Chapter 1 Will
The sun shines on the golden beach, and the broad-leaved trees cast layers of shade.
A glass of cool juice is brought to your lips. All you have to do is close your eyes and take a sip. Phew—your whole throat is filled with the taste of mango.
Rome, Rome in another world, I was born in Rome!
Melia squinted her eyes and licked the sweet juice from her mouth.
She leaned against an exquisitely woven rattan chair, her mouth open to the left. The maids lifted her long hair, which was flowing in the wind, and carefully folded it in their arms.
A layer of gauze brushed against her cheek. The older sister, her upper body covered in gold jewelry, twisted a grape between two fingers and pushed it into her mouth, scraping against her lips. She gently squeezed the grape flesh before entering her mouth, and the juice instantly splashed onto her tongue. The skin was hooked by her fingertips and deftly dropped back into the silver plate.
Ah~ the evil ancient Roman slavery...how could it be so evil?
Melia sank into the wicker chair, enjoying herself while spitting at the same time. Wait, wait another ten or twenty years, until the old patriarch's soul returned to heaven, then she could release these elder sisters...
Not yet, because they are her "father's" concubines.
As the daughter of Muala, the richest man in Rome, Melia was entitled to everything her father gave her, but she was only an heir, and all the gold, silver, property, and slaves in the house belonged to Muala.
Besides, Melia is not his real daughter. It is said that the real Melia accidentally fell into the water a week ago, and everything left behind became the property of ghosts from another world.
Thanks to the time traveler syndrome, Melia lost her memory. Fortunately, her cheap dad Muala was also bedridden, so she managed to get away with it:
The original owner was a filial daughter who didn't pay her respects for ten days or half a month, was always acting like a normal person, ate and drank excessively, and didn't work hard.
She occasionally heard the maids' whispers, and even if she rolled naked on the ground, shouting "I'm possessed by Athena!" no one would think she was possessed by evil spirits.
Compared to the original owner, what does mere amnesia mean?
Melia rubbed the mat and heard an ambiguous chuckle in her ear.
After a few seconds, the head was held in the palm of the elder sister's hand and pressed onto the soft cushion.
"Miss, Ottolan just got a jar of honey. Tonight..."
At night? What night? It’s so white, ah no, it’s so big.
Melia struggled to move her head, letting her eyes see through the slits: "Honey? I want to eat it."
"Really~?"
"Yeah! And that cake I mentioned last time!"
She licked her lips: Being a rich woman in another world is great in every way, except that there is no cola and cream cake.
Ancient Roman torte was a sweet dough mixed with honey, milk and eggs, and tasted more like flatbread than a modern cake.
Fortunately, as the daughter of the richest man, she can instruct her father's six pastry chefs to study hard with their apprentices, so there is no need to worry about not being able to make it.
"Yes~" the elder sister smiled sweetly, tapping her lips with one finger: "Thanks to you, young lady, I'm getting fat~"
"Hehehe, no problem, no problem."
Melia smiled foolishly for a moment, feeling the gentle force on her head, and suddenly felt a little emotional: "Sister Annie, what are your plans for the future?"
"Hmm?" Annie gently shook her long hair, showing off her beautiful neck.
"I mean, have you ever considered starting a small business and leaving my dad..."
"Miss!" Annie turned pale and fell down from the armrest.
She knelt on the ground, her ears dancing. The golden bell on her father's left shoulder cracked with a bang, but the shattering sound could not drown out her sudden sobs: "Ani is wrong, it's all Ani's fault, please don't chase Ani away!"
As she spoke, she slapped her charming cheek hard. With a loud bang, her left cheek became visibly bruised.
"Ah, ah..." Melia's eyes widened in fear, and she reached out to block the blow, but Annie easily dodged it. Pah! Annie's delicate right cheek also swelled up.
Melia was completely confused:
In the first week after she arrived, everyone treated her with great respect, walked briskly, and spoke pleasantly, so that she only had to open her mouth to eat, and even had to sit still while getting dressed and washing up every day.
Of course, Melia was very touched and grateful to the slave girl named Annie: Although Annie was tall, she was only nineteen years old.
She has a dazzling star-like appearance and is naturally smart. She can learn anything after being taught once, and can even flexibly apply the arithmetic formulas that Melia casually said.
We just mentioned Gobang the day before yesterday, and yesterday I brought the prepared chessboard and chess pieces over to play with us.
Such a gentle and amiable Ani is just one of the unfavored concubines in Muala's family.
This is Rome, an alternate world where slavery is prevalent. Muala is one of the six highest elders in the Senate and one of the most powerful merchants.
Every day, countless guests stuff in countless gifts, whether they are alive or dead.
"Quick, someone stop her!"
Melia flipped over the wicker chair and hurriedly picked up Annie.
But she was young and weak, and she couldn't control Annie's slapping hands on her face.
Snap——
With the sound of wind, a hand tightly grasped Ani's wrist.
"Ani, do you want to hurt the lady?" A cold voice sounded from behind, making Anni shiver.
"I-I didn't… I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please punish me, miss!"
Annie shrank down and knelt on the ground, and a young girl walked out from behind her.
Unlike the silent female slaves around her, Taffi wore only iron ornaments instead of gold or silver.
As a birthday gift for Melia when she was three years old, Taffi was born in the same month. He was the only slave in the family who belonged only to Melia. He always carried a sharp sword and guarded the young lady.
"Xiao Fei~ You're back, great."
Melia breathed a sigh of relief. She shook her sore arms and walked back swayingly.
"Yes." Taffy raised her arm skillfully and supported Melia steadily. "Miss, did Annie's nails scratch you?"
"No, she hurt herself badly." Melia looked back and saw a little slave girl looking at Ani curiously with a worried look on her face.
She waved at the little slave girl and said, "Get her some medicine from my room."
There is a huge cabinet in her room, which contains various medicines for injuries. The medicine in the lady's room must be the best.
"Yes..." The little slave girl widened her eyes, retracted her head and ran out like a rabbit.
After Melia sat back in the wicker chair, Taffi untied the whip at his waist, half-knelt on the ground, and raised it above his head respectfully.
"What's wrong? What do you want to ask me?" Melia blinked, not knowing how to react.
Taffy nodded: "Miss, I understand."
After saying that, he drew out his short knife and walked towards Annie who was lying on the ground.
Annie raised her head, and the tears in her eyes fell to the ground drop by drop.
Her expression now was much calmer than before, without hesitation or despair, only sadness.
"Wait...what are you going to do?!" Melia stood up despite the headache and hugged Taffy's arm.
This kid is only fourteen, and even his wrists are so delicate, how could he hold a knife with such a calm expression...
After she clenched her hand, she was slightly startled: Taffy's wrist was tougher than she had imagined. It was not skinny and bony, but muscle with very low body fat percentage wrapped in fascia, and it felt very elastic.
During the days and nights when she was lying down, the child never slacked off.
Taffy obediently lowered her hands and knees, lowered her shoulders, and lowered her head to below her master's eyes. "Master, you don't need her anymore. I will take care of it."
"ah?"
"Besides, she injured your wrist."
Wrist? Melia turned her arm over and smiled nonchalantly: "What? You accidentally scratched it... Hey!"
Taffy raised the knife silently. She was so frightened that she opened her arms and locked the child tightly in her arms: "Don't move, I order you not to move!"
"yes."
Her raised voice command seemed to make everyone relieved, and even their expressions became subtly relaxed: at least the eldest lady didn't abandon them.
When the air was completely quiet, Melia slowly let go of Taffy's hand.
The other person lowered his head obediently and put the whip into her hands. At the same time, he quickly took off his shirt, revealing his back covered with marks, and lay down on the ground.
The whole movement was smooth and flowing, as if it was a memory engraved in the body.
Melia took the whip blankly and rubbed the end with her fingers:
This is a very flexible whip, smooth and shiny, and it is easy to see that it is often used. There is a lovely golden bell tied to the end of the whip, which makes a pleasant ringing sound when it is swung.
Taffy was adorned only with iron rings and thin chains.
The owner of the whip is not Taffy, but Taffy's master.
She tucked the whip into her left hand and carefully reached for Taffy's back with her right.
The touch is completely different from that of the wrist, not smooth at all, and the bumps are all from old healed wounds.
As she touched the wound, Taffy remained motionless, even his breathing was unusually steady.
I'm used to it.
"Miss, would you like some salt?" Taffy maintained his prone position, speaking in a casual tone, as if he was discussing how to cook.
"Salt...where would I sprinkle it?" Melia lowered her hands.
“You like to dip it on the whip. I made a serious mistake today. Please whip me first and then apply it. It’s not worth wasting too much salt water on me.”
Taffy...a fourteen-year-old child.
Everyone knew that she was Melia's servant. Even Melia, who had only been there a week, understood how loyal and attached she was to her master.
If this is how "Meliya" treats her, then others—
Melia took a deep breath, turned to Annie who was still lying on the ground, and reached out to pull her up.
Annie blinked smartly, gently held Melia's hand, stood up obediently, and said in a soft voice: "Miss, Annie knows I was wrong..."
"Remember what happened a month ago?"
A month ago? Having just experienced the crisis of abandonment, Annie was extremely alert. She didn't know what Melia was asking about, but questioning her master clearly wasn't an option.
She quickly recalled the morning of thirty days ago. Like Taffy, she knelt on the ground and put her lovely head against her master's chin. "You got up early that day and wanted to go fishing in the river."
"Then."
"And then... the slaves came back with empty buckets, and you were in a bad mood."
"What else did I do that day?"
Annie's heart skipped a beat. What happened that day...was the master warning her?!
She nodded in panic: "I, I smiled at you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
No, you are right.
Melia felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Annie always smiled at everyone she saw.
She had a smile on her face, and she must have wanted to welcome the young lady back from fishing that day.
That mentally ill young lady who no one wants to offend.
"Ani, I..."
"The punishment from that day wasn't enough!" Annie bent down hard, as if to break her waist. "Please feel free to use me when you are free. I... tonight..."
Melia suddenly didn't want to ask any more questions and just wanted to vomit.
She raised her head and looked at everyone's expressions. Except for Taffy who was lying on the ground and didn't get up, everyone was so cautious.
How could I not have noticed that the person who was under the most pressure this week was not her who was afraid of being exposed.
"Taffy, get up."
"yes."
"No need to bow your head."
"yes."
It was the first time that Taffy raised his face towards her. She was indeed a child.
Although her figure has shown signs of slimming down, her face is still youthful.
Smooth and handsome, with firm eyebrows and eyes, and beautiful golden-brown pupils that remind people of transparent amber in the sun.
Sensing his master's burning gaze, Taffy put his cheek close to the whip.
She didn't know the value of her beauty or her limbs. As a servant, everything she had belonged to the mistress, every drop of her blood, every bone.
Suddenly——
The whip made a sound of wind.
Crack!
A crisp sound exploded in my ears.
Taffy kept his eyes open and didn't move at all. Half a second later he suddenly turned his head away in surprise: Why doesn't it hurt at all?
"Ahhh, ahhhhhh——"
Melia's screams broke the peaceful scene, and everyone started moving at the same time as if the play button had been pressed!
Taffy was the fastest. She picked up Melia who had rolled to the ground and made her lie flat on her stomach.
A bright trace of blood appeared before his eyes, sliding down the young lady's tender skin.
It was a whip mark she was very familiar with...
Taffy has an endurance that he is very proud of, and even the master in charge of torture in the family is amazed.
She is not born with a pain-free physique, on the contrary, her five senses are very sensitive and she has excellent reactions in combat.
Pain is unnecessary for the slave, she should make the mistress happy, the mistress likes her face, her obedience, and does not like the sight of her crying and screaming.
Taffy is familiar with his own pain and the pain of others, and faces them calmly.
But now—
"Ah, ah, ah——" She opened her mouth and let out a howling sound like the lady in her arms.
It was hoarse and low at first, but soon became tragic, containing real pain.
The little slave girl holding the medicine almost crawled over and together with Annie, she held up Melia's wrist and gently applied the ointment.
"Miss, Miss." Annie asked softly in a coaxing tone, "What's wrong with you, Miss?"
The young lady did not like to be questioned, as such questions could easily lead to severe punishment, so she was mentally prepared.
But the girl lying in Fita's arms gradually calmed down, even though tears were still in the corners of her eyes.
The young lady had a pair of emerald eyes, more charming than the most expensive emerald in Muala's family. Those eyes, which used to be raised with pride, were now soaked with tears, revealing a touch of tenderness.
"Taffy, it hurts." Melia hugged Taffy's neck, and the air became quiet again.
Taffy's tears fell on her face drop by drop, and unlike the tears that flowed out of pain, they were filled with the heat of sadness.
"Miss...why are you doing this?"
Melia did not answer for a moment, because she saw deep reproach in the other person's eyes.
That's great. They say slaves have no feelings, but Taffy, you can still feel it.
The people around did not chuckle or look relaxed; they were all nervous, as if the lady on the ground had become a lunatic.
Her hand loosened his neck and caressed his cheek softly: "It's okay, throw away the whip."
"Yes, it hurt the young lady—"
"No."
Melia shook her head, it was too early to say that now.
Whether it was Taffy, Ani, or the slaves watching around them, they had all been "educated" for too long in this era.
Even if Master Muala died suddenly today and she became the head of the family, they would not accept the ideas she instilled in them and would have to take things slowly.
She smiled and patted Taffy's tearful face, waving to the people around her: "Okay, let's stop here for today. Go back and have a good sleep and eat. We can talk about it tomorrow if there is anything else."
The one who abused them was the original owner, not her.
But it was she who ignored their pain and even began to enjoy it.
That whipping was well deserved—hiss, but it still hurt!
The muscles in her arm twitched and Melia grimaced in pain.
Taffy immediately put his arms around her waist and lifted her up sideways, as if she were a kitten with two broken legs.
"Ahem... I can walk by myself."
"You're injured." Taffy tightened his arms, his face full of rejection.
"It's not a leg..."
"Ms. Melia."
An old figure walked from the end of the corridor. It was Ali, Muala's most trusted butler.
Ali bowed to her, the front of his robe almost reaching the ground. "Miss, the master is calling you."
After a moment, he sighed and squeezed out the last few words: "...It's a will. The master is dying."
The author has something to say:
I'm happily writing a new post~ I'm glad to see you! I wish you good luck and a good mood. Thanks to Lululu and Pigeon's strongest Leilei, and thanks to Lululu and Fugue for their support~
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