REQUIEM

And as the last petal of the rose fell, and the clock struck midnight, time froze. It stood still-just long enough for her seven steps to paradise to crumble. A perfect, intricate piece of architecture had become a facade-a beautiful illusion destroyed along with her chance at salvation.

Her fate twisted into an ominous presence, one that refused to leave. Fortuna never intended for her path to end this way... yet it did. And so, she learned to embrace it.

He, on the other hand, had always been destined to fall. And he fell the moment he learned the terrors of the world. But instead of fleeing from them, he thrived within them. He manipulated emotion, weaponized fear, and ruled the darkest corners of the earth. It was kill or be killed-and he had never intended to die at the hands of another.

Similarly, she learned to survive. It was sink or swim, and she would not drown. She would do anything to stay alive-even if it meant killing the version of herself that once was, only to be reborn from the ashes.

She conditioned herself to never again be at the mercy of another soul. And from the ruins of what was lost, a new structure emerged-one designed to match her perfectly. It was so beautiful, it demanded to be admired. Cherished, even.

This path did not lead to paradise. It led to a throne-where all who had sinned like it was second nature would fall to their knees before her.

She would never be a pawn again.

She had become the most powerful piece on the board: the Queen.

And the Queen will always protect the King.