Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 4

The moment Amy heard the Second Prince’s words, which sounded remarkably like a shy confession, her face crumpled in dismay.

“Ah, that’s a bit much.”

The memory of the chaos that ensued when the Crown Prince took a liking to her sent a chill down her spine. If there was one thing she had gained from her previous life—specifically from the experience of starving to death—it was the realization that she should never, ever become personally involved with the master she served.

“Huh?”

The Second Prince doubted his own ears. Amy quickly adjusted her expression and spoke kindly.

“In that case, I’ll hold onto it for you until Your Highness finds someone more precious to you than me.”

“Uh, what?”

The Second Prince blinked blankly before his eyes went wide.

“No, Amy, that’s not it.”

“Oh my, look at the time. Your Highness, hurry. We have to leave the palace soon.”

“Hm? Oh, I see. But Amy.”

“It’s urgent right now, so if you have something to say, let’s talk later.”

Amy pushed the Second Prince out of the kitchen like she was herding a dog. He was kicked out just like that, stammering the whole way.

Thump. The door closed, and Amy leaned her back against it, letting out a silent sigh. From behind the door, she heard the sound of the Second Prince’s hesitant footsteps as he returned to his inner chamber.

Amy muttered to herself.

“I can’t go back to that mess again.”

She spoke as if making a vow to herself. Just because she was grateful and sorry toward the Second Prince didn’t mean she had to take responsibility for his feelings. In fact, this was for the best. She should nip it in the bud now. Why recreate the tragedy of the Crown Prince’s era?

Not that the Second Prince is as ungrateful as the Crown Prince was.

She had felt it before, and her time with him recently had made her even more certain. The Second Prince was someone she could trust. Amy intended to repay him for the kindness of her regression. However, her desire to carefully manage this second life she had luckily obtained was just as strong.

“It’s best to keep public and private matters separate.”

She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Having organized her thoughts, Amy limped over to the counter and gathered the remaining food onto a plate. She then swept it into her mouth like a starved beast, chewing and swallowing rapidly.

The sun had begun to tilt slightly toward the west. It was time to leave. Amy stood at the entrance of the palace with the Second Prince, peering outside anxiously. She was worried because the arrivals were late.

“Amy? When are we leaving?”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Amy craned her neck and stared toward the main palace. Her heart filled with a sense of failure. Surely, she hadn’t failed.

Just then, dust rose in the distance. Several horses were galloping toward them. Amy’s eyes widened as they approached, and she quickly pulled the Second Prince upright. She then straightened her own posture.

Neigh. Soon, guards in magnificent silver armor arrived and brought their horses to a halt. They hopped down onto the dirt ground and strode forward.

Seeing the massive guards, the Second Prince tensed up as if he were anxious.

“Stand straight.”

Amy spoke through barely moving lips while standing perfectly still. The Second Prince flinched but immediately puffed out his chest and stood tall.

Once we get to the Grand Duchy, I’ll have to educate him thoroughly.

Amy focused her gaze on the Second Prince. Once she had decided on this path, she couldn’t stand the sight of him being looked down upon by others.

Especially since the Crown Prince is grinding his teeth.

When she realized she had died in her previous life and returned, Amy didn’t waste a single moment. She immediately went to the Empress to announce her resignation—which the Empress welcomed with open arms—and the moment she was free, she volunteered to be the Head Maid for the Second Prince. The Palace Affairs Department, which suffered from a chronic shortage of personnel, eagerly welcomed the appearance of high-quality talent.

Everything took place while the Crown Prince was away on a trip. No one knew how furious he was when he returned and found out. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Amy who turned him away when he stormed into the Second Prince’s palace, claiming he would take her back.

“Are you, a person in such a high position, really threatening a mere woman?”

The Crown Prince looked flabbergasted by the Second Prince’s words, and his anger grew. He likely didn’t appreciate a sharp remark from the younger brother he had looked down upon and despised his whole life.

“Stay out of this, boy.”

“That would be difficult. Amy belongs to me now.”

For someone who had been staying low and acting as if he were dead, his words were quite sharp. It seemed Amy wasn’t the only one who noticed, as the Crown Prince’s face hardened.

“How dare you.”

“I apologize. I only said that because I was worried that if people found out about this, it would damage Your Highness’s reputation and Amy’s prestige.”

The Crown Prince, who had rushed over blindly in a fit of rage, hesitated. He finally realized that this was a situation ripe for scandal. Amy stepped in to calm the two, who were staring each other down in silence.

“I have received the Empress’s permission, so if you have any complaints, please go to the Empress’s palace.”

Of course, she said it knowing he wouldn’t be able to. The Crown Prince, whose face immediately turned pale, glared at Amy with resentment before turning his back with a cold air. He then left the Second Prince’s palace without looking back once.

Your affection was so shallow that you ignored me while I was dying in prison.

The Crown Prince’s behavior, acting as if he were the one betrayed, was still appalling to think about, but she quickly calmed her mind.

Now is not the time to think about such trivial things.

Finally, with a clanking sound, the guards stopped in front of them. Amy took a short breath, gracefully grabbed the hem of her skirt, and curtsied.

“I am Amelia, the Head Maid of the Second Prince’s palace.”

The guard looked down at her with an arrogant gaze and spoke dismissively.

“I have brought the Emperor’s decree.”

Amy smiled broadly, keeping her mouth shut. Look at this. He didn’t even introduce himself?

The guard narrowed his eyes when Amy only smiled without responding. After waiting a moment as if giving him time, Amy finally spoke.

“The Second Prince is here.”

“I am aware of that.”

The guards’ eyes flicked to the boy standing next to Amy and then back to her. A vein popped on Amy’s forehead.

You know, and yet you act like this?

Amy hid her true feelings and spoke gently.

“The descendant of the Imperial Sun is waiting for Captain Martin’s greeting.”

Do I have to spoon-feed this to you? At Amy’s fierce gaze, the Captain’s expression turned to one of realization.

“Ah, no, well, I mean. Second Prince.”

Amy’s stomach twisted at his reaction, which made it seem like he had never even considered greeting him. Furthermore, the fact that the Second Prince was more flustered than the Captain made her feel even worse.

“Amy.”

The Second Prince tugged on Amy’s sleeve with an embarrassed expression. Amy glanced coldly at his hand and silently asked him what was wrong with her eyes.

“I’m fine.”

Looking at the burly Captain and guards, he muttered in a small voice. Amy let out a frustrated breath and pushed back her bangs. She then spoke with a kind expression again.

“Of course you are. Because Your Highness is generous.”

The Second Prince wisely kept his mouth shut. He was quick to realize that although Amy was being kind, she wasn’t actually being kind. Amy smiled brightly.

“But those beneath you cannot be so. That is the etiquette of the Imperial Palace and the respect due to the Imperial family. Is that not so, Captain Martin?”

Amy turned to him with a look that dared him to find a single thing wrong with what she said. The Captain was left speechless because she was absolutely right.

“I greet you, Second Prince. I am Martin, the Captain of the Guards responsible for the palace’s defense.”

He finally bowed his head to the Second Prince.

“Oh, uh, yes. Nice to meet you.”

The Second Prince tried his best to accept the greeting with dignity while watching Amy’s reaction. While it wasn’t perfectly to her liking, Amy thought it was enough and moved on to the main point.

“Please hand the Emperor’s decree to His Highness.”

“Yes.”

The Captain quickly handed the rolled-up scroll to Amy with an expression that said he wanted to go home as soon as possible. Amy took it with both hands and politely offered it to the Second Prince. He swallowed hard and slowly unrolled the scroll.

“Amy, is this right?”

After glancing over the contents, the Second Prince leaned toward Amy and whispered. Amy stood modestly beside the Prince and quickly scanned the decree.

Let’s see. First, the land includes all three northern territories. Recognition of an independent principality rather than a dependency. Great! And he has to pay a tribute equivalent to thirty bags of gold coins to the Empire every year. That’s manageable.

Cheering inwardly, Amy straightened her back with a blank expression. She then gave an elegant nod.

“Please offer your thanks to His Imperial Majesty, Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

As they had practiced the day before, the Second Prince stood toward the main palace where the Emperor resided, placed his hand over his heart, and bowed. He then shouted clearly.

“I offer my infinite gratitude for the grace of the Imperial Sun. May the glory of the Empire always be with His Imperial Majesty.”

The expressions of the Captain and the guards, who had been ignoring the Second Prince, changed at the sight of his decent etiquette. Regardless, Amy gave them their dismissal.

“Since His Highness must now depart for the Grand Duchy.”

“Ah, yes.”

The Captain kept looking back as he rode away, perhaps sensing something was off. Amy waited patiently until they were completely out of sight. Finally, when they had disappeared, she breathed a sigh of relief and approached the carriage.

“Aren’t we leaving now?”

When Amy checked the luggage in the carriage again, the Second Prince tilted his head and asked. Wasn’t everything in the Imperial Palace finished once they received the Emperor’s decree?

Amy hesitated to answer, making an ambiguous sound, when the sound she had been waiting for finally reached her ears.

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