💅 Personal & Social Service
These duties ensure the Mistress's flawless presentation in public and private, which directly reflects her husband's or family's honor.
Attire Management: The central role is acting as a constant lady's maid. The slave must be skilled in:
Dressing: Assisting the Mistress with the layers of Free Woman attire (including slips, shifts, and outer robes/tunics), ensuring correct folding and placement of the garments.
Veil Maintenance: The Veil is a symbol of Free status. The slave cleans, irons (or smooths), and stores the Mistress's veils, presenting them correctly before the Mistress leaves her chambers.
Accessory Care: Maintaining and cleaning jewelry, slippers, combs, and any symbolic items the Mistress wears.
Grooming: Performing intimate personal care for the Mistress:
Hair Styling: Combing, braiding, and styling the Mistress's hair according to the fashion of her caste and city.
Bathing and Oiling: Preparing the bathwater (checking temperature), supplying special scented oils, and assisting the Mistress with washing and drying.
Carrying & Public Deference: When accompanying the Mistress:
The Escort: The slave girl follows a step or two behind, carrying the Mistress's basket, fan, parasol, or purchases from the market.
Posture: The slave's constant posture of submission (lowered head, clasped hands) serves as a visible status marker, affirming the Mistress's own Free and high-caste standing to onlookers.
🏡 Domestic & Household Management Support
The Mistress is typically responsible for the smooth running of the private and domestic aspects of the Master's home. The slave acts as her assistant in this administration:
Supervising Lower Slaves: If the household has multiple slaves, the Mistress directs them, and the slave girl (often a favorite or personal attendant) carries out the Mistress's commands, acting as a forewoman over the kitchen, cleaning, or laundry staff.
Entertaining Support: When the Mistress hosts other Free Women (e.g., for Kanda or gossip), the slave is responsible for:
Serving food and drink to the guests (and their slaves).
Ensuring the room is perfectly clean and decorated prior to the gathering.
Message Running: Delivering personal, often discreet, verbal or written messages from the Mistress to her husband, her family, or other Free Women.
⚠️ Special Considerations (The Mistress's Power)
The most important difference is the nature of the power dynamic:
Emotional Labor: A Mistress often demands a higher degree of emotional obedience and companionship than the Master. The slave girl may be required to serve as a sounding board, a confidante, or even a living toy, often subject to the Mistress's unpredictable moods and social anxieties.
Punishment: While the Master has ultimate authority, the Mistress often has immediate power over her personal slave for minor infractions. Punishments are typically focused on humiliation or deprivation (e.g., forcing her to kneel for hours, or neglecting her feeding/oiling) rather than the heavy legal penalties the Master is responsible for.
