The lords patience is tested

You are not so foolish as to throw your life away, but you're still not so willing to accept this new prison you find yourself in. You survived ten years among brutal orcs, you can figure out how to survive among a nest of self absorbed nobles. Granted, the orcs were easier, you just had to lay on your back. An idea does briefly run through your mind; your captor will not long focus on you and your belligerent behavior if there's larger problems to be resolved in the castle. If things become increasingly out of hand with you around, but can't be pinned explicitly to you, they may figure you are more hassle than you are worth and let you go. Of course, it could also lead to your ****; that's a risk you'll have to take.

You wait for the servants to return to your room. Just one this time, the slightly more adventurous of the two that visited you earlier. She seems more reticent than before, as if something looms over her as well.

"Miss...Boudicca?"

"Boudicca is fine" You reply plainly enough "I'm afraid I never caught your name."

"Mirjare" She replies, a slight foreign accent showing in the saying of her name. She looks to see you much as you were "You still aren't dressed. Lord Shallis will be highly displeased if you continue on in this way. I don't think you want to test him."

"Well, I am highly displeased that my life has been destroyed by this Lord Shallis. He's just going to have to deal with it. Do you have any idea what his fascination is? What does he even want with me?"

"I suspect he finds you to be quite beautiful, which I would have to agree with him on..." Mirjare's face turns slightly pink at the admission "He also probably takes pity on you. He has a fierce temper, but he is normally an incredibly kind and empathetic man. I suspect he wants to make you a noblewoman as a reparation for what happened to you, and so that he may...have you."

"Is the dear Lord Shallis not married?" You raise an eyebrow in curiosity

"No, he is. That matters for little in noble society like it does for us commoners. At least, it matters little for noble men." You pat the edge of the large bed, and the servant girl kindly sits down as you continue your conversation.

"That's what I was afraid of. He wants me to be his trophy, both in the ballroom and the bedroom." You sneer at the thought

"Boudicca, I don't mean to be rude, but is that really so bad? Most would take the offer you're being given without a moments hesitation."

"Would you?" You ask kindly.

"Oh, Lord Shallis would never have an interest in a common girl like me."

"I'm no less common than you. If the rules can be broken for me, they can be broken for you. If he did offer it to you, would you take it?"

"Certainly, without question. But I" You start to move before she can get the remainder of her thought out. You open the chest in the room to find a lovely purple dress and in a fluid motion take it and throw it at Mirjare"

"Boudicca, what are you doing?"

"Switching places. Take your clothes off."

"What?" She stammers, not understanding

"You want to be his trophy? I want nothing to do with him. I'll be the servant girl, you get to live your dream out."

"But he would never accept it! This is absurd!"

"You're probably right, but it can't hurt to try, right? Just this once, wouldn't you at least like to pretend to be a noble woman? Everything you need is in here..."

Mirjare bites her lip at the tempting offer "You're right, let's do it" She still shows some nervousness and embarrassment as she removes the clothing of a petty maid, likely from being naked in front of you. Once she begins to put the dress on though, she loses that fear. Helping her into it, you see her eyes linger on the expensive mirror in the room, in utter adoration of how she now looks as a regal woman of nobility and wealth. She giggles a little "This is amazing, I don't think I ever want to take this off."

"Good" as you peck her cheek "Make them take it off you if they have to. It's made for someone like you." As you take the frumpy, dirty clothing and put it on "And this is more for someone like me. You stay here, I'll go tend to your rounds." You both giggle again at the absurdity of the idea, both knowing that this will not be accepted for long. You walk out, heading towards the kitchen, where Mirjare would normally expect to get her new instructions. The person seemingly in charge, a tall, rotund woman with graying hair and grayish clothing, looks flabbergasted at your presence.

"What is this? Who in Ten Hells are you? Where's Mirjare? She should be here by now!"

"I'm Boudicca, Mirjare and I switched places. I believe you can call her Lady Mirjare now..."

Your attempt at humor is not received well. The tall woman snuffs at you "Oh, I see. You're that traitorous slut that was saved from the orc camp. Why they bothered with you is beyond me."

You take pause with her words "I'm sorry, but traitor? I did nothing of the kind"

"You're a traitor to humanity!" The senior woman's thoughts expressed bluntly and loudly, all the other servants in the room hearing, but none daring to stop what they were doing "Giving yourself to those wretched animals. I would be amazed if you even had anything inside you capable of bearing children." Your temper grows in rapid fashion, but you bite your tongue. This is the world you live in, the world you left. A small voice in the back of your mind remembers that you once thought the same as they do; you walked towards the orc camp hoping to die. It was only though being around them that you began to understand them.

"Well" You respond in as polite a tone as you can muster "traitors don't deserve to be noble ladies, so here I am, willing to serve my penance."

"You're right about that much, at least. Wait here, slut." She moves about the large kitchen, and returns to you with a large platter of food "Here, take this to the Promenade. There are guests being hosted there. Provide what you have and disappear. The best that can be hoped for is that you do not embarrass his lordship, or me. Now move.."

You scurry out quickly with the food and drinks provided. The allotment is heavy, more so in that you haven't carried much of anything since your farming days. Being bossed around like this feels a lot like it did than; fearful of doing everything exactly right in order to avoid retribution and punishment, usually violent. In the hurry to avoid derision you forgot to even ask where the Promenade even was, and had to spend the next several minutes figuring it out on your own. Once you found it, you felt a small degree of shame, as you figure out the path to have gotten here wasn't really that difficult, had you not turned yourself around and retraced your steps a few times.

The promenade itself was an expertly manicured place with lush lawns and vibrant, trimmed bushes and beautifully flowering potted plants, with a working fountain in the center. It was currently occupied by a jubilant group of men, all seemingly holding large hammer like objects and standing around a collection of brightly colored balls. Among the crowd was Lord Shallis himself, whose warm expression changed suddenly for the worst.

"Wait, what are you doing here? Where's Mirjare?" His noble guests all had bemused faces. The instruction was to effectively deliver the items and leave, this was now impossible. You couldn't answer the question honestly, not without embarrassing him and tempting wrath, so you dodged it slightly "I... thought could be helpful. I'm not used to just sitting around and not doing anything". It was honest enough statement, the only omission being that the thing that was frequently done being fucking.

"This was not part of the plan, and those clothes are beneath you." The noble guests can no longer resist their curiosity.

"What's this all about now? Has Lord Shallis dipped his tongue in forbidden waters?"
"Yes, what are these plans you speak of? And who is this woman? Not one of your regular servants, clearly."

"Pay her no mind, gentlemen. She is beyond your notice or concern, for now." Lord Shallis turned to you with a dark glare "This woman will be leaving immediately and to do as she as instructed."

Your temper flares again, and this time is uncontrolled "This woman has a name, your eminence. Your servants at least had the dignity to learn it, something you have failed to do." The noble guests look on in faces of shock and macabre glee. A particularly gaunt, long-nosed figure asks "My my my, who is this common trash who dares speak to a Lord as an equal? What brothel whore did you pop out of?"

"My name is Boudicca. I had been living among the orcs willingly for the past decade. Lord Shallis' men attacked their camp recently, slaughtered them and took me as a prized prisoner." While none of the men are sympathetic to your plight, the gazes of the other gentlemen turn shrewd.

"So, the increase in incurssions is vengeful than. This is all your fault, I take it Lord Shallis?"

His own quiet demeanor breaks as well, turning first to his friends "Pay her no mind. She was saved from those horrid monsters. If not for a careful eye and a kind heart she would be dead. I brought her here to bring her back into human society, and give her a privileged life to compensate for the tragedy she endured. Surely you all can see this is for the greater good. Surely you can all see the benevolence here."

"What I see is a blunder and a wasted opportunity" The gaunt man replied "**** with the orcs has only increased, no thanks to your actions, and you want to turn a tool of negotiation into your pet."

"A pet I will not be, to you or to anyone else. I lived with my family in fear. I lived freely among the orcs. I will not be subjugated by fear again, by you or anyone else!"

"Enough!" Lord Shallis erupted, grabbing your neck and hoising your small frame into the air. With a few small feet crossed, he threw you at the stone fountain, falling flatly into the water. Laughter is expelled at your expense, but a half-hearted, obligatory laughter. "Well, at least now you can claim to have had a bath. Wallow there for a time, and do not test my patience further. You will learn your place Boudicca, and you will learn it shortly. Or you will quickly learn what happens to those who test the limits of my benevolent mercy." Lord Shallis turns militantly away, leaving the promenade with his friends. The mysterious and shrew man lingers, extending his hand out "It would seem one way or another, you've had your share of indignities, without having to deal with this." You reach for his hand gently and step out from the fountain, soaking wet.

"Lord Shallis is a kind soul and means very well. I hope you understand that" He states solemnly, looking down at you in gentle scorn as a teacher would a student. You respond scornfully "No kind soul eliminates two tribes of orcs on an evening of celebration."

"That can be debated upon, but that is for another time. What can also be said is that Lord Shallis is very stubborn in his machinations, and does not see very far past his own nose. He does what he believes is right for the Empire, as do we all. You do not seek to be his pet and I respect that. Where he would make you a pretty ornament to wear around his arm, I would make use of your knowledge and your experience, if you are of mind."

"How so?" You ask.

"That comes later, I'm afraid" He replies with a mischievous smile "For now, know that it involves you playing along with his plans, and that it will eventually end in you getting the justice you so rightly desire. Farewell, Lady Boudicca..." The man gives an oddly reverential bow, violating normal social bounds between nobles and commoners, but done in the privacy of just you and him. With a soft clack of his shoes, he turns around to quickly join his comrades, leaving you alone with your thoughts.