Lespada - Part 2: falling in drunk with you

After having taken my things, I went out of the cell while throwing intrigued glances at the people who were around me. I could consider myself lucky compared to them because I would finally be able to get out of this godforsaken hole, but they wouldn't be so lucky. They would probably end up rotting in this prison or be killed when they were no longer needed. As I passed a cell, my heart suddenly sank.

Inside, I saw two children locked up, looking at me with livid eyes. They were a shadow of their former selves, waiting for death with resignation. I wished I could help them, get them out and stop them from dying so sadly but there was nothing I could do. Wearily, I looked away, forcing myself to restrain the emotion that was burning inside me. I didn't want to rot here any longer.

The female warrior was standing next to me and just walked on without even batting an eye at the sad sight. It must have been normal to see this kind of scene down here.

We left the prison and climbed a series of stairs that led to the upper floor. A few torches were lighting our way at regular intervals so that we could make out the steps without seeing very clearly. The atmosphere was gloomy and the stench in the air did not help.

Once we reached the top, we met two soldiers guarding the entrance. The woman warrior waved to them and they saluted her before letting us pass.

We were now outside the prison. A cool breeze filled my nostrils, purifying my lungs from the stale air I had been breathing for days. However, the cold made me shiver as soon as I stepped outside. Fortunately, I was finally free.

I looked around and noticed that I was still in the castle. However, the beautiful marble walls and tapestries were gone. It must have been a wing hidden from view.

The woman pointed in a direction and motioned me forward. Although I wanted to escape, seeing myself surrounded by so many people, and armed to the teeth, made me think twice.

The sun had just set at this point and the only sources of light were the torches hanging on the walls and the moon shining brightly in the night sky.

After passing through several heavily guarded gates, we came to a courtyard where I could see the dim glow of the city's dwellings through the high ramparts that surrounded the castle. It was quiet outside and only the sound of our footsteps could be heard. The clacking of boots echoed frantically on the ground as mine struggled to keep pace.

Not far from our position was a large stable protected by two guards. We approached them and the lady warrior stopped in front of them, then commanded them to do something without much energy. The guards complied immediately and disappeared into the stable before reappearing a few moments later, accompanied by a magnificent horse.

His fur was as black as ebony and he looked majestic. He was tall, slender and his mane was combed with great care.

When he approached the woman, he neighed slightly as if to show his joy at his mistress. The woman smiled slightly and caressed her faithful steed, and without further ado, dismissing the two guards, the horse started to move slowly towards the exit.

Unable to fight, I had no choice but to follow them as we quickly moved away from the castle.

The view outside was breathtaking. The castle was high up, so I could see a large portion of the city from my position. It was a particularly intoxicating sight, but I had to admit that my mistress didn't share my opinion given her lack of reaction.

As we walked along, I couldn't help but wonder. What were the reasons why she had made me her slave? What did she have to gain? One thing was clear: I wasn't going to rot here forever. As soon as the situation was in my favor, I would leave.

When we reached the outskirts of the city itself, my mistress rushed down the main street without further delay. At this hour, few souls were wandering the streets. There were a few drunks, but I also noticed the presence of soldiers at regular intervals, which made the environment quite safe.

When the few inhabitants saw us, most of them stopped and stared at us with an expression of fear and fascination. Seeing a slave was probably not something unusual, but seeing a slave like myself accompanying a woman like her must have been a sight few people had seen in their lives.

Nevertheless, this situation did not move my owner who continued her way nonchalantly. Finally, after venturing into the avenues of this megalopolis, we came to a portion of the city where several small houses of similar shapes and sizes were gathered.

After a few minutes, we arrived at a certain house and stopped.

It was a fairly ordinary building if I had to be honest. It looked like any other house but it had a small stable where the woman could park her horse. The general condition of the house was quite good and the roof which was made of red tiles rested on top of the only floor that made up the house.

My mistress dismounted her horse and parked it in her stable before leading me inside the house. The interior was just like the exterior. There were some furnishings and I could see that it was an interior inhabited by a woman, but if I were to compare my house and hers, the latter seemed quite poor in the end.

A question crossed my mind, however.

"Couldn't she live in a bigger house? Why settle for so little?"

This was something she was used to. I was sure that a celebrity like her should have had enough money to live a life of luxury.

The woman locked the door before leaving me alone in the small lobby. As I found myself free of all restraints, I began to question the woman's sanity. Wasn't she afraid I would run away? Or did she think she could prevent me from escaping with her physical strength alone? However, I did not move from my position. Something was whispering in my ear to avoid trying anything at all.

I continued to examine the interior when the lady of the house came back to me and waved her hand. We walked into what looked like a living room. There wasn't much furniture in it: a wooden table with a few chairs around it, a chest of drawers where the dishes were stored, books in a small bookcase and finally a strange sofa with two large cushions and two wooden armrests.

As soon as we entered the room, my eyes were drawn to an object lying next to the dresser.

"My helmet!" I exclaimed with surprise.

Without hesitation, I approached it and observed it. It did not seem to be damaged in any way, and I realized that it must have been brought back by this woman. I hastened to thank her, although I wasn't sure she understood me. She stared at me with astonishment and then as if she understood what I meant, she nodded her head in approval.

Shortly afterward, she motioned for me to come closer to her. I carefully put my helmet back on and approached the table, not without some apprehension.

Then she untied my hands and while straightening her chest proudly, spread her arms with a nonchalant air. I looked at her in disbelief, not knowing what to do. As time passed, I could see her annoyance growing more and more as her eyes stared at me with some displeasure.

"Don't tell me she wants..." I muttered.

Unfortunately, my fear was confirmed when she called out to me in a slightly firmer tone. Her mouth curved down slightly. She expected me to take the initiative... But I had no desire to become her servant. I shook my head to show her my refusal and to make her understand that I would never be submitted like that.

As my eyes met his, I felt goosebumps on my back and my forehead began to sweat profusely. A murderous glint was reflected in the corner of her eyes. She slowly lowered her arms and stared at me.

The atmosphere between us suddenly became extremely tense and I instinctively put one foot back.

However, the next moment my vision blurred and I felt the coldness of a sharp object against my throat. When I looked down, my eyes widened slightly.

Without my having had time to react, the woman had drawn her weapon and was threatening to slit my throat if I didn't obey. Her rather neutral gaze had become incredibly cold. There was not the slightest benevolence in her eyes, it had become the look of a predator ready to pounce on its prey. Feeling that my life was hanging by a thread, I swallowed deeply as my mind worked at full speed to find a solution to this bad situation.

This woman would not hesitate to kill me if I disobeyed her. I understood then that if I wanted to survive, I would have to avoid playing the hero to her...

She repeated her order a second time, without batting an eyelash, while continuing to press the blade of her sword against my neck. I could feel my skin tearing little by little under the edge of the blade.

Having no choice, I had to resign myself for the moment. Slightly embittered, I nodded my head and then, with a wave of my hand, pushed the sword away. Slightly surprised by my action, she raised her eyebrows slightly and finally sheathed her weapon shortly after.

"Similar," I thought dejectedly.

The woman remained standing and raised her arms.

"Aylee zabeht," she said suddenly.

I froze and stared at her in amazement. What was she trying to tell me? It didn't sound like a common word, but rather a name. She complied again and pointed at herself, repeating the same thing.

"Aylee... zabeth... that makes me think of Elizabeth... It will be easier for me that way," I thought before answering her. "John," I said while pointing at myself.

"John..." she whispered as if desperately trying to keep the word from ever slipping out of her memory.

Shortly after, she nodded and told me to continue where I had left off.

I looked at her armor while trying to figure out how to remove it, but it was not an easy task. The way the different pieces were fitted together was more complex than I had imagined. To remove the whole thing, I had to get rid of the gauntlets that protected her forearms first. Moreover, I had to be careful not to touch any inappropriate place...

However, I was struck by the weight of the gauntlets. How could she wear such equipment all day? Fortunately, they were easy to remove and I had no trouble taking them off.

Once that was done, I carefully placed them on the table and then moved on to the shoulder pads.

These were attached under the arm with leather laces and covered with fabric to avoid friction against the skin. They protected the shoulders against adverse blows and were made of a black metal indistinguishable from cast iron. However, they didn't seem to be but I had no idea where they came from.

Once these were removed, it was then the turn of the breastplate.

It was attached to the torso using straps on which holes were drilled to accommodate the metal parts that were attached with a leather hook. The breastplate was composed of two parts: a front face and a back face.

The back face clipped with the front and protected completely her torso. The two parts were joined by metal hooks.

As my fingers unclasped these, my gaze couldn't help but wander to her ample breasts.

"Hmm," she quipped.

I regained my seriousness and, after several attempts, I finally untied the breastplate. This one was quite heavy and once again I found it difficult to imagine this woman fighting with such equipment.

When the breastplate and backplate fell into my hands, her compressed breasts were released, revealing her ample form. However, I pretended not to notice and placed the equipment on the table as well.

As I was about to take hold of her belt, at the end of which rested the scabbard of her sword, Elisabeth interrupted me and withdrew it by herself before placing it delicately at her side. Presumably, a warrior's weapon was something untouchable for a slave like me. And a fortiori, she was right to do so because I had the idea to seize it when she was not expecting it, but I noted with frustration that it was a lost cause.

Besides, it was a safe bet that when I grabbed her weapon, she would disarm me in no time before cutting me down mercilessly.

Then she sat down elegantly and held out her foot to me while staring at me with a haughty look.

"What an obnoxious mistress," I thought and sneered.

After sighing surreptitiously, I knelt and held out my arms to remove the first boot, but as I was about to do so, my gaze was irrevocably drawn to her crotch and my mind instantly froze.

"What the... is this a joke?" I cried.

Without waiting for my reaction, Elizabeth pushed me back violently with her foot before hiding her private parts. She then started to shout at me, her face filled with rage and shame.

I didn't understand. Was it fashionable to wear no underwear in this world? This situation was beyond me.

In my homeworld, everyone wore underwear and those who didn't were considered perverts. Was my mistress a pervert? There was little chance. It was then that I suddenly remembered that even the King was not wearing anything under his toga either.

Just as she was about to slash me with her sword, the woman froze in her tracks. Seeing my distraught expression, she slowly calmed down and looked at me with a puzzled expression. A few moments later, she sighed with annoyance and motioned for me to move a few steps away before removing her boots herself.

Now she was wearing only a cloth top and the bottom of her uniform, which consisted of a leather skirt that hid her private parts.

As I looked at her, I found myself contemplating her. She was slightly muscular but not too much and her undressed outfit only accentuated her charm.

She stared at me from her position with a cold look on her face and then grabbed the chain and tied me to a nearby wooden pillar before disappearing into another room while taking her sword with her.

I took the opportunity to examine my surroundings in more detail. From now on, I would have to live in this place. I had to get my bearings quickly. The only possibilities to escape were through the door and the windows. But the biggest problem was to get out of this damn chain. I had neither the strength nor the dexterity to remove it, and by the time I did, Elizabeth would already be facing me. It was as if it was a lost cause for the moment.

I sighed once more.

"How am I going to get out of this?"

A short time later, Elisabeth reappeared, dressed only in a tall, thin dress that hugged her curves. Her sword was still within reach and the sight of it made me feel even more depressed.

She then took me to the room she had come from. It was a bathroom with a large metal bathtub where the hot water came out in thin wisps of steam. The water seemed to be piped in and heated by a strange system that I didn't know. It was installed under the bathtub and I could feel a certain warmth coming from it.

The interior was cozy and welcoming. There was a chest of drawers near the entrance where I could see several bottles of various lotions placed in front of a large mirror illuminated by candlesticks hanging on the walls of the room. The atmosphere was subdued and intimate despite the simplicity of the house.

I assumed that it was now my time. It was true that my body odor was most horrible, but I had gotten used to it over time. Besides, until now, I hadn't had the luxury of thinking about anything other than survival.

Click. The sound of the harness was heard and my mistress immediately removed it, giving me back the semblance of freedom I had lost. Surprised by this, I turned around and looked at her quizzically. She nodded her head and invited me with a wave of her hand to go and wash at once.

The moment not being chosen, I decided to leave aside my ideas of freedom. Hearing no more noise, I assumed she must have left and sighed again.

As I approached the tub, I could smell the delicately scented water. After all, it wasn't surprising that a woman would take care of her body. Although I wasn't as coquettish as she was, I was fine with it.

As I immersed my hand in the water, I felt the heat gradually warm me up, creating a slight shiver down my back. Then, carefully, I removed my clothes and placed them on the stool in front of the mirror. The underwear was stained with blood and my back was hurting, but the pain had eased slightly since that moment.

Once naked, I entered the hot water while releasing a moan of happiness. Despite the tingling of my wounds, I was ecstatic.

"Goddamn, this feels so good!" I whispered as I leaned back against the edge of the tub.

Despite the pain, I was so tired from spending those few days in jail that I fell asleep within moments.

***

Elizabeth was sitting at the only table in her house. She was not a materialistic person, she was satisfied with the bare minimum. She thought that the wealth she could accumulate would be more useful to the Kingdom than to her. This showed how much she invested in her role. Besides, she wouldn't have known what to do with so many objects for herself. She had always lived by and for the sword. Her life had been one of resilience and endurance, punctuated by combat and training. She had never really thought about herself. But "this day" she had decided to be selfish. Maybe it was unreasonable on her part, but in the end, it didn't matter.

When she first saw this man, she was intrigued by his uniqueness. This person was dressed curiously, he looked quite eccentric in fact. The coat he was wearing was made of leather, but it was tanned in an unknown way. Also, its obsidian black color was incredibly deep. She had never seen anything like it in her life. She knew that leather could have many colors depending on the animal killed, but what could have been the one used to make this coat?

However, what surprised her the most was the helmet that the soldiers had brought back from their expedition. It was an object that seemed to be from another era and completely useless in combat. Being a military woman, she was used to seeing various equipment around her. But the qualities of this object made it almost a work of art. No craftsman, in her memory, could ever make it. Although it was not used as a piece of equipment, she had to admit that it was much more comfortable than anything she had ever worn before.

For this reason, she had decided to take the helmet with her and bring it back to her house. She didn't want the King to know about it. Knowing him to be greedy as can be, it was a safe bet that he would claim it for himself.

"But where could this person come from?" she had asked herself.

Even Daeven, the great rival, and a great friend had not been able to answer her. Yet he could boast of being recognized by her, there were very few.

Then, when she had accompanied him in front of the king, she had been subjugated by his nerve.

Never, oh never, would she have imagined that someone could stand up to this almighty King. It had been a shock for her who had always made it a point of honor to act perfectly in front of her superiors.

Normally, this stranger would have accepted the reward offered to him by his king. But it was not so. He had refused it as if it were vermin.

In the end, her assessment of him had been greatly enhanced and her curiosity had only increased with time. She wanted to know more about this man and understand who he was, where he came from.

That's why she had decided to make him her own. Something told her that if she let him die, she would miss out on something extraordinary. So she had to concoct a plan to keep him alive, but she couldn't override the King's directives, no matter how despicable he was.

Thanks to the jailer's complicity - the threat - she had made sure that he would not be killed, but she feared that this ordeal would destroy his mind.

Yet, to her surprise, he had held his ground.

When she saw him for the second time, she had been able to discern in his eyes the gleam of life, a will capable of facing many obstacles.

"Really, who is he?"

Time passed quickly and Elizabeth did not see her slave leave the room and became worried. She knew he wouldn't be able to escape through the tiny bathroom windows. That being said, it must have been easily an hour that she had been waiting and no sound could be heard.

"Don't tell me..." she thought with dread.

She knew he was hurt, but she couldn't imagine him dying from his injuries. If that had been the case, she would not have hesitated to make the jailer pay.

Immediately, she got up and ran to the bathroom. When she opened the door, her heart sank as she saw the blood running down the tub. The man wasn't moving and looked effectively dead.

"No... Please don't let him be dead..." she whispered bitterly.

She slowly approached him and checked his pulse. A few seconds later, she sighed with relief. He wasn't dead, just asleep. She regained her seriousness and woke the man up at once.

***

I was awakened with a start by the water that had been poured over my face. Still confused and foggy, I stared in amazement at my landlady who was staring at me with a cold look.

"Looks like I slept a little too much..."

While scratching my cheek with embarrassment, I searched for my words but my landlady didn't give me time and threw a towel in my face while slamming the door violently. The message was clear.

Soon after, I came out of the bathroom with my clothes soaked in blood but refreshed. Even my wound seemed to be less painful than before.

When I arrived in the living room, Elisabeth was sitting at the table, arms and legs crossed, staring unperturbed in my direction. The feeling of embarrassment only increased, as I had not been able to apologize until now.

As I was about to speak to her, I saw her attitude suddenly change. She frowned and thought hard. Then, without waiting, she ordered me to sit down on one of the chairs.

"What does she want from me now?" I asked suspiciously.

But she seemed determined and, while staring at me with her icy gaze, urged me to come closer. I didn't know how to react, but it didn't seem that she wanted to hurt me. If she did, she would have killed me a hundred times by now since my release from prison.

"Let's do it this way, for now, then we'll see."

I sat down and she stood up in turn, then, while making a motion with her hands, ordered me to take off my top.

I looked at her with incomprehension, but seeing her murderous look, I decided to comply and did so on the spot.

When my top was off, she went away for a few moments before coming back with a basin of water in her arms, as well as some sheets and a bottle filled with a mysterious liquid. She placed them gently on the table and made me turn around to show her my back.

I was surprised by this special treatment. Indeed, I didn't think she was going to treat my wounds while she was glaring at me the moment before. And yet, against all odds, this woman applied this strange ointment to my back. Soon after, I felt the pain subside until I no longer felt any discomfort. I didn't expect the ointment to heal me instantly, but I had to admit that after that, the pain was gone.

Once the treatment was applied, she bandaged my wounds and put everything away as soon as the treatment was over.

It was quite an embarrassing situation and I didn't understand the reason why this woman was treating me. After all, I was a slave and I doubted that all the slaves in the city received the same special treatment.

When she returned, she motioned for me to follow her and we went into the kitchen. There she showed me what looked like a stove and ordered me to prepare food without delay. Wide-eyed, I watched in amazement.

"Do I have to make her food? On the other hand... I guess I don't really have a choice..." I muttered in frustration.

No sooner had I thought about it than Elizabeth had disappeared from the room. Wearily, I resolved to do as I was told. If I didn't cook for her, I didn't dare imagine what would happen to me, and if I wanted to eat, I had no choice but to act.

The kitchen was quite rudimentary compared to the one I had when I was still living in my world. And yet, this one was not the most elaborate compared to some high-end models. However, this kitchen had just about everything I needed to cook. There was a kind of stone stove that could cook just about anything in this world. The only problem was how to start a fire, but luckily for me I always had my lighter.

The room wasn't very big, but vegetables were resting on a large table next to me while the utensils were stored in a cabinet nearby. As for the meat, it was hanging from the ceiling and had been smoked to preserve it over time. Freshwater was available in a sink and flowed out as soon as the tap was turned on. It may have been primitive, but for the time, it must have been quite technologically advanced. Did all the inhabitants benefit from it? It was hard to say. Nevertheless, it would make my job easier.

I didn't know what to do and I was a terrible cook myself, but my mistress wouldn't wait forever.

"Vegetables... Meat... Let's try this!"

I decided to make a stew. It was a pretty basic dish and easy to make.

I cut up the vegetables after washing them and then threw them into a kind of metal pot and boiled the water at the same time. I took the opportunity to throw in some pieces of meat to give it some taste. There were some spices on the side and one of them caught my attention. Tasting it, I was surprised to discover that it was salt. I sprinkled a few pinches into the pot and after a few minutes of waiting, a delicious smell spread through the room.

Elisabeth, attracted by the smell, appeared in the kitchen and went mechanically to the pot. When she saw what I was preparing, she raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise and a slight smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. She then went back to her business as if nothing had happened, leaving me to finish cooking.

"Did I reach the first step?" I asked myself expectantly.

I didn't expect her to have a favorable reaction to my cooking, it was pretty good.

When the cooking was finished, I set the table and served the meal to my mistress who was waiting calmly on her chair. She had also brought a bottle containing a strange drink and a glass. Shamelessly, I also decided to serve myself a portion and sat nonchalantly in front of her. She stared at me with amazement for a few moments before taking a cold attitude. On my side, I continued to devour my food. I was so hungry that I did not pay attention to her. It was only when I heard the sound of her sword being drawn that I froze and stared at her while sweating profusely.

She approached me and pointed the tip of her blade at my jugular while ordering me to leave the table.

"It seems that eating with her is forbidden to me... Gosh... Can I at least finish my meal?" I asked with embarrassment.

But noticing that her sword was digging deeper and deeper into my flesh, I complied without further ado and stood up before being skewered by her weapon.

After leaving the table, Elisabeth sheathed her weapon and went to sit down again before continuing her meal. I stood in front of her, looking dazed and unsure of what to do about the awkwardness, but she didn't seem to mind.

The meal ended without a hitch and Elizabeth leaned back in her chair with a calm face. However, I could see that she didn't take her eyes off me for a moment and although I had plenty to say, I didn't dare to retort for fear that she would get angry.

"What can she be thinking about? Is it good? Is it bad?"

I had only known her for a short time, but I was beginning to grasp a bit of her personality. This woman was temperamental and didn't like it when people went against her advice. She was modest and satisfied with the minimum, however, she made a point to have an impeccable attitude and in all circumstances. In all honesty, I didn't hate this person. She wasn't inherently bad, but her character was difficult to deal with. She was perhaps a little too much like my ex, which was what bothered me the most.

The fact that she had a high place in the hierarchy was only the result of her accomplishments and it was likely that her attitude had a lot to do with it. After all, in a world like this, if you couldn't play by the rules and didn't have a strong enough character, you'd end up being eaten up by others and eventually fall into total ruin. It reminded me somewhat of the brothers in the club, although the situation was completely different and there were probably no bikers in that world.

Therefore, I had better adapt and learn to behave like the natives if I wanted to keep the little freedom I had at the moment. As long as my mistress was happy, I was safe. I could only hope that Nyfeirg and Myra would come for me soon.

As I was getting impatient, Elisabeth asked me to come and sit at the table. I eagerly complied and finished my now cold meal. Even though the taste had faded, it did not diminish my appetite and in a few strokes of the spoon, my plate was emptied. During this brief moment, Elisabeth was watching me and had served both of us a glass filled with the bottle that had been brought in earlier.

When she handed me the glass, I was surprised to feel a strange nostalgia as I smelled the scent of the liquid. The color was reddish and rather dull. It immediately made me think of...

"No way..." I said with astonishment.

I suddenly took a sip and widened my eyes a few seconds later. It was indeed wine. It had been a while since I tasted it. However, this wine had a strange texture. I couldn't tell what it was, but it tasted different from what I knew.

I glanced at Elisabeth with a bewildered look on my face and she had a delighted expression. She had expected my reaction. Out of curiosity, I asked her what it was and pointed to the contents of my glass. She thought about it and then answered me: "Wayne" with honesty.

"Wayne...? That sounds suspiciously like the same word..."

Even though this world was different, maybe not everything was. There were some similarities between my world and this one. I was more and more convinced of this, but why? A strange feeling came over me, but it disappeared immediately after I thought about it.

When I finished my drink, Elisabeth put the bottle away carefully in a cupboard and went to get ready for bed. I tidied up the table and cleaned the dishes and put them away before returning to the living room. When I saw Elizabeth, she had the harness in her hand with the chain hanging from the end.

"Hey... I'm not going to run away anymore, is that really necessary now?" I asked, half convinced.

Unfortunately, the latter did not seem to agree with me and came to place the harness around my neck. Although I wasn't the most comfortable having this object on me, I had to show her that she could trust me. Maybe she would let me roam around outside one day if I was docile enough for her?

After that, Elisabeth showed me my room. It was a small room with a bed and a dresser, but nothing more. It was rather austere, but at least I had a bed. Elizabeth said something to me before leaving the room and turning off the lights. The house was then plunged into total darkness and silence invaded the room. The only discernible noises were those of the city or of the insects that were singing everywhere.

With weariness, I undressed as best I could and then lay down in my bed. This one was rather hard but incomparably more pleasant than this modest wooden board in prison. There was no pillow, but I was already happy with what I had.

While looking at the ceiling, I was thinking about what to do to get out of this situation. Unfortunately, nothing came to my mind, but very quickly, I became tired and my mind sank into the night darkness.

The next morning, I was awakened with a start by Elisabeth who shook me like a plum tree, taking me out of my morning cocoon. When I saw her cold look, I knew I had failed in my duty. It wasn't her job to wake me up, but rather the opposite. However, I thought it was a little unfair to be mad at me when I had just arrived, but I couldn't tell her so I put aside my remarks and got up.

It was still dark outside, but I could see the sun gradually rising, announcing the beginning of a new day. Elizabeth was already wide awake and waiting for me to dress her. After stretching, I left the room and joined her in the living room. When she saw me appear, she pressed me more and showed me the table. Her things were there and ready to be put on. She sat down disgruntledly and proudly handed me her right foot.

I didn't want the same thing to happen, so I pretended it wasn't happening and looked away while avoiding looking at her crotch. Once the boots were on, Elisabeth stood up and held out her arms, beckoning me to put her top on. Once this one was put, I placed her shoulder pads and finally her gauntlets.

Now that she was dressed, my next task was to prepare the meal. Not knowing what a lady of this world ate for breakfast, I reheated yesterday's leftovers and brought her bread and water.

Elizabeth did not seem to be a big eater in the morning and only ate a few pieces of bread and a few spoonfuls of warmed vegetables before taking a sip of water. Once that was done, she showed me a broom and some rags, making it clear what I was doing for the day. Once the orders were given, I nodded my head, and Elizabeth, looking delighted, left the house shortly after. She rode her faithful steed and said one last thing to me before taking the road to the palace.

As she left, I could see that other people were going to their work.

Shortly afterward, I returned to the house and sat down at the table to finish my meal. Then, after cleaning the table and washing the dishes, I got to work and began scrubbing the floors in each room. When I arrived in Elisabeth's room, I found a relatively large room with a large bed, several bookcases, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a table, and some chairs. There was no decoration in the room, so the atmosphere seemed somewhat austere.

The books that adorned the bookcases caught my eye. My curiosity got the better of me and I was forced to take a look. Alas, I discovered with dismay that the writing was also incomprehensible. The only apparent thing was that these books seemed to be novels. As for what they said... That remained a mystery to me. I put them away carefully and did the task that had been assigned to me, and when the first part was finished, I started to clean the floor and the windows. These were composed of several squares of glass and formed a mosaic that covered the entire window, protecting the occupants of the house from wind and weather. There were also wooden shutters and these required maintenances, but I had neither the knowledge nor the desire to maintain them so I simply ignored them.

"Ending up like this... I don't know what to say," I sighed while looking at the horizon.

If someone had told me that I would end up as a servant in a world parallel to mine, I would never have believed it.

As I was about to go home, a man carrying a satchel approached the house. I turned and stared at him quizzically. When he saw me, he stopped only a few steps away from me, looking haggard.

"He looked like a mailman, maybe he has something for her?" I asked.

As he was about to leave, he noticed the harness around my neck and stopped in his tracks. He said something to me before handing me a letter from his bag and giving it to me before going back to his business.

The letter was rather thick and there were some illegible sentences written on it, but as it didn't concern me, I decided to put it aside and give it to Elisabeth when she would come back.

After that, the day passed quickly. The cleaning of the house did not last very long and by noon I was almost finished. I took advantage of my break to eat what there was and then relaxed while watching the movement of the crowds outside.

According to my observations, this lot of houses was only used by the military. There were not many of them, but they all wore high-quality armor, although not as refined as Elisabeth's, revealing their status in the hierarchy. There was also a large rampart that encircled these housing estates and only one entrance that screened the passages. Beyond that, some mountains and cliffs prevented any intrusion. However, even if the majority of these residences were surrounded by ramparts, I could easily see the city and the people going about their business.

During the morning, the number of people kept increasing and when the sun was at its zenith, the crowd was so dense that I could no longer make out any details.

When the afternoon was over, I went to prepare the bath for my mistress. By doing so, I was sure to gain confidence points. The more I had, the more she would trust me and the less pressure I would feel from her.

She finally came back when the sun went down. As she approached, I helped her off her horse and parked it in its stall. After giving the horse a drink and some food, I went inside and closed the door.

Inside, Elisabeth had grabbed the mail that was certainly intended for her. I could see her fingers peeling off several thick sheets of paper on which an anthology of words was written. Strangely enough, her usual impassive expression was transformed at that moment. As her eyes were reading each word carefully, I could see her expression getting lighter by the minute. However, when she noticed my presence, her face became inexpressive again and she carefully put the sheets in their envelope before taking it to her room.

When she came out, she stood in front of me and looked at me thoughtfully. Then she nodded and said my name once.

Then she held out her arms and stared at me, suggesting that I get to work. Sighing slightly, I tried to look as pleasant as possible and helped her remove her armor while being careful not to repeat the same mistakes as the day before. I didn't want to end up dead tonight, I still had my life ahead of me, and I was going to enjoy it.

Once rid of her armor, Elisabeth rushed into the bathroom without waiting and slammed the door.

"Not even a thank you, while I cleaned up everywhere and prepared her bath..." I grumbled while looking in her direction.

I was ranting inside and starting to wonder if I could handle this life for very long. If there was one thing I hated, it was doing other people's work, especially if those "other people" didn't thank me when I did it. Wouldn't it hurt them too much to show a little appreciation? Or was it normal not to thank your slaves when they did the dirty work for you? Come to think of it, maybe it was normal? After all, why be grateful for something normal?

Before, I really didn't lack anything. I had everything close at hand: water, food, electricity, air, freedom, but I had never felt indebted to anyone or grateful for what I had in life. It was then that I realized that this woman's attitude was the same as mine before. To her, a slave had to be obedient and do all the chores that the master didn't want to do. That was the role of a slave, much like the role of a door which was to open or close. So why be grateful to a simple door? That was the problem: a "simple" door, a "simple" slave.

Leaving these philosophical considerations aside, I set about preparing the evening meal while the mistress was bathing. Even though it was only the second day, I had already gotten used to being a slave. At the same time, it was in my best interest to do so if I wanted to survive. However, even if I showed my docility, she would never have me completely.

This time I wanted to cook beans with a little meat. The problem was that I didn't know the right cooking time for this kind of food. My test yesterday had been successful by chance and also because they were vegetables. I was not a cook and I had never succeeded with anything other than pasta. It was all the more surprising for me that I managed to cook something halfway edible. However, I was beginning to doubt my mistress' culinary skills...

After boiling the water and putting the beans in, I prepared the meat and added it to the pot. The water was cooking both at the same time, so I thought I was saving time. Half an hour later, Elisabeth came out of the bathroom, refreshed and smelling orange blossom.

Seeing her hair still wet, her casual outfit, made me feel lustful, but I was careful not to let her know it. However, my eyes couldn't help leering at her generous forms. The strangest thing was that my impudent attitude didn't seem to bother her too much. Was she doing it on purpose? Or was she indifferent?

Elisabeth approached me and observed what I was cooking. When she saw the pot, she frowned. I looked at her with a worried expression. Was this the wrong way to do it? Suddenly, I began to break out in waves of sweat all down my back. However, despite my apprehension, Elizabeth didn't say a word and just stared at the water evaporating from the pot.

"Say something, do something, but don't just stand there and say nothing!" I screamed inwardly.

Despite my desperate situation, I continued to stir the water, pretending to appear unmoved, but the more time passed, the less I could control myself. Feeling the inquisitive look of this woman was making me feverish.

Just when I thought I couldn't hold on any longer, Elisabeth left without saying a word.

"Phew! That was a close one," I thought as I sighed with relief.

Yet, despite that, something was still bothering me. I watched my dish, unable to detect any problem. Finally, after several long minutes of fruitless observation, I decided to give up.

When the dish was cooked, I brought it to the table and served it to Elisabeth. This same ritual was going to be my daily routine, yet being forced to watch someone eat without being able to do so was torture.

With a look of apprehension, Elisabeth analyzed the dish meticulously. The dish itself didn't seem to bother her, but she had to wonder how it would taste while having seen how I had prepared it.

"Is it really that strange?" I wondered.

And then, as if spurred on by a burst of courage, she picked up a bean and tasted it. For several seconds, she chewed delicately, trying to grasp the texture of her bite without frowning once. While staring expectantly at her, my forehead was sweating slightly. Was she going to like my food? Would I live tonight?

Although I was not afraid to die, if I could avoid going from living to dead, I would be greatly grateful to this woman.

After an interminable moment, Elisabeth put down the fork she was holding and gave me a cold look. I felt a chill down my spine. What was the final verdict? Were the carrots... were the beans cooked?

"That look again..."

That look was unpleasant. Every time I saw it, an unbearable irritation washed over me. It was a look devoid of life, or perhaps devoid of consideration.

However, against all expectations, Elizabeth did not react as expected. She nodded and continued her meal quietly.

"Is that it? Have I earned a reprieve? Will I win the lottery now?"

My mind was already racing at the prospect of a bright future, but that sweet dream would remain as it was as things stood. There was no way she was going to let me go anytime soon after acquiring me.

When Elizabeth had finished her meal, she poured herself a glass of wayne and sipped it slowly. Her gaze kept shifting between her glass and me. It was certainly not the first time she had taken time to observe me, but I could not determine the nature of her thoughts. This woman was as graspable as the wind.

Now that she had finished eating, she allowed me to do the same. Without hesitation, I helped myself to a good portion and wolfed down my meal in no time. Not really disturbed by my rude behavior, nor the fact that I was sitting opposite her, Elisabeth continued to observe me from the corner of the table without saying anything. On my side, I was too busy to pay attention to her. My stomach had been screaming since mid-afternoon and all I wanted to do was eat.

At the end of my meal, Elisabeth offered me a glass of wayne again and we both drank until she emptied her glass. The evening ended like this and as I lay in my bath, my mind wandered to the stars.

"What a shitty life..." I thought bitterly.

The next day, I managed to get up before Elizabeth came to argue with me and as I was about to clean up the table after breakfast, she took me outside and the two of us headed into town.

As we walked through the perimeter walls, I couldn't help but think, "I hope she's not planning on sending me back to jail, I'm sick of this kind of place." But very quickly, my concern was replaced by surprise. Not only were we not heading for the castle, otherwise my future would have been in jeopardy, but instead we were heading for the city center.

At this hour, the street vendors were preparing their stalls while the others were opening their stores, gently awakening the city from its nightly languor. A few carts were rolling down the avenues accompanied by the sound of hooves and the murmurs of onlookers.

As I walked, I could see the eyes of the people staring at us. Elisabeth was slightly ahead of me and was holding me by the chain attached to my harness like a dog on a leash. It was a very humiliating situation for me, I wanted to run away and make this woman pay for the affront she was making me suffer, but I could not do it. The sword hanging at her waist was threatening enough to take away any suicidal urge.

I restrained the murderous impulse that was making my blood boil and watched her buttocks wiggle with a cold look. Elisabeth turned slightly towards me with squinted eyes but after a few seconds of amazement, I gave her a radiant smile. However, inside, my mind was in shock.

"The instinct of this woman is frightening..." I said, dumbfounded. "How does she do it?"

Not at all convinced by my meager performance, she snorted haughtily and then looked away.

As we went on, I noticed that the houses were getting more and more beautiful and bigger than those before them. This must have been the area of the rich. The inhabitants were also starting to come out one after the other and the metropolis was waking up like a wave slowly gaining height.

A man approached us with a confident step, he was well-dressed and his hair was cut with a knife. When he was only a few meters away from us, he stopped and greeted Elisabeth with passion. She also greeted him and both exchanged with a certain fervor, but the one who expressed the most was undeniably our interlocutor. His eyes were sparkling like stars, and his gaze kept going over the face of the woman in front of him. When he saw me, the light disappeared immediately and his gaze was filled with cold hostility. However, this only lasted for a moment before he looked relaxed again.

Elisabeth glanced at me before taking leave of her interlocutor a short time later and resumed her walk quickly. When our eyes met, I saw all the animosity he had for me at that moment. Neither of us looked down and the latter whispered something to me before leaving with an annoyed look.

We finally arrived at a large square where a huge market was set up. At this time of the day, a thin transparent veil had settled on the houses and was gradually disappearing to make way for a radiant sun. However, at that moment, there was already a commotion in the air. I could hear the voices of customers as they approached the stalls, I could hear laughter and chatter. It was a good atmosphere and there was no doubt that this town was thriving. However, I felt apart in this human tide.

Despite my sense of isolation, Elisabeth continued to walk until she approached a vegetable vendor. He smiled broadly when he saw her and motioned for her to come closer. Strangely enough, he did not seem to be frightened by the presence of this woman but was exulting with genuine joy. Even my presence did not make him react too much, he was a true professional at heart.

As we approached, as if dictated by a pre-established script, he presented Elizabeth with several types of vegetables, each more appetizing than the last. I was astonished by the quality of the food. Never in my life had I seen such vegetables. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some were blood red, some were scarlet blue, some had a purplish tint. Some of them looked like vegetables from my world, but from what little I could remember, these vegetables had never looked so resplendent. They looked so perfect that I hoped they were fake.

"How do they grow them? If these vegetables were sold in my world, everyone would rush out to buy them..."

There was no way these vegetables could be fake. Elizabeth and the merchant were talking to each other without bothering with my inner questioning.

On the other hand, the onlookers around us were exclaiming with surprise at seeing my mistress and some did not hesitate to come and greet her. I could see how much this woman was appreciated by the people, it was a warm scene to see. Moreover, her usually cold face turned out to be more expressive than I had imagined. This difference between what I knew and what I was observing disturbed me deeply.

After a few warm greetings, Elisabeth paid the merchant and made me carry the groceries while she went to another stall. Once again, the same scene unfolded before me. By the way, none of the locals spoke to me. Of course, I could feel a few prying eyes, but nothing more. I was as if invisible in front of them as if the simple presence of this woman was enough to eradicate mine like a star with a blinding light. I was not the only one in this situation.

Next to me stood a child, her brown hair disheveled and her face pale. The most peculiar thing was her long ears that protruded from her hair and wagged sporadically as she listened to conversations: she was an Elven. Again, I thought that maybe Myra was exaggerating when she said that her people were destined to be slaves in the hands of Humans, and what I had seen at the castle must have been an exception... But I was wrong. I was completely wrong.

She was accompanying an old man and he was conversing with some fine ladies. None of them were paying any attention to this child, it was as if she didn't exist.

When our eyes met, the child was shocked. She probably didn't think that another Human could be a slave like herself. She watched me for a long time until she was taken away by her master. However, she continued to stare at me until she disappeared into the crowd.

"This world is more corrupt than I imagined..." I thought with some fury in me.

When Elisabeth had finished shopping, and my arms were bursting under the weight of the packages, we went back to her house. It must have been past noon because the sun was at its zenith and the heat was beginning to be suffocating. At that moment, I wasn't wearing my leather jacket, but I couldn't help but feel the sun's rays burning my back wildly.

When we got home, I put the bags in the kitchen and let out a slight groan of relief. While Elisabeth rested, she ordered me to put the groceries away and prepare lunch at the same time. Words were not necessary, it was easy to guess her intentions from her gestures and her look.

We had bought many vegetables and fruits with shapes and smells that were unknown to me. The meat was salted and put away where it should be while I heated some oil on a pan.

For lunch, I had decided to prepare the fish that Elisabeth had bought and thought of grilling it while accompanying it with bread and vegetables.

The result of this experiment was catastrophic. Not only was the fish burnt, but the vegetables were bland. When Elisabeth discovered my unsuccessful attempt, she almost sliced me in half before pulling herself together.

As she rubbed her eyes in despair, she seemed to notice my inability to cook. After a long sigh, she shook her head and grabbed my arm firmly before pulling me into the kitchen.

There, she tied her hair and grabbed a knife, and threatened me severely. She was determined that I should observe her and become sufficiently self-sufficient once I had learned her teaching. Despite her apparent reluctance, I could see that she was enjoying the task. However, watching her insistently seemed to make her uncomfortable because the more my eyes stared at her, the redder her cheeks became.

At one point, as if overwhelmed by discomfort, she stopped and looked at me with slightly moist eyes while a small pout appeared on the corner of her lips. This somewhat childish attitude made me smile and I couldn't help but let out a slight laugh, which had the effect of embarrassing her even more.

Nevertheless, she didn't stop and continued to cook while making sure that I retained her gestures perfectly. I was able to understand where I had gone wrong and where I should be more careful not to make the same mistakes again. I did not doubt what she would do to me if I ever failed again.

As I watched the oil crackle on the stove, I came to realize that my situation was not as bad as it seemed. My condition as a slave didn't give me much freedom, but seeing ourselves, side by side, as lovers left me wondering what the real reason for our relationship was.

Was I simply a slave? I had to admit that imagining her in my bed was a very tempting image, but my mistress was certainly not of that ilk, given her catatonic reaction to the depraved King. Besides, she had never shown any real interest in me until now... No, that wasn't right. I had to admit that her demeanor indicated a certain amount of attention to me, but between that and something else... The demarcation was very vague.

"No, I can't let myself get so disillusioned. If I ever make the slightest mistake, it will be more than my head that falls off..."

Finally, the meal was successful. After this training, I could cook with more ease than before. It was clear that Elisabeth was not only a good soldier but also a talented cook... The question that came to my mind was: "Why did she let me do it when she was better than me?"

A few days passed and our cohabitation became easier and easier. Elizabeth became less bossy and seemed to soften, which was nice. On my side, I felt that my understanding of her was deepening little by little and it became rarer and rarer that she was irritated by my actions. Meals were more festive as her satisfaction grew.

One evening, as we were having dinner, Elizabeth was finishing her meal quietly when she invited me to join her in the living room. I still wasn't allowed to eat with her, but at least our relationship had improved greatly.

After clearing the table, I brought her her favorite drink and poured her a glass. The creamy nectar wafted through the air with its delicious smell and intoxicated my taste buds. I had become accustomed to the taste over time and was even beginning to enjoy it.

As usual, Elisabeth also offered me a drink. As I was about to take the glass, she invited me to sit next to her. My muscles froze for a moment, still in shock at the offer. It wasn't a problem to stand in front of her or to sit at the same table, but this request was completely different, and I wasn't sure of her intentions.

"What does she want from me? Is this a trap?" I wondered suspiciously.

Normally, I would have been reprimanded for such an attitude, but strangely enough, Elisabeth did not hold it against me. On the contrary, she laughed softly and smiled warmly at me. My eyes widened as I watched her reaction. It was the first time she had shown me such affection. Should I conclude that I had passed the second stage?

She repeated her request and lightly patted the sofa cushion. Without delay, I complied and she handed me a glass of drink before I could even say wow. As she leaned back with a casual look on her face, her eyes darted in my direction before narrowing. I had adopted the same attitude as her, one arm leaning against the armrest and the other on the back of the sofa. This explained why I had a bird's eye view of her and the indentation of her skimpy dress. Her long, slender legs swayed happily in front of her as her hair slid down her arms.

On closer inspection, Elizabeth was a beautiful woman. Her perfectly proportioned body reflected a strict but balanced lifestyle. If someone asked me what I thought of her, my answer would be very positive, for sure.

For a moment our eyes met. I could see a strange consuming passion in her eyes as she was staring at me. I didn't know if the alcohol intensified this somewhat idyllic vision, but I found her particularly charming this evening. When she had finished her drink, she looked at it with a certain nonchalance and then threw me a languid look while shaking the glass.

The carafe being empty, I went to fill it before returning to my place. Elisabeth held out her glass slowly and while staring at me, she said my name. As I was about to serve her, I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her with a puzzled expression. She then approached me.

"Close... Too close..." I thought.

Our faces were separated only by the carafe and I could make out the small details of her skin as well as observe my reflection in her big green eyes. The sight of her lips moving faintly hypnotized me completely.

Suddenly, Elisabeth smiled mischievously and then stepped aside before leaning back against the sofa.

"Wait... Is it me or do I feel like I've been had?"

A strange feeling of defeat came over me and as she gazed down at me, her glass kept stirring as she waited to be filled. Leaving aside my considerations, I filled it for her, and Elizabeth, while maintaining her victorious attitude, enjoyed her drink with relish. As for me, my mood only deteriorated and as I sank into depression, I gulped down the rest of my drink before pouring myself another.

The evening went on like this until I felt the effect of the alcohol overwhelm me. We must have emptied two decanters... Or maybe twelve? Whatever... I could feel my eyesight starting to blur... Elisabeth seemed perfectly at ease, she was looking at her glass insistently, as if something was wrong. Strangely, I could not get a clear pisrit... Clear... The... I... Why was it so hot?

As my gaze fell on Elizabeth, my body froze instantly. What I was seeing before me left me speechless.

Two seconds earlier, she was standing next to me, perfectly sober, and then, all of a sudden, I saw her undressed, revealing her slightly swollen skin. If that's all it had been, I was used to it, but what was more amazing was the beauty that was coming out of her at that moment. Had she ever been so beautiful before?

Elisabeth approached me slowly, like a tigress ready to devour her prey. The sight of her breasts moving to the rhythm of her movements was simply incredible. Then I felt her fingers caressing my leg and then slowly moving up my torso. I couldn't help but follow her hand as it slid over me, caressing my muscles with a delicacy I never thought possible. Then my head was drawn towards her and hit her chest with a crash. It was a sudden and relentless attack. I had no chance of escaping, and even if I could, I wouldn't. Mechanically, my fingers came to grip her breasts and I heard a slight moan escape from her mouth.

As we embraced, Elisabeth straddled me and rode me like a fury while her hands feverishly grabbed my hair. The passion carried us both away like two travelers unaware of their destination. All the frustration that had built up in me was released at that moment and all that remained was a beast with a heightened carnal instinct.

Suddenly, Elisabeth stopped me and took me towards her room while staggering. I wasn't doing very well either and we almost stumbled a few times, but we finally reached her bed and dropped on it like two wrecks.

My head was spinning more and more and I suddenly felt the urge to vomit. I sat up to calm the violent spasm that was overtaking me, but Elisabeth embraced me and pulled me back into the bed.

Then she straddled me again and, as a thirsty vampire, she began to bite my neck while violently undoing my clothes. Her fingers caressed my chest before going down on my crotch. Her lips stuck to mine and I could feel her tongue rolling around in my mouth. I thought we were going to conclude, but against all odds, Elisabeth straightened up with her eyes wide open as if she had just met her death.

Her complexion paled immediately and I could see her body shaking with shock. I wanted to touch her chest again, but she pushed my hand away in despair and, without warning, struck me, so hard that I didn't have time to feel the blow reach my jaw.

The blow had been so swift and powerful that my mind instantly vanished, replacing the soft glow of the candles with endless darkness.

When I woke up, I was leaning on the living room table, a glass of wayne between my fingers and a bad headache to boot. As I tried to recall the recent events, I felt that something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what.

The sun had just come up and I could hear the birds singing outside.

"Ouch..." I said while feeling my jaw ache. "When did I do that to myself?"

As I fumbled with it, I could see that it was slightly swollen as if I had taken a beating, but I couldn't remember where or how it had appeared.

A curious sensation soaked my lips. It was a pleasant sensation, like a delicious candy that reminded me of the happy days of my childhood. Images came to mind. They were blurred and difficult to interpret.

"Was it a dream?" I asked myself suspiciously. "It seemed so real..."

It was then that I saw Elizabeth standing not far from me, looking somewhat distraught and trepidatious. She was looking at me with a flushed face but with a sharp look in her eyes.

"Elisabeth, are you all right?" I asked while straightening up.

But this one remained motionless.

"Ah, I forgot that she doesn't understand me... How am I..."

Suddenly, I had an idea. I showed her my thumb while nodding my head. She tilted hers uncertainly. She seemed to be trying to decipher my signs. Suddenly, she had an epiphany and copied me.

"Okay, she seems fine... Ouch, my head... I better get to work..."

I immediately sprang into action and headed for the kitchen, but Elizabeth pointed to the bathroom with emphasis.

"Ah, if that's what you want... You don't have to ask me twice!"

She released me from my harness and let me go. I gave her one last look before heading to the bathroom. It was true that I smelled of alcohol and sweat. As I undressed, I could see marks on my chest and neck.

"I wonder where I got these wounds..." I asked myself in front of the mirror.

***

Elizabeth watched John disappear into the bathroom before breathing a long sigh of relief. Contrary to what she had expected, he didn't seem to remember their torrid night, which was good for her. However, although the situation can seem under control, her feelings, them, were not. She felt her heart racing every time she met his eyes and her thoughts became uncertain, which was completely unexpected.

She slowly walked over to the table and stopped a few steps away before she felt herself falter.

"By the gods, what have I done?" she questioned in dismay. "How could I have..."

She touched her lips and remembered their passionate kiss from last night and blushed scarlet. She wasn't very resistant to alcohol but knew how to control herself. The big question was why had she let herself go that time?

"Calm down, Elizabeth. Everything will be fine, it was just a mistake... A mistake... Please, someone, kill me..." she whispered with shame.