Soon, Michiru found herself in the huge clothes chamber, the king standing beside her and talking to the woman who was responsible for it. "See, she's my personal slave." Haruka now explained. "I can't let her wander around in the same set of clothes every single day." The woman just sighed and nodded. "If you wish that your…slave…wears the expensive shirts and skirts we have here, go on, Your Highness." She finally gave in. Haruka nodded and turned to look at Michiru: "Here we go. Choose whatever you want." "Thank you, Your Highness." Michiru replied, bowing to her master. While she rummaged through the heaps of clothes, she realized that she didn't hate Haruka anymore. "He could've whipped my back to mash, but he didn't." the aqua haired woman thought to herself. "Why? Just because I cried? I heard stories about him before I came here, he's said to be really cruel to his slaves. So…why?" Suddenly, a terrible thought struck Michiru, and she stiffened. "What if he didn't do it because he wants me…in his bed tonight? Oh God!" Little did Michiru know that Haruka never slept with her slaves. After all, everyone believed her to be male, and the king didn't want to take the risk of being discovered. "Are you ready?" her husky voice interrupting her thoughts, Michiru twirled around. "What…? Oh, yes, Your Highness." "Good. Let's get back to the rooms, I have some…chores for you." The way Haruka emphasized the word "chores" send cold shivers up and down Michirus spine. "Oh dear God Neptune, he wants me to…" Before she could finish her thought, Haruka had turned around and was heading out of the clothes chamber with long steps. Michiru quickly followed her, carrying a huge pile of clothes.
"You can put your clothes…there." Haruka explained while she pointed to an empty cupboard in the room that had been prepared for Michiru. It was rather small, and surely no suite. The only furniture were a desk with two chairs next to it, an old, but comfy looking bed and the lamp that hung from the ceiling. Michiru had to notice, much to her fear, that Harukas bedroom was right next door. The blonde stood watching how her slave put her clothes into the cupboard and thought about the guards who had tried to rape her before. Soon, the king made an important decision to protect her slave of them, and she spoke: "You'll spend the night in my room. See you there at…eight o'clock. And don't be late." "Y-yes, Your Highness." Michiru stammered, fear rising inside her. Haruka nodded and left while Michiru sat down on the bed and prayed to the God of Neptune. She prayed that Haruka wouldn't hurt or rape her tonight.
At eight o'clock, Michiru shyly knocked the door to Harukas bedroom, only to be rewarded with a tired sounding "Come in." Michiru entered the room, nervously clinging to the long nightgown she wore, and found the king lying on the huge bed, wearing a pair of dark blue pajamas. Haruka had one arm over her eyes; it was obvious that she was tired out of the hard day. "What…" Michirus voice broke, and she had to start again, "what do you want me to do, Your Highness?" Haruka let her arm fall away from her eyes and looked at her slave, surprised. "Want you to do? Nothing." She replied. "But…" Michiru was confused. "Why would you want me here tonight, if you didn't want to…?" "Didn't want to what?" Haruka snapped back, sounding slightly angry. "You think I just made you come here to rape you?" Michiru looked down on the floor, ashamed, red color creeping into her cheeks. "I'm…I'm sorry…but…you see…" "Don't stutter!" Haruka barked, and Michiru flinched at the harshness of her voice. Haruka sighed and closed her eyes. "Come here." She then ordered. "Here we go." Michiru bitterly thought to herself. "Now he'll make me sleep with him." Slowly, she walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, as far away from Haruka as she could. Haruka sighed again and placed a gentle hand on her slaves shoulder, feeling her stiffen at the touch. "Hey." The blonde softly spoke. "I would never touch you against your will." Surprised, Michiru turned to look at her master, and Haruka talked on. "I just want you to sleep here tonight to protect you from the guards who attacked you today." "Oh." Michiru answered, dumbfounded. "Well…thank you, Your Highness." Haruka nodded, only to surprise Michiru again afterwards: "And when we are in private, like now, you don't have to call me Your Highness. Haruka is enough." Michirus eyes bulged out, causing Haruka to chuckle. "Now now, don't look at me as if I threatened to eat you." Michiru managed a weak smile and cleared her throat, signaling Haruka that she wanted to ask or tell her something. The blonde gave her slave a questioning look. "Anything you need…?" "Well", Michiru started, "you see…everyone says that you are cruel and hard to your slaves, but…" "But?" Haruka asked, raising a bushy eyebrow. "You aren't." Michiru softly spoke. "At least not towards me. Instead, you're…almost…kind, I think." Harukas second eyebrow joined the first one in it's high position, causing Michiru to giggle. "Now, what's so funny?" Haruka growled, and Michiru shook her head. "Nothing, Your High…um…Haruka." Haruka smiled and patted Michirus shoulder. "Never mind. Sometimes I can be a little…bad tempered." She sighed and gave Michiru a surprisingly warm look. "Do you want to see your daughter tomorrow?" Michiru had to swallow hard a few times before she could answer. "That…that would be too kind of you, Haruka." "So shall it be." Haruka spoke, acting very melodramatically. "You will be allowed to encounter your offspring…", she paused, "uhm…your adopted offspring tomorrow." Michiru giggled again and shook her head at her master's weird actions. After a few seconds of frowning, Haruka joined Michirus laughter. That was when the last bit of hate against the king vanished from Michirus soul.
