The Maid's Tyrant Prince

5. A Friend in Need

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C H A P T E R   5

A   F R I E N D   I N   N E E D

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Rose squinted as she gulped down the contents of the vial in one quick swig.

If there is a god, please, send me to a better world.

The potion tasted wretched, making her gag. It went down like hot water, lightly singing her throat.

Evan pulled away his sword, as Rose panted, leaning on the dresser behind her for support.

"This is it," she cried, staring at the vial in her trembling hand, the liquid now gone. "I'm gonna die! I don't believe it!"

She held her head in her hands, bracing herself, expecting the worst—pain, nausea, something—

"All I wanted was to stay alive!" she huffed, her heart aching. "I just wanted to be free. Why is that so hard for the universe to give me—"

Evan gritted his teeth, his stormy eyes hiding behind his ebony hair. "You should never have tried to hurt me."

"Oh shut it!" Rose snapped, making him jerk back in surprise. "This isn't about you right now!"

His jaw dropped. "You'd do well to watch how you speak to me—"

"Oh, what are you gonna do? Kill me?" she challenged him, throwing back a long lock of her red hair. "That ship has already sailed, mister! I'm gonna talk how I like —"

"It must be a slow-acting poison, given that you're still yammering at me," he muttered, eyes narrowing as he watched her intently. 

"Please, tell Julia I'm sorry!" Rose cried, grabbing her forehead. "I know you hate me, but tell her I didn't suffer. And that she's beautiful. And that I appreciated everything she did for me! And—"

"Oh, will you shut up?" he snapped. "You don't seem to be poisoned."

Rose looked up at him with wide eyes. "Huh?"

"You seem. . .perfectly fine," he remarked in an odd, perplexed tone as he finally put his sword back into its sheath.

Rose blinked twice. Thrice.

It was true. She felt nothing at all.

No nausea, no headache, no painful pangs in her stomach. The wretched aftertaste of the potion had all but disappeared.

"Perhaps that vial didn't contain poison after all," Evan said, turning away from her.

"You don't know that!" Rose yelped, grabbing him by the elbow. "Maybe it's a slow poison that'll kill me in my sleep."

"And why should I give a damn?" he snapped, shoving her hand away from him.

"Because I'm a person."

"You were still part of a plot to assassinate me," he said, his voice cold and unwavering. "I know that on good authority. You drank the potion. You did as I asked. So, I'll let you leave with your head on your shoulders."

He turned to glare at her with one sapphire eye. "I never wish to see your face again."

"Oh, that's fine by me." Rose snapped back. "I never want to see your face again either. Goodbye!"