into servitude

Six months have passed since that fateful night. The local duke sentenced you be taken by the city guards as a servant. You will remain a servant until 20 years have passed after which you will be a free woman once more. 20 years was how long the guard you killed had left on his contract. After six months your belly has grown large to compensate for the child you now carry. You made peace with being a mother all those months ago in that pillory. You gently rub your belly as you watch the morning sunrise. The sunrise signals the changing of the guard as the night shift guards file in for the day. You have already prepared yourself for them as you lay naked on one of their beds. The guards promised to be gentle with you until your child is born. At which point they have made it clear they want to impregnate you again. You never thought you would be a mother so quickly in life but here you are. It’s not much of a life, but at least your alive right?