The grand bedroom of Claudia Rose was still, suffocating in its silence. Once a sanctuary of peace, it now felt like a mausoleum. Moonlight filtered in through tall windows, casting pale silver shadows across the bed where Claudia sat — knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped around herself like a barrier against the crushing weight that pressed down on her soul.

She hadn’t spoken since the incident.

Not once.

Days had passed, perhaps weeks — no one was sure. Time itself felt warped, suspended in the stillness of grief. The castle mourned with her. It was quiet. Too quiet.

Beside her sat a woman — someone unfamiliar to most. Long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her soft brown eyes filled with quiet strength. Her name was Jade. To the world, she was a mystery. But to Rose… she was home.

Jade’s arms were wrapped around her gently, pulling Claudia into her chest as though trying to hold the fragments of the goddess together. Her thumb softly stroked Claudia’s trembling back, a quiet rhythm to remind her she wasn’t alone.

Claudia’s lips parted for the first time in what felt like forever, her voice hoarse and broken.

“I don’t think… I’m fit to be a goddess,” she whispered.

Jade’s breath caught. Not because the words surprised her, but because of the pain woven between each syllable. Claudia’s shoulders began to shake.

“I’m supposed to protect them…” Claudia’s voice cracked, the dam of her composure breaking. “Every time I’m given authority—every time—it all goes wrong! I was supposed to be their savior, Jade. I was supposed to be the one they could look to and say, ‘She’s here. We’re safe now.’ But instead…”

She choked, tears streaming down her face like waterfalls. “Instead I got them killed!”

Her voice echoed against the marble walls, ragged with guilt.

Jade held her tighter, her own eyes glistening.

“I—I should’ve seen it coming. I felt something was wrong. And I ignored it. I ignored it, Jade.”

“Rose…”

“No.” She shook her head violently. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t carry this title, this weight. Every time someone dies, it’s like my heart’s being ripped out and chewed on while I just sit there and watch. Someone else can play goddess—I qu—”

SMACK.

The sound of the slap echoed across the room like a thunderclap. Claudia’s face turned with the force of it, stunned into silence.

Jade’s hand trembled as it slowly lowered. Her voice was louder now, furious and trembling.