The atmosphere in the house had grown heavier by the day.
Now that Kana was no longer around to mediate or lighten the mood, the silence between Lysera and Irielle became almost unbearable.
They rarely spoke, and when they did, it was out of necessity—grunted exchanges over meals or curt nods when crossing paths.
The once peaceful air of the house felt strained and tense, like a taut string on the verge of snapping.
The first day apart from Kana was spent at their respective jobs, but neither could focus.
At the bureau, Lysera found herself fumbling through reports she could usually breeze through.
She misfiled documents, signed off on the wrong papers, and even gave a mismatched order that had her subordinates gently correcting her.
"Ma'am… are you alright?"
One of them asked hesitantly.
Lysera's jaw tightened, and she brushed them off with a nod, trying not to let the shame reach her eyes.
