Pains from the past and promises for the future.

You held her hand gently, you did not rub it nor add pressure you only held it softly like a child asking for something. Veronica eyed you back, her smile never leaving her but her expression that contains worry for you had made it some unease.

"Master if you want us to repeat what we did last night I must suggest we do it when the sun is down." She said in an authoritative tone not a hint of disgust only concern. Independent, strong yet caring and compassionate that's what you see in her. And maybe that's what she sees in you or at the very least one's beliefs that is.

A feeling of shame wash through you, of course she'll think that, you are just brought to this new world and while you did become somewhat acquainted with the people here and gained a reputation of a caring master, you have yet to make an action of intimacy, well one outside of sex that is. And now your about to change that.

"No... I was just thinking about us." Your statement took Veronica aback. Clearly she didn't expect that answer. A mild brew of shock, confusion drizzled with a strong disbelief is present in her expression. She seems to understand where your coming from, could be that she heard the same sentence from other people she used to work for? Questions for the future you ponder.

"Master..." She spoke in a hushful tone, the thought of rejection rush though your head, as fear grip and held the soul within making your breath harder yet faster in a conflicting action.

"We shouldn't... I'm no longer a noble like you, once my family's power and fortune are I become a commoner, one such as yourself should find someone with a title similar to yours...besides a few more years I would be no longer as the woman in front of you now, please think it over find someone younger." Well it wasn't what you expected but her words made you think as well, she's got a point, but at the same time this is your decision and you want it that those you care about understand and have a say to it as well.

After all who says you can just take one bride or wife in this world, if you remember days ago after you gain this luxurious position you read laws and regulations about this new land, and with some effort you learned many of the laws here is similar to what in this modern world, the one where your first life ended, and in this world polygamy or at least having multiple lovers is accepted as long as conflict with money or attention doesn't arise both in legality and emotionally.

She looked away visibly hurt by her own words, and so are you.

Then you remember what she told you last night, before that moment of passion, how she's been employed by many people, some could have used her only for her body, while others see her as a rival, this could be affecting her hesitation and why she's uncertain.

"But why?" You asked, causing her to downcast her look, visibly dejected.

A small tear dripped from her left eye, she then looked away from you, an expression of anger and hate present within them.

"Remember last night when I told you not to cum inside? And I don't want to be pregnant?"

"Are you afraid of being a mother?" You asked visibly concerned.

Veronica let out a dark chuckle, almost like a dreadful tone. Her anger present but each time she looks at you it's quickly replaced by sadness. There's something to else... Something that happened to her before.

"No master, I would welcome motherhood... I would love to have a child of my own." For a brief moment you see her smile, before it was immediately replaced with a depressed dejected look.

Your head maid took a seat, her body shook with emotions you haven't seen before, as she continue speak out her tale. You know Veronica to be a woman always in control, but now you're staring to see a different side of her.

"Years ago I was once in a service of a noble, sadly I found out later he is unfit of that title, back when I was younger and more naive, he is the man who took my first time, and asked me to be his concubine."

"Concubine...why not a wife?"

"You see master he already have one and she's jealous of me being there, a threat to her place as a wife and worst of all she's unable to conceive a child for him so the man wanted me to give him a heir... And she did not like that... She made sure if she can't have a child neither do I." Veronica clenched her first as tears burst out of her eyes she looked at you with a look of utter sadness.

"After a numerous times we did it and I got pregnant with his child and... I don't know when she did it, if she did bribed the staff to assist her sinful deed and what kind of devious toxin she used but in the end before I know it... My child is no more! The poison was slow and weak, I thought the headaches and fever was part of my pregnancy but it was something else, something strong enough to kill my unborn child but not kill me... Only when blood appeared did I one of a mother's worst fear came.... The **** of her child...my child."

"Veronica I..."

"I confronted her she gleefully admit her doing, how she laced the food I eat and water I drink with poison for weeks at that time, but she knows I can't hurt her, her husband won't let that happened yet she can't kill me, then I told that man of what happened... You know what he did? He said let's just make another!"

You heard that last sentence was like a **** shout of help, underlined with a sad tone of anger and hate... Aimed at the people responsible for her tragedy.

"I could still remember my baby, so little being buried in a little casket as that devil of a woman smiled... I went to the doctor and what I feared was confirmed... The poison also damaged my womb, and if there's a chance I do get pregnant again... The baby has a high chance of following my first child to the grave."

Unable to take it anymore you can't take you take the crying woman in front of you and put her into a hug, an act to console such a woman with a wounded past and a damaged soul.

"Please master... Find someone else... I appreciate what you done to me I really do! Alice... Seraphina... Emily, the rest of the staff here are like my family and especially you, are like the family I always wanted, one I never had before... If you need someone to be the head of the employees you can count on me, if you want someone to vent your sexual frustrations, I'll be more than happy to serve you both in this house and on the bed... But I can't be the wife... The woman who'll share your family name, the lady who'll give you a heir, I can't be that... I'm sorry... But I'm damaged..."

Within the hug you take rub her back, making her sobs lessen. There you gently lifted her face bringing her close to yours.

"Veronica the woman in my arms is not damaged, she's hurt, wounded, in pain, what you need most now is people to help you heal."

Tears flow again from Veronica's eyes but now her expression is different. There is happiness in them now, a genuine smile as she return your hug while you return her's.

"Master... Thank you... I been keeping this from others, only my close friends Emily, Alice and Seraphina knows this... for me to speak it with you is rather therapeutic... I would never forgive that woman and her husband yet to know there's people like you around me helps."

Your hug continues, it feels like the last night but different at the same, maybe it's because she opened her body to you before now she's slowly opening her heart.

Veronica let go, drying her tears away she focused her attention to you once again.

"Master as much I would love to and of course love you please try to find someone else, if in the future you haven't found one, then ask me and I'll consider it once again."

With that she pressed her lips towards you, and like last night it feels warm and comforting but unlike last night it feels even more so now.

The two of you continue cuddling until Veronica's eyes widen causing you to stop your intimate connection. Even after the separation you see her eyes staring at the door, and you followed her sight leading to the opening... Where another maid is looking, a thick blush of red in her face and eyes eager for anticipation. Her one left hand on her mouth, shocked and unsure how to respond on your embrace with Veronica.

"Seraphina?" You said the name.

Seraphina immediately closed the door running to the hallway like a kid who witnessed something she shouldn't have.

"Let me talk to her." Veronica said as she race towards the horticulturist leaving you alone.