Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 27

‘…That might truly be the case.’

‘Pardon?’

The Empress snapped her fan shut and let out a heavy sigh. She then began to divulge her secret to her son.

‘You are aware that there was an Empress before me, aren’t you?’

‘Yes. I heard she was frail and passed away while recuperating in the countryside….’

‘She was pregnant at the time. She gave birth in secret before she died.’

The Crown Prince was visibly shaken.

‘How could that be…?’

‘I was told for certain that the child died as well….’

The Empress ground her teeth. Seeing his mother’s reaction, the Crown Prince’s face turned pale as he realized her death might not have been a simple twist of fate. Fuming with rage, the Empress took a moment to steady her breathing.

‘Regardless, with such rumors spreading, your position is bound to become unstable. It is fortunate for us that the situation in the North has improved at a time like this.’

‘Fortunate?’

The Crown Prince looked skeptical, recalling how the Empress had smashed everything in her inner chambers in a fit of rage when she first heard the news of the North’s improved weather. Sensing his doubt, the Empress glared at him.

‘This is a time to set aside personal feelings.’

The Empress was looking toward the future. Despite its potential for growth, the North had been slow to develop due to its harsh climate. Now that those constraints were gone, it was poised to surge forward like an unbridled horse.

Already, those quick with finances were scrambling behind the scenes to establish ties with the North. Furthermore, the young Grand Duke had begun gathering talent; it was clear that the North would soon become the most influential region in the Empire.

‘I should never have let that brat have the North.’

She wanted to tear Lady Esmaine to pieces—the woman who hadn’t just handed over the territory, but had secured it under the title of a “Principality” so it could never be reclaimed. The Empress had completely forgotten how she had once praised the girl’s brilliance until her throat went dry.

Shaking off her regrets, she muttered, ‘Even a lowly thing can be useful if handled correctly.’

‘Do you mean the Grand Duke has a use?’

‘Indeed. His inauguration is approaching. You shall head North carrying gifts from the Imperial Family. Show the world that the two of you share a close bond. However, never forget that you must hold the upper hand. It must look as though the Grand Duke follows your lead.’

The Empress lowered her voice to a whisper.

‘Is he not just a child starved for affection? Strike him first, then soothe him gently. He will be so moved that he’ll follow your every word.’

The Empress smiled triumphantly. She was certain of it. After all, she was the one who had raised the Second Prince that way after he lost his mother.

‘First love—or first affection—is a terrifyingly powerful thing, you see.’

Noah’s gaze remained fixed solely on Amy from beginning to end. A chilling sense of foreboding washed over the Crown Prince.

‘First affection… could it be…?’

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, but soon forced his shoulders to relax. Amy, who had observed him for a long time, realized he had taken the bait and smiled inwardly. From now on, the Crown Prince would likely stop openly interfering with the Grand Duke’s affairs.

“Then, Your Highness, please enjoy your meal.”

After offering a polite greeting, she turned away. She felt Noah’s complex gaze lingering on her from his seat next to the Crown Prince, but she retreated without acknowledging it, knowing it would do no good now.

Stepping out of the hall into the cool breeze, Amy soothed her bitter heart.

‘Why act as if there’s still affection left?’

She hadn’t forgotten how the Crown Prince had ignored her while she was imprisoned in her past life. It felt suffocating to see him act as if he still cherished her.

“Head Maid.”

Amy turned around at the sound of her title. Mrs. Weaver was standing behind a pillar. Amy approached her warmly.

“The wine you provided helped put out a fire. Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

Mrs. Weaver remained expressionless, but she seemed slightly embarrassed. Amy asked with a smile, “How did you happen to have that with you?”

“Ah, that wine has a high alcohol content, so it is often used as a painkiller. My son’s leg pain worsens in the cold, so I keep it as a staple medicine. But…” She looked up at the sky and murmured, “It feels no different from the Central region. It’s truly miraculous.”

“It is thanks to His Grace. Anyway, I will assign a maid to show you around. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with the layout since you’ll be starting work soon.”

At Amy’s words, Mrs. Weaver bit her lip and took a step forward.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Is it truly… alright for me to work here?”

Her hands trembled slightly, as if the question had taken great courage. Amy tilted her head.

“You agreed to come here, didn’t you?”

When they left the Baron’s estate, Amy had left a letter with detailed instructions with the mercenary guarding them. Mrs. Weaver must have read it before coming to the Grand Duke’s castle.

Mrs. Weaver shook her head quickly. “No. What I mean is… are you sure it’s alright to hire me without knowing my background?”

Amy felt the need to be more explicit. Her expression turned serious.

“The reason I chose you to be the Head Maid of the Grand Duke’s castle is precisely because you know how to defy your master.”

“…Pardon?” Mrs. Weaver looked bewildered.

“Did you not walk out after declaring that you could not participate in the Baroness’s misconduct?”

“Ah….”

Her face went pale, thinking the rumor had already spread. However, Amy simply offered a satisfied smile.

“I brought you here because I want you to do the same here.”

“…”

“So, I hope that temperament of yours never changes.”

Only then did Mrs. Weaver breathe a sigh of relief. The terms were so favorable that she had spent the entire journey pinching herself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.

On the other hand, her heart had been heavy, fearing the Grand Duke’s side didn’t know why she lacked a recommendation letter, or that Vernon’s warm welcome was a lie. To hear that the very reason she thought was her greatest flaw was why she was hired her heart lightened instantly.

“I will serve with all my loyalty.”

As she bowed deeply, Amy replied casually, “Save those words for the Grand Duke, not me.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Go on. You must be exhausted; get some rest.”

“Yes….”

Mrs. Weaver withdrew, skillfully hiding her moved expression. Amy turned to leave as well.

Suddenly, someone jumped out and blocked her path. It was Sally. Amy frowned slightly before relaxing her features.

“Why are you here? Have you eaten?”

Sally ignored the question and mumbled something else.

“I want to…”

“Yes?”

“I want to st-stay here, too. By your side.”

Amy had no choice but to look away from Sally’s eyes, which were filled with desperate hope.

“…That’s impossible.”

In an instant, Sally’s expression twisted. She pointed toward the direction Mrs. Weaver had disappeared and cried out angrily.

“Why? Why is that, that woman okay, but I’m n-not? Why?”

“Sally.”

A sigh escaped Amy’s lips. Due to her obsessive personality, Sally had no friends even when they were at the Crown Prince’s palace.

However, she wasn’t a bad person, and because she genuinely liked Amy, Amy—who usually kept her distance—had eventually become close friends with her. But moments like this, when Sally became fixated, were stifling.

“D-don’t be like that. Just th-think about it again, okay? If I help, things m-might work out with the Crown Prince again… right?”

“Sally.”

Amy’s brow furrowed, but Sally continued regardless.

“I can do well. B-before, I made a mistake and the Empress found out the Prince liked y-you… but it’s different now. I can really d-do it well.”

“Sally. That has nothing to do with it. I don’t love His Highness.”

When Amy spoke firmly, Sally’s large eyes widened in shock, and tears began to fall.

“…Why?”

“What?”

“Why d-don’t you like him? The Prince still l-likes you. Then you can th-think about it again, can’t you?”

It was absurd. Amy felt a headache coming on; she didn’t see why she had to explain why she didn’t like someone. Sally had always loved playing matchmaker for Amy and the Crown Prince, finding a sense of vicarious happiness and comfort in their “romance” amidst her own difficult life.

‘Still, she wasn’t this extreme before….’

Perhaps Amy’s disappearance had left a void that turned Sally’s affection into obsession. Knowing that this stemmed from Sally’s attachment to her rather than the Prince, Amy found it hard to stay truly angry.

Amy sighed. “Sally, I cannot take responsibility for you.”

“…”

Sally’s face turned deathly pale. Amy had always coaxed her gently; she had never cut her off so coldly before except, perhaps, when they were dragged before the Empress to be beaten because of Sally’s slip of the tongue.

“Our paths have diverged, so we must go our separate ways now.”

At Amy’s blunt words, Sally’s face crumpled as she began to sob.

“Are y-you okay without m-me?”

Familiar tears streamed down her face. Amy found the situation exhausting, yet she still felt a pang of pity for her.

“I’ll be fine, of course. And you’ll be fine without me, too.”

“H-how can you be so s-sure?”

“…”

Amy remained silent, staring at her friend. In her past life, Amy had spent years locked in a prison, starving and barely clinging to life. In those moments, things like “friendship” were nothing more than a luxury she couldn’t afford.

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