That evening—
Mei confronted Ren in his room.
She closed the door gently.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
He didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
Tears already forming.
"You chose her."
His silence confirmed it.
Mei's voice trembled.
"Do you know why I wasn't in that throne room?"
He looked up slowly.
She placed a hand over her heart.
"Because I was already dead."
The world stopped.