Overseer Willis talked throughout Sofia's afternoon meal. He drilled her with information regarding schedules and timetables, the locations of supplies, tools and cleaning implements, methods, procedures, and the Empress' preferences.
The palace fell less than four days ago, and yet this man already knows the layout better than I do. I lived here for nearly ten years. Was I so oblivious to my environment, or is it possible that all palaces are similarly laid out?
"Your eyes will be lowered at all times," he continued. "You will not speak unless given permission."
"Understood."
"You will address Her Eminence only as 'Empress.' If she permits or prefers another form of address in private, she will make that known to you. It has happened before, but don't count on it and do not ever presume."
"Of course."
"You will obey all instructions immediately and without question."
"Who may instruct me?"
"Any free citizen or military officer. However, no one may give you an instruction that countermands the Empress. No one."
"What do I do when that occurs? It seems inevitable."
"You must obey the Empress."
"But what if a military officer demands that I do one thing and the Empress has commanded me to do something else?
"If you violate the instruction of any free person or military officer and the violation is reported to me, then I will administer your punishment. If you violate an order of the Empress, she will punish you. No one else is permitted to administer punishment to a slave of the Empire. No minister, general, or landholder can lawfully do so."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"That's the only answer I can give you. If you attend to your duties and serve the Empress faithfully, you will see the truth in my words."
Sofia ate the rest of her meal in silence. As soon as she finished, the Overseer called for a servant to remove her tray. A young woman wearing the sheer white livery and bearing a black tattoo on her face appeared. She picked up the tray and disappeared, while a second girl took her place. That girl carried two blue uniforms in her arms.
"Try these on," the Overseer said as he took the gowns from the servant and handed them to Sofia.
Sofia held the two garments in front of the window. Sunlight streaming through the glass passed through the sheer material of the livery with almost equal facility. She selected the larger of the two uniforms and tried it on. The style was similar to the white uniform worn by the palace servants-a loose cap-sleeved wrap-around belted at the waist-but whereas the hemline of the white uniform almost reached the knees, the blue uniform was several inches shorter.
This outfit is scandalous. It barely covers anything and leaves nothing to the imagination. My bottom will be showing when I bend over. But at least I won't be naked.
"This one will do," Sofia said.
"Excellent." Overseer Willis paused to evaluate the fit. He tugged on the sleeves, pulled the belt away from Sofia's waist, and ran his long, thick fingers along the hemline. He paused when his hand reached the front of the uniform, mere inches from her pubic mound. Sofia hissed inwardly as the Overseer's meaty knuckles grazed her bush.
"I'm not going to lie to you," he said in a low whisper. "This will be a very dangerous place for you. I might even go so far as to say that you would have been better off if the Empress had kept you confined to the dungeon."
"H-how so?" Sofia trembled. She felt his hot breath on her neck.
"You are a temptation that few will be able to resist," he continued. "Every man who enters this palace-and even some women-will lust over you."
"I don't desire..."
"But all men will desire you. Some will not be able to control their desires. I am barely in control of myself now."
"Why now? You saw me naked all morning."
"I lusted for you then, as well. But at that time I was surrounded by other officers and servants. This is my first opportunity to be alone with you. The combination of proximity and privacy is enticing. Even if you resisted, it would make no difference in the end. You and I both know that I could overpower you easily enough."
Towering over Sofia, the Overseer pressed his massive torso against her as he ground his knuckle against her moistening slit.
"Please ... don't," Sofia panted. She put her hands on his chest and tried to push him off. "I'm not worth the trouble."
"That's what I have to remind myself." He looked down at her with a pained look on his aged face. "You are property of the Empress. You are a poisoned spring in the middle of the desert. So tempting, so inviting-but one taste is certain death. I've survived working in this position far too long to lose my bald head over the likes of you."
"Is that the penalty for despoiling the Empress' property?"
"Aye, it would mean a trip to the headsman for at least one of us-probably both. That's why I say it is dangerous for you here."
Sofia shuddered.
That's the first piece of useful information I've heard all day.
"And your presence makes it dangerous for everyone who enters this palace, as well," he added. "Fortunately for me, my position provides access to half a hundred other slaves, one of whom will be relieving the pressure in my groin this afternoon."
Overseer Willis returned his hands to his pockets and walked away.
* * *
Sofia did not see the Overseer the rest of the day. She spent the remainder of the afternoon training with the heads of housekeeping, laundry, and the kitchen. She was disappointed to find her head chef replaced with a Chrysanthin, but that was true of every household department. Sofia recognized some of the servants from her prior staff, but all of the department heads were now Chrysanthins.
The absurdity of receiving instruction on where to find bedroom linens and bathroom supplies in her own home-from someone who had been there less than four full days-was not lost on Sofia. She forced herself to laugh at the situation.
The alternative is crying, and I know I'll spend enough nights doing just that. If I can keep busy, maybe I won't dwell on Leopold or the children.
It was several hours past sundown when Sofia and the other servants were given their evening meal. Sofia helped the scullery maids and dishwashers clean up after everyone was finished, and then retreated to the servant's quarters for the night.
"Where do I sleep?' she asked no one in particular.
"You will come with me," a familiar voice answered from the darkness in a corner of the room.
Sofia looked and saw that all the other servants' heads were bowed. She glanced toward the voice just as Kiera stepped from the shadows into a stream of moonlight entering through an open window.
"K-Kiera? I mean, Empress?" Sofia was startled.
A collective gasp engulfed the room. Some tucked their heads under the sheets, while others squeezed their eyes shut and chanted prayers beneath their breaths. No one but Sofia dared look up.
"Whom did you expect? The night reaper?"
