“I’m telling you, we’ll take care of it, Miss.”
“R-Really, it’s okay..! I’ll wear it…”
With faces stained with desire, they reached out a hand to me. I waved my hands in refusal, signaling my unwillingness.
When I stubbornly turned them down, they seemed to give up. One by one, they began to leave the room, handing me the clothes.
“Sigh… Miss, you really… well, we’ll be outside, so please call for us anytime if you need anything.”
As all the maids called by Rozalin exited, I flopped onto the large bed in the room like a deflated balloon.
“Huu… I’m so overwhelmed…”
Following Rozalin’s guidance into the bathroom, I found several maids dressed in maid outfits standing by.
When I said I would wash myself, they insisted it was fine and began to strip off my clothes, exposing my bare skin…
“Ugh…”
Remembering that moment, my face started turning red.
Am I supposed to wash like this every time?
‘But it was comfortable…’
I just lay there in the tub, and they washed me from head to toe, thoroughly clean.
I guess the grand mansion isn’t just for show. They used a variety of cleansing products I had never seen before.
As I gently inhaled the scent of my now softer hair, the cozy strawberry aroma wafted around, tickling my nose.
I picked up the clothes they handed me.
A black lace dress.
This thin, lightweight outfit seemed like it was designed for comfort.
After taking off my shabby clothes, I changed into what the maids provided.
It took me quite a while to tie the straps on my back, but after several attempts, I successfully donned it.
“Wow…”
Looking in the mirror in the room, I saw a beautiful woman that could make even a pampered noble lady look plain.
Was it the luxurious clothes? My appearance, one I had never seen before, felt incredibly foreign.
Speaking of which, the room assigned to me was massive.
It was vastly larger than the tiny studio I had lived in before the possession.
Various shelves and decorations adorned the room, adding to its elegance, and the bed in the center was big enough for five adult men to sleep comfortably.
A room far too extravagant for a mere slave like me.
As I reveled in the softness of the bed, I heard a knock-knock at the door.
“Miss. It’s Alina. May I come in?”
“Ah… Yes! Please, come in!”
As I permitted her, a girl with brown hair who seemed to be around my age entered.
She was the maid who had been the most enthusiastic about washing me in the bathroom. She introduced herself as Alina.
“I beg your pardon. The Master wants to dine with you, so I came to escort you.”
“Is it… Athena?”
At the mention of her name, Alina’s eyes widened with surprise, reflecting a startled expression.
I quickly realized my mistake and corrected myself.
“Oh… I mean, did Lady Athena call for me?”
“Uh… Yes, she’s waiting in the dining room.”
I had just started to feel hungry…
Athena, waiting to have dinner with me.
Despite still feeling some resentment towards her, I wanted to avoid a meal alone with her.
But, under Alina’s unwavering gaze, I eventually rose from the bed.
Thus, I followed Alina as she guided me through an endless-looking corridor.
Feeling a bit bored just walking, we chatted about various things, which helped me learn a bit more about her.
Alina was a commoner, traveling across the Empire with her father, who was a merchant.
However, one day, a monster appeared unexpectedly during their travels, and Alina, who was supposed to perish there, was saved by Athena’s timely arrival.
Having received an unpayable grace from Athena, she began working as a maid in this mansion to repay her in whatever way she could.
“The Master is really amazing! I’ve never seen someone so strong. If I were a guy, I might have fallen for her at first sight.”
Alina’s eyes lit up at the mention of Athena, ceaselessly bragging about her.
“Ah… Yes…”
Alina, that person isn’t as good as you think…
Does this girl have any idea that I was forcibly turned into a slave by her?
She probably wouldn’t speak like this if she knew.
I wanted to reveal Athena’s wicked true nature, but I decided to keep quiet, not wanting to break Alina’s deep admiration.
“I heard Lady Hera is someone the Master holds dear. How did you two meet?”
Her sparkling eyes looked at me, and I felt a bit pressured.
“Uh… It just happened somehow…”
“I’m envious! It would be wonderful if I could receive some attention from the Master too…”
Her innocent words felt slightly mischievous.
But I figured she meant no harm.
I smiled at her and gave a positive response.
“If someone as cute as Alina was around, who wouldn’t like you?”
“Uh… Oh my! Lady Hera…”
After staring blankly at my face for a moment, Alina beamed with renewed energy.
“By the way, you are really beautiful too! Your eyes look like pretty jewels, and I can’t help but keep looking at you!”
Alina suddenly began to shower me with compliments.
Unaccustomed to such praise, I looked down to avoid her gaze.
“Ah… It’s nothing…”
“Oh my… You look so cute when you’re flustered!… Ah, we’ve arrived.”
As I lifted my head at her words, a splendid door came into view.
“Inside, the Master will be waiting for you. Well then, I must be off.”
With that, Alina bowed her head to me.
As I followed her example and bowed, she flashed me one last smile before turning and heading back.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the grand double doors with both hands.
As the doors widened, the dining room revealed itself.
A white space seemingly sacred, made of white marble.
In the center stood a large table that looked as if it had been made of silver, shining radiantly.
And at the far end sat her.
Athena, who appeared even more regal in the refined surroundings.
“You’re here, Hera? Come eat with me…”
As Athena looked up while speaking, she gazed at me with a somewhat dazed expression for a moment.
Then, she abruptly pushed back her chair and strode towards me.
“W-What are you doing…”
She drew close and gently turned my face to meet her eyes by tilting it upward.
“…You look much prettier dressed like this, Hera.”
Then she pressed her face against my neck, starting to sniff me.
“Haah?! W-What are you doing?!”
Shocked, I pushed her away, and she smiled back at me with a slightly flushed face.
“Haah… You smell good too…”
Her voice was something an old pervert might say, making me glare at her coldly.
“…Don’t say weird things.”
“Hehe… You must be really hungry, right? Hurry and come sit. It’ll be delicious.”
As I sat down at the table following her, an array of dishes appeared before me that I had never seen in my life.
They were delicacies that looked like they could be served at a five-star hotel, making my mouth water unexpectedly.
As I took a trembling bite, the food melted in my mouth.
So this is why expensive food comes highly regarded.
Before I knew it, I was instinctively enjoying the dishes.
Athena, resting her chin on her hands as she watched me, smiled contentedly.
“How is it? Do you like the food?”
I felt blush creeping up as I munched mindlessly.
The food was undoubtedly exquisite, but for some reason, I didn’t want to simply admit it, so I replied in a low voice.
“Uh, no? It’s not that great… The food that Dania made was much better.”
Dania’s cooking was indeed exceptional.
Though it wasn’t made with expensive ingredients like this, it provided a sense of happiness and warmth.
No food could match Dania’s cooking for a lifetime.
As I said this proudly, Athena’s expression hardened.
“Hmph… Is that so? Our chef must be rather useless then.”
“…Huh?”
“Thank you, Hera. Thanks to you, I can get rid of a talentless freeloader.”
“Ah… Wait a second…”
The unnamed chef’s life was at risk because of my little lie.
The thought of such an excellent cook suffering because of me made my heart race.
“I’m just going to check on the kitchen. It might not taste good, but please bear with it for a bit.”
As Athena stood up, fearing a truly innocent person might be let go, I quickly grabbed her hand.
“N-No! U-It’s super delicious! Really!”
Athena looked down at me coldly.
“Did you not just say it was awful?”
“Th-That was… uh…”
As I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence, she brushed my hand away and started to walk away.
“It’s fine, Hera. You won’t be affected.”
With each step she took toward the door, my heart pounded even harder.
I pushed my chair back and leaped up, shouting at her.
“I’m s-sorry!! I lied…. It’s really delicious!!”
Stopping abruptly, Athena turned her head to glance back at me.
Like a wild beast eyeing its trapped prey, she looked at me intensely.
“…A slave lying to her master, huh…”
Silenced by her threatening aura, I could only gulp nervously.
Seeing me, Athena’s lips curled into a wicked smile.
“Our Hera…”
“It seems you need to be punished.”
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