“What’s that chocolate powder on your mouths? You didn’t eat His Highness the Second Prince’s snacks, did you?”

The maids, who had been anxiously observing Amy’s disheveled appearance, froze at the sharp questioning, then immediately waved their hands with pale faces.

“N-no! We didn’t eat anything.”

“Yes, of course not. How could we do such a thing…?”

What an obvious lie. Amy snorted. It was something she had learned only after coming here, but perhaps because the Second Prince was the black sheep of the imperial palace, even the maids working under him were unruly enough to steal their master’s food.

Without the energy to make a fuss, Amy silently waved her hand. It meant for them to withdraw. They hesitated.

“Um… You’re departing tomorrow, aren’t you? What about the preparations?”

“Have you done them?”

Amy could bet her entire fortune that they hadn’t lifted a finger. Sure enough, they wore expressions that seemed to say, ‘Why would we do such a thing?’

“No?”

“Then why are you asking? Just go away.”

“Yes…”

Wiping the chocolate from their mouths, the two quickly slipped out of the palace. Seeing their utter lack of attachment, Amy could only click her tongue.

“That’s right, go on. It’s better if the Crown Prince’s lackeys disappear anyway.”

Now that there were no prying eyes, Amy dragged her aching leg up the stairs and arrived at her private chambers. Though it was a shabby room unfit for an imperial palace, Amy didn’t care at all and threw herself onto the bed.

There wasn’t a spot that didn’t ache or hurt, but her heart felt as light as a feather.

‘I did it! I’m about to escape!!’

Amy felt greatly relieved to have safely overcome the biggest hurdle.

‘I wondered if I really needed to suffer this much, but it was worth it. I’d rather not move with enemies at my back.’

Amy exhaled deeply and racked her brain.

‘Now all that’s left is to safely reach the North and raise His Highness the Second Prince well. I remember everything that could be profitable in the future…’

Thinking of the Second Prince, her hardened heart softened a little.

‘And then eliminate the Crown Prince…’

As she unconsciously continued this train of thought, Amy raised her hand and pressed it firmly against her chest.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Her heart was beating as calmly as ever.

‘Yes, that’s how it should be.’

Amy let out a deep sigh. Her body, which had endured torture and shivered in the cold, was declaring a strike. As she closed her eyes, she murmured quietly.

“Let’s get some sleep for now.”

***

“Amy?”

Amy jerked her head up at the sound of her name. The Second Prince was standing awkwardly at the doorway, looking at her. Amy, who had been sitting on the floor packing her belongings, closed the lid of the clothes chest with a bang and gestured towards the prince.

“Come here, Your Highness.”

At her call, the Second Prince hesitated for a moment before striding over. His black curly hair, rarely seen in the imperial palace, swayed gently above his forehead.

The prince folded his long legs and sat down quietly in front of Amy. She looked at him with a tender expression.

‘He’s seventeen, but he looks no older than fifteen…’

Seemingly pleased with Amy’s gaze, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. Despite being a sensitive adolescent boy, he was quite affectionate towards her. Amy asked with a gentle smile.

“Your Highness, have you eaten?”

“There was no one around.”

“…Ah.”

She suddenly remembered that she had told all the maids to leave the day before. Amy clicked her tongue and stood up.

“Let’s go to the kitchen together. I’ll prepare something simple for you to eat.”

“Okay.”

The prince hesitated for a moment before carefully taking Amy’s hand. It had been only two months since she came to the Second Prince’s palace, but the affection-starved boy gladly took her extended hand, unaware of Amy’s true intentions.

Every time she confirmed the boy’s trust in her, Amy felt her thin conscience pricking her. Whenever her long-standing guilt stared at her, Amy deliberately spoke loudly to herself.

‘I can treat him well from now on, can’t I!’

Yes. Wasn’t that why she had traveled back in time from the future?

Arriving at the kitchen, Amy seated the prince in a chair in the corner. Then she put butter in a pot, placed it on the hearth, and took out vegetables from the shelf to chop.

“Your Highness, you know we’re leaving this afternoon, right?”

The prince nodded, mesmerized by Amy’s deftly moving hands.

“Yes, I was told to pack my valuables separately, so I’ve done that.”

“Well done.”

She stir-fried the finely chopped vegetables in the bubbling butter, then added milk and cream to boil. After preparing a simple salad and heating some bread, a delicious meal was ready in no time.

“Please eat.”

The prince picked up his spoon, swallowing his saliva. He ate the food happily, wolfing it down. Amy smiled contentedly as she watched him. In her mind, calculations were spinning rapidly.

‘Let’s see, I’ve planned out the route, and I’ve made sure the palace guards can’t pursue us…’

All that remained was a leisurely and grand tour with the prince.

‘If only I had returned a couple of months earlier, I could have prepared more perfectly…’

As she thought of the Second Prince, her hardened heart softened a little.

‘And then eliminate the Crown Prince…’

Amy, who had been unconsciously continuing this train of thought, raised her hand and pressed it firmly against her chest.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Her heart was beating as calmly as ever.

‘Yes, that’s how it should be.’

Amy let out a deep sigh. Her body, which had endured torture and shivered in the cold, was declaring a strike. As she closed her eyes, she murmured quietly.

“Let’s get some sleep for now.”

***

Amy was the head maid of the Crown Prince’s palace. She was the only daughter of a founding meritorious family that had only honor left. Before her parents, who had lost their territory due to debt, could sell her off too, she decided to escape.

After much deliberation, she finally volunteered as a palace maid and entered the imperial court. When her parents found out later and made a fuss, well, that was none of her concern.

She was ten years old at the time, and the Empress, who was also the Crown Prince’s mother, chose her as a maid for the First Prince, who was about the same age.

Maid in name only, she was really just a plaything. She was probably thrown into the Crown Prince’s palace with the intention of being a temporary amusement before disappearing.

But Amy, who couldn’t stand losing since childhood and was strong-willed enough to decide her own future, soon outperformed the other accomplished maids and came to serve the frail First Prince most closely.

The Crown Prince, though the same age, relied heavily on Amy, who was as mature as an older sister, and didn’t mind even when she occasionally climbed over him. No, he actually preferred it when there was less formality. Amy soon came to regard him as a younger brother who threw tantrums at her.

‘Amy, I like you.’

At thirteen, three years after entering the palace, Amy received a confession from the First Prince. Was she happy about it? Not at all! Amy looked around nervously and asked.

‘…Have you said that to anyone else?’

Thinking Amy was misunderstanding him as a playboy, the First Prince exclaimed in shock.

‘Of course I’ve only said it to you!’

‘Lower your voice! What do you think you’ve done right?’

If the Empress found out, Amy would be a dead woman. The First Prince, who had confessed after much deliberation only to be scolded, muttered dejectedly.

‘Amy, do you dislike me?’

‘No? But I don’t like you in that way either.’

‘What way?’

‘…’

Amy’s face became expressionless. He might be thirteen, but his knowledge about the opposite sex was as innocent as a seven-year-old playing in the marketplace.

The Empress, fearing that the First Prince might develop an early interest in the opposite sex, had thoroughly hidden information and blocked the approach of noble ladies. The reason she didn’t guard against Amy, who was always by his side, was because she was a fallen aristocrat.

‘In short, she thought of me as an object.’

‘What did you say, Amy?’

‘I said I need to buy something.’

That doesn’t seem to be what she said… The First Prince tilted his head and asked again.

‘So Amy, what’s your answer?’

After pondering for a moment, Amy said.

‘…If your feelings haven’t changed in a year, I’ll think about it.’

Even though Amy hadn’t said yes, the First Prince was overjoyed. Amy firmly sealed his lips. When she threatened that he would never see her again if this got out, the First Prince swore in tears that he wouldn’t tell anyone.

A year passed like that.

‘Amy, I like you.’

Unfortunately, the First Prince’s feelings hadn’t changed. Amy hid her expression of disgust and muttered.

‘…You’re more persistent than I thought.’

‘Was that a compliment just now? So Amy, what’s your answer?’

‘Your Highness the First Prince, you’re fourteen now, right? You’ll be enthroned as Crown Prince when you turn fifteen, so I’ll think about it until then.’

Angered by those words, the First Prince stomped his foot.

‘Why do you need to think for so long?’

‘Very important matters should always be thought over for a long time.’

The First Prince’s anger melted away at the words ‘very important matter’. He smiled like a fool.

‘Really? Is that true?’

‘Of course.’

The following year, the First Prince was safely enthroned as Crown Prince. He ran to Amy excitedly, hugged her, and shouted.

‘Now I can marry Amy.’

‘Says who?’

‘What?’

‘I said, everyone would want that. Because you’ve become the Crown Prince. But…’

Amy gently persuaded him. She said they should prepare when things quieted down, as all eyes were on him now. The Crown Prince grumbled but nodded, as Amy’s words were always right.

Amy didn’t dislike the Crown Prince. He whined a lot, but he was generally obedient, like a dim-witted younger brother. And since they had spent a long time together, if she had to say, she liked him.