Ignorance

5

Hearing a chair scrape across the floor at the head of the table. I was guessing that I was to the right of him. "Where am I, sir?" I ask, trying to draw a line between us.

"Currently, we are in Celeste Palace, which is where only the king and queen may reside." He says as the sound of fork scrapping against a dish. Nodding, "We are having a draconian delicacy. It's goulash and pickled beets. Open." He said his voice warm and patient.

Opening my mouth, a spoon entered my mouth. At first, I was sure he was giving me nothing, simply entertaining me. But the flavors of stewed meat with potatoes burst on my tongue as I ate. As soon as I swallowed the substance, though, I felt completely full. It surely was enough to hold me over the next couple of days. "Do you like it?" he asked. "Yes, sir." I replied simply. 

He continued to feed me, even though I had reached my limit long ago. My stomach hurt from being so full, I was sure my belly was extended. "Do you have any questions for me?" he asked. "Where will I be sleeping?" I asked my voice quiet. "With me, of course." He said, his voice full of excitement. "Are you my new owner?" my voice squeaked.

I had said it. On multiple occasions, I had been reminded that I was not a person but a thing. To be used, thrown away, or repurposed. I could feel his stare settle on me. I cursed my blindness as I wished to see his face. I wished to see the lines of his face. How was it constructed? He sounded handsome, but he could look like that of a pig.

 "Are you full, my dear?" he asked me, ignoring my question completely. I nodded, hoping I hadn't upset him. Even though I was grateful he fed me until my belly was round, I knew I wouldn't eat anything for the next  month. 

"Come. We must retire to our rooms." He announced, taking my hand gently in his own. I followed his lead, doing my best to pay attention to the direction he took me. Down the hall, up a flight of stairs, down another hall, turn left, turn right. Before I knew it, I grew dizzy, my hand to my head as I stumbled. "Are you alright?" He asked. "It was just a dizzy spell. There's nothing to worry about, sir." I said, brushing off his concern for me. "You may call me Draco. Don't call me sir." He said into the silence. 

"Yes, Draco, sir. I-I am sorry, sir." I stuttered like a fool trying but failing to appease him. Stopping, I was guessing this was his room. I shivered to myself, thinking of the things he wanted to do to my body. Entering the room, I stand in place, waiting for further instruction. "Do you need help removing your dress?" Sir asked as I heard  him move around the room. Reaching behind me, undoing the corset back to the dress. The fabric pools at my ankles, leaving me bare in front of him. 

"I await your command Master." I say, but that seems to offend him as he growls at me, making me jump back in fright. He tossed a piece of fabric my way before demanding I get out of the room. Putting on the fabric, the end falls to my knees, covering my body.  I feel for the door pushing it open before stepping outside, letting it close behind me. Taking the kneeling position in front of the door, like a good dog.

***

By dawn the next day, I still had not gone to sleep. Staying alert in my new surroundings, I could hear Sir getting ready for the day in his, grumbling about all the work he had to do. Once the door opened, his eyes landed on me as I kneeled on the floor. Instead of ignoring me or defiling me as Master Glendale had done, he picked me up, his forearm under my arse as  he held me before he started walking. 

"We are going to my study, my dear. We are setting down some ground rules as of today." Sir says. Once we reach his study, Sir takes a seat in a chair, placing me down in his lap. "Firstly, you will call me Draco. Though, if you feel that sir is needed. It can be used, but you will refrain from ever calling me master. Secondly, when you enter our rooms you must change from your day dress to a sleeping gown. I will get the maids to help you. Thirdly, our medicinal healer has told me you are severely underweight. You will need to eat every day. It will be a slow and pained process, but I want you healthy. Fourthly, when you are ready to tell me your past, you will do so. And lastly, I am not your master or owner. You are my eternal flame, the future queen to the draconian, my equal. That means you have a voice. Use it." Sir said. "Understood, sir." I replied. 

"Good, now I've had the maids prepare us a bath." Sir said as he once again picked me up, leaving out of the study. Down a flight of stairs, down a hall, 66

then we stopped. Entering the room, Sir put me down before I felt him remove the fabric that covered me. "I am only going to bathe you." He whispered as I tried to move away from him. Letting him do as he wished, soon I felt something hit the floor before sir moved us towards to water. 

I was expecting it to be ice cold, but instead, the temperature was slightly warmed, not so much as hot, but it wasn't completely cold either.  "Do you want me to bathe you or one of the maids?" He asked, and I gestured to him, my voice gone silent at his kindness. Slowly, he wet a cut of cloth before running it over my exposed skin. Something massive surrounded us, giving us privacy from onlookers.