Domestic Service

**Shaira's POV**

We decided that, for now, we wouldn’t tell anyone about my highly probable origin, and with the knife hidden in the folds of my skirt, I headed, before dawn, to the doctor’s estate.

“I was about to go to the courthouse,” my new master said when he saw me arrive, even though the sun hadn’t yet risen. “Have you come alone, as agreed, or has your husband clung to your skirts?” The idiot mocked.

Yes, I had something ‘clinging’ to my skirt, something that would come out if that miserable man dared to try anything.

“I’m alone,” I said confidently.

“Sir. You will address me as sir, do you understand?” said the doctor, with a threatening tone.

“Yes, sir.”

“Now get inside and prepare me breakfast.”

“Breakfast? I thought I was only supposed to do cleaning.”

“You’ll do what I tell you to do because I saved your husband’s life, right? And I warned you it would be costly, so get to the kitchen at once. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I obeyed. It wasn’t wise to argue with this malicious man. His wrath could cause many problems for Assu, and the last thing I wanted was to cause more trouble for someone else. I had already caused them for Angro, from whom I still had no news, only hoping he had managed to neutralize the serious threat posed by Omawit.

I entered the kitchen and was surprised by how sophisticated it was, even though the house’s exterior looked rather rustic. While the tables, chairs, and compartments were made of wood, the cooking utensils were advanced machines that I didn’t even know how to start using.

“Sir, if you’ll allow me, I don’t know how to use these implements,” I said.

“Oh, of course, you’re just a savage, despite being white and having the features of a civilized person. What’s your story, girl? I’m sure it’s a fascinating one,” the doctor said, his tone filled with malice and double meanings. “Look, savage, you pull this out like so.” The doctor waved his hand over one of the kitchen gadgets, which unfolded several compartments that seemed to appear by magic. As I watched the device unfold, something triggered in my mind. “You place the food in each of these compartments and configure these buttons to give the instruction, although I wonder if you’ll be able to do it. Can you read, girl? Do you know numbers?”

By some trick of my mind, I instantly knew how to use the machine after seeing the compartments unfold, and, to the doctor’s stunned surprise, I pressed the precise buttons to heat the bread, fry the eggs, and warm the milk.

“If you already knew how to use it, why did you waste my time asking me to show you?”

“Sorry, I just didn’t know how to turn this device on.”

“Sir! You will address me as sir!” The doctor was furious, believing I had mocked him. He raised his hand, threatening to strike my face, but I reacted instinctively and grabbed his wrist before he could do it. Where did those reflexes come from? Did it have anything to do with my knife skills?

“You’re full of surprises, girl,” the doctor said after I released his wrist, surprised and terrified by what I had done. “Finish cooking breakfast and start your cleaning duties. I want this house to shine by sunset.”

I served breakfast in silence and began cleaning. I thought the doctor might have another sophisticated machine for cleaning, but after rummaging through several cupboards, I only found a traditional broom, already quite worn, a dustpan, and some ordinary cloths. I got to work and saw him lock himself in a room, which I appreciated because I didn’t want him around.

By midday, I had cleaned half the house. It was clear the doctor lived alone, without a wife or children. I headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch, grateful at least that there was a device to make it easier.

“Today, I want lunch made by your hands,” the doctor said, appearing suddenly just as I was about to place a steak in the cooking machine. “With those beautiful, soft, white hands of yours.”

Catching me by surprise, he positioned himself behind me, pressing his body against mine, and ran his hands over mine. I thought about the knife, which I would have to use if he tried anything, but in the position I was in, I couldn’t reach it. If he wanted to, he could grope me without me being able to defend myself.

“You smell so good for a savage,” he said, running his nose through my hair. “It’s a shame you got involved with those barbaric opranchi, doll. That’s not your place; you shouldn’t be there, living in that miserable shack when you could be the lady of this house. What do you say? Does that sound appealing?”

“Sir, I’m going to prepare lunch, with my hands, as you asked.”

“Wait, not yet. I want you to answer my proposal.”

“No, sir. I love my husband, and I’m with him of my own free will. We’re happy together.”

“So, you love your husband, but tell me, do you really think he loves you back?”

“Of course, he does, sir. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I needed to get this smelly man off my back and free my hands, which he hadn’t stopped caressing since he arrived.

“If that were true, if he loved you, he wouldn’t have let you come here. He would have risked himself against my lawsuit. But I bet he’s rolling around with some other savage right now while you’re here about to cook me lunch.”

“The wound he got was from saving my life, so coming here to pay my debt is the least I can do for him.”

The confidence in my words worked as a repellant, and the doctor released the pressure of his body.

“I hope you know how to cook because if I don’t like the food, I’ll increase the time of service you owe me.”

“What!” I turned abruptly, ready to confront him. “That’s not fair! You can’t do that. We already agreed on six months, and that’s your payment.”

“Sure, girl, but if you can’t perform one of your tasks well, you’ll have to make it up with something extra, and that can only be with more time.”

“Absolutely not! And we never agreed that I had to cook.”

“You can argue with me all you want, girl, but you’ll still have to pay me according to my terms or face me in court. Your choice.”

I clenched my fists in anger.

It was so unfair!

Now I understood why the opranchi hated the eteri so much. They used their power and superiority to oppress the weak.

“I’ll cook something you’ll like,” I said, knowing I had no choice. But I wasn’t even sure if I knew how to cook, although maybe my memory would surprise me again, and I’d been a cook in the army.

“You’d better, girl. Make something delicious with those lovely hands of yours.”

I was aware that the doctor had decided I should cook without using the device after realizing I knew how to use it, solely to make my tasks more difficult and manipulate the situation so that I’d have to work for him longer. As if six months cleaning that huge house weren’t enough for a job that took him less than an hour.

Filled with rage, I gathered the ingredients for lunch, but for some reason, I didn’t know how to start using them.

“What’s wrong, girl? Why are you taking so long to start cooking a simple lunch?”

“I’m thinking about what to cook, sir.”

I was trying to get my memory to know what to do, just like with the knife and the cooking machine, but nothing came. I probably didn’t know how to cook in the life I had two days ago. I had no choice but to improvise.

“Lunch is ready, sir.”

I had made a meat stew, some rice, a salad, and boiled potatoes. The result didn’t look bad, but it was the doctor who would decide, and I doubted he’d admit he liked it. But I couldn’t lose all hope either.

The doctor took a bite of the meat and began to chew.