When I first arrived at the manor. I was introduced to the other people in the family. Master Lucius and Lady Elizabeth are wonderful people, and Beatrice promised to train me properly as a maid. Marcus was also very nice to me. I felt like I could actually live well in that manor.
Master showed me to my room, and I cried again. I had never had my own room before. The bed was so comfortable, and it had feather pillows and a warm blanket. There were flowers in a vase on a corner table, and a rocking chair to sit in.
The master pulled out the two books he had been hiding behind his back and gave them to me. He said that they were the first of many gifts he would give me in the future. Once again, I cried, and once again, he held me. In that place, in his arms, I felt like I had gone from being a worthless mutt to a princess in just a single day.
It did not take me long to start enjoying my life as a maid. The work was exactly what a maid's work should be. There was no more pitfighting, no more beatings, no more sawdust in my gruel.
Master was appreciative of everything that I did; he often complimented my uniform and told me I was lovely. He thanked me often, and even started to tease me a little sometimes. It feelt like I was his maid, but also his friend. He didn't seem to have anyone else around his age in the house, but that just meant I had him all to myself.
By the time he was 14 years old, it was quite plain to me and everyone else how he felt about me. He saw me as his maid and his friend, but he also saw me as a woman. He started looking at me differently. Every time he had the chance, he would touch my cheeks or play with my hair a little.
He started to bring me gifts after his day was over. It started with some pretty flowers he put in a fish basket for me. It made me blush, but I don't think he saw that. After that, he gave me other things too, more books, a hair ornament, perfumed oil, and eventually, the silk nightdress.
I know he had used his entire month's earnings to buy me that. Mistress Elizabeth giggled and smiled when she told me how much it cost, then, when I blushed, she giggled even louder and hugged me. I realized that I love this family and I never want to be apart from any of them.
On the day my system activated, the moment I opened my eyes, I opened the window, looked at the moon, and I howled. I knew immediately that it was because I was a wolfkin, and that I couldn't stop myself even if I wanted to. Even so, I was immediately embarrassed.
I was even more embarrassed when Master Cass practically kicked my door down in a panic to check on me. He was so concerned that he didn't even notice all the other people standing in the doorway looking at us, and then he placed his hand on my cheek and stared into my eyes. I almost melted into his arms right there.
The other people of the house saw what he had done, and that I had turned red when he did it, but they all acted like they saw nothing; they realized it was a special moment for both of us. Then they gave me the day off to learn my system.
Lady Elizabeth started instructing me in mana tempering, and Lady Adeline started sparring with me daily. Her system was a close combat type, so we got to practise a lot. It took me 18 months, but I finally became a peak-stage neophyte. Soon, I can break through and become an adept; I just need to form a mana pool.
As master Cass's birthday is tomorrow, earlier today Lady Elizabeth and Lady Adeline asked me to meet them in the garden for a chat. They served me tea and refused to allow me to serve them in any way, saying that this was a moment meant for me. They reminded me of their promise to release me the day Cass turns 18, and said that even then, if I would like to, they want me to stay on as a maid. I nodded along with them and didn't say much, I had already resolved to stay with them until I couldn't any more.
And then Lady Adeline asked me the question. 'What do you want from your life when you are freed?'. At first, I just told her some basic things. I want to try new foods. I want to read more books. I want to work in the manor and help out Cass when he becomes the lord. I want to become strong enough to protect everyone I love, and I want to do things that I want to, things I choose to do, not because I was ordered to as a slave.
Lady Elizabeth looked at me stone-faced and said. 'Why didn't you answer the question?'. I told her that I was confused and that I apologize, but I had already answered her question. She looked at me again, and she asked, 'What do you want?'
Again, I gave her the same answer, but this time she started releasing some of the pressure from her battle aura. I was terrified. Then Lady Adeline looked at me and asked, 'What do you want?'. When I couldn't answer the question, she released some of her aura too. Now I had both Mistresses releasing their battle aura towards me and interrogating me.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I knew what they were really asking me. I knew what answer they wanted from me, but I am their slave. I could never possibly express that kind of desire in front of my mistresses. But still, they pressured me.
Soon, I didn't just feel the pressure from their aura; they actually started releasing killing intent and directing it towards me. I was shocked, I felt threatened, but more than that, I also felt empowered. They were threatening me and menacing me, but they were doing it all to encourage and support me.
I couldn't take the pressure bearing down on me anymore, so to prevent myself from being hurt by their aura, I released my battle aura too. They opened their eyes wide, but I stood up from my seat tall and proud. I looked them both in the eyes and said the words I had been avoiding saying from the start.
'I want Cass'