Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 21

Even during the meal, Amy was busy issuing various instructions to the maids, Rita, Mari, and Cecil. Having finished their meals early at the steward’s direction, they scrambled off excitedly to carry out the Head Maid’s orders.

“Amy, try some of this.”

Noah pulled a dish toward him and placed it in front of her. Amy stared at the golden-brown roasted partridge for a moment before reluctantly reaching out and tearing off a leg.

” You’re not eating?”

When Amy simply held the leg without taking a bite, Noah narrowed his eyes. Amy had no choice but to take a mouthful.

“!”

Amy’s eyes went wide. Seeing her reaction, Noah grinned widely.

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

“Yes…”

To be honest, Amy hadn’t expected much since the Grand Ducal Castle was located in such a rural area. However, the food was surprisingly delicious. As Amy’s pace of eating quickened, Noah and the steward shared a satisfied smile.

“Amy, you prefer apple cider over wine, right?”

Noah swapped Amy’s glass for one filled with cider. He had told the steward to prepare it in advance. Amy wore a complicated expression as she chewed.

‘I can’t tell who is serving whom anymore.’

She swallowed and said cautiously, “I’ll manage on my own, so please eat, Your Highness. You’ve barely touched your food.”

“Right, I will.”

Only after confirming that Amy was eating a balanced meal did Noah finally pick up his own utensils.

‘His Highness is exceptionally attentive to the Head Maid’s meals.’

Joseph watched them from the side and smiled to himself. They were a pair whose close bond was heartwarming to witness. Just then, his eyes met Amy’s, and he had to clear his throat and look away.

“By the way, now that the Grand Duke has arrived, we must hold a banquet. When would be a good time?”

At Amy’s topic, Noah’s brow furrowed slightly in disapproval.

“Could we just skip it?”

“We cannot. It is the first formal meeting with the Northern vassals,” Amy said firmly.

It was obvious that the local Northern nobility would try to distance themselves from or look down on the young Grand Duke; if they canceled the banquet, the gossiping and posturing would only get worse. Amy renewed her resolve. She could not stand to see her master ignored.

“Two months from now would be best,” Joseph suggested cautiously. He explained that by then, the harvest would be over and taxes collected, so the vassals wouldn’t find it burdensome to travel to the castle. Noah and Amy both nodded in agreement.

As the meal drew to a close, Rita approached to inform them that the inner chambers were ready.

To Amy’s eyes, Noah looked quite exhausted, his fatigue from the journey not yet fully dissipated. Adding the physical scuffle with Dwayne to that, it was a wonder he hadn’t fallen asleep face-first in his bowl.

They decided to turn in early and ended the dinner. Amy climbed the stairs of the inner castle with Noah to personally inspect his chambers.

‘Melbourne said the staff was skilled, and he wasn’t lying.’

The Grand Duke’s room, prepared by the maids, was clean yet elegant. High-quality tapestries, vases, an ebony wardrobe, and plush bedding had all been arranged according to Noah’s tastes. Amy was satisfied.

“Sleep well, Your Highness.”

” Amy.”

Lying in bed, Noah stared at her, his eyes blinking sleepily.

“Yes, Your Highness. Speak.”

” Are you happy to be here?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Amy was momentarily speechless. Noah continued in a lingering tone.

“If I… become a great Grand Duke… will you be happy?”

This was the boy who hadn’t shown a hint of struggle throughout their grueling journey. He might have resented her for manipulating his life as she pleased, yet he was a master who trusted and followed her without a single word of complaint.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Amy’s voice trembled slightly as she answered. Noah smiled comfortably, closed his eyes, and murmured.

“I’ll do well. So that you’re satisfied. So…”

His voice trailed off and soon went quiet. He had fallen asleep. Amy gazed at his peaceful face for a long moment before blowing out the candle. A soft voice echoed in the room.

“Rest well, Your Highness.”

The hall of the Grand Ducal Castle was boisterous with servants, maids, and guards eating breakfast. The topic of conversation was universal: the Grand Duke and Head Maid they saw yesterday, along with the Captain of the Guard and his subordinates.

“Sir Dwayne was truly dashing,” one maid murmured with a dreamy look. Mari snorted.

“You didn’t see him getting smashed by the Grand Duke.”

“Oh, stop it. Their physiques are completely different.”

Those who hadn’t been at the training grounds dismissed Mari’s words as a joke. Mari smirked.

“It’s true. Why else would the Grand Duke call him ‘pudding’?”

“Pudding!” The maids burst into laughter.

Just then, Amy entered the hall.

“Oh, Head Maid!”

Mari and Rita rushed to greet her like puppies wagging their tails. Amy looked down at them and gave a small smile.

“I’ll eat on my own, so please finish your meals.”

“Y-yes…”

Their expressions melted. Rita thought to herself that the Head Maid was far more handsome and cool than any “Dwayne.” Mari, who had grown up with Rita and could read her mind, nodded in silent agreement.

While the two were staring entranced at Amy as she began her oatmeal, Melbourne the steward entered the hall.

“You’re up early.”

“Did you rest well?”

After exchanging greetings, Amy and Melbourne sat side-by-side and ate in silence. Once Amy finished her porridge and set down her spoon, she asked him, “Have there been any raids from the Northern Mountains recently?”

“Ah, not lately,” Melbourne replied, looking surprised. Beyond the Northern Mountains lived barbarian tribes who occasionally invaded the territory without provocation. Though there were no casualties, it was a border issue, so Melbourne had requested support from the Imperial Palace several times.

However, they hadn’t even pretended to listen, so he had eventually stopped asking.

‘How did the Head Maid know that?’

Melbourne didn’t know that Amy had exaggerated those facts to manipulate the situation so that Noah could become Grand Duke. Amy nodded as if satisfied and stood up.

“As we discussed yesterday, please show me around. I’ll be at the outer castle, so meet me there.”

“Understood.”

Amy left the hall, acknowledging the greetings of the staff. Envious gazes followed her, but she walked away with brisk strides, lost in thought.

At the outer castle, Vernon—who had finished his meal early—approached her.

“You’re inspecting the castle?”

“Yes.”

A hint of confusion flickered across Vernon’s face. Amy confirmed there were no eavesdroppers and lowered her voice.

“I need to find something in the basement of the castle. It’s top secret, so we move quietly.”

“Understood.”

Realizing it was a special mission, Vernon’s gaze sharpened instantly. While waiting for the steward, they exchanged thoughts on the castle. Vernon cracked his neck with a tired expression.

“That habit of his isn’t going anywhere… haah.”

Amy immediately realized the source of the Captain’s headache was Dwayne and grimaced. “What now?”

“Well…” The complaints poured out. With his flashy looks, Dwayne had already made appointments to meet nearly ten women, including both village girls and castle maids. The Captain had politely advised him to behave until they settled in, but Dwayne wasn’t listening at all.

Amy let out a groan. “Should we prepare for a crime of passion?”

“The strange thing is, that’s never happened once.”

Vernon’s jaw tightened, and he looked almost pouting. Look at this, Amy thought.

‘Is he jealous right now?’

Amy feigned ignorance and said, “It must be uncomfortable for a devoted man like you, Captain Vernon.”

“Oh, y-yes. Indeed.” The Captain flustered. Amy clicked her tongue inwardly and turned toward the steward who was approaching.

“Shall we go?”

The steward looked between the two and asked, “Where exactly would you like to see?”

Amy walked toward the stairs in the outer castle and replied, “The dungeon.”

“Pardon?”

The eyes of both men went wide. The steward spoke hurriedly. “Wait, why there? The repairs haven’t been finished, it’s dangerous.”

Vernon frowned and asked, “Are there prisoners?”

“Not at the moment.”

Amy didn’t stop walking. “Good that it’s empty.”

” ”

Realizing Amy had already made up her mind, the two men exchanged glances and followed close by her side. Perhaps out of nerves, the steward spoke in a low voice.

“We must go down this staircase.”

They had only descended one floor, but the air immediately became damp. Amy braced her hand against the wall to avoid the cracked and uneven floor. The stone wall was slick with moisture. The three inspected the area and descended one more level.

As natural light no longer reached them, Vernon pulled a torch from the wall, lit it, and held it high. The flame roared, illuminating the eerie interior of the dungeon.

“What do you intend to do here?”

Melbourne’s voice echoed through the space. He was huddling his shoulders, looking frightened. Vernon looked around and asked him, “Have you never been in here, Steward?”

“N-no. I’ve lived at the Grand Ducal Castle for forty years, but there hasn’t been a single prisoner in all that time…”

Oh? Amy and Vernon turned to look at him simultaneously.

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