The Maid's Tyrant Prince

1. The Final Awakening

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C H A P T E R   1

T H E   F I N A L   A W A K E N I N G

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For all her life, Rose had been locked away, like a precious flower hidden in a golden mansion.

Every whim and fancy money could buy was hers to have. But her body was tied to the grounds of her father's property.

"You are my only child, Rose," her father used to say to her. "You are the precious, fragrant flower of one of the most powerful men in the world. Many will want to pluck you and rip you from the stems. I have to protect you."

A precious flower, she used to recite to herself. That's who I am. 

She was always surrounded by an army of servants, tending to her every need. Keeping a close, watchful eye on her every move. 

I'm a great, incomparable, brilliant treasure, she recited as she stared at herself in a mirror gilded with gold. That's why I have to live like this. That's why I have to stay locked up in this mansion. That's why...

The surface of the mirror cracked, breaking up into a million shards of glass. Hazy memories crept out of the darkness, attacking Rose in a flash. 

Blood splatters on dark, icy asphalt. Stifling cries in a cold room, with cold, dead eyes watching over her. 

No...

A hand that stretches out to the sky from a sea of flames, begging for help that wouldn't come. 

Please...no...

A moonless night, pitch dark and full of anguish. A sorrow so deep, it could drown a thousand worlds in its tears. 

NO!

Rose flinched away from these memories, erecting walls of gold and thorny roses. 

Am I unconscious? What's happening?

All around her was nothing but the void. She spun around in circles with mounting confusion. She could see her own body because of the light emanating from her skin, but...something was wrong. 

This...this is not my skin. She tugged at the pale flesh on her wrist. This is not my hair. She examined a shockingly long lock of dark red hair. 

This is not...me! The realisation shook her from within, the walls around her crumpling to dust. Beyond them were no memories, but a distant light that grew steadily larger every second. 

What is this place? What am I doing?

She shielded her eyes from the light but it exploded, engulfing everything around her. 

"EVAN!" Rose screamed, her eyes flying open as she suddenly sat up. 

"I beg your pardon?" A male voice asked. 

Who. . .Whose voice was that?

Rose blinked rapidly, willing her blurry eyes to see once again. She rubbed her eyes until they adjusted to the light and she could finally take in her surroundings.

Wooden and stone walls rose up around Rose, higher than she expected. She was in a quiet, sterile room, filled with the faint scent of herbs and antiseptic. Sunlight streamed through narrow, arched windows, casting beams of light across rows of neatly made beds. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, its warmth a comfort against the cool autumn wind drifting into the room.