Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 28

Soft emotions were worthless to someone who had experienced the very bottom of life. Nevertheless, Amy took Sally’s hands in hers and spoke with genuine sincerity.

“People find a way to survive no matter the circumstances. Because I know that, I believe we will both be okay.”

“….”

Sally’s tears stopped. She stared blankly at Amy. Squeezing her hands, Amy whispered softly.

“Even so, the fact that you are my friend will never change.”

“….”

“So, like I told you before, leave the Imperial Palace as soon as possible. And let me know where you go. Promise me.”

Taking her out now was too dangerous. The Empress would not sit idly by, and at worst, Sally could be suspected of being a spy.

‘A maid without a backer can be swept away by the slightest storm, so she must be careful. Even if I bring Sally here, it must be when it is perfectly safe.’

Amy’s thoughts came to a sudden halt. She bit her lip nervously. The idea of bringing someone to the Grand Duke’s territory was unlike her.

‘In the distant future, when everything is over, perhaps then.’

Amy thought of the place she had picked out for her eventual retirement. Would she be able to share that peaceful future with Sally?

It was then that Sally suddenly threw Amy’s hands off with force. Surprised, Amy looked back at her. Sally shouted as she rubbed her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand.

“F-fine! I’ll take care of m-myself, so mind your own b-business!”

With that, she turned and ran away. Amy watched her retreating figure and let out a deep sigh.

The next morning, Amy noticed an unusual number of birds flying past the window, and soon after, welcome news arrived. It was a message from Jack, who had been dispatched to a territory in the North; he had finally found the item Amy had been desperately seeking.

Amy immediately ran to Noah to share the news. Noah, whose expression had been dark all morning, brightened instantly and began chatting excitedly with her.

“What are we going to do once the magic tool arrives?”

For the first time in a while, Amy felt she was having a relaxed conversation with Noah. Between the banquet preparations and fending off the Crown Prince’s interference, it had been a long time since they’d enjoyed such a leisurely moment.

“We’ll have to climb the Northern Mountains then. You must come with me, Your Grace.”

“I’m going with you?”

Noah blinked a few times before breaking into a wide smile. His expression was so radiant it was as if a light had been switched on behind him, leaving Amy to stare at him in a daze. Suddenly, the office door swung open, and the Crown Prince barged in.

Amy quickly snapped out of it and offered a formal greeting.

“Your Highness, have you had breakfast?”

“Yes. I’m just coming from the dining hall.”

Amy thought his timing was suspiciously convenient, just as she was about to discuss the magic tool in more detail with Noah.

“What brings Your Highness here?” Noah asked, his face hardening as if he had never been smiling at all.

The Crown Prince walked in with a strangely arrogant stride. “…Am I in a place I’m not supposed to be?”

He stood directly between Amy and Noah, blocking their line of sight. After glaring disapprovingly at Noah, he turned toward Amy with a suggestive expression.

“Since we’re all here, it would be nice to reminisce about the old days. The weather is lovely; shall we go outside?”

Amy shut down his attempt immediately. “I am busy with banquet preparations.”

The Crown Prince scowled and gestured toward Noah with his chin. “Yet you have time to idle away with the Grand Duke?”

“Idle? I was reporting on our progress. Please refrain from making such strange remarks.”

Seeing Amy’s stern face, the Crown Prince gave a sly smirk, as if he were used to it.

“If the reporting is done, why not take a breath and have some tea with me?”

He glanced meaningfully at Noah. It was clear that if Amy refused, he would find a reason to pick a fight with the boy right then and there. He was acting more restrained than before, but only because he didn’t want to tarnish Amy’s reputation. Since bullying Noah in private depended entirely on his whim, Amy had no choice but to accept.

“Fine. I’ll see you for a moment.”

“….”

In an instant, Noah’s face twisted as if he had been stabbed. The Crown Prince, too busy gloating, didn’t see it. By the time he looked back, Noah had already returned to his usual expressionless mask.

Amy bid Noah farewell and left the office with the Crown Prince, heading toward the gallery. As they walked, the Crown Prince constantly brought up their shared past like a cow chewing cud, trying to make her feel nostalgic. Amy, however, blew off every attempt with a snort of derision.

Just as they were about to sit at a table in the center of the courtyard, she saw Marie approaching from a distance.

‘How did she know to come? I didn’t even call her….’

That wasn’t the only surprise. Marie was carrying a small plate, which she set down to reveal various bite-sized cookies and slices of cake.

Amy looked at Marie, confused as to why she had brought them. Marie gave her a quick wink, making it clear that the Grand Duke had sent them.

“….”

Amy stared at the food with a strange feeling in her heart.

‘He seems to go out of his way to make sure I’m fed is it just my imagination?’

The thought was fleeting, however. Since she had missed breakfast because of the Crown Prince, she happily picked up a cookie. Seeing her focus entirely on eating rather than their conversation, the Crown Prince’s brow furrowed in irritation.

“Are you just going to eat?”

“Oh.”

Amy widened her eyes as if she had only just realized he was there, then feigned total ignorance.

“Remind me… why are we here again?”

The Crown Prince’s jaw dropped in disbelief before he ground his teeth. “I wanted to talk, I mean, don’t we have years of history together? Must you be like this?”

“Ah, history. Right, that. Well then, shall we talk?”

Amy set the food down and put on a serious face. Seeing her like that, the Crown Prince’s heart fluttered, his previous annoyance forgotten.

‘She must have been pretending not to care because she was shy. Amy definitely misses me, too.’

As he basked in his delusional joy, Amy glanced at him with a smirk.

“Shall I serve some wine from Mount Cammoa?”

“A-ah, no. Let’s not….”

The Crown Prince turned pale and waved his hands. He had once tried to act tough by drinking it because it was known as a “manly” liquor, but for someone with the palate of a child, it was a hurdle far too high. Knowing he would refuse, Amy nodded to Marie to bring tea instead.

As if it had been ready all along, two teacups appeared instantly.

“What is this?”

The Crown Prince frowned at the dark brown liquid steaming in the cup. ‘It looks disgusting….’

Amy said calmly, “It’s my favorite tea.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened. ‘She’s giving me her favorite?’

Moved by the gesture, he quickly lifted the cup and gulped it down. He immediately spat it back out.

“Gah! Cough, cough! What, what is this? It’s bitter!”

Amy replied without even touching her own cup. “I know.”

“What you said it was your favorite!”

Only then did Amy allow a smile to spread across her face. “I just find it very entertaining to watch people spit it out after drinking it.”

“….”

The Crown Prince stared at her blankly, not even thinking to wipe the tea dripping from his chin. Amy gestured behind her. Marie stepped forward and began scrubbing the Crown Prince’s face with a linen cloth.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

“A-ah, wait! Mmph!”

“My, you’ve spilled quite a bit. And here I thought you weren’t a child.” Marie muttered nonchalantly as she scrubbed even harder.

He was about to explode in anger at Marie’s insolence, but Amy intervened at the perfect moment.

“The Crown Prince has sensitive skin, Marie. Be gentle.”

“…Amy.”

She still remembers that. His anger vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of affection and longing. Marie clicked her tongue, thinking that the Crown Prince was an incredibly easy man to manage.

“Your clothes are quite wet,” Marie said, sounding troubled.

The Crown Prince glanced at Amy and stood up abruptly. “I shall go change.”

“Safe travels, Your Highness. I’ll see you later then.”

Amy seized the opportunity and stood up to bow, her face showing not a hint of regret. The Crown Prince stuttered, caught off guard.

“Wait, I was going to come back.”

Just then, perfectly timed, Rita rushed over to Amy with a note in her hand.

“Head Maid! An urgent message has arrived.”

“Oh dear. It seems I must go. Well then, Your Highness, please get some rest.”

Amy called out as if she had been waiting for the excuse and turned away. The Crown Prince stood there like a dog that had lost its bone, looking utterly lost.

“Wait, Amy…?”

She pretended not to hear and quickened her pace, reaching out for the letter. Rita deftly handed it over. As they stepped out of the gallery and into the courtyard, Amy scanned the contents.

“The Count of Coleman will not be attending the banquet.”

Rita raised an eyebrow. She seemed to think it was a slight against the young Grand Duke. Amy shook her head.

“The Count is in critical condition. He has a son, but apparently, he’s wandering somewhere else. We’ll hear more when he returns.”

She handed the letter back to Rita. “Show this to Aide Joseph as well.”

“Understood.”

Amy looked up at the sky. The sun hadn’t even reached its peak, yet she felt as drained as if she had already lived a full, exhausting day. But there was no time to rest.

‘Guests will start flooding in from today.’

She had to ensure a perfect reception without a single hitch. The first impression of the Grand Duke’s castle was the first impression of the Grand Duke himself.

‘This is exactly why I worked myself to the bone in the Imperial Palace.’

Amy felt her determination ignite once more.

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