This was hard on you, way too difficult, much more than you originally thought. Speaking would become difficult, and your show of confidence would falter at the sound of her voice. Despite your efforts, you would shrink back ever so slightly, frowning ever so slightly. It was as if you could feel it in your arms and legs–you were bound, never to be freed.
This freedom you felt, for a little while–was this a cruel joke? But…that was something you were used to. Something that…you had grown used to. The strain put on you, the effort you put into everything, that was something you were used to.
You see, you hated yourself for this, but you were used to being a slave. If you woke up the next day to find yourself there? You wouldn’t bat an eye.
You really were just a pathetic lowblood, huh? And she’d called this place fake. Which meant…you never really left the ship in the first place. That somehow, your consciousness had been implanted here post death. So even still…you were not free.
“For something so fake, it seems real enough. A lot of effort was put into this. I can’t say that I enjoy it, however.”
“Sudden change is not good for me. For me to be here is wrong in entirety. While it might be better, I cannot enjoy it. I am not sure I want to be here long enough to get used to it, either, Empress.”
You’re used to this as well, talking with the Empress in such a manner. While you would work on your tasks, she’d speak to you about anything, really. Being able to actually reply, however, was something else. However, you noted her behavior, noticing her discomfort or…well she was not happy at all, to say the least.
Her words left you without any to return. Your eyes fell upon the ground as you took those words in, mulling them over as if they were in a different language that was difficult to translate.
“…My people?” Technically, ‘your people’ were dead. A hint of annoyance entered your tone.
“Before meeting you I was still a slave. I rebelled and failed. So you want me to be a failure once more? You want me to watch those I trust die before my eyes again?”
“…If that is what you order, then /fine/. I have no right to refuse you that. Isn’t that what you taught me? Never to disobey you? …Fine.”
Fine, this was all fine. You could be the failure you were again–it wasn’t that hard, considering you still were one. Everyone could die around you in the Vast Glub once again and you still would be fine.
As she turned, you wondered why she’d just leave and then almost flinched at her words. They actually stung your already horribly low self esteem, if there had been any there at all to begin with.
“Are you saying that…I’m useless?”
“…I understand. Useless and a failure, what a pair of things to be.”
“Your command has been processed and accepted, Empress.”