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.

"What matter exactly?"

A cryptic, almost sinister smile curves on the elder's lips as she asks. He leans back slightly in his chair, his eyes locked on her, his demeanor dripping with the weight of his authority.

"It involves..." He pauses, letting the pause hang in the air, suspense thick and palpable.

"Zenin Toji." He finally says, his voice dropping to a low, chilling tone.

The pain in her back seemed to revive when she hears his name. A shiver runs down her spine as she thinks of the man that caused her whipping. The man that she despises.

"Toji Zenin sir?"

"Yes." He confirms coldly, his voice laced with a deep, simmering anger of his own.

"Zenin Toji is a..." He pauses, his lips curling in distaste. "Problem."

She can't disagree with him. He's a problem and a nuisance to everybody in this house, member or maid. But she can't speak her mind, she can't speak ill of Toji in front of his own father.

The elder's eyes darken dangerously as if confirming something he already knew. He knows very well that he's a problem, a thorn in everyone's side.

Something needed to be done about him, and the elder had reached his limit.

There's a cold, almost vindictive glint in his eyes as he reveals his plan.

"I want you... to spy on him." He murmurs, voice low and chilling.

Helia repeats his words in her head: spy on him? She didn't know that Naobito would need someone to spy on his own son.

And it could be very dangerous considering the possibility that she might get caught. And if she ever gets caught, she knows Toji will make her pay a hard price.

And above all, after yesterday's incident she didn't want to have to work near him again. But these are orders, orders from the head of the clan. Orders she cannot refuse.

However, she can help but wonder why the head of the clan wanted to spy on his son, even if he was indeed troublesome, disrespectful, lacked loyalty, and a complete disregard for his status as a member of the clan.

As if he could read her mind, he confirms.

"I suspect that he is up to something no good and I need to know what, I need eyes on him at all times."

Another question is burning Helia's lips.
"With all due respect sir, why me?"

The elder's eyes flick over her, his gaze sharp and assessing. He knows her role as a maid, her low position in the hierarchy. But he also knows her loyalty and the level of obedience that is expected from her.

He had his reasons for choosing her, reasons he wouldn't reveal fully.

"You'll go unseen and unnoticed, you're in a perfect position to get close to him. And I heard something about you receiving a punishment because you were seen exiting Toji's room. After that I'm sure you don't hold my son in your heart."

Helia could feel her embarrassment flare up, she didn't want to admit, especially in front of Toji's father, that she indeed hated the man.

She tries to hide her embarrassment and nods, silently accepting to Naobito's plan, not that she really had a choice.

A cold, satisfied smirk curls on his lips. She was the perfect pawn for this. Young, unassuming, and in a position that granted her access to him.

"Good." He says, his voice a dark murmur. "You'll report directly every night to me and do not get caught."

"What will happen to me if I get caught?" She couldn't stop the question from escaping her lips, hoping that it wasn't too disrespectful.

His eyes flashed dangerously at the question, his gaze turning cold and unforgiving. He knew the stakes were high.

If Helia got caught, it could mean severe consequences. Not just for her but for the entire plan.

He answers, his voice a harsh, chilling whisper.

"Failure is not an option. And it will not be tolerated." He lets the threat hang in the air, emphasizing the gravity of her mission.

The weight of his words hangs heavy in the air, the pressure mounting like a vise around her.

He knows the burden he's placing on her, the risk she is taking, but he doesn't waver. He doesn't even blink.

The elder holds her gaze, his eyes cold and unyielding. This was an order, not a request, and he expected nothing less than absolute obedience.

He leans back in his chair, a dark, sinister smile on his lips.

"Don't disappoint me."

"I won't sir." She says confidently.

There's a hint of satisfaction there, a flicker of approval. He sees the determination in her, the resolve.

He picks up the whiskey glass on his desk, swirling the amber liquid before taking a sip. With a final, sharp nod, he dismisses her.

"Go." He commands.

As she rises and bows, he watches her with a cold, calculating gaze, his eyes scanning her form.

She steps out of the office, and finally lets out a deep, relieved sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as the tension starts to ease.

It was only when she was away from the oppressive atmosphere of the office that she realized just how suffocating it had been.

She hadn't even realized that she had been holding her breath during the entire meeting. The air in the corridor felt fresh, and she took a few deep, steadying breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.

This is it.
The mission is beginning.

Her mind is now filled with a singular, dangerous task. Spy on Toji, the man known for his sharp senses and perceptive nature. The man that got her whipped and on whom she had plotted revenge with the other maids.

A small part of her was satisfied that she would be able to take her revenge further by reporting his actions to his father.

She will have to report every single detail about Toji's life and actions to Naobito every night and above all, avoid getting caught.

It was a high-stakes game, a tightrope walk in a minefield. The consequences of failure are too horrible to even consider.

She had to be clever, careful, and discreet.

The spy was born.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Hello guys! How are you doing?

Here we go, Helia has been given a mission that she will hopefully fulfill! The story is slowly starting to form!

As always let me know what you think of this chapter.

See you in the next chapter!

Sarah ☆