26. The Destruction of the Kingdom (VII)

The dull, hollow sound echoed in my ears for a full minute before my blank mind realized it was an explosion.

A few days ago, the same sound of explosion would have made Miss Blanche leap out of bed, but now it only elicited a numb and empty sigh. After the initial fear wore off, explosions and gunfire had become a daily routine in Lutèce; everyone from high-ranking officials to common folks had grown numb to it, until one day, even numbness could not sustain them, and they chose suicide or to take others with them to the grave.