Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 54

“The third plan is to sell high-end amulets alongside low-cost souvenirs. This was an idea proposed by His Grace himself, intended for commoners who cannot afford the amulets.”

Joseph finished speaking and placed a hand over his heart in a gesture of respect. Amy and the other employees all smiled warmly and bowed to him. Noah, seated at the head of the table, gave a single nod with an expressionless face.

“He also mentioned one more thing. We have decided to set aside a portion of the proceeds to prepare for any natural disasters or misfortunes that may occur.”

This was a system created by Joseph, James, and Noah under their tutor’s guidance to lighten the economic burden on the residents. For now, it would be implemented at the provincial level under the Lord’s leadership, but in the future, individual enrollment would be possible. In that case, the Lord would guarantee the payouts.

“As for the items for sale, we have decided to produce accessories such as hair ornaments and belts for women, as well as toys for children. If the response is good, we will gradually expand the variety. Of course, these will also be engraved with our symbolic flower.”

Suddenly, Joseph’s face, which had been clear until now, clouded over.

“Lastly, the masked martial arts tournament, which was the subject of fierce debate until the very last moment, has been rejected.”

Amy and Noah nodded simultaneously. A martial arts tournament was still premature. If someone were to lose their life, it could damage the image of the North, which was just beginning to stretch its wings.

Right then, a loud scraping sound of a chair rang out from the back, and Dwayne stood up abruptly, shaking his fist.

“Why is only my plan rejected?!”

Amidst the buzzing of the crowd, Mari whispered to Cecil in the next seat.

“Ugh. Does he really not know why? This is why people need to be smart.”

“His face is handsome, so can’t he afford to be a bit dim?”

When Cecil tilted her head, Mari shook her index finger from side to side.

“Imagine if your child acted like that.”

“.”

Turning around, they saw Dwayne huffing and puffing while his limbs were pinned down by grinning guards. It seemed they had just barely stopped him from storming the platform.

Behind them, Jack, Bradley, and the other guards were smirking while collecting money from the employees. It appeared those who knew the plan would be rejected had placed bets on how Dwayne would react.

‘Gross people.’

Cecil shook her head with a look of disgust, but her eyes soon caught sight of the intellectual and sickly handsome James, who was looking over documents with a slight frown. Cecil muttered with a dazed expression.

“As I thought, brains are everything in a man.”

“Obviously.”

Silence returned once they managed to gag the restrained Dwayne. Joseph hurried to finish the presentation.

“That is all for the announcements. Further details will be instructed through Butler Melbourne and Head Maid Mrs. Weaver. Thank you for listening.”

He then clutched his documents and hurried out of the hall as if escaping. Amy and Noah also rose from their seats.

“It was quite good, wasn’t it?”

“They prepared a lot in a short amount of time.”

“James is doing an excellent job as a deputy. Joseph’s burden has lessened significantly.”

“It looked that way.”

Amy glanced sideways as she headed for the door. She caught sight of Dwayne screaming while Vernon held him by the ear. To top it off, Jack was shaking his head beside them.

Amy lowered her voice and asked Noah as they walked side by side.

“Didn’t you personally say that the tournament would be held after the Grand Duchy is fully established?”

“I did. Not only Vernon, but Dwayne was there too at the time.”

“Then why is he acting like that?”

“Who knows. Maybe he really does only clean his ears once a year.”

Noah, who passed them with an indifferent expression, added as he left the hall.

“They say in the lands across the eastern sea, there is a saying about warding off bad luck. Seeing Dwayne act like that, I think the festival will be a success.”

One day, while preparations for the festival were in full swing, Spencer Coleman finally arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle. Amy, who had come out with Joseph to greet him, quickly approached the well built man dismounting from his horse.

“Viscount Burton?”

“.”

He whipped his head around at the sound of his name and scanned Amy from head to toe with a frown. His gaze wasn’t particularly gentlemanly, but Amy hid her discomfort and spoke politely.

“I am Amelia Besford, the Head Maid to His Grace the Grand Duke. Welcome to the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“I am Joseph, the aide to His Grace. Welcome, Viscount Burton.”

“As you probably know, it’s Spencer.”

Seeing him answer bluntly without even using his surname, he seemed no different than he was before he ran away from home. Amy smiled outwardly but grumbled inwardly.

‘Don’t bring your family drama outside!’

Just then, a young man and an older man, appearing to be Spencer Coleman’s attendants, walked forward. The young man had black hair, brown eyes, and a timid look, biting his thin lips with a slightly hooked nose. The middle aged man possessed an appearance that practically screamed authority.

“Mind your manners.”

When the middle aged man sternly scolded Spencer, Spencer’s face crumpled. Seeing Spencer tense his body as if ready to fight, with veins bulging on his forehead and neck, Amy and Joseph exchanged glances.

Vernon and the knights also placed their hands on their swords at the waist, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

“Can’t you just go and tell the Count every single thing I did?”

Fortunately, Spencer relaxed his body and sneered at the middle aged man. He then bent down, brought his face close, and whispered spitefully.

“Since you won’t say a single good word anyway, is there any reason for me to listen to you?”

The middle aged man remained stubborn.

“I only speak the truth exactly as it is.”

“Go ahead then. Regardless, you’d better not think about restraining my actions.”

Spencer snapped with icy coldness and whipped around.

“Where can I rest?”

He asked while glaring at Amy. Amy was bewildered because his discomfort toward her was so obvious. She couldn’t understand why he disliked her when they had only just met.

However, Amy skillfully hid her thoughts and pointed toward Melbourne with a smile.

“The Butler of the castle will guide you personally. After you have recovered from your journey, we will come for you at dinner time.”

“.”

He didn’t even answer, simply turning around and approaching Melbourne. His young attendant followed waddling behind Spencer, carrying luggage in both hands.

“He doesn’t seem like an ordinary person, does he?”

Joseph, watching the direction Spencer disappeared, frowned with concern. Amy shrugged.

“He may act like this to us, but if he wants to inherit the title, he will have to curry favor with His Grace on his own.”

“Actually, calling him Viscount Burton is a bit premature.”

The strictly principled Joseph clicked his tongue. He had only called him that in advance since he was bound to become a Viscount anyway, but Joseph didn’t seem to like it.

Amy turned and walked toward the inner castle, instinctively glancing back toward where Spencer had gone. However, instead of being in his room, he was standing at the edge of the courtyard, facing a young maid.

“What is this?”

Worried he might be harming the child, she lifted her skirts with both hands and approached at a fast pace. Spencer, unaware that Amy was nearby, was sternly scolding the maid.

“It’s easy to trip if you run in a place with a slope like this. Has no one given you a warning?”

“I’ve been told many times not to do it, but.”

The child, having been scolded, tilted her head and looked gloomy. Spencer’s voice became much softer.

“ I am not scolding you. If you get hurt, the loss is entirely yours. Please promise me you’ll be careful from now on.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, off you go.”

“Yes.”

The child watched Spencer while taking steps away, and once a certain distance was reached, she whipped around and fled in a hurry. Spencer watched her with a warm smile.

Amy was at a loss.

‘What? He wasn’t some foul tempered heir?’

Seeing him act like a gentle breeze toward a child of a different status was very unfamiliar. Just then, he turned his head, saw Amy, and was startled.

“What is it?”

He demanded in a voice that turned fierce instantly.

“Pardon?”

Amy blinked in confusion before lifting her chin.

“I was just passing through. What are you doing here instead of going to your guest room, Viscount?”

“I just, lost my way.”

At Amy’s questioning, Spencer briefly looked embarrassed, but he quickly returned to his brazen attitude.

“Ah, then was our maid in the middle of guiding you?”

When Amy mentioned the child who had just run away, the man’s face hardened. Then, in the next moment, his eyes bulged intimidatingly as he pointed a finger at Amy.

“That child did nothing wrong to me, so if you so much as punish her, I will not stand for it.”

“I only asked why you would punish someone who guided a guest of the castle? You are saying strange things.”

When Amy replied as calmly as possible, Spencer snorted. He then glared at her murderously and spoke as if chewing his words.

“Do you think I don’t know that you are the notorious Ghost Head Maid of the Imperial Palace?”

“!”

This time, Amy’s face hardened. She glared at him sharply.

‘I heard he ran away, but did he go to the Empire to investigate His Grace?’

Spencer curled one side of his lip and sneered.

“I heard you enjoyed the Crown Prince’s deep favor only to lose everything in an instant, and now you’ve come here clinging to the Second Prince, the Grand Duke? Your desire to survive at any cost is truly pathetic, isn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

At the absurd claim, Amy felt the guard she had built up crumble away. What is this man talking about? Then, it dawned on her.

‘Is that how the rumors are spreading in the Empire?’

Amy knitted her brows and fell into thought. At first glance, it sounded like she had latched onto the Grand Duke to find a way to live, but the nuance was questioning whether she was a spy digging for information on the Second Prince. It was likely spread by the Empress.

As she remained silent, Spencer’s face crumpled further. He took a threatening step forward and barked roughly.

“The North is not soft like the Empire. If you cause even the slightest harm to His Grace, we vassals will not stay idle. Do you understand?”

“.”

Amy suddenly snapped her head up.

‘What? This guy, he was on Noah’s side?’

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