Even after several months Elle could not get used to the massive nude portrait of herself that now adorned Prince Adam's bedroom wall. The artist had been very skilled. To Elle it was as though though gazing into a looking glass, only many times larger. Elle estimated that the painting was four times as large as herself. Posing for it had been a respite from her constant labors. The result however caused her mixed emotions. The artist had finished in time for Elle's first anniversary of servitude. It had been Prince Adam's gift to himself in honor of the occasion. She had to admire the result, still ... Elle gazed at the huge woman, the smile was hers, the collar was hers, the long legs and pert breasts were hers, her naked sex was exposed in all of its glory. Even the pattern of freckles upon the bridge of the nose and the alabaster chest matched Elle's. The likeness was so true it was unnerving.
Prince Adam adored the painting, "This way your beauty will never fade, Pet."
Sadly, Elle realized that before too many more years of toil, she would begin aging beyond her natural years. The painting, in that way, haunted Elle. It reminded her constantly of the finite nature of her existence. After unveiling the portrait Prince Adam and Elle had enjoyed a quiet evening. Elle tried not to think of the time spent as the first year of an impossibly long prison sentence but it was hard to see it as anything else. Prince Adam was generally sweet to her but she was still property. With the picture preserving her youth forever, Elle imagined that the Prince would find some way to dispose of her once her looks began to fade.
She was truly grateful when her prince was once again called to active duty and she was sent to Roger Duken's huge and utterly charming home. For one thing the unnerving portrait of herself was absent from Roger's room, which brightened Elle's mood immediately. Roger was beyond kind to her. He called her "Sweet Pet" and was tender in the extreme. Away from the prying eyes of others he gave her a lovely dress to wear and treated her more like a lover or wife than a slave. Roger had fairly spoiled her. He never asked Elle for anything sexually that she was unwilling to give. In response Elle found that she wanted to give Roger quite a lot. One day they made love a dozen times. Roger's described the final orgasms that day as "Hell wrapped in delight."
Roger had one of his maids give Elle pedicures, manicures, and preform most of her work. (Much to the anger of the maid, who viewed the slave as her far inferior.) On more than one night Roger massaged Elle off to blissful sleep. He even cooked some meals for her. Roger was not shy in proclaiming his love for Elle.
"I love Prince Adam like a brother, but I envy him you. I would forfeit all of my wealth if it could give you your freedom. If it took felling an entire forest with a single knife to win your love I would gladly toil away as long it took until the last tree tumbled."
"You have my love, Master Roger. But Prince Adam has a claim on my heart as well." replied the former princess shyly. She realized that she really did love both men. Not in the same way but with equal passion. The only delightful thing about being a slave is that she would never be expected or permitted to choose. Not for the first Elle wondered what it would be like to make love to both handsome men at once. But such things were simply not done, not even with slaves.
"In a way you are blessed Sweet Pet, You have the undying love of two men when most women are at best casually loved by their husbands." replied the rich man.
"Oh Master Roger, you are so kind to me. Yet, Prince Adam has given me as fine a life as I can expect as a slave."
"I do not doubt that Prince Adam has been kind to you. I also have no doubt that I could be better and AM better for you."
Elle gazed lovingly into Roger's eyes. "Master Roger, if only I could combine the two of you into one perfect man. Parts of both of you are perfect.'
With that Elle winked and sank to knees as she worked on the fly of Roger's pants. Roger tasted a bit sweeter than Prince Adam. Elle found that she favored Roger's paler skin. She was not as fond of his red hair but she preferred his strong face. Elle truly wished that she could combine her lovers. Her perfect man would be tall like both men and have darker hair then either of them. Both had lovely blue eyes and strong chins. When it came to divvy up the sexual skills of her imaginary lover, Elle had to conclude Roger had a slight edge in most categories.
Part of Elle was truly sad when Prince Adam arrived to retrieve his favorite possession. Her monthly had just ended. Roger had pampered her during the whole time, intensifying the affection she had for him. The final goodbye kiss she and Roger shared was one of the most passionate of their time together. Prince Adam did not miss the emotion on display before him.
"Which of us do you love more, Pet?" asked Prince Adam as they rode home.
"Pleas don't ask that of me, Master! Besides you know as well as I do that a slave can love no one."
"Always the diplomat. It is obvious you were raised in a palace."
"I still live in one, Master. My situation has changed however."
Adam took Elle's face gently in both of his hands and asked Elle, "Do you enjoy being a slave, Pet."
"Master, EVERY slave covets their freedom above all else."
Prince Adam wore a serious expression as he replied, "Certainly, Pet. But wouldn't your life of sin as a slave taint your days of freedom?"
"Master, It would be forgotten by me as though it were a bad dream."