One day, I found myself sleeping in the garden, a book covering my face. I fell asleep... It was one of those hot summer days where the heat is so strong that a brisk wind can make you feel being in heaven.

  The shade of the trees reminded me of my hometown. When my best friend was still around, we would py until nightfall in the park or in the forest.

  After buying drinks or ice cream, we would run to the big tree on the hill and chat for hours. Those were probably the best moments of my life.

  But this calm life was quickly shattered when we decided to move to the city instead of staying in this rural area.

  I never saw him ever again...

  Well, I guess my current life isn't that bad. The city really changed our poor family into middle css.

  I was able to get a decent education and a decent amount of knowledge, enough to get me into a strong program at University.

  Life has never been this calm for a while.

  "Haaaa," I sighed.

  "I might just sleep a bit more..." I told myself as I enjoyed the moment.

  "Your majestyyyy....!" A long cry echoed through the air.

  What?? Who's the parent calling their kid "your majesty"? What kind of spoiled brat is that? I thought immediately.

  "Ah! Your majesty! I finally found you!" A maid appeared in front of my vision.

  Long bistre hair fluttered with the wind, revealing a beautiful pair of brown eyes. Her angry attitude is a direct reflection of her young age and lively personality.

  How pretty is my first thought, but the second thought came hard as stone: why does a cospyer want trouble with me?

  "I searched you everywhere from the mansion to the courtyard!" She said angrily.

  I blinked. Once. Twice.

  "Pardon me... but who are you?"

  She brought a hand to her forehead and sighed.

  "Good afternoon, Your Majesty. I’m your personal maid, Charlotte, the one appointed to you since you were ten." Said Charlotte, with a ft, monotone and practiced voice. It certainly didn't sound like the first time she introduced herself.

  WTF??? How come I have my personal maid?? I panicked as I had never spoken to such a beautiful woman.

  "Uhh... Good afternoon, Charlotte, what's the matter?" I said with an awkward smile.

  "Oh yeah... We've got bad news! His majesty the king got injured during the battle! He asked for you to hear his st wish."

  Let's assess the situation: I woke up in a dream, a cospyer girl asked me to see my dying father, "The king," and while being this cute? What is this cliché-type fantasy novel beginning? I really need to see the meaning of this dream when I wake up.

  Now I just want to rex and think about nothing. So I won't be seeing him anytime soon.

  "Sorry, Miss Charlotte, but I think I will be staying under this comfortable tree for a bit more," I said while recovering my face with the unknown book.

  "Yeah, that won't be happening." She suddenly grabbed my shoulders and yanked me up on my feet.

  WTF??? How strong is she?

  "Do you prefer walking or being dragged to his excellence's room?" said Charlotte with a dark smile.

  "I... I can walk just fine." I might just py along, "Lead the way, dear Charlotte."

  She made a 180 turn and grabbed my wrist tightly.

  As we walked deeper into the gardens, I realized this wasn't just a fancy wn.

  It was a maze.

  Not like the park in front of the Eiffel tower, but simir to the one in the book "Das Parfum".

  Hedges rose twice my height, neatly trimmed and way too green to be natural. The paths twisted and forked every few meters, like the pce had been designed specifically to confuse intruders... or random guys with amnesia.

  At each of one or so lengthways stood magnificently carved marble statues of possibly famous people. One had a sword, another a harp, and one looked like he was about to sneeze mid-monologue.

  We turned left, then right, then left again.

  Was she even following a pattern?

  “How big is this garden exactly?” I asked, mostly just to hear my own voice.

  Charlotte didn’t answer right away. “Big enough to lose a prince for two hours, apparently.”

  I ughed nervously. She didn’t.

  A breeze swept through the maze, carrying the scent of roses, damp leaves, and something faintly metallic. The air was too crisp. The sunlight filtered through the leaves just a bit too good to be true.

  I stopped.

  "What's the matter?" said the maid.

  "Charlotte..." I begin.

  "What? What do you want?" She panicked.

  "Are you... Lost?"

  Suddenly, complete silence.

  A shiver visibly crawled up her spine as she hugged her arms tightly, like someone had dropped the temperature just for fun. Her confident posture cracked for a split second.

  “You good?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I-I’m fine,” she said way too quickly, voice pitched a bit higher than usual.

  Uh-huh. Totally convincing.

  I took a step closer, mostly just to poke the situation. “You look pale. Like you’ve seen a ghost or—oh no.” I gasped dramatically. “Don't tell me you're scared.”

  “I am not scared,” she shot back, clearly flustered now. “I just don’t like... unexpected paths.”

  “Oh, so you mean being lost,” I teased, enjoying this way more than I should.

  She turned to gre at me—full pout, cheeks slightly red.

  “I swear, if you say one more word, I will shove you into the roses.”

  “Okay, great,” I said, plopping down on the grass. “We’re officially doomed. I hope you brought snacks. Or a fre. Or, you know, a royal rescue pigeon.”

  “Not helping, Your Majesty,” she snapped.

  I took a deep breath. The air was moving. Faint, but real.

  I stood and turned slowly in pce. “Wait a second...”

  Charlotte blinked. “What?”

  "You feel that?"

  "No?"

  There's a draft that way..." I pointed. "Open spaces breathe. Dead ends don't."

  I followed the airflow, turned once, twice, and there was an archway of stone and ivy.

  "Found it."

  “The courtyard...” Charlotte muttered herself in disbelief.

  The towering hedges ended. A fountain trickled peacefully in the center of a stone courtyard surrounded by rose-covered arches. Guards stood nearby, clearly expecting us.

  "Ayyy, we're out!" I said happily.

  I turned to her, arms crossed: smug grin activated.

  “Well, Charlotte? Who’s the lost one now?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Still you. Just... less embarrassingly.”

  "Yeah, yeah, whatever, let's meet the dying king..."

  P.S. give me ideas please and rate it!!