As such, though the den itself was finished, the one wall separating the den from the laundry area remained framed, but still open. Making my way down... the hall, I then entered into the unfinished still under construction portion of the laundry area, which was as usual, darkened with the only light coming from the one dim table lamp that was on. I carefully made my way over next to the furnace and water heater, crouching down between the two as they stood side by side, leaving me an unobstructed. Naked on all fours, or in humiliating punishment, with wrists braceleted, behind our backs holding the scrubbing brush in our teeth. Every day and all day, so that the men are pleased. Our menial labours did nothing to mitigate the hardness of the stone on our bare feet, or bodies. This did not concern the masters, why would it. ?What is your use name girl?? He asked me. Use or rape name, a convenience for him rather than me. I have been renamed several times on the tavern owners whim. I liked. “And now, so no one will ever know, I have to be unfaithful again!”“Everyone gets tempted occasionally or makes bad decisions if they are lonely or under the influence of something,” I replied, stretching my hand out to take hers.“I ... I was drugged, but they caught him, the planetary governor’s son,” she sobbed.The Empire has two tiers of governance. The bureaucracy ensure things get done, with the High Bureaucrats directly under the oversight of the Empress; the lower level bureaucrats are. “Don’t know how many more years she’s going to be doing this. The junior group is pretty small, so she probably sees your group as one of the last chances she has to make a splash.”That comment woke Belle up fully.“Really? Retiring? Has she said anything to the parents?” she asked intently.“Not really. More of an impression than anything,” he said. “Mary Ann is quite a good teacher, and I can see her handing it over one day soon the way Ms. Miller did for Ms. Castle.”“Hard to imagine sweet old.