Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 18

” I can hear everything, you idiot.”

Bradley, feeling a headache coming on, glanced at Noah. Noah spoke with a calm, composed expression.

“I guarantee there will be no repercussions.”

“Oh, really? You won’t take those words back later?”

“I won’t.”

Dwayne grinned widely, then suddenly made a face of slight hesitation and gestured with his chin toward Amy.

“You’ll make sure that picky Head Maid doesn’t nag me either, right?”

“I will. So ”

Noah trailed off, his eyes flashing with a sudden spark.

“Try to knock me down. If you can.”

” ”

His words carried a heavy, competitive edge that belied his age. Dwayne, seemingly liking that, gave a broad smile—one that carried a hint of madness. Bradley, looking back and forth between the two, silently wiped his face with his hand.

‘The Captain is going to kill me for this.’

Unaware of the trouble brewing, Amy was deep in conversation with the mercenary captain.

“You want me to confirm if Count Colman is truly ill?”

“Yes.”

Amy grimaced. Count Colman was a deeply rooted noble of the North who had long looked down on Grand Dukes sent from the capital. She needed to verify if this situation was a scheme to slight Noah, the newly appointed Grand Duke.

‘It’s also suspicious that his son ran away to enjoy himself.’

Who would leave their father’s side when he was at death’s door, especially with a title and fief at stake? She had subtly mentioned wanting to visit the sickbed during the banquet, but the steward had refused so firmly that she had no choice but to use this method.

“I only have tonight, then.”

“That’s right.”

“Understood.”

The mercenary captain gave a short nod and vanished into the shadows. Amy licked her lips regretfully. He was loyal and efficient, and she wished he would settle down at the Grand Ducal Castle, but the captain had firmly refused every time she broached the subject.

‘I told him he’s welcome whenever he changes his mind, but ‘

Amy glanced over at Dwayne, who was snickering in the corner.

‘I wish I could swap him out for the captain.’

Just then, she saw Noah talking to them with a blunt expression. Amy’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘Should I stop this?’

She worried about him being negatively influenced, but then again, he was her superior—interfering in his private interactions felt like overstepping.

‘If it were the Crown Prince, I would have treated it like training a dog and told him to stay away from them, but Master Noah is capable of self-restraint.’

Thinking that intervening now would be an abuse of her authority, she forced herself to hold back. Watching them whisper and laugh, Amy turned away, clicking her tongue.

The next morning at dawn, Amy and Noah went to the manor’s entrance. She entrusted the steward with the timber sales contract and a letter for Viscount Burton.

She also handed over a pouch of gold coins, stating it was the Grand Duke’s wish for his vassal’s recovery. The old steward, looking deeply moved, bowed low and accepted it respectfully.

Amy gave a perfunctory greeting while staring at the mercenary captain standing in the distance. He gave a nearly imperceptible nod. It meant the rumor was true: Count Colman was indeed bedridden.

Amy felt a private sense of relief. She then met up with Vernon and the other knights, who had already prepared the carriages and horses in the courtyard, and left the manor.

The Grand Ducal Castle was buzzing with excitement.

“Where are they now?”

“They’ve entered the outer fortress!”

Maids in crisp white aprons and headscarves scurried about in a fluster, heading out toward the castle gates. In the inner courtyard, the staff were already lined up.

After a long wait, the party entered through the gate connecting to the outer fortress. Old Morton, acting as captain of the guard, and Melbourne the steward walked in with a small boy in the middle.

‘Is that him?’

Rita craned her neck to see the boy, but he suddenly turned his head back to whisper to a woman. In the next moment, Rita’s eyes met the woman’s.

“!”

A chill ran down Rita’s spine, and she hurriedly lowered her head. Mari, standing beside her, whispered.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing ”

Rita was bewildered. Why did I do that? She calmed her heart and peeked up again. The woman was now talking to Melbourne. Rita tilted her head as she watched her profile.

Melbourne stepped forward and clapped his hands.

“Attention, everyone. The Grand Duke has arrived.”

All eyes fixed on the boy. As the boy took a step forward, Rita’s mouth fell open. Beside her, the voices of her friends followed in succession.

“He’s insane.”

“This is crazy.”

It was Mari and Cecil. At eighteen, they were full of life and couldn’t contain their awe at Noah’s face.

“I thought I’d just grow old and wither away in this gloomy castle ”

“I’m going to the temple this week to make an offering.”

Rita considered stopping her friends, then added her own thought.

“Let’s go together.”

While the three were making a solemn vow under the birch tree, Melbourne led the Grand Duke toward them.

“Rita, Mari, Cecil. Give your greetings. This is His Highness the Grand Duke.”

He then introduced them to Noah and Amy.

“These are the maids dedicated to the inner castle. They are young, but their skills are reliable.”

The three gulped and raised their heads. The moment they saw Noah’s face up close

‘God is alive ‘

Noah frowned as he saw them dazed for a short moment. He grumbled quietly.

“Reliable skills, you say?”

“!”

The maids snapped out of it at his cold tone, flustered. But then, a steady voice spoke from behind the Grand Duke.

“They are still young. And if Your Highness glares so fiercely, even a perfectly functional person will break.”

The owner of the voice stepped forward past Melbourne. Rita, Mari, and Cecil stared at her blankly. Was there another piece of evidence that God exists?

“I am Amelia Besford, the Head Maid to His Highness. You three will serve as my hands and feet until a Housekeeper is appointed.”

“…”

The maids couldn’t take their eyes off her honey-colored light brown hair, sea-blue eyes, and a beauty that looked as though it were carved like a doll.

When they continued to stammer, Amy, waiting for a response, frowned slightly. Behind her, the Grand Duke whispered playfully.

“See? I told you she’s a ghost of a Head Maid. Amy glared at them, so they must have broken.”

” Hmph.”

The Head Maid cleared her throat and adjusted the cameo brooch on her collar. Seeing her ears turn slightly red, Rita blinked and bowed deeply.

“I am Rita, a maid. I will serve you with all my heart.”

Mari and Cecil hurriedly followed suit.

“I am Mari.”

“I am Cecil.”

“Very well. Let’s work well together.”

Amy’s gaze swept over them. She then turned to Noah.

“You should let Melbourne show you around the castle.”

“What about you, Amy? Aren’t you coming?”

Noah’s voice instantly turned blunt. Everyone there realized it at that moment: the young Grand Duke trusted his Head Maid immensely.

“I’m going to look around the village with Joseph. We arrived in such a hurry that I haven’t seen it properly.”

Below the castle was a village of small farmhouses. It was also where the shops and homes of the artisans Amy and Joseph had recruited were located, so she wanted to check on them.

Noah looked at her sulkily.

“You’ll be back by dinner, right?”

At that moment, everyone realized yet again: the young Grand Duke felt an immense attachment to his Head Maid.

“Of course.”

Amy answered lightly and signaled to Joseph as she stepped back. As she left the inner castle chatting with Joseph, there wasn’t a hint of regret or hesitation in her stride.

” ”

The Grand Duke watched her retreating back like a puppy abandoned by its master. Melbourne wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and shifted his gaze. Since he didn’t know the master’s personality yet, he wasn’t sure how to comfort him.

“Let’s go.”

Once Amy was out of sight, the Grand Duke turned around. His voice sounded somewhat dejected, and looks of pity appeared on the faces of those standing in the courtyard.

While Noah toured the castle with Melbourne, the trio of maids, the servants, and the guards gathered in the hall to gossip.

“Is everyone from the capital that good-looking?”

Starting with someone’s exclamation, praise for the Grand Duke and the Head Maid poured out like a flood.

“I’ve never seen anyone whiter than a Northerner before.”

“I heard the Grand Duke has Southern royal blood but wow, he’s fairer than the sheep at my house.”

“Rita, you go into the gallery. Were any of the previous Grand Dukes like that?”

At the sudden question, Rita let out a low hum.

While repairing the castle, they had displayed the portraits of previous Grand Dukes in the newly renovated gallery. However, because there were also jewels and historically significant valuables, access was restricted.

Rita shook her head.

“Do you think looks like that are common?”

“I figured.”

People nodded in agreement, but Mari the maid muttered with a dreamy expression.

“The Head Maid. Doesn’t she feel like a total professional?”

Cecil quickly chimed in. “That’s what I’m saying! My dream was just to be a lazy maid who earns enough to get by. But the moment I faced her, I became a woman without a dream.”

“You mean you want to be like her?”

“Exactly.”

“If I walk with my back straight like this, will I look similar?” Cecil awkwardly mimicked Amy’s posture, drawing jeers from those around her.

“The knights had quite the presence, too.”

The men who had become guards simply because they knew how to swing a sword as well as a pickaxe spoke in admiring tones, thinking of Vernon and Dwayne.

“They must be on a different level compared to us, who are basically just a neighborhood watch.”

Just then, someone let out a heavy sigh.

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