Everyone in the room froze for a long second.
Jennifer herself was rather taken aback by her own tears. She wasn't the type to cry.
When she was young, she had been the one to wipe Jessica's tears and tell her everything would be okay.
When she became a teacher, she wiped the tears of countless children in the same way.
It's going to be okay.
You spilled your juice.
You hate beans in your food.
Someone said something unkind.
You fell down.
Your drawing was ruined.
You got laughed at.
Nothing's going your way.
It's okay to cry. But it's going to be okay.
Then again, this was the apocalypse, and somewhere out there a cosmic devourer was looking for her. And there was no one to blame but herself.
Since turning forty, Jennifer had occasionally wondered if she would one day find herself old and alone and regretting her life choices. Her mother had certainly believed so.
But even in her deepest life reflections, she had never once thought, I regret writing that webnovel.
Until now.
Oh! She should never have written that last one. Whatever possessed her?
Rolly closed the distance to face her. His expression was stricken.
"I'm sorry, Jenny. This is all my fault. Don't cry."
And because Rolly said those words so gently, Jennifer only sobbed harder.
Rolly looked distressed.
"It is probably just the shock," President Xelara said, touching Jennifer's arm. "This will only take a moment."
Rolly hesitated, then put a large hand around her shoulders. "Shush… Jenny… please…"
President Xelara removed her hand. She looked momentarily amused at Rolly.
"Who knew that even Ronan the Dragon could make such an expression?"
Rolly pulled the crying Jennifer deeper into his arms.
This was like sitting on the oversized sofa again. Except now, the rag doll was being hugged and fussed over.
Rolly as Ronan the Dragon was not any smaller than Rolly himself; the mass was simply distributed differently. His shoulders, chest, and arms completely blocked Jennifer's sight, and she could continue crying freely, safe and walled off from prying eyes.
"This is all my fault," he told the others hoarsely. "I didn't even think how frightening it must be for her. But because of me, she was exposed to danger… a Double-A Magic Tier one at that. And I could do nothing but watch."
"You being there was why everyone survived, Ronan," the duke said. His tone was frosted but kind. "You did everything right. We were all lucky you were here today."
President Xel smiled wryly. "Ronan, if we are pointing fingers, wouldn't it be more likely my fault that any of this happened?"
"What?" Ronan looked up, surprised.
"You don't mean…" Alpha Drake growled. "Then the goddess isn't our moon goddess, but you, Xel?"
Why did Alpha Drake gesture vaguely toward Jennifer when he said moon goddess?
Was he just pointing randomly?
Surely the werewolves hadn't mistaken her for their moon goddess!
Can someone please tell the werewolves that there was no such thing as a moon goddess?
And also that there was no such thing as werewolves.
Or alien portals. Or magic. And since when did their country have a monarchy? Did no one notice the senators racing to secure funds for the elections next year…
Oh.
Was his engagement with Elaine Shilem's attempt to secure financial commitment?
Urgh! That cockroach!
Wait.
Jennifer sniffled and pulled away from Rolly's embrace to look around.
President Xel was talking.
"It would seem so."
Duke Chevon stroked his chin, and the clouds outside parted just as he spoke, letting the light shift across the room. "I see. So the messenger was sent here for you Xel?"
President Xel sighed. "How many years has it been? Admit it. I'm sure the thought has crossed your minds as well, gentlemen. This goddess the Devourer Lord is looking for could very well mean me."
Wait what?
Adrian spoke first, his mouth unsmiling.
"Although it is true that you have been called such, and your powers of divinity are different from magic or awakened abilities, it would be dangerous to presume we know who the Devourer Lord is seeking prematurely."
He glanced briefly at Jennifer.
Why wasn't he just saying, I have the Identify ability, and Jennifer is labeled goddess when I use it?
And since Micah the Devourer Lord of the Roaches was from the webnovel PANDORA BOX UNLEASHED, the correct goddess would be the one identified by an awakened ability.
Not that she was fighting for the position or anything, but they were barking up the wrong tree.
But Adrian was still talking.
"As of now, we still know too little of this Devourer Lord."
That much was true. How could they have known?
Until today's incident, the presence of a higher entity behind the alien portals had only been a speculative theory.
Now that theory had a name.
Micah.
The name Jennifer had chosen, the way she imagined a pregnant mother might choose a name for her precious unborn baby. (Well, it was originally the name meant for her ML.)
"If only we knew more," Alpha Drake growled.
Why don't you just give me my phone and I can show you where you can read all about him? Jennifer did not say.
Instead, she sniffled and wiped the wetness around her eyes with the back of her hand.
This was her fault.
She was the goddess.
She was also the author who wrote this mess.
So naturally she should be the one to shoulder the blame and the responsibility and—
Rolly gently pulled her close again. His large hand cradled the back of her head, pressing her against his heart.
"Don't cry, Jenny. I'll protect you."
Duke Chevon cleared his throat and passed Rolly his handkerchief.
"Ah, thank you," Rolly said.
Very, very carefully, he tried to dab Jennifer's face.
She had already stopped crying, but suddenly tears spilled out of her eyes again.
"If you don't mind, Xel," Rolly said quietly, "I want to stay with her."
President Xel nodded.
"We only have a few more witnesses to interview. But I will need you at HQ tonight."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
Rolly's arms were warm and comfortingly solid.
"It was nice to meet you, Jenny," President Xel said. "Even under such dire circumstances."
Jennifer hiccupped and sniffled again.
Yes. Pathetic.
She was well aware of that, even as President Xel and the other men left the room.
Jennifer used to imagine she might grow old to become someone like her kind landlady — elegant, gracious, and a little eccentric.
If not that, she would have liked to become a cool and stately woman like President Xel.
But she had also realized she was the kind of woman who screamed at impeccably handsome, powerful men to "Kill it now!"
Who bought and ate hotdogs in pairs on a weekly basis.
And who sniffled like a kindergartener, yet felt secretly happy because now Rolly was holding her and looking at her like she was the most precious and cutest thing in the world.
She let her cheek rest against his chest.
Omg.
Who knew she was also the kind of woman who would take advantage of a nice guy like this?
But wth.
The world was about to be devoured.
Life is short.
YOLO.