✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book One]

PROLOGUE

[ P R O L O G U E ]

"Latisha..."

Napako ang tingin ko sa taong tumawag ng aking pangalan. I can feel my skin burning from the fire I started. I can hear the screams of the people seeking for help as the blaze took them away.

My white favorite dress was drenched with blood. The thick iron fluid had clung on my skin, making me itch. But it wasn't my concern, it was his voice that made a smile creeped out of my lips.

"What have you done?!"

Every word escaped, his mouth pierced through like a sword. I wasn't even flinching when he pointed the Riedensteigh sword to my direction that was passed down to him from his ancestors.

"It is finally over, Roshan." There are no emotions that lurk in my voice. My eyes locked on his amber hues and his confused but mad eyes stared at me. "The Empire will be reborn with you as its new Emperor. This is my gift for you, your grace. Hindi ka ba masaya?"

He scoffed. A trail of disgust crossed his mesmerizing deep hues. "You set the entire palace on fire! Killed the Emperor in front of the Empress. For what, Latisha?! This is madness!"

"This is not madness, but vengeance," sagot ko. I took a step forward, still had my eyes on his, and I only stopped when the tip of his sword made contact with my chest. "My grandfather's father was a close friend of your ancestors. They built this Empire together, but once your grandfather's father was crowned as the Emperor, he abandoned his friend who was there through ups and downs. You asked me before why my name doesn't ring a bell to the nobles, because we were exiled on our own land!"

"Latisha..." His soft whisper was filled with no remorse. "Your grandfather's father attempted to murder the Emperor, that is why he was stripped of his status! Your belief has been twisted!"

"Don't waver my conviction, your grace. Look around you, we successfully took over the palace. The Emperor is dead, and this whole Empire will welcome its new ruler. We are back to the beginning, your grace. I want to rule with you. This world is meant for us, and-"

"You are delusional, Latisha," he fumed. "You abandoned harmony!"

"Harmony is never the right method to use in this cruel world. I can change that rule, Roshan. Rule with me." It sounded like I was begging and I truly was. "I promised to be good to you and I did, right? I was a doting wife for 5 years! I did my duty as the Duchess of Riedensteigh. I accomplished my role as your wife!"

Umiling ito sabay ngisi ng mapakla. "Did you? You never showed remorse as the Duchess. You spend your time lavishly, pleasing other people, boasting your position, and you grow more ignorant and delusional as time goes by. I never want any position other than what my parents worked hard for, Latisha. I should have known that you've been planning this from the get-go. You purposely ruined my daughter's life, my life, and the future of this Empire!"

I let out a scorn. "That child always reminds me of her late mother, the mistress you adore so much but you can never choose her as the Duchess. I felt envious of this fucking dead woman for years! I can never compete with the dead when it comes to loving you! And what? I let your daughter suffer?" I scoffed as I paused. "You can't even look at that child without faltering. She's a walking mirror of that dead woman!"

"You are beyond saving," he said.

"Papatayin mo ba ako?" tanong ko. "I am your wife, Roshan. You should protect me, help me, and support what I do. Yet, you never showered me on what a husband should do for his wife. Palagi ka lang nakatunganga sa larawan ng babaeng 'yon, at kung tutuusin, mas kaya kitang ipagtanggol kasya sa hampas-lupang courtesan na 'yon!"