Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 17

Those few words carried significant weight. A flicker of guilt crossed Noah’s small face, as if he felt he had been idling while Amy ran herself ragged without a wink of sleep. Amy paused, knowing she had to answer carefully.

Noah was in the middle of that adolescent phase where one feels the world is an enemy, yet he never turned his edge toward her.

More than that despite a sensitive and prickly temperament born of an unusual childhood, he had accepted her from the very beginning.

Ever since she encountered that gaze filled with infinite trust, she had been able to replace the betrayal and emptiness that plagued her mind and body after her regression with a thirst for revenge, a passion for a new life, and genuine loyalty.

‘The Second Prince might think I am devoted to him, but this is for myself as well.’

Her second life would not be entirely about revenge and repaying debts. Amy had no intention of ruining this new chance by being blinded by vengeance.

‘Life doesn’t end just because revenge is taken.’

She already had a place picked out in the Southern Lands. When everything was over, she would raise pets and grow old peacefully there.

‘Until then, I will do everything I can for Noah.’

However, she did not want him to feel burdened by a sense of debt, so she spoke softly.

“It is still too early. Once Joseph and I have laid the foundation, then it will be your turn.”

She felt a sense of pride as she spoke. He was so different from the Crown Prince, who took the hard work of subordinates for granted.

‘Wait, come to think of it, it is about time for a reply from the teachers with degrees in imperial studies, accounting, and various sciences’

Her plan for Noah’s development was already moving forward step by step.

Noah blinked his thick eyelashes sullenly, clearly dissatisfied with her answer. Amy tightened her lips to keep from laughing. Goodness, he was adorable.

After a moment of hesitation, Noah spoke cautiously.

“Amy why do you go this far for me?”

This time, it was Amy’s turn to blink in silence. How could she explain that she viewed him as her lifelong savior?

‘I suppose I am a bit late in asking.’

Amy crossed her arms as she recalled the past before her regression.

‘If I tell the truth, he’ll think I’m insane.’

That would cause a setback in her plans, which she wanted to avoid at all costs. The important thing was not revisiting the past but building the future.

Having made up her mind, Amy spoke seriously.

“First, the reason I left the Crown Prince’s palace is that the Crown Prince is not fit to be Emperor.”

“Are you going to tell me that I have the talent for it?”

Noah asked with a suspicious look. Amy cheered inwardly, grateful that he had provided the excuse for her.

“I intend to find out.”

“Am I being tested right now?”

Noah pointed at his own chest, looking bewildered. Amy shook her head, suppressing a smile.

“You may do as your heart desires. There is no need to force yourself. However, since you carry the blood of the Imperial family, I am curious to see how you will rule the North.”

Amy intended to support whatever Noah wanted to do. The position of Grand Duke was a means to an end, not the ultimate goal.

‘It is a shield to protect him from the clutches of the current Crown Prince and the First Prince who will become the next Crown Prince.’

Even so, if the Second Prince were to aim for the throne of the Empire that would be a bit difficult.

‘My goal is to repay a debt, not to risk my life.’

She really wanted to avoid pointing a sword at the First Prince. That man was truly extraordinary.

“Amy?”

She must have looked strange falling silent so suddenly. Amy snapped back to reality at Noah’s call.

“Where was I? Ah, we were talking about Count Colman.”

“Yes, I thought it would be better to leave quickly, so I told the steward that at dinner but is that okay?”

He seemed concerned that his sudden action, taken without consulting her, might be an issue. Amy gave a bright smile.

“That was an excellent judgment. It is best to leave before the Count passes away.”

She thought about fleeing quickly after offering well wishes for his recovery when she remembered Joseph. Her face crumpled.

“Ah, I need to sign a timber contract”

Joseph had insisted on buying a large quantity while they were here. As Amy expressed her regret, Noah tilted his head.

“Timber?”

“Yes, the Black Dal trees of the Colman territory are the sturdiest in the North.”

Amy asked Noah while thinking she should check the inventory with the carpenter Joseph had sent ahead to repair the Grand Ducal Castle.

“By the way what do you intend to do about Viscount Burton? Will you recognize him as the heir and approve the succession?”

Noah pondered Amy’s question for a moment.

“Well, doesn’t the Grand Duchy follow the laws of the Empire?”

“That is my understanding. Since it isn’t ideal to be subordinate to the Empire, we should look into the legal code later.”

“In the Empire, if there is no legitimate heir, a title can be granted to an illegitimate son if the family agrees. Unless there is a major disqualification, I plan to approve it.”

“I see.”

Amy’s mind began to race. If she hinted to the steward to send Viscount Burton to the castle as soon as he was found and left the timber contract behind

Then she heard Noah’s voice.

“Is it okay to do it that way?”

“What? Oh, yes. That sounds good.”

Noah seemed suspicious because Amy had nodded so readily.

“Really?”

“Yes, the reasoning is sound and there are precedents.”

She felt that Joseph, a legal expert, would also agree.

“In fact, it would take more effort to oppose it. And there is no guarantee of success.”

When Amy spoke decisively, Noah’s expression finally softened.

“If you say so, Amy.”

“Wait, so we have to leave early tomorrow when the sun comes up?”

As Dwayne asked with a blink, Jack clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“We heard the same thing, so why before sunrise, while it’s still dark. Keep your ears open for once.”

“That’s because he only cleans his ears once a year.”

When Bradley chimed in, a provoked Dwayne lunged at him to show him how clean his ears really were. Vernon ignored the two of them scuffling and spoke to Amy.

“Understood. I will speak to the steward and request what we need.”

“Please do.”

Joseph also spoke up quickly. “I will prepare the new contract.”

As Vernon and Joseph left the room, Jack glared at the two troublemakers and hurried after them. Amy sat in her chair and stretched her back.

‘I dismissed the servants and kept only Vernon’s group and the mercenaries but it’s not bad.’

She had expected some discomfort, but since Vernon and Jack were proactive, she actually had less work to do. Amy picked up her teacup, feeling a rare moment of leisure.

Since no one acknowledged them, Dwayne and Bradley, who had been rolling on the floor, stood up awkwardly. Amy stopped them as they tried to sneak out.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

Amy set down her cup and looked at them.

“Which of you two has better infiltration skills?”

The question set off their competitive spirits.

“That would be me, of course.”

As Bradley spoke first, Dwayne snorted.

“Oh, you’re so skilled that you got kicked by a horse when you hid in the stable?”

“I didn’t know the horse had just given birth then. As for you, you were caught by little Mark and had stones thrown at you.”

As the two started bickering again, Amy looked at them with a pathetic expression.

“I can see that neither of you is suited for infiltration.”

She turned her head away. “The mercenary captain will have to take care of it.”

“Understood.”

“No, I can really do a good job”

Dwayne spoke up late, but he quickly shut his mouth and shrank back when Amy glared at him.

‘I thought they might be useful, but they’re just a couple of gadflies.’

Tsk, she clicked her tongue and turned to whisper with the mercenary captain.

“It’s because of you.”

When Bradley whispered to Dwayne, Dwayne pouted and grumbled.

“Isn’t the Head Maid terrifying? She has a beautiful face, but her heart is like a morning star.”

Noah approached the two of them as they watched the others with lingering regret.

“That thing just now, was that a Southern technique?”

Dwayne was startled by Noah suddenly joining the conversation.

“Oh, Your Highness the Second Prince”

Bradley, who was quicker on the uptake than Dwayne, nodded.

“That’s right. It is the martial arts of the Southern Foreign Legion. I learned it when I lived near the South.”

Noah glanced at Amy, who was preoccupied with her conversation, then narrowed his eyes and glared at Dwayne. Dwayne was bewildered, not knowing why Noah was acting that way.

“Morning star”

“Pardon? What did you just say?”

Dwayne, who hadn’t heard Noah’s low murmur properly, perked up his ears. Noah shook his head as if it were nothing and whispered in a low voice.

“I want to learn that too.”

“What?”

Bradley’s eyes widened as he scanned Noah from head to toe. His body, smaller and more slender than others his age, didn’t seem to have a single ounce of muscle. Dwayne stood with his mouth agape before raising his hand high.

“Me! I’ll teach you!”

Then he turned to Bradley and whispered in an excited voice.

“I’ve always wanted to try knocking an Imperial down at least once.”

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