An innocent maid chosen by an enigmatic prince over a noble rival becomes the target of forbidden sorcery. With the help of a mysterious mermaid, she uncovers a buried truth about her past-and must confront the dark force that once destroyed her fam...
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"Kneel."
The word hit her like a wave - deep, firm, and impossible to ignore. His voice was rich, smooth, and calm - but it left no room for disobedience.
She stood in the center of an ornate hall, breath catching as the prince, at first backing her, turned to face her, his presence commanding the air itself to still.
She didn't move, her breath caught in her throat.
Her knees almost gave out, not from fear, but from the sheer beauty of him. He was beautiful and intriguing all at once-mesmerizing amber-gold eyes that flickered like firelight, a jaw set with the weight of command. He held a crown in his hand-gold, grand, shaped with classic elegance, the surface, premium perfection.
He stepped closer.
"I said kneel, Amber."
His eyes held hers, unreadable yet drawn to her in a way that made her chest tighten.
Amber slowly sank to her knees, the hem of her simple dress brushing the cold ornate marble. Her heart raced - not in fear, but in awe, in wonder. He intrigued her.
"You are mine," he said, circling her. "I take hold of you. I lay claim, not only to possess but to protect. And now..."
He stopped before her. Her breath trembled. He knelt with her now, eye to eye, lifting the crown just above her brow.
"Rise not as a maid," he murmured, "but as the one made for me."
The crown touched her hair - light as a kiss.
Then everything dissolved into light-
And she awoke.
The crown vanished. The prince faded. And her dream scattered like smoke against the ceiling of her small, plain room.
The scent of river and lavender drifted in through the shutters, the sun already rising. She sat up, heart racing, dress rumpled from sleep.
No silk. No marble. No crown. No prince.
Just Amber.
Just the start of a new life.
---
A broad smile spread across Amber's face as the smaller, plain cottages faded behind her, gradually giving way to grander homes that lined the riverbank like jewels catching the sun. The kingdom of Upland stretched beneath a brilliant cerulean sky, as vibrant and lively as the patchwork dress she wore - a humble yet colorful creation that hugged her slender frame.
Youth gave her strength and hope as she rowed steadily onward. She drifted past towering trees and swaying grasses, the gentle quack of ducks skimming the water, riders on horseback following the winding riverbank, and birds soaring freely above. Each stroke brought her closer to her destination, until at last, it emerged before her eyes.
