Who Regressed the Timekeeper? (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
“What’s that chocolate powder on your lips? You didn’t eat the Second Prince’s snack, did you?”
The maids, who had been anxiously watching Amy’s disheveled state, froze at the sharp accusation, then immediately turned pale and waved their hands frantically in denial.
“No, no! I didn’t eat anything!”
“Yes, absolutely not! How could we ever do such a thing…?”
What obvious lies. Amy snorted inwardly. Since arriving here, she’d learned that the Second Prince was practically the palace’s whipping boy, which explained why even the lowliest maids felt emboldened enough to steal their master’s food without a second thought.
Too exhausted to argue, Amy simply waved her hand dismissively, signaling them to leave. They hesitated.
“Um… you’re departing tomorrow, right? Is everything prepared?”
“Is it all done?”
Amy could have bet her entire fortune they hadn’t lifted a finger. Sure enough, they looked at her as if wondering why she’d even ask such a thing.
“No?”
“Then why ask? Just go already.”
“Yes….”
Wiping the chocolate from their mouths, the two quickly scurried out of the palace without a trace of remorse. Amy could only click her tongue at their shameless retreat.
“Go ahead, leave. After all, you’re just the Crown Prince’s lackeys—disappearing is doing me a favor.”
Now that there were no prying eyes left, Amy relaxed and dragged her aching leg up the stairs until she reached her private chamber. Though the room was shabby enough to seem unworthy of a palace, Amy didn’t care in the slightest and collapsed onto the bed.
Every inch of her body ached, yet her heart felt lighter than air.
‘I did it! Escape is finally within reach!!’
Amy breathed a huge sigh of relief, having safely cleared the biggest hurdle.
‘I wondered if enduring all this was really necessary, but it was the right choice. I refuse to move forward with enemies lurking behind my back.’
She exhaled deeply and rolled her head on the pillow.
‘Now all that’s left is to safely reach the North and properly raise the Second Prince. I remember everything that’ll bring in money from now on….’
Thinking of the Second Prince softened the hardened knot in her chest just a little.
‘And eliminate the Crown Prince….’
Amy absentmindedly pressed her hand firmly against her chest as the thought slipped out.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Her heart beat calmly, just as it always did.
‘Yes, that’s exactly how it should be.’
Amy let out a heavy sigh. Her body, battered by torture and shivering from the cold, finally staged a revolt. She closed her eyes and murmured quietly.
“Let me get some sleep first.”
“Amy?”
At the sound of her name, Amy snapped her head up. The Second Prince stood silently in the doorway, watching her. Amy, who had been sitting on the floor packing, slammed the chest lid shut and beckoned him over.
“Come here.”
Hesitating for just a moment, the Second Prince strode over. His rare, dark curly hair swayed gently above his forehead—a sight seldom seen in the palace.
The prince folded his long legs and sat quietly before Amy. She looked at him with tender affection.
‘He’s seventeen, yet looks barely fifteen….’
Perhaps pleased by her gaze, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Despite being a sensitive adolescent, he behaved quite warmly toward her. Amy asked with a gentle smile.
“Your Highness, have you eaten?”
“No one was around…”
“…Ah.”
She suddenly recalled having told the maids to leave the day before. Amy clicked her tongue and rose from her seat.
“Come with me to the kitchen. I’ll fix you something simple to eat.”
“Okay.”
After a brief hesitation, the prince carefully took Amy’s hand. It had only been two months since he’d arrived at the Second Prince’s residence, and the affection-starved boy eagerly grasped her outstretched hand without understanding her true intentions.
Each time she witnessed the boy’s trust in her, Amy’s shallow conscience pricked painfully. Whenever that old guilt surfaced as she stared blankly ahead, she deliberately raised her voice.
‘From now on, I’ll treat him well—that’s all that matters!’
After all, wasn’t that precisely why she’d traveled back in time from the future?
Upon reaching the kitchen, Amy seated the prince on a chair in the corner. She melted butter in a pot over the stove and began chopping vegetables from the shelf.
“Your Highness, you know we’re leaving this afternoon, right?”
The prince nodded, mesmerized by Amy’s swift, skillful hands.
“Yeah, they said to pack valuables separately, so I’ve already done it.”
“Well done.”
She tossed the chopped vegetables into the bubbling butter, sautéed them, then added milk and cream to simmer. She quickly prepared a simple salad and warmed some bread, and in no time, a delicious meal was ready.
“Please eat.”
The prince swallowed hard, picked up his spoon, and happily devoured the food with relish. Watching him, Amy smiled contentedly, though her mind was already racing with calculations.
‘Let me see… the route’s all planned, and I’ve ensured the palace guards won’t be able to follow us….’
All that remained was a leisurely, splendid journey with the prince.
‘If only I’d returned two months earlier, I could’ve prepared even more perfectly….’
Amy sighed as she watched the prince stuff a piece of white bread into his mouth. Resting her chin in her hand, she drifted into memories of her past life—the one before she’d come back.
Amy had been the head maid of the Crown Prince’s quarters. She was the only daughter of a once-honored founding noble family, but when her parents lost their estate to debt and planned to sell her off, she resolved to escape before they could carry it out.
After much deliberation, she volunteered to become a palace maid and entered the imperial court. Her parents later caused a commotion upon learning this, but she couldn’t care less.
She’d been ten years old then, and the Empress—also the Crown Prince’s mother—chose her to serve as a maid to the First Prince, who was around the same age.
In truth, she wasn’t really a maid but a toy—placed in the Crown Prince’s quarters merely as temporary amusement before being discarded.
However, Amy had never tolerated being stepped on, and her strong will to shape her own destiny soon allowed her to surpass the other capable maids and become the First Prince’s closest attendant.
Though the same age, the Crown Prince relied heavily on Amy’s mature, almost sisterly presence and never minded—even welcomed—her occasional outbursts.
In fact, he preferred her lack of formality. Amy soon began seeing him as a younger brother.
‘Amy, I like you.’
At thirteen, just three years after entering the palace, Amy received a confession from the First Prince. Was she happy? Not in the slightest! She glanced around nervously and asked in a hushed tone.
‘…Have you said that to anyone else?’
Thinking she’d mistaken him for a flirt, the First Prince cried out in shock.
‘Of course not! Only to you!’
‘Keep your voice down! What’s there to be proud of?’
If the Empress found out, Amy would be as good as dead. Having mustered all his courage only to be scolded, the First Prince slumped and muttered dejectedly.
‘Do you dislike me, Amy?’
“No? But I don’t like you that way either.”
“What do you mean, ‘that way’?”
“…”
Amy’s expression turned blank. What did being thirteen matter when he knew as little about romance as a seven-year-old street urchin?
The Empress, fearing the First Prince might awaken to matters of the opposite sex too early, had strictly shielded him from such knowledge and barred young noblewomen from approaching him. Ironically, she never suspected Amy precisely because she was from a fallen noble family.
‘In short, she saw me as nothing more than an object.’
“What did you say, Amy?”
“I said I need to go buy some things.”
That wasn’t quite what she meant… The First Prince tilted his head in confusion and asked again.
“So, Amy, what’s your answer?”
After a brief pause, Amy replied.
‘…If your feelings haven’t changed a year from now, I’ll consider it.’
Though she hadn’t actually agreed, the First Prince rejoiced. Amy quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
She threatened that if word got out, she’d never see him again. The First Prince burst into tears and swore he’d tell no one.
Thus, a year passed.
‘Amy, I like you.’
Unfortunately, the First Prince’s feelings remained unchanged. Amy hid her dismay and muttered under her breath.
‘…You’re more stubborn than I thought.’
‘Was that a compliment? So, Amy, what’s your answer?’
‘Your Highness is fourteen now, correct? You’ll be officially named Crown Prince when you turn fifteen, so I’ll think about it until then.’
Annoyed by her answer, the First Prince stamped his foot.
‘Why does it take so long to decide?’
‘Important matters always require careful thought.’
Hearing her call it an “important matter,” his anger melted away instantly. The First Prince grinned foolishly.
‘Really? You mean it?’
‘Of course.’
The following year, the First Prince was duly crowned Crown Prince. Overjoyed, he rushed to Amy, hugged her tightly, and shouted,
“Now I can marry you, Amy!”
“Says who?”
“What?”
“Everyone will want you now that you’re the Crown Prince. But….”
Gently, she persuaded him. With all eyes on him now, they should wait until things quieted down before making preparations. The Crown Prince grumbled but, as always, trusted Amy’s judgment and nodded in agreement.
Amy didn’t dislike the Crown Prince. He was whiny, yes, but generally obedient—like a somewhat dim-witted younger brother. And given how long they’d been together, if pressed, she’d admit she rather liked him.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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