The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 12

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

Roina opened her eyes in her room. A single room, hastily converted from a storage closet. No matter how many locks she put on, Maili could easily get in. Everything in the room was old, creaky, and drafty.

She blinked, feeling a sense of emptiness. The intense pleasure and subsequent humiliation still lingered on her body. Yet, there were no physical marks. One of the magical enchantments placed upon her ensured she would heal completely, erasing any evidence of abuse.

As she sat up, the old blanket crumpled beneath her. It was more stiff than soft but provided a bit of warmth, one of the few comforts she possessed.

Looking out the window, she saw the first light of dawn. Her body and spirit felt worn out, but she’d woken up earlier than usual.

She wondered if it was because people in this world were simply tougher, or if her body was unusually resilient. She should be exhausted, but she felt surprisingly capable.

As she contemplated her situation, a wave of anger washed over her, a feeling she had been trying to suppress. She remembered the Crown Prince’s words,

“Slaves are people too. They are my subjects. I will lead by example and abolish slavery in this kingdom.”

Yet, he had violated her, treating her like an object.

Outwardly, Roina was obedient. Before becoming her, the original Roina would have accepted her fate. The Crown Prince seemed satisfied with her submissive behavior.

But Roina was different. She was angry.

‘I am not your slave, nor your pet. I have my own needs. You are nothing but filthy trash.’

If she were the real Roina, she would have believed the Crown Prince’s words and given up. But she was not. If she had been so easily defeated, she would not have survived the harsh realities of palace life.

Even before becoming Roina, she had faced similar situations, just in different forms.

She had often been on the receiving end of their arrogance. A former coworker who would take credit for her work, claiming it was his and then casually toss out a lewd remark. A colleague who would blame her for his mistakes. An ex-boyfriend who’d tried to control every aspect of her life. And she had made them all regret it.

Gaslighting was something she knew all too well. The world had made her that way.

‘Don’t you enjoy pleasure when a man is inside you? That’s what you’re here for. Your purpose is to serve me.’ That had been the Crown Prince’s logic. It was ridiculous.

‘No one can decide what’s good for me but me.’

This belief had always grounded her, no matter the situation. It was her way of protecting herself.

Just because the Crown Prince had a handsome face didn’t mean she would let him sway her.

She shook her head and stood up. Adjusting her clothes, she prepared to start her day earlier than usual. As she opened her door, she jumped.

“Ah!”

Ethan stood there, his expression stern. He looked nothing like the man she had seen in the study. Fear gripped her. Perhaps he was just like the Crown Prince. She took a step back unconsciously.

“I heard you were in danger yesterday. The Crown Prince ordered me to stay by your side.”

“But you’re too high-ranking to guard a lowly maid like me,” Roina replied, bewildered. It was absurd for a knight of his stature to be assigned to protect her.

She was confused. ‘Why is the Crown Prince doing this? What does he want from me? Why is he so obsessed with someone like me?’