"Thank you for coming to see me, Siesta," said Louise smiling as Siesta entered and sat upon the chair by the desk that was facing Louise's bed. Louise briefly glanced at the window to see the dark and starry skies. "I have something important to discuss with you. I could really use your help."

"Ah, what do you need me to fetch, my Lady?" asked Siesta, her lips twitched upward but the smile didn't meet her eyes.

"I guess I should be frank . . ." said Louise, putting a hand to her chin. She gazed at Siesta directly in her eyes and straightened her posture. "Siesta . . . It's about Sync. I need you to help me with changing Sync's views."

Siesta's eyebrows raised to her forehead before she furrowed them. She narrowed her eyes at Louise. "I'm afraid that I won't be helping you. I'm sure you've heard of the boon that Count Sync has attained. Due to the school's failure to stop the duel, I was informed by one of the staff that I have become his personal maid but I shall still attend to school duties until such a time that my Lord tells me to be elsewhere."

Louise raised her hands up immediately upon hearing Siesta's words. "I'm not trying to manipulate you or to hurt Sync. I'm really concerned about his wellbeing."

Siesta stood up and made a beeline for the door. Louise's eyes widened.

"Siesta, please!" shouted Louise as she stretched one of her hands towards Siesta, Siesta grabbed the door knob with one of her hands. "Siesta, earlier today, Sync asked me to kill him to send him back to his world! He believes that he doesn't belong here and should go back to being dead!"

Siesta froze with her hand twisting the knob. She let go and turned around. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks had visibly drained of color. She scowled and opened her mouth before shutting them and loosening her narrowed eyes. Louise moved her hand to the chair to gesture for Siesta to sit down. Siesta walked back and sat heavily onto the chair. They stared at each other in silence.

"Why?" whispered Siesta, her full attention on Louise. Siesta had a pale visage. Louise shifted in her seat before meeting Siesta's gaze at eye level once more.

Louise sighed. "He said that he has no reason to belong here and he never felt he belonged in his old world. There isn't a purpose for him in this world and I intend to have a serious talk to try to change his mind. Right now, I've got him to agree to train me to become a powerful mage but the agreement is tentative unless I can get him to change his views. But I honestly need all the help I can get to do that. Sync could decide to take his own life at any time. Is there anything that you can do to help or perhaps give me some suggestions? What inspired him to help you in the first place?"

"I honestly don't know what I can do," said Siesta, she frowned. "I think Sync defended me because he saw what that monster was doing for the injustice that it was. I honestly couldn't believe someone stood up and defended us from the noble's evil actions. It felt like a dream come true . . . and it was just that."

"Evil?" said Louise, her eyes widened. She blinked. "Siesta . . . you never mentioned that you felt so strongly about the discrimination. Why didn't you mention it to me before?"

Siesta scowled at Louise. Louise flinched. I never knew Siesta was capable of such a hateful look . . .

"Nearly all commoners who aren't stupid or insane feel the same way that I do. We all see the stupidity of this system for what it is but we bow our heads because we could never hope to change anything. There is nothing we normal folk can do against freaks of nature who have too much power than they know what to do with." said Siesta, Louise shuddered at the glare that Siesta directed toward her. "Your people physically abuse us to amuse yourselves, shift our employment however you please so that some aristocrats can rape us and identify it as being a noble's mistress, you force us into the most demeaning jobs where we fight among ourselves just to get by each day, and we're ordered to bow our heads and take it with a smile or we get blacklisted from the menial job market and starve to death as a result of unemployment. All the while, we're contractually obligated to shut up and obey or we're left to die. Your people are the most wretched evil to exist."

Louise gasped. "I . . . I had no idea that you felt that way . . . or about the contractual obligations or anything . . ."

"Obviously you wouldn't, you're just a spoiled little girl who worries about making friends and proving she's a good little noble because of the shame attached to your family honor." said Siesta, Louise flinched. "To your kind, all you see from us is beggars who grovel for food, replacements to be exploited and thrown away at your people's whims, and your people take pleasure in beating and raping us while legalizing such depravity by naming us maids, butlers, and mistresses. After women who endure such hardships become pregnant, and usually it's proven the child isn't magical, they're thrown out and their children endure the same cycle of violence and indifference. You people all make me sick!"

"Siesta, I . . . I don't know what to say," said Louise, gazing downward at her feet. "This is all becoming too much for me to deal with. I honestly don't know what to do but I really want to change Sync's mind about killing himself. I need something, anything to keep him set on staying here and living for some purpose but I don't know where to begin."

"Oh please, it sounds to me like you're just upset because you won't get your selfish desire fulfilled," snarled Siesta. Louise looked up at Siesta with wide eyes. Siesta shook her head and gave Louise a visage of utter loathing. "You don't really care about Sync or what he wants, all you care about is exploiting him to appease your family honor and to succeed in your selfish dream of becoming a better mage. That's what always motivated you before Sync arrived and it hasn't changed. As soon as you're finished with him, you won't care whether he lives or dies! You stupid mages are all the same!"

"Siesta, how could you say that?!" snapped Louise glaring back, her palms turned to fists. Tears began streaking down her cheeks and she tried to blink them away. "I . . . I do care! I want him to be happy here and that's why I asked for your help!"

"I don't believe you!" said Siesta rising to her feet, her cheeks flushed red and her teeth clenched. "He was just an object to you before you realized his true value as a mage! You never cared what he wanted until he proved that he was a more capable mage than you! All you care about is proving your status as a noble, to become one of them! You'll just go back to benefitting from the system that beats us, rapes us, and starves us and forces us to obey with a smile as if it's a privilege that you people deign to keep us alive and allow us the luxury of wiping your butts! You don't give a damn at all of what we go through! I . . . I hate people like you!"

Louise stared at Siesta with her mouth agape. Her eyes were wide in stunned silence and she felt tears threaten to spill. Louise whispered. "You . . . you don't mean that . . . !"

Siesta remained silent and glared down at Louise. Louise felt a shiver up her spine. She can't mean that! Siesta was the only one I could rely on when the going got tough. She would always listen to my complaints . . . Am I not her friend? Was I just some whiny brat to her this whole time? . . . Am I just not worthy enough for anyone to listen to my feelings? Do people just not care when I try to talk to them? . . . Am I always going to feel this lonely for the rest of my life?

Siesta turned away and walked to the door. She stopped as one of her hands clutched the door knob. She moved her gaze slightly back toward Louise's teary eyed visage. "It was pointless to ask for my help. I have no idea what I could do to keep him here, if he really wants to die."

"Can't you, I don't know, woo him or something?" said Louise, wiping her tears from her eyes.

Siesta turned back and blushed. "What do you mean woo him?"

Finally, she seems to be listening! thought Louise, Crap, I have no idea where to go from here . . .

"You know . . . use your womanly charms," said Louise, she shrugged her shoulders. She avoided Siesta's gaze as she began to blush. "A lot of the classmates and some teachers talk about how attractive you are. Maybe . . . use that?"

"Are you asking me to seduce him?" questioned Siesta, her hands moved to her cheeks to hide her blush.

"Maybe . . ." said Louise, forcing herself to look at Siesta. Siesta's eyes were wide. "What about . . . kissing or holding his hands? Perhaps going so far as to make out?"

"So you don't mean . . . er . . ." Siesta paused and gazed at the floor. "becoming Sync's mistress?"

She thinks I mean . . . oh my . . . thought Louise, a blush creeping on her neck. Well . . . it does have merit . . .

"Well, bearing his child could possibly ground him and would have more benefits since he's sincere about helping commoners," said Louise, voicing her thoughts. Siesta's face flushed further and became beet red upon hearing Louise's words. "But, that would be going way too far. I just meant . . . charming him enough to make him stay."

Bearing my Lord a child . . . thought Siesta, she visualized being Sync's mistress. Well, I've been trained for it since I was young. Attractive young commoners are expected to serve their masters in all things. If my Lord does truly seek to end his life and I do nothing to stop it, then I know I would regret it for the rest of my life. But Lord Sync is so handsome, strong, and brave . . . would he accept someone like me being his mistress? I . . . I have to do something to prevent him from ending his life. He's my hero, it's as if he came from my dreams to protect me from those wretched nobles. I must do what I can. I . . . I wouldn't mind being a mistress or bearing his children, if it meant being with him and only him.

"I shall think about it and I'll try talking to him," said Siesta as she turned back to the door, "but I can't make any guarantees."

Siesta opened the door and shut it behind her as she left the room. Louise's shoulders slumped as she got up and headed for her private shower.

Today has just been a total mess, thought Louise, I really need a hot bath, hopefully the water will relax me. At the rate I'm going, I'll end-up drinking to relieve myself from stress when I'm older. Fuck, I'll think on what to do to change Sync's mind tomorrow morning. I'm too burned out to do any further serious thinking for the day.

Sync placed his clothes in the drawer and then laid himself upon the twin-sized bed. He turned to see Siesta already on the bed with only her undergarments on. She turned to her side to face him. Sync turned to his side to gaze at her. Sync blushed and his body froze as Siesta moved between the already miniscule space between them to hug Sync. She pressed her body on his and nestled her head upon the crook of his neck. Sync stiffened.

Last night, it was really awkward and we tried to remain on the sides to avoid bumping into each other. thought Sync, What changed?

"Did I ever thank you for getting me these briefs for sleepwear?" asked Sync, Hopefully, I can get her off of me.

"Oh those, I believe you did." said Siesta, moving off his neck and gazing up at him with a smile. "And it was no trouble, we had spares given by the school and they don't care if you've been given one since we have more than enough."

Sync nodded. A silence descended between them. Siesta sighed.

"My Lord, I did something horrible today," said Siesta, Sync frowned. I wish she wouldn't call me her Lord . . . "Ever since you stood up for me, it gave me hope. Hope that my life and the lives of other commoners would finally be changed by someone powerful and capable enough to do it. But it also brought back all the things that made me angry and all that I tried to ignore all of my life."

Tears began falling down Siesta's cheeks. Sync remained silent. Siesta continued. "I didn't realize it until after Guiche died but . . . I've always been living in fear. All of my life, I've tried to be numb and just smile, hoping that the next day will be better than the last. Hoping I don't do anything to upset the nobles, hoping I don't cause offense and make sure to keep my head down and ignore the times when I saw my friends taken away to become noble mistresses, ignore the starving kids in the poorer areas hoping to work or steal money to feed themselves, try to fight for what's mine and not feel guilty that I've deprived another commoner of a real chance at three meals a day, ignore the groping and obnoxious comments by nobles, and the violence conducted upon us with no justice for any physical injuries or deaths."

"I understand," replied Sync, Siesta's eyes widened as she gazed at Sync. "I grew up being forced to fight, kill, and survive all my life. Nobody really cared if I starved and died for a long time either until I became useful to other people who needed the skills I developed. One of my earliest memories was being thrown into a volcano because I was considered a failed test subject. I saw people who looked exactly like me get burned alive as they screamed for help. I was the only one of the six children to crawl out of that mess alive. After that, I was forced into becoming a soldier the day after being born, and worked my way up from simple reading and writing to killing enemies of the religious organization I worked for. Although, I always felt like it was the only option I had, with no other real means of survival and no real choice in the matter because of what I was. Even now, I always feel this constant shame in being who I am."

Siesta gasped. "B - but you shouldn't! You're strong, and brave, and very kind!"

"You don't know me at all," said Sync, furrowing his brows. Siesta flinched. "I have none of those qualities."

"Th - that's not true at all! You're like . . . like a hero to me! You stood up against a system that's done nothing but bring me suffering for all of my life, your protected me when everyone else looked away, and you killed an evildoer before he could go on and do it to someone else," said Siesta, she raised herself slightly to gaze down at Sync. "Please . . . stop thinking negatively about yourself! You're a wonderful person. If nothing else, you've proven it to me. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably be suffering from deep gashes and several broken bones because that moron had a temper tantrum and I just happened to be there. If that doesn't prove you're kind, and strong, and brave, then what else possibly could?"

"There's a lot you don't know about me," replied Sync, as Siesta moved back down and laid beside him. "I undertook many questionable and awful actions in the world I came from."

"Well . . . they don't matter here," said Siesta, smiling at him. "besides, they're part of the past. You should try to look ahead."

Sync shook his head slightly. "Even that concept is new to me. I've never really been in charge of my own life before. I've always needed a reason. I've commanded others to conduct actions for me and had to change strategies in the battlefield so I understand free choice to a certain extent, but I doubt I have any real purpose here."

Siesta took one of his hands to hers and clasped it tightly. Sync felt her warm slender fingers clutch and shake. Siesta gave him a disarming smile. "You'll never know until you try to find something . . ."

How does the Score here work? thought Sync, I should probably ask Louise tomorrow . . .

"What was that you mentioned before," said Sync, "about having done something terrible? I'm sure you know that I took custody of you, I hope you don't mind, so if you're having any trouble with the staff then I'm sure I can get you out of it."

Siesta shook her head slightly. "It has nothing to do with the staff and I don't mind the fact that I work for you now. Unlike the school staff, noble students, and the government liaison, I know that you don't have any untoward intentions. What I did was take out my anger over the discrimination on Louise. I just felt a swelling of hate for everything I've been through and for the treatment of my fellow commoners. After the hope you gave me when you killed Guiche, I couldn't numb myself from the pain I've held back for so many years. I didn't know what to do so I just . . . lashed out at Louise. If I'm being entirely honest, I think I did it because I knew Louise wouldn't really fight back and it's because she considers me a friend. Can you believe that? I'm sure that sounds completely obnoxious and horrible, I feel so guilty for the satisfaction I felt at finally getting back at a noble. A part of me wants to keep yelling at her because I know it'll affect her, unlike other nobles, but at the same time I feel horrible. I know that she may seem stuck up and naive, but Louise really is a caring person and I do consider her a friend. I don't really know how to make it up to her though."

"I . . . really don't have any advice to give," said Sync, he sighed. "I never really had friends growing up. The closest thing to it was a fellow co-worker who had a stick up his ass and a lot to prove to himself. In the end, I couldn't see eye to eye with him but I did understand why he wouldn't join the same cause that I did. He ended-up dying before I did. I was too scared to tell him that I sometimes considered him a friend, since he was the only one who would give my skills any sort of praise and he trusted me with some of his personal assignments. To be honest, I did feel regret for never being able to tell him that I would probably be one of the people saddened by his passing on the battlefield."

"I'm just happy that you took the time to listen," said Siesta smiling at him, "I think I'll just tell Louise, hopefully in a respectful manner, that I didn't mean to hurt her with what I said. Hopefully, she will understand."

Sync said nothing. He yawned. Well, it's not really any of my business how they feel about each other. I'm not going to interfere.

"Lady Louise told me . . ." began Siesta, she was visibly frowning and seemed hesitant. Sync waited for Siesta to gather her thoughts. "about her conversation with you earlier. She wanted my help to convince you to stay."

Weird . . . I don't feel upset by that at all, thought Sync, Well, it concerns her life circumstances too. I'm actually relieved I wasn't the one who had to break it to her of what the future could possibly entail.

"Well . . ." Sync paused and blushed. What should I say to that? "Er . . . if you think you have something to offer me that could change my opinion, then go ahead and try. I'm skeptical about remaining here though. I just don't see a point."

"I could . . . give you physical intimacy, if you like . . ." said Siesta, her cheeks flushing pink but her visage gazing at him in earnest. Sync's eyes widened and he gaped at her. His face becoming beet red in a matter of seconds. "It . . . it's only appropriate for a servant such as myself to please her Master. I knew it would happen eventually and for it to be you . . . well, I would be absolutely willing! It wouldn't be out of fear and . . . I think we could both enjoy the experience."

"Siesta, don't be ridiculous," snapped Sync, Siesta flinched and frowned at him. Sync let out an aggravated sigh and took a deep breath before continuing. "Look, I just tell it like it is, I don't believe that going in that direction so suddenly would be good for you. I understand that I made your life better and that you want to repay me, but going in that direction would be disastrous for both of us; I struggle with myself everyday with this . . . certainty, that I'm utterly worthless. I feel ashamed of everything I do, because I know it's ultimately meaningless."

Sync sighed at Siesta's troubled expression and continued. "I just . . . know that to be a fact about my life. I didn't want you to be harmed and if you dislike anything I say then I want you to tell me to my face without fear."

Siesta tilted her head slightly and slowly grabbed one of Sync's hands and clasped it over her chest. Sync blushed and furrowed his brows. Sync attempted to remain stoic as Siesta gazed upon him with a visage of yearning.

"My Lord . . . it may be inappropriate for me to speak against you on this, but . . . as you've afforded me the freedom. I want you to know . . . I feel that I must insist upon telling you that you are absolutely wrong." began Siesta, choosing her words carefully. Sync nodded to encourage her to continue. "You saved my life. I would be tortured and then likely sold as a sex slave if you hadn't intervened on my behalf; it's because Nobles have such rights over Commoners. I never thought that I would stop feeling this fear that I was raised to accept. Being a Commoner means being dead to the world because we have to live in fear of our personal safety at one incorrect word, or one accidental spill, or for no other reason than because Nobles want to attack or rape us because they can. I never thought I could feel safe; I never dreamed of feeling like how the Nobles do. So . . . I don't know how to fully express this, but I want to do my best to help you find a purpose."

Siesta's cheeks flushed red as she gazed at Sync directly in the eyes. Sync fidgeted but tried to maintain the gaze. What is she trying to say?

"I'm your Servant and I can only help you with how I've been trained and raised to, and you're my hero, so please . . . use me however you see fit." said Siesta in a confident tone, her visage turning a beet red. Sync's cheeks flushed pink at her words. "I want to show you how much you mean to me. I can't thank you enough for all you did for me in such a short timeframe. So please, heed Louise's words and stay with us, I want you to know that while what would have happened to me is vile under other circumstances; if it's with you, then I would willingly and eagerly accept your decision. If you wish for me to be your personal maid forever, I would gladly do so; if you wish for me to bear your child, I would consider it the highest honor. So please, please stay . . ."

Sync froze as he tried to process her viewpoint. I could take her offer and do whatever I wanted to her sexually. She just gave me her unambiguous consent . . . I can't believe this. Well, I suppose her Score reading imposes those restrictions on her. I could just do it. I could have sex with her with no real consequences for me personally. I have power over her and I'm recognized by the legitimate authority to do as I please. I . . .

"I'm sorry, Siesta. But . . . all of this is making my head spin. I feel it's going by too fast. Like I said before, I don't want to unintentionally harm you." said Sync, Siesta frowned but nodded. She let go of his hand and he moved it to his side. "I would be lying if I said that your wellbeing doesn't matter to me. If it's the fear of safety that has you concerned, I could arrange for you to inherit my title and lands to -"

"No, My Lord, I want to do my best to repay you back for everything you have done for me." interrupted Siesta, she moved closer to him. Sync froze as Siesta's head was under his chin as she leaned her entire half-naked body onto his and pressed their bodies together. "May we just . . . stay like this in each other's embrace? Nothing sexual. But may I just . . . hug you to show my affection?"

Sync let slip an aggravated sigh. To his chagrin, Siesta looked up and smirked at him. He replied. "Well, alright . . . I guess that would be fine."

Siesta moved her face to the side and pressed her cheek to his heart. Sync felt his erection harden as Siesta pressed her bra-enclosed bosoms onto his body, he felt her body lined almost perfectly with his to the point that he felt a wave of warmth, and she hugged him close to allow him to feel her warmth too. The closeness made Sync feel a bizarre phenomena of his heart soaring and Siesta giggled softly upon feeling his manhood on her womanhood through the fabric of their clothing. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep with Siesta holding him close in a calm, dreamless night of contentment.

"Every moment I wake, I dream of what it means to be alive . . ." whispered Siesta, just before she allowed herself to fall to sleep. A quiet resolve forming within her. "You made my dream into a reality. Perhaps this is too sudden, perhaps I'm stupid to think and feel this but . . . I love you, My Lord."