Chapter 260: Chapter-260

But she deliberately did not react to his presence.

She didn’t look up. Didn’t acknowledge him. Didn’t stop working or change her behavior in any way.

She simply continued scrubbing the pot with focused attention, as if she was completely unaware that the household’s young master was standing there watching her.

This went on for several long minutes.

Samuel stood there silently, observing. Heena continued working, ignoring him.

It was a strange standoff—both of them perfectly aware of the other’s presence, neither one willing to be the first to break the silence.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Samuel spoke.

His voice was cool and controlled, as always: “You’re quite diligent in your work.”

Hearing that opening comment, Heena paused in her scrubbing—just for a fraction of a second—then continued as if she hadn’t heard anything.

Samuel’s eyes narrowed slightly at being ignored.

He tried again, his voice slightly sharper: “I’m speaking to you, servant. It’s customary to respond when your employer’s son addresses you directly.”

This time, Heena set down the pot she’d been cleaning, dried her hands on a cloth, and turned to face him properly.

She bowed respectfully—exactly the correct depth for a servant addressing a young master, no more and no less—and said in a carefully neutral tone:

“My apologies, young master. I didn’t realize you were speaking to me specifically. How may this servant assist you?”

Her expression was perfectly composed. Polite but not eager. Respectful but not subservient.

Samuel studied her face carefully, as if trying to read something beneath the surface.

“You had an… incident last night, I believe,” he said slowly, watching her reaction. “An unwelcome visitor to your quarters.”

Heena’s expression didn’t change at all—not a flicker of surprise or fear or embarrassment.

She simply said calmly, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re referring to, young master. I slept peacefully in my room last night. Nothing unusual occurred.”

That was a very careful response—technically true from one perspective (she HAD slept peacefully after dealing with the intruder), but denying that anything “unusual” had happened.

Samuel’s lips curved slightly—not quite a smile, but close.

“Is that so? How interesting. Because I could have sworn I saw someone stumbling out of the servant’s quarters late last night. Someone who looked quite… injured.”

He let that observation hang in the air between them.

Heena met his gaze directly—something servants generally weren’t supposed to do, but she did it anyway—and said evenly:

“If the young master saw an injured person leaving the servant’s area, perhaps it was one of the temporary day workers who’d been drinking and got into a fight. Such things happen occasionally, I’m told.”

She paused, then added with perfect innocence: “This humble servant was sleeping and heard nothing at all. I’m a very deep sleeper.”

The way she said it made it absolutely clear: she was not going to confirm or deny anything about what happened last night. She was not going to give him information he could use against her or hold over her.

Samuel looked at her for a long moment, clearly reassessing his approach.

Finally, he said, “Walk with me. I want to discuss something with you privately.”

Hearing that command, Heena hesitated visibly—which was the appropriate reaction for a servant being asked to go somewhere alone with the young master.

She said carefully, “Young master, I still have significant work to complete this morning. The Mistress specifically instructed me to clean the Master’s study thoroughly, and—”

“That can wait,” Samuel interrupted. “This is more important. Come.”

He turned and started walking toward the garden area—a more secluded part of the household grounds.

Heena stood there for a moment, clearly weighing her options.

The System whispered urgently in her ear: “Host! This is it! This is the opportunity you wanted! He’s making the first move!”

Heena knew that. But she also knew she couldn’t appear too eager.

She waited several seconds longer—long enough to make it clear she was hesitant but not so long as to be openly defiant—then set down her cleaning cloth, wiped her hands once more, and followed Samuel at a respectful distance.

As they walked toward the more private garden area, Heena’s mind was already racing through possibilities.

’What approach will he take? Direct accusation? Offer of protection? Demand for information? Blackmail?’

’Whatever it is, I need to be ready. This conversation will determine everything that happens next.’

The game was finally beginning in earnest.

—

’’[The Garden Conversation]’’

Samuel led her to a secluded corner of the garden where they wouldn’t be easily overheard—behind a decorative rock formation, partially screened by bamboo plants.

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Samuel said quietly, “I know what happened last night. Driver Li was sent to your room. He attempted to assault you. You defended yourself quite… effectively.”

He paused, watching her reaction.

“And then I intercepted him when he fled. He confirmed everything—including who sent him and why.”

Heena’s expression remained carefully neutral, but internally she was processing this information rapidly.

’He knows. He knows about Maya’s scheme. He knows I can fight. He knows I’m not what I appear to be.’

’So the question is: what does he want in exchange for keeping that information quiet?’

Samuel continued: “Driver Li has been… persuaded to leave the household permanently. He won’t be returning, and he won’t be spreading any rumors about what happened. I’ve made certain of that.”

He stepped slightly closer.

“But that doesn’t solve your fundamental problem, does it? My father’s wife—Maya—wants you gone. She sees you as a threat, whether you actually are one or not. And she’ll keep trying different methods until one of them succeeds.”

Heena finally spoke, her voice calm: “And you’re telling me this because…?”

Samuel smiled slightly—the first genuine smile she’d seen from him.

“Because I find you interesting. Because I despise Maya and anything that causes her distress amuses me. And because I think you and I might be able to help each other.”

He looked at her directly.

“So here’s what I’m proposing: You become part of my household staff instead of general household staff. You work directly for me—cleaning my study, managing my quarters, handling my correspondence and documents.”

He continued: “This accomplishes several things: It removes you from Maya’s direct authority. It gives you legitimate reason to be in my presence regularly, which will deter both my father and Maya from acting against you. And it gives me access to someone who’s clearly far more capable and intelligent than they pretend to be.”

He paused, then added: “In exchange, you’ll be protected, fed better, worked less hard, and given opportunities to improve your situation significantly.”

Heena looked at him carefully, weighing the offer and searching for the trap.

“And what exactly would you want from me in exchange for this protection?” she asked bluntly.

Samuel’s expression didn’t change. “Loyalty. Discretion. And your genuine skills—whatever those actually are—applied to problems I’m trying to solve.”

He added: “I’m not interested in you romantically or physically, if that’s your concern. I’m interested in your capabilities. I’m building something, and I need competent people around me who aren’t loyal to my father or his idiot wife.”

Heena studied his face, trying to determine if he was telling the truth.

After a long moment, she said carefully, “I need time to think about this offer.”

Samuel nodded, as if he’d expected that response.

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