Jasmine's POV
The heavy chamber doors sealed shut behind me with a sound that echoed through my bones. The guards dropped their heads in respect, but I barely registered their presence. My feet carried me forward without purpose, each step feeling disconnected from my will.
I drifted through the corridors like a ghost, my mind consumed by a deafening roar of thoughts and guilt. The stone walls blurred past me as I moved without direction, my body functioning while my soul felt shattered.
When I finally reached my quarters, exhaustion crashed over me. I pressed my back against the door until it clicked shut, then slid down the wooden surface until the cold floor embraced me. My legs folded beneath me as I stared across the room.
The window framed the dying light of day, shadows creeping across the courtyard like dark fingers. Through the glass, the world seemed distant and muted. My reflection stared back at me, pale and haunted, as twilight settled over the castle.
