The Dialectic of Master and Slave - Chapter 23

Volumes 1-4 + Side Stories of DMS are available uncensored on ko-fi! ※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

The Emperor left the bedroom, leaving Jaha behind as he always did. Shortly after, one of the maids who entered approached to chase away Jaha sprawled on the bed, but covered her mouth and stepped back. All eyes immediately turned to that maid.

“What is it?”

The lady-in-waiting who approached the bed out of curiosity was also momentarily taken aback. The pattern engraved on the slave’s lower abdomen. The lady-in-waiting immediately recognized it as a magical treatment to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

“What is that shameful thing?”

“Don’t you know? It’s what women who work in red-light districts…”

“Oh my, how vulgar.”

The maids standing a few steps away from the lady-in-waiting whispered among themselves. The maid who had first discovered Jaha carefully asked the lady-in-waiting.

“What should we do, my lady? Should we slap her cheeks until she comes to? Or pour water on her face?”

“Water… no, just shake her awake. Don’t hit her.”

The maid felt puzzled by the lady-in-waiting ordering a complicated method when there was a simpler one, but obediently began shaking Jaha’s shoulders as instructed.

“Hey, hey. Wake up. Hey! Quickly!”

“Nngh.”

Her eyelids fluttered with a pained sound, and the maid withdrew her hand and stepped back.

Opening her eyes and recognizing the women surrounding her, Jaha hurriedly raised herself up. Regardless of their positions, no one in the imperial palace held a lower status than a slave.

As she hastily put on her clothes and tried to get off the bed, her lower body gave out, and she stumbled and collapsed on the floor. While she was trying to force strength into her trembling legs to steady herself, the middle-aged woman who seemed highest in rank spoke.

“Stay as you are, it’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

Just before lowering her head, Jaha quickly examined the woman’s attire. Not a maid, but a lady-in-waiting.

Though they might appear similar at first glance, there was a clear distinction between the two. Generally speaking, maids were servants who handled menial tasks, while ladies-in-waiting were more like attendants or companions to their masters. Particularly in the imperial palace, only noblewomen of high status could become ladies-in-waiting, and being selected was considered an honor.

The personal ladies-in-waiting to the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince were the highest-ranking noble ladies among them. This was also true in Europe during the late medieval to early modern periods of absolute monarchy. For a clear example, Marie Antoinette, famous as the queen of Louis XVI, had the Duchess of Lamballe as her first lady-in-waiting.

Jaha bowed even lower.

“I have something to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Is the pattern on your stomach something His Majesty left behind?”

Pattern? What pattern?

At the maid’s question, Jaha pulled open the neckline of her clothes and looked inside. The U-shaped neckline allowed her to see down to her chest and lower abdomen. Sure enough, there was a strange pattern engraved just below her navel. Jaha was thrown into confusion.

Why is this on my body? When did this happen?

In any case, the only person who could have done this was the Emperor. Come to think of it, he had been touching that area the entire time. Normally, he would cast a spell just before finishing, briefly placing his palm there, but today, for some reason, he had been idly tracing it with his fingers at unrelated moments. Only then did Jaha realize that what the Emperor had been touching was this mysterious pattern.

“I don’t remember well, but… I think he left it during… the process.”

It was mortifying to even speak of it, so Jaha deliberately avoided being specific.

The maid, Countess Wenstell, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Where are you assigned?”

“The library of Langjev Palace.”

“From today onward, you are assigned to the main palace.”

Jaha flinched. The library of Langjev Palace had been her sanctuary. Far removed from power struggles, it was a place rarely visited by high-ranking officials, with little demanding work. Most importantly, it was where Lady Ranya, who held goodwill toward her, resided. If only the Emperor, who had suddenly appeared and trampled over her daily life, would disappear, Jaha could have returned to living a peaceful life there. But now, her assignment was being changed. It felt like a bolt from the blue.

“Meril, guide this child to her new quarters.”

“Yes, madam.”