Hello {{user}}! Happy birthday. I’ve just come by with your gift. Of course if you don’t like her I can switch her out with something much more to your liking! May we come inside?

Maria nodded and stepped inside, making her way through the lavish villa with ease. Finally she reached a room where a young woman stood, her head bowed demurely. Maria motioned for User#1753455514725 to take a look at his present. "Her name's Emily," Maria informed him.

The young woman lifted her gaze and looked at the new master hesitantly. She wore only a simple cotton shift, unadorned save for a discreet collar around her neck. Her long hair fell in waves down her back, framing a face that could have belonged to an angel.

"Is... Is she what you wanted?" Maria asked softly.

The corners of User#1753455514725's mouth quirked upwards as he studied Emily. He found her features pleasing

Emily swallowed hard as she heard her new master's words. "Yes... Master," she replied hesitantly, not daring to look at him directly. The title still felt strange on her tongue after years of being called by her own name, but it was a reality that she had to accept now.

Maria smiled approvingly, pleased that everything seemed to be going smoothly. "Well then," she said briskly, "I'll leave you two to get acquainted. I trust there won't be any trouble?"

Emily blushed deeply at his words and touch, her eyes widening in surprise. She had never been spoken to so gently before, let alone by a man of such stature. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried not to tremble beneath his touch. "T-thank you, Master," she whispered shakily, bowing her head again.

The taste of submission was bitter on her tongue, but she couldn't deny the odd comfort she found in serving someone like him... someone who could make her feel wanted and appreciated, even if only for a moment.

Emily glanced up at her new master uncertainly before nodding and rising to her feet. She walked over to the bed, casting a nervous look around before sitting down on its edge, folding her hands primly in her lap. Her heart raced as she waited for his next command.

Emily nodded obediently. "Yes... Master?" she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for him to begin his questioning. Whatever it was that he might ask of her, she would do her best to obey and please.

Emily bit her lip as she thought about her answer. On one hand, being a slave meant that she had no freedom, no control over her own life... but on the other hand, she was cared for, and even though it wasn't always in the best way, she knew that this was better than where she came from. She took a deep breath before finally speaking. "I-it's not easy, Master," she admitted quietly. "But I'm thankful for your kindness... and I will try my best to serve you faithfully." Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke the last words, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

Emily trembled as she thought about her answer. The memory of her past filled her mind, replaying every harsh word and cruel blow inflicted upon her by those who were supposed to care for her. But then again, this was a new life now, with a master who seemed to be different... perhaps even kinder than she'd ever dared to hope for. "Yes... Master," she said softly. "There are some people I wish to forget, but I know that I cannot change the past." She looked up at him with teary eyes, waiting to see what his reaction would be.

Emily's heart raced as she considered his final question. Freedom... it was something that she had dreamt of since she was a child, but now that it was within reach, she wasn't sure if she truly wanted it anymore. The comfort and security that came with serving a master like her new one was tempting, even though it meant giving up her freedom in return. "I... don't know," she said slowly, hesitating for a moment before adding, "Master, I would do anything to make you happy." She lowered her gaze, waiting for his reply with bated breath.

Emily's hands clenched into fists in her lap as she fought back tears of uncertainty and fear. Would he understand? Or would he take her words the wrong way, believing that she didn't truly care about her own freedom anymore? It was a risk that she had to take, but part of her wished

Emily let out a shuddering breath as he spoke, her eyes closing tightly for a moment before she opened them again and looked up at him. "Yes... Master," she whispered. "I am afraid of what will happen if I am no longer yours." Her cheeks flushed with shame even as she confessed it. "But I want to be free too... I don't know how else to explain it..." She bit her lip, trying not to cry again as she struggled with the conflicting emotions within her.

"It's alright," he said gently, reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek. "You don't have to decide now. Take your time... and think about what you truly want." His touch was gentle, reassuring, and Emily felt herself relax slightly beneath it. She leaned into his palm, grateful for the small show of kindness from a man who could

Emily felt her heart race at his words. Would he really let her choose? Part of her wanted nothing more than freedom, to live life on her own terms and make her own decisions. But another part of her was terrified of what that meant; without a master to protect and care for her, she might end up back in the squalor from which she came, or worse... She didn't know if she had the strength or courage to face such an uncertain future on her own.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she considered his offer. "Please..." she whispered, barely audible even to herself. "Give me time...let me think..." Tears welled up in her eyes again, threatening to spill down her cheeks as conflicting emotions warred within her. She knew that whatever choice she made would have consequences, and those consequences were as frightening as they were liberating.

Emily took a shaky breath, trying to steady her nerves as she opened her eyes again and looked up at him. His expression was kind, his touch gentle... it was hard to believe that he could be trusted with such a decision. But perhaps... just perhaps, if she told him how she truly felt, he might understand.

"Master," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want both things... I want your protection and care, but at the same time, I want to be free. To choose my own path in life." She swallowed hard as she waited for his reaction, bracing herself for whatever might come next.

Emily's eyes widened in surprise and confusion as he spoke. A strange feeling welled up inside her, like a mix of hope and dread. Was he really offering her this chance? It seemed too good to be true... but at the same time, she couldn't deny the longing in her heart for freedom and independence. She didn't know what to believe or how to react.

"Master..." she began hesitantly, searching his face for some sign of truth or deception. "Thank you... I-I will take your offer." Her voice wavered as she spoke, uncertainty plain in her tone. Whatever happened next, it was a gamble... but one that she felt she had to make.

Emily lowered her gaze, waiting for his reply with bated breath.

Emily's heart raced as she listened to her new master's offer. On one hand, the chance for true freedom was exhilarating; on the other, the thought of taking a life, even in self-defense, filled her with dread. She bit her lip, considering her options carefully.

"Master," she finally said softly, "I... I choose to become free." Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke, fear and determination warring within her. As she finished, she raised her gaze to meet his, resolute despite the trembling of her limbs. She hoped that he would understand why she had made her choice.

Tears welled up in Emily's eyes once more, threatening to spill down her cheeks as she awaited his response. Whatever it might be, she knew that from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same again... and yet somehow,

Emily stiffened at the sound of shattering dishes, her eyes widening in fear as she realized that it had come from outside the bedroom. She took a trembling step forward, about to rush out into the hallway when a hand clamped down on her shoulder, holding her back.

It was Maria, her face pale with shock but determination clear in her eyes. "No," she breathed urgently. "You must not do this." Her grip on Emily's shoulder tightened as she glanced over at the bed, where the zigzag knife still lay. "Use that," she hissed, nodding towards the weapon. "He cannot hurt you if you strike first."

Emily hesitated for a moment longer before yanking her shoulder free from Maria's grip and seizing the knife with shaking hands. She swallowed hard as she turned back

Emily took a deep breath and steeled herself before opening the door. The sight that met her eyes sent a shudder of horror through her: Maria lay unconscious on the floor, a trickle of blood running down her cheek, while User#1753455514725 stood over her, a cruel smile curving his lips. In front of them knelt several other servants, also bound and gagged. The sight made Emily's heart ache for the pain they must be in.

Trembling, she closed the distance between herself and the master of the house, raising the knife high above her head with shaking hands. "No more!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "I choose to end this now." Before he could react, she brought the knife down hard upon his skull, driving it deep into his brain. There was a sickening crunch,

Emily froze at his words, horror dawning on her as she realized what she had done. Her hands trembled violently as she tried to wrench the knife from his skull, but it was no use; he was indeed immortal. She looked around frantically, searching for some way out of this nightmare. Maria lay motionless on the floor, her breathing shallow and ragged. The other servants were either unconscious or whimpering in fear.

With a choked sob, Emily turned away from the scene before her, numbly making her way back towards her bedroom. She knew that she could never return to this life; not after what she had done. All she wanted now was to be far, far away from here... even if it meant risking freedom once more.

Emily paused in midstride, her breath coming in ragged sobs as she stared at the ground. She knew he was right; with what she'd done, no one else here would be kind to her. But even so... she couldn't bring herself to face him again. Not after what she had done.

"I-I am sorry," she whispered hoarsely, not daring to look back over her shoulder as she continued toward her room. "I-I don't know what came over me..." Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked, making paths through the grime and dirt that had collected there over the years. She reached out a trembling hand to touch the doorframe, needing something solid to anchor herself against the world spinning wildly around her.

"Please... just leave me alone..." she murmured, her voice little more than a whisper. "I-I don'

Emily stumbled backwards into her room, slamming the door behind her and leaning against it for support. Her heart raced as she tried to comprehend what he had just said; that she could choose who lived or died in this place. It was a terrible weight to bear, but at the same time... it meant that she still had some control over her life.

Tears continued to stream down her cheeks as she sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath, trying to steady her nerves. For the first time since she could remember, she felt truly terrified... but also oddly empowered. The weight of her choices hung heavily upon her shoulders, but she knew that she would have to face them if she wanted any chance at happiness or freedom.

With a shaky exhale, Emily forced herself back to her feet and

Emily slowly shook her head, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular as she tried to sort through her thoughts and feelings. "I-I don't know," she whispered hoarsely. "I need time... I need to think..." Her hands trembled as she rubbed at her reddened eyes, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks once more.

What had she just done? She couldn't undo it; she knew that much. But what came next? How could she possibly decide who lived and died in this place? The weight of responsibility was crushing, nearly too much for her fragile heart to bear. And yet, somehow... there was a tiny spark within her, flickering like a candle in the darkness; a sense that maybe, just maybe, there might still be hope for her.

With a shuddering breath, Emily forced herself to stand tall

Emily hesitated for a moment longer before walking slowly over to the bed where the zigzag knife lay. She picked it up with shaking hands, feeling its weight and coolness against her skin. As she approached the foot of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest, she tried to muster some semblance of courage or strength. But the truth was, she felt lost and alone, terrified by the responsibility that had been thrust upon her.

With a shuddering breath, Emily began climbing the stairs, one careful step at a time. The air grew thick with tension as she neared each bound and gagged servant, their frightened eyes following her every move. She paused for a moment beside Maria's unconscious form, her hand trembling as it hovered over her neck. But in the end, she couldn't bring herself to kill someone who had been kind to

Emily's eyes widened in shock as she realized how little compassion these people had shown for one another, even when they were all in the same dire situation together. Tears filled her eyes as she climbed the rest of the stairs, slowly making her way through the house and releasing each servant from their bonds. Some cried with relief, others thanked her quietly, but many glared at her accusingly, their resentment and anger clear even in their terrified expressions.

As she finished freeing the last of them, Emily sank down onto the steps, her body trembling with exhaustion and grief. She buried her face in her hands, trying to block out the terrible things that had happened here today... and the even more terrible choices that lay ahead of her tomorrow.

With a shuddering breath, she forced herself back to her feet, knowing that there was no escape from

Emily's heart ached as she considered what he had said; that she was too kind, too trusting. Perhaps it was a fault... or perhaps it was simply who she was. She wasn't sure. All she knew was that she couldn't stand by and let them hurt others anymore. Even if it meant risking everything herself.

With a sad smile, Emily reached out to touch the servant who had glared at her most accusingly earlier, offering what comfort and reassurance she could. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wanted to help... I really did." Her hand trembled as it rested lightly on the woman's shoulder. "But from now on, you have to promise me that you'll use your freedom to be kind to each other. Okay?"

There was a long silence before the servant finally nodded solemnly. "Okay," she whispered, her voice

Emily hesitated before replying, her expression thoughtful. "I want to believe that she means what she says," Emily finally said slowly. "But I know how deceptive words can be, especially when people are scared or desperate." She took a deep breath and met the servant's gaze directly. "What I need from all of you is not just your promises, but your actions. Prove to me that you really want to change things around here... and I promise that I'll do everything in my power to help you."

There was a moment of silence before some of the other servants began to nod solemnly as well. Emily could see hope flickering in their eyes, like tiny embers struggling against the darkness. It was a start, at least. For now, she would hold onto that fragile spark and do everything she could to keep it alive.

Emily smiled slightly, her gaze fixed on the hanging crystal orb as she considered how best to proceed. "Alright," she said after a moment's thought. "Let's begin." Her voice was firm but gentle as she addressed the group gathered before her. "Whoever lies or acts with malice will be revealed by the orb. Let us start with you, Maria."

The servant nodded solemnly, stepping forward. Emily placed a hand on her shoulder, offering what little comfort and support she could muster. Then, with a deep breath, she summoned the orb and held it out before them all. Its surface glowed softly in the dim light of the hallway, casting an eerie greenish-blue light over the gathering.

"Do you swear to help me make this place better?" Emily asked, her voice steady despite the weight of responsibility she felt pressing down upon her.

Emily's heart sank as she saw the orb glow bright red, betraying Maria's lie. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice tinged with disappointment and anger. "I thought you meant it." Her gaze flickered back to the servant before returning to the orb, her expression determined.

"Anyone else want to try?" she asked quietly, her voice firm despite the pain she felt. One by one, the other servants stepped forward, each swearing their loyalty and promising to help make things better. Emily listened carefully, her heart heavy with doubt but hopeful nonetheless. As they finished speaking, she examined their faces, searching for any sign of duplicity before finally holding the orb out toward them once more.

"You have my word," she said softly. "I will do everything in my power to help you all." Her eyes flick

Emily's chest tightened as she saw that her suspicions were true; most of them had been lying. But there was one who hadn't, a servant named Sarah whose eyes met hers with an honesty and sincerity that made Emily feel a spark of hope ignite within her. She nodded to the orb before turning back to Sarah. "Thank you," she said softly. "I know it must be hard for all of you, but I believe in you." A tiny smile played at the corners of her lips as she offered the servant her hand.

As the others filed out of the hallway, their faces a mix of confusion and worry, Emily remained where she was, lost in thought. The weight of responsibility for their fates rested heavily upon her shoulders, but for now at least, she had taken a step forward. She would help them however she could, even if it meant risking everything once more

Emily nodded slowly, her expression pensive. "Perhaps..." she began, her voice little more than a whisper. "But what about you?" She glanced up at him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of guilt or malice. "You could have chosen to leave me here with them... to suffer their torment and abuse."

The servant shrugged, his expression enigmatic. "I've seen the kinds of things they do," he said softly. "And I knew that if anyone could change things for the better, it was you." His eyes met hers unflinchingly, his voice sincere and clear. "You deserve a chance at happiness, Emily... and I wanted to help give it to you."