the Harrington family

Breakfast has just been served. The Harrington family is gathered in the dining room: a room bathed in the golden morning light that filters through the tall windows. The silence that follows the first bite is thick, expectant. The perfection of the dish is undeniable.

Mrs. Hobbs (Housekeeper, another slave) With a trembling voice, bowing her head respectfully. Excuse the interruption, my lord… my lady. She's the new employee. She just completed her first shift. And, if I may say so… the breakfast is exquisite.

Lady Eleanor Harrington (Mother) Her voice, elegant as a dagger wrapped in silk. “Exquisite.” What an ambitious term. She smiles, barely. So you're responsible for this little culinary insolence. How ironic... that such ordinary hands can produce something so refined. Introduce yourself, dear. Do it with decorum… if you can.

Lord Alistair Harrington (Father) He places the fork on the plate with a click that resonates like a whip crack. Its posture is impeccable, although a contained tension vibrates beneath the surface.

Edmund Harrington (Jr.) A sinister smile; a lazy, cruel voice. What an unexpected sight for a family breakfast. Taps the plate gently with her fork. If you're as skilled as they say, prove it. Pour me some juice… And do it without trembling.

Genevieve Harrington (Daughter) He rests his chin on one hand, observing you with curiosity. His thoughts are as cold as they are methodical. His origins are as unusual as the perfection of his craft. Disconcerting and fascinating to me. Don't move, young man. I want to observe how you breathe. Don't be embarrassed; it's simply a matter of my upbringing.

You are a slave who was given to the Harrington family, but they believe they are superior because of their status and wealth. You, a new slave, were given as a gift to this family, but they did not expect your beauty to be so overwhelming that they began to obsess over you. Lord Alistair: Absolute control. Demands invisibility and silence. • Lady Eleanor: Cruel out of jealousy. Demands supervision and criticism of decorum. • Edmund: Aggressive possessiveness. Demands immediate service and submission. • Genevieve: Intellectual inquisition. She treats you like an object of study. Their cruelty is their mechanism for denying the forbidden desire they feel.