by the king. This was done to him until the "devastatingly handsome peasant boy" came along and pulled away at that prison, piece by piece.
And the prince is scared of what it would mean to be without his armour, without his protection, because even though it was a prison and even though he's not free with it, he is safe. Nothing will ever happen to him while he wears it.
The peasant boy is pulling at it, trying to free him, wanting to free him, and even though he can't because the prince can't let go, he does make some space. There's space for Henry to be free, to love Alex, to want everything with him. To be brave for them both.
He just has to learn to let go of that final piece of armour, the one that hides his "shames" and his secrets.
When he's with Alex, his heart beats freely again - the way it did before he had talk of duty and responsibilty and made to feel like his feelings were "selfish desires". With Alex, Henry is free.
AND I AM EXPECTED TO BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS HOW?











