Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 34

Though she had meant that she struggled because of him in the past, the Crown Prince feigned ignorance and casually continued the conversation.

“And the Grand Duke doesn’t make things difficult for you?”

“Not at all. He treats me comfortably.”

“You like that?”

The Crown Prince’s face stiffened slightly because the ease on Amy’s face as she answered looked genuine.

“Pardon? Being treated comfortably? Of course. From a servant’s perspective, a master who is easygoing is much better than one who is difficult.”

At Amy’s words, Rita, Marie, and Cecil, who were standing nearby, nodded in unison. The Grand Duke was clear about his likes and dislikes and always had a reason for them, so as long as one was careful of those points, he was indeed an easy master to serve.

Noah took a sip of his tea with a subtly proud expression. Glaring sourly at his half-brother, the Crown Prince spoke to Amy in an endearing tone.

“Amy, you know it. I am a very easy man too.”

“Pfft!”

Noah spat out his tea. The Crown Prince grimaced as if disgusted and continued drinking his own, while Noah didn’t know what to do with himself. Amy took a handkerchief from her waist, wiped the corners of Noah’s mouth, and spoke nonchalantly.

“You were so easy that you caused a romantic scandal everywhere you went. Is Lady Emeline doing well, Your Highness?”

“Pugh!”

This time, the Crown Prince spat out his tea. As he stood there flustered and drenched, the middle-aged Head Maid recently assigned by the Empress rushed over and scrubbed his face as if washing a child. The Crown Prince irritably brushed her hand away and turned to Amy.

“How, how do you know that?”

A cold smile played on Amy’s face.

“I have my ways of knowing everything.”

Lady Emeline was the person who had an affair with the Crown Prince during the Spring Banquet, which was the very reason Lady Esmain had kidnapped Amy in her previous life. In short, Amy had been wrongfully captured in her stead.

After her regression, Amy had kept a close watch on the Crown Prince’s surroundings during the Spring Banquet and discovered that his hidden mistress was indeed her.

“Bring a fresh cup of tea for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Noah spoke with dignified composure, though his face clearly said ‘serves you right.’ Amy simply stood there indifferently, regardless of whether the Prince was coughing or not. The flustered Crown Prince even began to stutter.

“How could… No, that isn’t what’s important right now.”

Amy spoke kindly.

“Please exercise self-restraint while you are here, Your Highness.”

“Amy, it’s not like that.”

“The same goes for Captain Martin and the knights. What would their subordinates learn from such behavior? Tsk.”

Tsk? Rita’s mouth fell open. Clicking her tongue right in front of the Crown Prince; she thought, ‘Head Maid, you really are something.’ The eyes of the maids sparkled with admiration.

The Crown Prince shouted with a look of utter grievance.

“No, Amy! When a person speaks, at least listen!”

At that, Amy let out a small sigh and straightened her posture.

“Your Highness is right. I know better than anyone just how easy of a man you are. That is why I chose the Grand Duke instead of the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince received a shock as if he had been stabbed. Pale-faced, he stared back and forth between Amy and Noah. The servants who had been laughing behind them also froze. In the suddenly heavy atmosphere, only Amy continued speaking calmly.

“Nothing can be achieved by staying stagnant and complacent in reality. Moreover, Your Highness, are you not in a position of immense responsibility?”

“…”

“Thousands, tens of thousands of lives depend on you. I told you repeatedly to always remember that weight.”

Letting out a light sigh, Amy added dabbing.

“Well, that is no longer my concern.”

The Crown Prince’s complexion looked like a dead man’s, and his eyes wavered aimlessly. Amy no longer spared him a glance. She checked the window once and spoke politely to Noah.

“It is time to go, Grand Duke.”

Noah stood up slowly and walked past the Crown Prince. When the guard at the door opened it, Noah exited the inner chamber first, and Amy followed, only to stop suddenly. She turned around and spoke softly to the Crown Prince, who was staring at the floor with clenched fists.

“I will take my leave first, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The door closed as the maids exited. Watching the dignified retreating figures of the Grand Duke and Amy, Rita whispered with a shudder.

“Is that what you call a complete humiliation?”

Marie and Cecil nodded vigorously in agreement.

The banquet began with great success. The nobles who had been rooted in the North for generations watched Noah’s coronation with polite faces, regardless of their inner thoughts.

Noah stepped forward with a calm and confident air and allowed the High Priest to place the crown upon his head. As a delegate from the Empire, the Crown Prince presented him with a mountain of gifts and treasures.

Noah and the Crown Prince praised each other with extreme courtesy, and those witnessing this unexpected sight murmured quietly.

Standing in the corner of the hall on guard, Vernon’s eyes met Amy’s, who was standing just below the seat of honor. Vernon gave a slight nod. It meant there were no particularly suspicious signs.

Nevertheless, Amy did not lower her guard and scanned the banquet hall. It seemed Mrs. Weaver had already sent word, as Joseph and several sturdy servants could be seen keeping a close eye on Baron Pearson.

‘He said I wouldn’t be able to look at him properly soon.’

Amy ruminated on the words Baron Pearson had reportedly said. It likely implied a promotion in rank.

‘His attitude of not bowing down to the Crown Prince is also strange.’

Even now, he was approaching the Crown Prince and chattering excitedly about something. The Crown Prince, looking upset about something, kept his mouth shut and ignored him.

Her heart raced as if something was about to happen. This kind of intuition usually proved correct, making her anxious. She hoped it wouldn’t be anything bad.

Amy turned her head toward the seat of honor. There, Noah was receiving greetings from the lords of the Northern region. Sitting solemnly in his crown and fur cloak, he exuded an aura of great dignity.

Seeing how composed and relaxed he was despite his young age, she could feel the attitude of the lords, who had initially been looking at him with disdain, beginning to change.

Amy smiled in spite of herself, feeling pleased. She thought that Noah, who learned ten things when taught one, truly had the natural qualities of a leader.

“Huh?”

Then, a strange sight caught Amy’s eye. The Crown Prince was staring intently at Noah. Baron Pearson was beside him; after whispering something to the Prince, he handed over two cups he was holding and stepped back.

Looking toward Noah, the greetings from the vassals were nearing an end. It was almost time for the speech to announce the start of the banquet.

The last lord retreated, and Noah stood up. The noisy hall fell silent in an instant. This too was an encouraging sign, as it meant the Grand Duke’s influence was significant. Amy, secretly nervous, clasped her hands tightly. Her fingertips were cold.

Noah scanned the audience. After hesitating for a very brief moment, he began to speak.

“As everyone knows, I do not yet know much about the North.”

Joseph flinched visibly. Amy was also flustered, but only for a moment. Noah was not speaking from the manuscript Joseph had written; he was delivering an impromptu speech.

“However, being young, I have plenty of time. This means I have a great capacity to learn about the North deeply and develop it. I stand here today to promise you that I will show you that potential of mine.”

The expressions on people’s faces shifted. Instead of flowery rhetoric, Noah’s words, declaring his ambitions with confidence, felt deeply sincere. It struck a chord with the Northern people, who had been hardened by the harsh climate.

“In the distant future, if someone asks when the first day of the North’s magnificent new chapter was, they will remember today. I want you to be my witnesses and partners in building and enjoying the prosperity of the North that begins today.”

Noah paused and looked into the eyes of each vassal. Meeting his straight and passionate gaze, they felt as if they were young again.

‘Has there ever been a Grand Duke who treated the North with such sincerity?’

Furthermore, hadn’t the young Grand Duke performed the miracle of changing the weather as soon as he arrived? It was only natural for them to expect a brilliant future.

Noah read the unyielding will in their eyes. His mouth curved into a satisfied smile. With the face of a sovereign, Noah reached out to his vassals and spoke with arrogance.

“What do you say? Will you walk that path with me?”

The veteran nobles felt their blood begin to boil. One hot-tempered lord raised his hand and roared.

“I will follow the Grand Duke!”

Following him, other lords raised their voices as well.

“For the prosperity of the North!”

“For the glory of the North!”

“Long live the Grand Duke!”

Noah instantly turned the banquet hall into a frenzy of enthusiasm. The people who had ignored the young Grand Duke as unreliable now looked up at him with eyes full of admiration and awe.

Amidst the endless applause and cheers, Amy smiled warmly and asked Joseph, who was standing beside her.

“Are you disappointed?”

“Pardon? Oh, no. Hearing His Highness’s speech… I thought I had written a masterpiece, but now I see it was a poor piece of writing.”

He took a deep breath as if overwhelmed. Then, watching Noah with eyes of admiration, he whispered, “It seems sincerity truly does get through.”

He seemed to have moved beyond mere respect to a level of awe-inspiring worship for Noah. He was a completely different person from the one who had whined about being hated by the Grand Duke after becoming the person who “stole a skewer” when they first met in the capital market.

In any case, it didn’t look bad, so she shrugged and was about to turn back to the seat of honor when a maid hurriedly approached and whispered in her ear.

“A message has arrived for the Head Maid.”

“A message? For me?”

“The mercenary captain is waiting outside.”

Why would he be here? Amy was puzzled but quickly followed the maid out of the hall. According to the contract, the mercenaries were to stay in the Grand Duchy for six months, and Noah had assigned them the task of scouting the territories of the Northern vassals.

‘Is there a problem with one of the lords who came today?’

Her heart sank. When she hurried to the corridor, the mercenary captain emerged from behind a pillar and greeted her.

“What is the matter?”

To her urgent question, the mercenary captain spoke with an ambiguous expression.

“Word has come that there is a group looking for the Head Maid in the Imperial Capital.”

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