Chapter 311: A Slave’s Experience (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 311: A Slave’s Experience (4)
Alberic’s mansion was the ultimate goal for every servant working in the Lorencius Duchy.
Even among the maids of the same duchy, one’s salary and treatment varied drastically depending on whom they served.
It was a position everyone coveted.
For Rami, who had entered such a mansion overnight, no word was more fitting than “parachute hire.”
A parachute hire had nothing to do with competence, so in a mansion overflowing with capable servants, there was nothing for her to do.
She couldn’t cook.
She couldn’t clean.
If she were a hired maid, they would have kicked her out, but as a slave, they couldn’t even do that.
But even the most useless person has at least one thing they’re good for. The task Rami was given was organizing the warehouse.
It was manual labor that anyone with hands and feet could do, no special skills required.
She was stuck with the grunt work.
“Organize everything from here to here, and finish cleaning up. Don’t even think about eating until you’re done.”
The senior maid relayed the instructions and left.
Rami was left all alone in the warehouse. She stared blankly at the space, which was packed to the brim with items.
The head maid had definitely told her to work with the other maids, but she was the only one left. It was obvious they had run off to mess with her.
They were probably hiding somewhere, watching her right now. They were undoubtedly giggling amongst themselves.
So this is that female rivalry thing?
The life of a pretty girl. Never a moment’s peace.
Still, I have to do what I have to do.
What choice did she have when they said she wouldn’t get to eat otherwise?
Rami rolled up her sleeves and began to sort through the items in front of her, one by one.
First, she started taking out the junk that had been piled up haphazardly from the top and placing it outside.
Take it out.
And out.
And out again.
She moved things for a long time, but it felt like nothing had changed. The warehouse wasn’t that large—about the size of a small dorm room, at most.
Even so, it was filled with supplies, and it was by no means an easy task for a woman to handle alone.
To make matters worse, it was the middle of summer, and doing manual labor in a cramped, dusty warehouse made it doubly exhausting.
“Ugh… a little time-out.”
Rami finally collapsed onto the floor.
This dress.
It was so uncomfortable.
It was restrictive, for one.
Wrapped up from her shoulders to her ankles, there wasn't a single gap for a breeze to get through. Her hair was black, and the dress was black, making her feel even hotter.
She desperately missed Azyeth in that moment.
At this rate, she felt like she would collapse from heatstroke. She had to do something.
“Could you give me a hand for a second?”
Only her body had changed; the rest of her was the same.
A doll-like, watery-blue liquid form appeared before Rami.
A water spirit.
It was a spirit she was particularly fond of using.
She washed her hands, her face, and her neck, then drank some water. Only then did she feel like she could live.
Her fatigue lessened, a small but meaningful improvement.
But it wasn't a fundamental solution.
Her entire body, even the skin under her breasts, was drenched in sweat, and she felt disgustingly sticky. But it wasn’t like she could take a bath.
“Heave-ho.”
After a moment of thought, Rami pushed her tired body back up. She moved to the back of the warehouse.
If it’s hot inside, I just have to cool it down.
She summoned another spirit.
A wind spirit.
But if she just had it blow wind, it would be no different from fanning herself inside a steamer.
A collaboration with the water spirit was in order.
She would have it blow wind while spraying water.
Rami grabbed the hem of her skirt and lifted it. A cool, water-infused breeze began to blow into the sweltering space beneath her skirt.
As the sweat evaporated, she felt a wave of refreshing coolness.
“Haaaaah…”
A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
This was it.
This was sex.
Even without her slaves, she could take care of herself. She felt a sense of pride in her own development.
Just as she was cooling down and about to get back to organizing the warehouse, she saw him.
Alberic was standing at the entrance, though she hadn’t noticed when he’d arrived.
“Why are you coming from over there?”
“I was tired, so I was taking a little break.”
“Since when does a maid get to rest whenever she pleases?”
Why is this bastard here to bust my balls again? Is he on his period or something?
…Does this body get one?
She really hoped not.
Somehow, she managed to stop herself from blurting out her true thoughts.
“What brings you here?”
“Trying to change the subject, are we? I asked why you were taking a break without permission.”
“Isn’t it better to take a short break and get back to work than to collapse and create a void?”
“Do you think your absence would even create a void? Do you truly believe you’re that essential? A slave is someone who can be replaced the moment a spot opens up. You should be well aware of your place.”
Should I just quit?
No, be patient.
She couldn’t let a little tantrum from some man ruin her fun.
“Am I that useless?”
“Of course.”
“Then shouldn’t you just let me go?”
“…So, what were you doing in the warehouse? Planning to steal something?”
Look at him, smoothly changing the topic.
The way he ran away when he was at a disadvantage made Rami think that Alberic, not her, was the one better suited for a gender-swap.
“I was organizing the warehouse.”
“This warehouse? By yourself?”
“When I came to my senses, I was alone.”
“Hmm.”
Alberic turned his head and looked around.
“Do you need help?”
“You expect me to do this all by my— Hoo…”
This wasn’t right.
She couldn’t let her emotions get the best of her.
Composure, composure.
Like a slave trader.
Like back then, when she hid her emotions and swayed people with her silver tongue.
Rami took a deep breath, calming her irritation.
She put on a fresh smile.
“I would be grateful if you helped.”
“Are you telling me to perform such lowly labor?”
No, but this bastard keeps picking a fight with me. How am I supposed to keep my composure?
This arrogant noble prick who lives for his own self-importance. He’d be nothing without his daddy.
“Hoo…”
Composure, composure.
Rami effortlessly regained her poker face. If you thought you saw something, you were just imagining it.
“If you’re not going to help, would you mind stepping aside? If I don’t finish this, I don’t get to eat.”
“Very well.”
Alberic finally moved to the side.
Rami re-entered the sweltering warehouse.
But he only moved aside; he didn’t leave.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
“I said I would move aside, not that I would leave. I’m going to watch you suffer, drenched in sweat, so don’t mind me.”
“…Suit yourself.”
Rami realized that simply ignoring him was best for her mental health. She was glad she’d figured it out now, at least.
If there was one piece of womanly knowledge she had acquired before starting her work, it was that tying up her hair was more convenient in many ways.
When eating, when working.
It was only shoulder-length at most, but even that was far too long for Rami, who had been a man.
She had considered chopping it all off, but could she really cut the hair that was called a woman’s lifeblood?
She took a tie from her apron pocket and simply tied it back. It pulled at her scalp a little, but it was better than having it get in the way.
With her preparations complete, Rami began organizing the warehouse again.
*
The summer sky was soaked in twilight.
“Ugh…”
Rami stepped out of the warehouse, stretching her stiff back.
Thanks to her non-stop work, she had managed to finish organizing the warehouse before the day was over.
The backlash from overworking her frail body was immediate. Her limbs trembled, and she had no strength left.
She hadn’t had much strength as a man either, but at least she’d had more muscle than this.
But the current Rami…
What little muscle she had was gone, replaced by soft flesh. And to top it all off, she had two large things attached to her chest.
They were nice to touch, but they weren’t suited for physical exertion. In fact, their jiggling just got in the way.
Her palms, which didn’t have a single callus, were also sore from moving things all day.
A woman’s body is so fragile.
No wonder they risk their lives to cling to a strong, capable man.
Thinking about how Narsha had become so strong in a body like this, she felt a newfound respect for her.
“Are you finally finished?”
Alberic spoke to her.
He had left for a short while as Rami worked, but he had ultimately remained in the warehouse until she was done.
As if he were watching over her. He kept giving her looks whenever she tried to rest, so she hadn’t been able to.
Doesn’t this bastard have anything better to do?
An utterly useless human being.
“Yes, I’m all done.”
“It doesn’t look like anything has changed. Wasn’t this just a waste of time?”
“You got it. I’ve slacked off enough, so now I’m going back to eat, wash up, and sleep.”
Rami took a step toward the maids’ quarters.
But she couldn’t even take a single step before she staggered violently and collapsed to the ground.
“Haah, haah…”
She had no strength left in her body.
The fatigue was much worse because she wasn’t used to this body.
“Do you need help?”
“……”
“I could help you, if you ask.”
She would rather die than ask.
Rami would rather crawl a hundred times over than ask that guy for help, but unfortunately, she didn’t even have the strength to crawl.
Accept help, or sleep here for the night.
There was only one choice.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, just leave me here. I’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”
Was he suggesting she let a man carry her on his back?
She’d rather just sleep outside.
Thump.
She planted her face right where she had fallen on the lawn and lay still.
What is with this woman?
Alberic stared at Rami with a look of disbelief. Her appearance and minor actions exuded an air of nobility, but in some ways, she was a complete tomboy.
It was as if two souls were mixed in one body.
The more he looked, the more fascinating she was.
She was a woman he couldn’t ignore.
Alberic approached the collapsed Rami.
“You’re still here? What are you doing?”
He moved without answering. He rolled Rami’s body over so she was facing the sky, then swiftly lifted her into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m helping you because you look pathetic, crawling on the ground like a worm. Be grateful. I’m helping you at the risk of getting my own clothes dirty.”
“I believe I said I didn’t need your help. Are you laying your hands on a woman’s body without her consent?”
“Even if I were to take liberties with your body, what resistance could you possibly offer when you don’t even have the strength to walk?”
“Eh.”
Rami felt a shiver run down her entire body.
The helplessness etched into the female chromosome when facing a man. A primal fear.
If I scream, will Mirabelle come save me?
As her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do…
“Judging by your expression, you’re having some lewd fantasies. You dream big. I have no intention of laying a hand on a filthy slave, so discard your useless worries.”
“Phew~”
“……”
Alberic made a vow in that moment.
He would make sure to discipline this slave, no matter what it took.