Hours later, Aire finally returned to the castle.
Her entire body ached from people, and the hatred from earlier still clung to her skin somehow.
She could still hear them, their snarls and curses.
The Moon Goddess rejected her.
She's cursed.
Aire climbed the final staircase slowly.
The corridor outside her chambers remained quiet, with just two guards stationed before her door.
Most of the castle had become chaos since the evacuation began.
Aire simply felt tired.
The moment she stepped inside her chambers, warmth greeted her. She paused lightly.
The room smelled faintly of lavender, and the fireplace crackled softly. Beyond the half-open bathroom door, steam drifted into the room.
Aire smiled despite herself.
This would be Madam, of course.
She had specifically asked Madam to stop attending to her weeks ago.
The older woman had listened, technically. Unfortunately, Madam had simply found other ways to care for her.
