Many questions... and the food market.

"Um... may we go to the food market? I want to buy ingredients so I can, uh... start making you balanced, regular meals," you chance.

"Oh? And why's that?" Runemeyer asks, tilting his head to the other side like a curious cat.

"You mentioned you forget to eat, and it was because you get so wrapped up in your experiments and research... So I figured that that meant, most of the time, when you remember to eat, you make something quick or eat out... So, uh... I want to start making you full, balanced, nourishing, and tasty meals. I-If that's okay..."

Runemeyer immediately bursts into an elegant laugh. "Oh, my little pet... I knew you were something special when I saw you, but this exceeded even my expectations! Such attention to my needs, even the ones I didn't even state clearly! How sad your mother decided to sell you as a ****... You would have made an incredible wife."

You feel your face heat up. That should be an insult to most, but... you're pretty sure that, with the way your mother prepared you to-

"No."

"...What?"

"Pet, your mother prepared you your whole life to be the perfect housewife so she could marry you off for a massive dowry, yes?"

You watch as they start walking down the cobblestone halls of the Tower Market. You hastily move to pad after them, conscious of your unsupported breasts smacking against your knees. "C-Can you read my mind?"

"No. It's just written all over your face, pet." The wizard giggles. "And I must say... you're wrong. This isn't you finding your second-best destiny. This is just you meeting the expectations of your mother's second decision after her first for you fell through. Either way, whether you become a housewife or become my chore girl... You are still only feeling fulfillment because it's what someone else chose for you. You may enjoy what you do... but it is not true fulfillment, as you're only fulfilling the mold someone else chose for you."

...You're not smart. You're self-aware about that and not willing to lie to yourself about it. This never occurred to you, and it all seems awfully philosophical, but... You get the gist of it. "Um, so... what should I do, Archwizard?"

The androgynous wizard gives you a mysterious, yet knowing smile. "Oh, my little pet... That shall be your goal. In fact, consider it my only direct order I ever give you as your master... Find what it is you truly want in your life. Find something that gives you fulfillment not because of what you were prepared by someone else for, but because of what you personally desire for yourself. Something that brings you happiness and validation to do, not something that brings someone else happiness or something that causes others to validate you. Find something that makes you your own person, not what your mother tried to prepare you to be... This is my only order for you, pet. Everything else, I merely request it or leave it to your own agency. On this, you have my word."

You're about to object, but with a glow to their staff, you see Runemeyer was already tracing a glowing blue rune in the air, which enters their heart. Was that another Seal of Promise?

"Archwizard, are you sure you should do that? You've now not only vowed to protect, support, and never abandon me, but now you can't give me any orders... What if you regret it?"

"Oh, I shall never regret it, pet. I find restrictions and self-imposed limits to be... exciting! Sometimes, in fact, it is when we have restrictions that we become our most resourceful and creative. Thus, I relish in the idea of having limitations. If anything, it is something of a pastime for me." They chuckle again.

...Then you best figure out what, exactly, Archwizard Runemeyer needs you to do. You hold your breasts in your arms as you follow your new master down the huge flight of stairs to the floor of the Tower Market dedicated to produce and foodstuffs. "Will I need to buy cooking utensils, Archwizard?"

"No, no. I have a fully-stocked kitchen within my tower, I just rarely ever use it."

Oh, that's good. "What is your tower like?"

"It is fairly remote, so that I may conduct my experiments without being interrupted or bothering others with noise. I have a lake on one side and a forest on the other. The closest town is on the other side of the forest, called Melen, and there is a fairly safe path through the woods should you wish to buy groceries there. My tower is a single, multi-story structure with a basement. It should have all the amenities you need to live. Outside you will find a garden for produce and a stable for some of my familiars. One of your tasks will be tending to this garden and this stable. I do hope you will be happy there, pet," they explain, reaching to ruffle your hair a bit. You can't help but lean into your master's touch. You always were affectionate... It probably says a lot that your brother and mother weren't.

You reach the food market and start picking through produce and foodstuffs. Runemeyer watches you, that mysterious smile on their face. "Where will I, um... stay?"

The Archwizard chuckles. "If you expect me to make you stay in the stable with my larger familiars... I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed. No, you shall have your own room. It will have a bed, dresser, vanity, trunk, shelf... You will hopefully be quite comfortable. I also have a bath which you are free to use."

A vanity and shelf? That's more than you had at your family's farm... Your farm didn't have a bath, either. You always had to go to the public bathhouse during trips to the Capital, dealing with all those people staring at your breasts as you tried to bathe...

"Um, what about... Like, I know what slaves are... used for," you chance, placing another head of cabbage into the wicker shopping basket.

"Used for? Well, I already went over the chores I plan for you to do. You are also expected to clean my tower, of course. And if I need heavy lifting, I hope your cattlefolk strength will be at my disposal," Runemeyer explains.

"Uh, no... I mean, are you going to use me for, um... dirty things?" Your face is burning now.

The Archwizard brings their hand to their chin in thought. "I suppose my herb garden and stables may get messy at times, but... No, I don't expect to **** you to roll around in the mud. And again, you are free to use my bath."

...Is Runemeyer just teasing you, or do they seriously not know what you're talking about?