Who Brought the Head Maid Back? - Chapter 6

“Ah…”

Amy felt cold sweat trickling down her back. Look at this daring Prince, treating his own father, the Emperor, as if he’s already dead.

“Hm? No?”

The Second Prince held Amy’s hand and shook it pleadingly. Flustered, Amy bit her lip for a moment before finally nodding. The moment the Second Prince—Noah—opened his mouth to cheer in excitement, Amy spoke sternly.

“But only when we are alone. As you know, if anyone finds out, I will be in a world of trouble. Disrespecting the Imperial family is a crime punishable by summary execution.”

“Yes! I got it!”

Noah nodded vigorously, his black hair fluttering like wings. He then looked up at Amy with sparkling eyes as if demanding she call him that right away. Amy chuckled, unable to help herself. Is he really this happy just to have his name called?

“Well then, ahem.”

Amy cleared her throat with her fist to her mouth. She then spoke solemnly.

“Noah-nim.”

“…”

However, instead of the joy she expected, Noah’s face turned gloomy. Huh? Why the long face? As Amy tilted her head in confusion, Noah pouted and grumbled.

“Weren’t you just going to call me Noah?”

“Why don’t you just offer a prayer for me to die instead?”

Amy gasped in shock. Noah shrugged his shoulders and nodded as if he understood.

“Then from now on, you have to call me Noah-nim, okay?”

“Only when we are alone. Why are you subtly trying to expand the boundaries?”

“Hehe, you caught me.”

Noah playfully stuck out his tongue. Amy narrowed her eyes and stared at him. She had thought he was just a fragile person, but after being together for a few months, she realized he could be quite shameless behind that cute face.

Should I be stricter with him once we get to the North?

Amy pondered for a moment before shrugging. She decided to accept it, figuring he acted that way because he truly had no one else to rely on.

He hasn’t caused any big problems, so I just need to be careful from now on.

In truth, her heart had softened because Noah’s appearance was incomparable to the Crown Prince’s. Since he always had a pale, expressionless face and black curly hair hanging down to his eyes, she had assumed he was just a gloomy kid. The shock she felt when she first saw his bare face clearly at the Second Prince’s palace was still vivid.

They said the Imperial Consort was famous for her beauty back when she was a princess of the Southern Kingdom…

It wasn’t just the black hair; he had inherited his mother’s beauty perfectly. Ironically, because the Emperor and the Crown Prince had rarely seen him since the Consort’s death ten years ago, they didn’t even know what Noah really looked like.

Love between a man and a woman is so fleeting.

Amy’s sympathetic gaze lingered on Noah before scattering into the air. Noah’s mother had fallen in love with the Emperor at first sight during his visit to the South. She gave up all her royal rights as a princess to marry into the Empire as a mere concubine.

But the Emperor’s love for her hadn’t even lasted five years before it blew away like a dandelion seed.

That’s why I couldn’t trust the Crown Prince.

Like father, like son. Her premonition had been confirmed by her death in her previous life. Amy raised her eyes with a complicated expression and looked at Noah again.

“What is it, Amy?”

Noah smiled, his golden eyes sparkling. His gaze was dripping with trust and affection for her.

“…It’s nothing.”

Amy clicked her tongue and turned away. Right, since the Second Prince carried the Emperor’s blood, he might grow up to be a world-renowned philanderer. Plus, he had the looks to back it up. Having tasted bitterness in her past life, Amy liked looking at handsome people, but she wanted absolutely nothing to do with them.

Still, he also carries the blood of the devoted Imperial Consort, so I hope he’s only half like his father.

She stopped mid-thought.

Come to think of it, I heard something about Noah-nim before my regression…

Amy stared at Noah blankly before shaking her head, wondering why she was thinking such things about a mere child. She smiled and joined Noah in his exploration of the market.

“You are a bit late.”

The man standing before them said as he bowed politely. Amy gave a curt nod and scrutinized him.

“Seeing as you look fine, I assume you succeeded in escaping without any trouble?”

“Yes, well…”

The man, Joseph, adjusted his glasses and let his words trail off awkwardly. Until recently, he was the man being exploited as a nominal aide at the Duke of Esmain’s residence.

He spoke bluntly.

“At any rate, you are late by eight minutes and forty seconds.”

“Yes, I am truly sorry, but we had our reasons. Even though I told him several times that we had to go quickly and that the person waiting was incredibly strict, there was someone who insisted on eating skewers right then and there.”

Amy mercilessly offered Noah up as a sacrifice. Joseph stared blankly at the boy who had been pushed in front of him. Noah, with sauce smeared around his mouth, looked at Joseph and cleared his throat.

“Are you Joseph, the one who contributed to this matter?”

“Gasp!”

Recognizing Noah at last, Joseph sucked in a breath. He never imagined the Second Prince himself would come to the market! The timid man began to tremble like a flower branch in a typhoon. Regardless, Noah spoke awkwardly.

“I apologize. It was my first time eating something like this. Would you like some too?”

The corners of Amy’s mouth turned down. Oh my, he must really feel sorry. He had been devouring those skewers like a dog with a bone, but now that his stomach was full, he was acting generous.

Overwhelmed, Joseph rubbed his hands on his pants and clasped them politely. Noah stared at Joseph’s hands for a moment before slowly holding out a skewer. Joseph took it with trembling hands.

“…”

Noah watched the skewer leave his hand with regret, sighed softly, and looked away. In that moment, Joseph realized.

Ah, I should have declined.

That was the moment Joseph’s future started to get complicated.

“Now then, since we’ve met who we needed to meet, I’m going to go attend to my business.”

Amy checked the time and spoke to Noah. As if his mood hadn’t been soured at all, Noah’s eyes went wide and he grabbed her sleeve.

“Where are you going? Are you going alone?”

“It’s a place where children aren’t allowed.”

Amy replied lightly and gestured to Joseph. Joseph, looking pale, stepped forward hesitantly and stood politely beside Noah. After glancing at him suspiciously, Noah turned back to Amy.

“I’ll be good. I can stay quiet like I’m not even there. So…”

Noah was more persistent than she expected, causing Amy to frown. Finally, she had to pull out the magic words.

“Noah-nim, what did you promise when I became the Head Maid?”

At that, Noah lowered his head and bit his lip.

“…That I would listen to Amy until I become an adult.”

“It won’t take long, so I’ll see you in front of Joseph’s inn.”

Noah stared at Amy for a long moment before retreating obediently. To Joseph, who was deep in thought wondering why she called the Second Prince “Noah,” Amy shot a look that told him to take good care of the Prince. After checking the mercenaries guarding them once more, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

“…”

Noah’s gaze, which had been watching her back longingly, sank into a dark gloom.

“Ah, my ankle…”

Amy limped along, avoiding the crowds. She had tried her best not to show any pain in front of the Second Prince, but it seemed she had overexerted herself. Amy stopped in a secluded alley, unwound the bandage on her ankle, and wrapped it even tighter.

That’s better.

After testing her foot on the ground a few times, she headed toward her destination again. She walked through the winding, ant-tunnel-like alleys without hesitation, tracing her old memories. Finally, she arrived in front of a shabby building and checked her appearance.

I need to cover my face first.

The moment she picked up the scarf she had prepared, someone brushed against her shoulder while passing by.

“Ah!”

Amy staggered, but the man only glanced at her before continuing on his way. Amy grumbled a few complaints as she watched his retreating figure and then wrapped the scarf around her face.

Head and face covered. Good.

Looking up, she saw the sign hanging over the door. It was an image similar to a noble family’s crest, depicting a shield with a snake and a sword and spear crossing in an X.

Amy looked at it meaningfully before opening the door and stepping inside.

The pub appeared to be doing poorly, as there wasn’t a single customer. A man sitting at the counter beneath shelves of liquor spoke listlessly.

“Welcome.”

Amy approached him, cleared her throat, and spoke in a raspy voice.

“I’m here to see the Guild Master.”

“…The password?”

The man lowered his voice, eyeing Amy from head to toe. Amy replied with an incredulous expression.

“What password? Just go get him.”

“…You didn’t fall for it.”

The man clicked his tongue and stood up obediently, disappearing somewhere. Amy chose an empty table and sat down in a relaxed posture. Though her movements were calm, she was actually extremely nervous.

Stay calm, Amy. You can do this.

As she was comforting herself, the man reappeared.

“He says to come to the back room.”

“…”

Amy stood up and followed the man. The interior was dim, with boards covering the windows, and a single candle sat lonely in the room. When Amy sat in the chair in the center of the room, a large man sitting opposite her asked in a booming voice.

“What business brings you to the Guild Master?”

“I’m here to withdraw a deposit.”

The Guild Master narrowed his eyes at Amy’s words. From her scratchy voice intended to hide her true identity, she was clearly a suspicious woman. But then again, was anyone who came here not suspicious?

“Did you bring the mark?”

“Here.”

Amy took a wooden plaque from her bodice and placed it on the table. The man took it, scrutinized it carefully, and then nodded.

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