"It doesn't hurt," Samantha answered softly.
Henderson held her hand with an unfathomable expression, and he stared at her red palm that she used to strike. "Next time, you don't have to do it yourself," Henderson said as he looked coldly at the servants who bowed their heads low and didn't dare to breathe. "Don't get your hands dirty for those who aren't worth it," he added.
A tiny surge of delight bloomed in Samantha. No one had ever said such words to her. In her entire life, she had only been tolerant of others. And if Yosef were present, he would have given Samantha a slap.
In contrast, Henderson told her not to get her hands dirty on such lowly people!
Henderson then continued with a calm tone, "Brinton, cut off their tongues."
The servants were so frightened that they fell to their knees and cried, "Master, we know we were wrong! We won't do it again! We won't do it again!"
Samantha was startled, she avoided looking Henderson in the eyes and muttered out, "I'm fine..."
Henderson ignored her.
Upon her words, the servants acted like they had found a savior. All of them began to cry and begged Samantha, "Young Madam, please! Please ask Master Falcon to show some mercy... I don't want to become mute!"
"Young Madam, I know I'm wrong. Please, I take back my words, please!" One of them sobbed.
The servant who was slapped found it difficult to lower her pride and to beg Samantha, so she kept quiet and mingled among the crowd, waiting for Samantha's mercy.
Samantha slowly but firmly removed the hand of a servant from her skirt and replied softly, "Earlier, you lot weren't treating me with this attitude."
Brinton took a look at Samantha in surprise. He thought that the girl would give in and be forgiving. After all, she appeared tender and delicate like a strawberry pudding. Surely, she would not be able to stand people's begging.
"Young Madam, we don't dare to do it again! Please... Please save us!" The group of servants swore.
"I'm only twenty years old... I still want to be able to speak in my remaining years of life!" One of them added.
"Young Madam, I'm willing to accept any punishment. As long as you don't cut off my tongue, I will do anything in return!" Another said.
Samantha looked at the last woman who spoke and asked, "You'll do anything?"
"Anything! I'll be at your service for my entire life!" The servant seized the chance to survive and answered hurriedly.
Samantha then said, "If that's the case, all of you, line up and each of you, give her a slap." Her fair, slender fingers pointed at the servant whom Samantha had slapped earlier.
The servant took two steps back in horror and asked in denial, "Why me?"
Samantha didn't say a word.
But when the opportunity was given, everyone fought to subdue her. Each of them went ahead and slapped her hard, as if fearing that Samantha would be dissatisfied if they hit too softly.
Samantha watched quietly with a calm expression on her pretty and graceful feature.
More than a dozen people struck one by one, and the servant's face was so swollen that she could no longer speak clearly.
Samantha cautiously looked at Henderson and asked, "Master Falcon... should we let them go?"
Henderson hummed uncaringly.
The crowd left hurriedly as if they had been pardoned.
Brinton asked with great interest, "Why her?"
Samantha said sternly, "She insulted my mother."
Brinton understood and did not say more.
Samantha bit at her red lip and saw Henderson holding her hand. "Master Falcon... was I being... too fierce?"
Before Henderson could say anything, a laugh escaped from Brinton.
"This little girl was indeed adorable. How could she call that fierce?" Henderson thought to himself.
There was also a glint of smile in Henderson's eyes, he leisurely played with her delicate hand and said, "Well, yes, you were quite fierce."