Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 10

“Eat up, eat up. When else will we ever get to taste something this precious?”

“We’re leaving tomorrow anyway. Would it really be a crime if we had a little bit?”

Hidden in a corner of the kitchen, they frantically stuffed chocolate cake into their mouths.

“The Second Prince probably doesn’t even know it exists.”

“That’s because it goes straight into your mouth the moment it appears.”

“True enough.”

The maids snickered, their forks moving at lightning speed.

“Anyway, I have no idea where the Head Maid gets these things.”

“It’s ridiculous how she’s suddenly so devoted to the Second Prince. It’s a joke.”

“Tell me about it. Does she actually think the Second Prince will ever become a power player in the palace? That ‘Ghost Head Maid’ has clearly lost her touch.”

As they giggled and badmouthed the Head Maid, someone was watching them. It was the Second Prince. Leaning against the kitchen door, watching their antics, he spoke nonchalantly.

“It must be delicious. You’re certainly eating well.”

“Gasp!”

Startled, the maids whipped around and sucked in their breath. The Second Prince slowly straightened his posture and stared indifferently at the chocolate cake they were eating.

Normally, he didn’t care much about food or anything else. He had known the maids were secretly intercepting his meals, but he had looked the other way. This time, however, he couldn’t let it slide.

Amy likes chocolate cake.

He remembered Amy’s proud expression when she brought it, whispering that she had bribed the Crown Prince’s chef to get it secretly just for him. Even as she swallowed hard with desire, she had insisted he eat every bite and refused to touch a single crumb.

The Second Prince gestured with his chin, his face expressionless.

“Go.”

“Pardon?”

As they blinked in confusion, the Second Prince’s face darkened.

“You’ve done enough, so it shouldn’t be a problem if you leave now, right?”

He was referring to the fact that he knew they were acting as eyes for someone else to spy on him. The maids froze, their eyes darting around.

They had thought of the Second Prince as just a child, but facing him directly, he was so overbearing that the hair on their arms stood up. Because he had only ever shown a gentle side in front of the Head Maid, the disparity was even more jarring.

After glaring at them, the Second Prince turned his back, then paused and looked over his shoulder once more. His amber eyes glowed like a beast’s.

“Make sure to say a proper goodbye to the Head Maid before you go.”

Then, he whipped around and walked away with a gust of wind.

“…”

The maids, faces white with fear, stared at his retreating back and then at each other. Abandoning the cake and their spying mission, they scrambled out of the palace to escape.

“So…”

One of the maids swallowed hard and spoke, her eyes darting around.

“Head Maid Amelia threatened to beat us if we didn’t leave immediately, so we had no choice…”

The other quickly chimed in.

“She already knew we were spies.”

It was a fact known to everyone in the Crown Prince’s palace that he was obsessed with his former Head Maid. They thought that if they used her as an excuse, they would be safe.

“…Amy is quite sharp, after all.”

As expected, the Crown Prince only furrowed his brow and did not reproach them further. The maids breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“…”

Someone else glared at them with disapproval. It was a maid standing at the very end of the line of servants. She had ordinary brown hair and watery green eyes that made her look frightened. The anger on her thin, freckled face soon faded, replaced by longing.

It was as if a soft voice was whispering in her ear.

Sally, keep your head down at all times. You especially lack intuition, so you must never stand out, okay?

Sally’s thin lips pressed together tightly, then moved slightly as she traced a name.

Amy.

Just then, the Crown Prince spoke with an annoyed expression.

“Since things have turned out this way, it can’t be helped. I must go see my mother.”

As he rose, the servants bowed in unison. The Crown Prince passed before them with hurried, heavy steps. When Sally finally straightened her back, she watched his retreating figure with resentment.

As the carriage came to a halt, Amy rose and spoke.

“Noah-nim, we will be staying here tonight.”

Noah looked out at the darkening landscape and arched an eyebrow.

“Are you sure we’re heading north?”

“…”

Amy was startled as she gathered the documents she had been reviewing. They had arrived at a place slightly off the main road to the Grand Duchy. She honestly confessed the truth.

“It is a bit of a detour. There is something I must take care of here.”

“I see.”

Noah, who had suspected the coachman might have ulterior motives, lowered the guard he had sharply raised. Amy looked at him fondly.

“How did you manage to notice?”

As they stepped off the carriage and walked toward the inn entrance, Noah simply shrugged. Amy was curious, but she had more urgent matters to attend to, so she pushed her curiosity aside and entered the inn.

“Welcome!”

the cheerful owner ran out with a broad smile. His eyes were busy assessing the value of his customers.

The quality of the robes worn by the woman and the boy is exceptional. They have a brilliant sheen, and the clasp decoration… is that a black pearl?

In an instant, his calculations were complete. He rubbed his hands together faster, and his smile deepened.

“Shall I serve dinner first? Or shall I prepare your rooms?”

Amy scanned the interior and spoke calmly.

“There are twelve of us in total. Start by serving us a suitable meal.”

“Yes, yes!”

The owner dashed toward the kitchen. Amy took off her robe and attended to Noah. Noah sat down and lowered his voice to ask.

“Who did you come here to meet?”

“!”

Amy stopped while tidying Noah’s robe, surprised. She was being caught off guard several times today. How did he know? Noah shrugged.

“Because the moment you walked in, you looked around as if searching for someone.”

“Ah…”

Between noticing the change in direction and this, the Second Prince was more perceptive than he appeared. Amy sat beside him and nodded.

“Yes. There is a talent living here whom I absolutely want to take to the Grand Duchy.”

Curiosity sparked in Noah’s face.

“Who?”

“Someone perfect for the position of Captain of the Guard. I’ll tell you more once we’ve eaten.”

Before long, the meal was served. The food brought by a waiter with a face full of freckles was a feast rarely seen in the countryside.

Although the meat had a gamey smell and was tough enough to require serious chewing, it was excellent compared to the food they had eaten during the journey so far.

Exhausted from the long carriage ride, Amy, Noah, the mercenaries, and the coachman ate ravenously. Just then, the owner’s booming voice echoed from the kitchen.

“Vernon, you’re here?”

“!”

Amy’s ears perked up while she was eating her lamb stew.

“Is there anything to eat?”

A low but powerful voice asked.

“Plenty today. I’ve packed some up, so take it to Eden.”

“I’m always in your debt like this. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Thanks to you and your men, we can run our business in peace. We’re the ones who are grateful.”

At the innkeeper’s words, the freckled waiter chimed in.

“My grandfather said the same. He said that not only the bandits but even the wild animals don’t come down anymore, and he can farm in peace all thanks to Captain Vernon.”

Amy tore a piece of brown bread absently while listening to the conversation. Her heart hammered against her ribs, feeling certain that the person called Vernon was the one she was looking for.

I have to get my hands on him somehow.

Amy stole a glance at Noah, who was eating gracefully. For him to stand tall as the ruler of the North, he needed someone trustworthy more than anything. That was why she was moving to recruit talent based on the knowledge she had gained before her regression.

The innkeeper’s voice boomed again.

“Can you take a look at the horses later this evening? They’re of high pedigree, so I’m nervous about leaving them to that fellow Mark.”

“Such horses have arrived?”

“Don’t even get me started. The guests who just arrived…”

Suddenly, the voice dropped. Amy chewed her bread with a blank expression, her mind racing.

The freckled waiter emerged from the kitchen and circled the tables, checking if anyone needed more food. Amy hesitated to ask him, but changed her mind and ordered an extra serving of roasted partridge and preserved fruit that Noah enjoyed.

As the meal was drawing to a close, the innkeeper’s voice was heard once more.

“Then Vernon, come back this evening.”

Amy blinked. He’s coming back this evening? Just then, a large figure emerged from the kitchen door and headed across the hall toward the exit. Amy and Noah instinctively looked up at him. In 그 moment,

“Gasp!”

A strange sound escaped the large man’s mouth. He clapped a hand over his mouth and stared at Noah with wide eyes. Noah looked at him blankly before turning to Amy with a look of confusion.

I was worrying about how to call him out, but running into him like this is a stroke of luck.

It was a familiar face after all. Amy’s eyes sparkled as she rose from her seat, held out her hand to him, and spoke confidently.

“Nice to meet you. I am Amelia Besford. May we speak for a moment?”

The man looked at Amy with a bewildered expression, then his eyes widened again. Seeing his wavering gaze, Amy cheered inwardly, sensing that things were going to go well.

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