A chance meeting.

I walked down the stairs and exited the castle in the front area, sighing as I felt the sun on my skin. That actually felt a bit revitalizing. A reprieve from the monotony of living life as a noble. Corset aside, I actually now felt like I could breathe a little.

I walked along the grass, just taking in the fleeting sense of freedom. I knew already that eventually, I would have to walk back into that castle, and once again have to face life with responsibilities I never asked for. I sat in the meadow, taking as deep a breath as my tight, "fashionable" clothing would allow.

As I sat, I considered how I was going to weasel my way out of the next marriage arrangement, and grimaced. It was getting harder and harder to get away with actions that made my potential suitors lose interest. Maybe I could last until I got someone tolerable at least, but I knew that it was inevitable that one day, I would get married off. Unless I did something drastic. I looked out towards the forest, and actually contemplated running away, going to live a peasant's life. But where would I go? I didn't have enough knowledge of the outside world to make a life for myself as a commoner. My noble education did not cover that kind of menial labor.

Before I could contemplate much more, the foliage in the treeline rustled, and I paused, tensing. Was it some kind of animal? I stood as quickly as I could in my constrictive outfit, in time to watch as a man exited the treeline, looking a bit disheveled, but full of purpose.

In his hands was a golden idol that caught my gaze, but I looked back towards his face, my heart skipping a beat. There was a certain... Allure about him. I took a step closer to him. "Hello there," he said to me, smiling.

"Erm..." I replied, drawn to that smile. I felt strange. Butterflies were fluttering about in a frenzy in my stomach. "Hello, Master," I replied. I didn't know what compelled me to call him that, but my heart soared the moment I did. Like a weight I didn't even know was on me was suddenly lifted, and I had just discovered the secret to complete bliss.