𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 | 𝐓𝐨𝐣𝐢 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐨

- Chapter 3 -

The next day, Helia finds herself summoned to the office of the head of the Zenin clan: Naobito Zenin.

He was the most respected and powerful elder of the clan. A man who held a significant authority over everything and everyone under the clan's jurisdiction.

As she makes her way to his office, a sense of anxious anticipation fills her. What does he want? Why did he call her to his office?

Since the beginning of her job as a maid she had never once been called to his office.

Is it possible that he heard about yesterday's incident? Is he going to punish her one more time? Or is she going to get fired? She can't stop the rush of questions in her mind.

And as she stands before the imposing wooden doors that lead to the elder's office, her heart is hammering against her chest. This wasn't just any elder.

This was a man who controlled the very foundations of the clan's power.

Taking a deep breath, she lifts her fist and knocks on the door. The sound echoes in the corridor, a sharp and authoritative noise that demands attention.

"Come in." A deep voice calls from inside.

As she enters, she immediately bows, trying to look as polite as possible. The atmosphere in the room is heavy, filled with an aura of authority and power. The elder sits behind his desk, his face stoic, his gaze sharp and assessing.

"You asked for me sir?"

"Ah Helia, yes."

She's surprised that he knows her name. There are so many people working within the estate that she doubts he knows all their names. But of course, he had asked for her, so he obviously knew her name.

He motions for her to rise from her bow and come forward.

"Come closer."

As Helia approaches his desk, the air becomes even more suffocating. He regards her with a penetrating gaze, his eyes scanning her top to bottom.

It almost feels as if he can see right through her, peeling away her defenses and exposing her innermost thoughts.

"Sit." He says, his tone leaving no room for disobedience.

As she sits down, the chair almost feels too hard, too uncomfortable under her weight.
The pain in her back is still there and she shifts on her seat to try to find the less painful position.

Naobito's gaze remains fixed on her, dissecting her with each passing second. He lets the silence hang heavy in the air for a moment, before leaning forward slightly, his hands intertwining on the desk.

"I need your assistance." He finally says, his voice is deep and authoritative.

She is slightly surprised that the head of the clan needs her help, her, just a simple maid. But she answers nonetheless on a polite tone.

"Of course, sir, my duty as a maid is to help you and the other members of the clan."

A slight, barely perceptible softening of Naobito's stern features takes place at her words.

He acknowledges her submission with a silent nod of approval, before his gaze sharpens once more, almost cold and calculating.

"Good." He murmurs, the faintest hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"There's a matter I need you to take care of."

Her curiosity is only increasing but she tries to remain calm, asking respectfully.