The next day, I'm woken up before dawn by Alden shaking me roughly awake. "It's time for you to start your new duties, Duna," he says, his voice still groggy with sleep. "What are they?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly. "Well, first you need to wake up Cook and have him prepare breakfast for me," he says, yawning widely. "And then, once that's done, you can help me pick out an outfit for the day." I nod, swallowing hard as I try to push down the fear and anxiety that are rising up within me. 

As I walk down the hallway towards the kitchen, I can hear the sound of pots and pans clanging in the distance. When I finally reach the kitchen, I find Cook hunched over a large stove, stirring a pot of stew. He jumps at the sound of my voice, turning around to face me. "What do you want?" he demands, his eyes narrowing into slits. "My master sent me to wake you up and have you prepare breakfast for him," I say, trying my best to keep my voice from shaking. Cook scoffs, turning back to the stove. "Well, tell your master that he can wait," he says, his tone gruff. "I've got more important thing to do than cater to the whims of some spoiled brat." I swallow hard, feeling the heat rising up in my cheeks. "But Cook, my master said-" "I don't care what your master said," he interrupts, his voice growing louder. "You're new here, and you'll learn your place soon enough." He turns back to the stove, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. I stand there for a moment. Suddenly an idea comes up in my head, maybe if I make him happy he'll reward me be nicer to me. I deiced to make his food myself. I walk back towards Alden's room, my heart pounding in my chest. When I get there, I find him sitting on his bed, looking through a stack of papers. "What took you so long?" he asks, not even bothering to look up at me. "I-I'm sorry, Master Alden," I stutter, "But Cook was busy, so I thought I'd make breakfast for you myself." He raises an eyebrow, studying my face for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "Very well," he says, finally looking at me. "You may serve breakfast in the dining room." Relief washes over me as I set the tray with breakfast on it. Maybe Cook was right, maybe I will have to learn my place here, but at least for now, I've managed to impress Alden. As I enter the dining room, I see that it's elegantly decorated with fine china and crystal glasses. The table is already set, with a fresh vase of flowers in the center. I place the tray on the table and step back, waiting for Alden to take his seat. He does so slowly, running his hands through his hair as he does so. "Well, Duna," he says, his voice slightly muffled by a mouthful of food, "This looks delicious. You've outdone yourself." I stand there with my eyes locked on floor waiting for his reaction, not wanting to look too pleased with myself. "You know, I've been thinking," he continues, pausing to swallow, "perhaps I was too harsh on you earlier. You seem to have potential. With the right training, you could be an asset to my household." My heart skips a beat at his words. "So," he goes on, "I've decided to give you a chance. From now on, you'll have your own room in the servants' quarters, and you'll report directly to me. Do you understand?" 

"So... I won't be staying with you anymore?" I say with a hint of disappoint in my voice, still whispering. Alden laughs, a warm and genuine sound. "Oh, don't worry, Duna. You'll still see plenty of me. But it's important that you have your own space as well. Besides, I need someone to keep an eye on the other slaves and make sure they're doing their jobs properly." I nod slowly, trying to process this new information. "Good," he says, finishing the last bite of his breakfast. "Now, why don't you go find Cook and have him show you where your new room is? Once you're settled in, you can start learning the ropes from the others." "Yes, Master Alden," I reply, feeling a mixture of relief, excitement, and trepidation coursing through me. As I turn to leave, he stops me with a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, and Duna?" "Yes, Master Alden?" "Don't forget, I expect nothing less than perfection from all of my slaves." His words hang in the air like a heavy weight, reminding me that no matter how much my situation has changed, I am still a slave. But for now, I'll take it. At least it's a step in the right direction. I find Cook in the kitchen, supervising the other slaves as they prepare lunch. "Ah, there you are," he says, his tone slightly less harsh than before. "Alden wants me to show you to your new room. Come with me." He leads me through a maze of corridors and staircases, finally stopping outside a plain wooden door. "This is it," he says, opening the door and stepping aside to let me enter. The room is small, but it has a bed, a dresser, and a candle on the nightstand. It's nothing fancy, but it's mine. "You'll find fresh linens in the dresser," Cook says, "and if you need anything, just ask." I nod, trying to hide my excitement. "Thank you I mutter.." He nods in response before turning to leave, closing the door behind him. I sit down on the bed, taking it all in. For the first time since I became a slave, I feel like I might actually have a chance at making a life for myself here. As I hear the sound of laughter from the servants' common room. I can't believe it. I had assumed my master was just going to be cruel to me my whole time here but he really just gave me my own room, he rewarded me. I think to myself. I stand up from the bed and look around, noticing how much cleaner it is compared to the common room. I start to unpack my few belongings, hanging up my clothes and placing my trinkets on the dresser. After everything is put in its place, I decide to explore the room a bit more. There's a small window near the ceiling, letting in a small stream of sunlight. I climb onto the bed and lie down, gazing up at the pattern the sunlight makes on the ceiling. I feel a strange sense of peace wash over me, something I haven't felt in a long time. As I'm lost in my thoughts, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching the door. I quickly jump off the bed and smooth out my clothes before opening the door. It's Cook, looking a bit nervous. "Master Alden sent me to fetch you," he says, his voice quivering slightly. "He wants you to come and meet the other slaves." I nod, following him out of the room and down the hallway. We pass by a group of women, chattering away as they scrub the floors. One of them looks up and notices me, her eyes widening in recognition. "Ah, another new face," she says with a knowing smile. "Welcome to the family." The other women chuckle, and I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. Cook clears his throat, and the women quickly return to their work. "Come on," he says, leading me deeper into the servants' quarters. We eventually reach a small common room, where several men and women are gathered around a table, playing a game of dice. The room is dimly lit, with only a few candles flickering against the gloom. The air is thick with the smell of sweat and stale ale. At the head of the table sits a middle-aged man with a stern expression on his face. 

I can't help but feel a sense of foreboding as I approach him. "This is Duna," Cook says, gesturing towards me. "She's the new addition to our little family." The man raises an eyebrow, studying me for a moment before speaking. "Well, welcome to the fold," he says, his voice gruff. "I'm Master Jim. I take it you know why you're here." I swallow hard, nodding my head. "Yes, Master Jim. Alden said I was to report to you." He nods, leaning back in his chair. "Good. Then get to know the others. You'll be working closely with them from now on." He turns to the group around the table. "This one here is going to be Alden's special pet," he says, chuckling darkly. The others join in, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. This place is not what I expected. It's dark and dangerous, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But I have no choice. I'm here now, and I have to make the best of it. I have no interest in these other slaves all I want focus on now is making my new master like me he said he'd be my friend and even though I don't like him much, I'm desperate, and besides it's best to build up one relationship at a time. I turn and leave heading back to the kitchen to find my master. 

As I walk back into the kitchen, I can feel the heat radiating off the stove. Cook is standing at the counter, chopping vegetables. He looks up as I enter and nods towards a stool. "Have a seat," he says, not turning around. I do as I'm told, sitting on the hard wooden stool. It's uncomfortable, but I try not to show it. Cook continues chopping, his knife moving swiftly through the vegetables. The rhythmic sound of metal on wood fills the room. I watch him for a moment, wondering what he's making for dinner. Just as I'm about to ask, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching from the other room. I turn and see Alden walking towards us, a slight smile on his face. He stops in front of me and leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, Duna," he says, his voice low and slightly amused. "How are you finding things so far?" I swallow hard, trying to think of what to say. "It's... different," I manage, not looking at him. He chuckles softly. "Yes, it is different. But that's part of the fun, isn't it?" He pauses, studying me for a moment before continuing. "You know, you remind me of myself when I first started out. Full of questions, unsure of what was expected of me. But look at me now." He spreads his arms wide, indicating the grand estate around us. "I built this all on my own." I stay quiet unsure of how to respond. "You have a lot of potential, Duna," he says, his voice softening. "I can see it in your eyes. And I'm willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. But you have to earn it." He straightens up and looks at me expectantly. "Do you understand?" I nod slowly, still not sure what to say. "Good," he says, clapping me on the shoulder. "Then let's get started." And with that, he turns and begins barking orders at the other slaves, assigning them tasks around the kitchen. I watch him, a mixture of awe and fear in my chest, as I realize that Alden's words are both a promise and a threat. He has given me a chance, but I must not disappoint him. "So, what do I have to do?" I whisper, hoping I'm not pestering him. He smirks, stepping closer to me. "Well, for starters, you'll be assisting Cook in the kitchen. He's a bit of a perfectionist, so you might find him... demanding at times. But don't worry, he won't bite." He pauses, looking me up and down. "You're strong for your size, that's good. You'll need it here. And you're quick on your feet, even better." He grins, clapping me on the back. "Come now, let's get you settled in the kitchen. You've got a lot to learn, but I know you can do it." As we walk over to the kitchen, Alden continues to rattle off instructions, explaining the layout of the estate and the various people I'll be working with. He introduces me to the other slaves, most of whom nod in acknowledgment but don't seem overly friendly. They've all been here much longer than I have, and they're used to Alden's unconventional methods of motivation. They know what it takes to survive and thrive in this environment. I spend the rest of the day shadowing Cook, learning the ins and outs of the kitchen. The work is back-breaking and exhausting, but I find a strange sense of peace in it. There's something satisfying about being able to create something beautiful out of so many different ingredients. Cook watches me closely, critiquing my every move, but he also offers words of encouragement and advice when he sees fit. The day eventually comes to an end, and we prepare dinner for Alden's parents. Cook and I work together like a well-oiled machine, our movements almost synchronized after spending the entire day together. We serve the meal to Aldan's mother, who is impressed by the quality of the food and the effort we've put in. "Duna," Alan's Mother says, looking at me intently, "your presence here has certainly made a difference. Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed." Her words send a shiver down my spine. This is the first time anyone has praised me since my parents died. I try to swallow the lump in my throat but fail. "You have proven yourself to be a valuable asset to this household." My eyes go wide surprised at her praise as I continue eating and lower my head to try and hide my face. "Yes, she's quite the little worker, isn't she?" Alden chimes in, his voice sweet and almost mocking. "I'm sure she'll be a great addition to our staff." I can feel the anger rising in my chest at her words. They see me as nothing more than a slave, an object to be used and discarded at their whim. But I know that if I want to survive here, I need to keep my feelings hidden. The rest of the meal passes in silence, with Alden's mother and him discussing business and politics while I focus on eating as quickly as possible. I can't help but feel a bit of envy. Knowing that my parents are long gone and never coming back.  Once dinner is over,  I'm dismissed to my quarters to rest for the night. I walk into my room thankful that I even got lucky enough to get one and fall asleep.