Emily did her best to keep her head clear for the following weeks. She worked hard in the kitchen and made the most of her free time by writing to her former sisters or exploring the countryside with Jenna. Sometimes they were allowed to visit the nearby village, where they could buy books, clothes and Jenna's favorite mint tea. Winter was coming and many important holidays would take place in the area, including pilgrimages to the religious council's headquarters. Despite her lack of religious rigidity, Jenna embraced every festivity with great enthusiasm; she was also well-informed about her masters' participation.

–As an honorific member of our religious council, Lord Leandre must take part in many annual festivals. He usually coordinates the harvesting rituals and hosts a banquet for Rosetta's elite. Believe me, that is always his favorite time of the year. He loves to display his wealth and generosity.

–I bet everyone will be blown away by his infinite goodness.

Emily had become more comfortable around Jenna, particularly when it came to criticism and sarcasm. However, there were many things she still did not dare to tell her. For instance, she never opened up about her dream with Lord Arthur. Female sex drive was an unknown horizon for most Rosettans. The majority of religious scholars compared it to animal instinct. Some of them also pondered over the popular belief that young maidens were naturally drawn to one another. Either way, women were not supposed to be confident or open about their sexuality, and they could be flogged for expressing an unholy inclination for their masters. Emily had not seen Lord Arthur in a while, although she had been working for her husband on multiple occasions. Last thing she heard, he needed to leave town for a few days to attend business in another part of the realm.

On the last day of autumn, one of the women on the team fell sick and she was unable to attend her late shifts. Therefore, the housekeeper requested Emily to cover her for a few nights. She had never been in the mansion past dusk. The corridors seemed to acquire a mystical beauty, enhanced by the exquisite chandeliers and the beaming torches. Most of the rooms were dark and silent, but Lord Leandre was still working in his study. Emily was supposed to bring him dinner: a select choice of meat, fruit, bread and cheese. She knocked on the door and walked in, arranging the silver tray. She could not believe her eyes: Lord Leandre was lying on the divan by the fire, kissing a young man she had never seen before. He was half-naked, wrapped up in lush fur, and he traced Lord Leandre's neck with his lips. None of them seemed to mind the interruption.

–Maiden, set the table for two and fetch another bottle of wine afterwards.

–Yes, master.

Emily did as she was told, managing to overhear part of the conversation in the process. Apparently, one of the boy's fathers was a jurist who had been sent to jail recently due to his fraudulent practices.

–I know he made a mistake; he was in high debt and acted recklessly. But our family loves him and needs him back. He is his children's main support at the moment.

–Your father is a liar and a thief; he deserved to be arrested. Even so, I can talk to the judge and convince him to spare his life.

–Would you do that for me, Sir?

–Be a good boy and we'll see.

Emily felt sick inside. Everyone knew adultery was a blamable act. Perhaps Lord Leandre only cared about religion when it was convenient to him. In addition, he was taking advantage of his privileged position to obtain sexual favors.

–It is a shame that you are married. We could spend many lovely evenings in this mansion. Lord Arthur is very lucky.

–He is my better half.

–Why did you choose him, if I may ask?

–He is charming, intelligent, and extremely good-looking. Most importantly, his grandfather was a legendary warrior, so his entire lineage was blessed by the gods. I want that for my future heirs.

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Emily finished her task and left the room with silent strides. She was not interested in her masters' business, whilst part of her pitied Lord Arthur. He seemed to be a good person, and he certainly deserved better.

*

Emily worked the night shift for a couple more days. The rest of the maids were fully aware of Lord Leandre's business. They enjoyed the gossip, but none of them would dare to speak out loud or denounce him to the religious council. According to Jenna, the last worker who tried was accused of blasphemy, beaten up and sent to a prison camp for the rest of her days. Lord Leandre had brought two more lovers over, one of them even slept in his bed. His husband probably found out what was happening during his absence, because as soon as he returned home the couple got into a heated argument. The housekeeper had heard them yelling in their bedroom. Emily had never been in a relationship before. Still, she knew Lord Arthur must have felt humiliated and hurt by his partner's betrayal. Certainly, she was not expecting to run into him the following night.

She was getting ready to leave when she heard strange noises coming from the west wing of the mansion. Emily stopped in her tracks. Her masters were already asleep, and almost every maiden was back at the dorms by then. Could it be a mouse roaming the warehouse? She turned around and decided to take a better look. To her surprise, Lord Arthur was in the wine cellar, sitting morosely in his silky nightclothes. She almost jumped at the sight of him.

–Lord Arthur! What are you doing here?

She approached him slowly, raising the candle to illuminate his face. He was drunk, yet his eyes imbued something sweet and smitten.

–Goodnight, Emily. I am fine; sorry for scaring you. I just wanted to be alone.

He lifted his gaze and took another sip of red wine, drinking straight from the bottle. He looked so miserable, sitting alone in the darkness, that Emily felt the need to comfort him. She knelt down by his side, reminiscing all the times she also felt lost and broken inside.

–Are you okay? Do you need me to call your husband?

–Honestly, that is the last thing I need right now.

Emily became silent and locked her stare at his for a moment. He had been crying. Throughout her years, she was told males were not supposed to be vulnerable, to give in to sentimentality. She was starting to realize Lord Arthur was not the archetype of man everyone expected him to be. In soothe, there was something beautiful about that natural divergence.

–Do you want me to leave?

–You were right, Emily.

–Huh?

–You were right about the book, about Rosetta's Lonely Maiden. The character's main motivation was not a personal perspective of love, but transcendence and equality. I don't know why I did not see it before.

Emily smiled, slightly pulling away from him. It was clear their brief conversation in the study had an impact on him as well.

–Perhaps you were interpreting the text from your own experience. What does love mean to you, Lord Arthur?

He took a deep breath and finally pushed the bottle aside. His big hand almost brushed Emily's, making her pulse soar. She could not help but peek at his sculpted, svelte body, from his broad shoulders to his short beard.

–I used to think true love was about sacrifice and daily commitment. Nowadays, I have no idea. What about you?

–I do not know, master. Women are not supposed to understand the sublime experience of love.

–Please, stop. Both of us know that is bullshit.

Emily was taken completely by surprise. She understood Lord Arthur's was getting emotional; however, his last statement was an open call for blasphemy. Even so, she could not deny she felt the same way.

–Indeed, master. Unfortunately, none of us is allowed to acknowledge it, unless we want to take a shortcut to the afterlife. Matter of fact, if Lord Leandre finds you here with me…

–Fuck that unfaithful bastard and his religious council. I'm sick of being afraid.

Afraid? Men were not supposed to be frightened. They were free, weren't they? They ruled and controlled everything around them. Perhaps nobody could escape society's yoke, after all.

–Lord Arthur, you had too much to drink, you clearly do not know what you are saying. You should return to your bedchambers.

Emily's firm tone helped her master come back to his senses, at least for an instant. He nodded and rose to his feet.

–I guess you are right. This is embarrassing. Please, forgive me.

Emily sighed, touched once more by the grief in his voice.

–Do not be ashamed. Everyone has rough days. Also, we can leave this incident between me and you.

Lord Arthur's semblant lit up, giving a hint of a smile. Without prior notice, he pulled Emily for a hug, desperately seeking comfort in her company. She instantly froze between his arms. It was the first time she ever transgressed the frontiers of what is permissible; the first time she ever touched a man's warm, vigorous body. Just like in her dream, she was unable to pull away. On the contrary, her hesitating hands slowly reached for Arthur's neck; her avid lips nervously encountered his in the dark. Their kiss was equally soothing and fateful, completely enigmatic for both. It was, undeniably, a newfound stream of passion.

--Come here...