That night, as soon as the banquet ended and the hall was cleaned up, the employees collapsed like puppets with broken strings, letting out tired groans.

“I guess this is punishment for lazing around all this time.”

“Why does the punishment come all at once?”

Someone mumbled, face down on the table.

“It’s the first time I’ve worked all day except for breathing.”

“Me too.”

The maids agreed with painful groans.

“I thought the head maid had a twin sister.”

“I know. I saw her in the kitchen, and the next moment she was in the hall.”

“Did you see how Lady Josephine from the Erndel viscounty, who’s so picky, suddenly became a meek lamb in front of the head maid?”

“Sophie and Tessa were scolded to tears by that lady.”

“Why?”

“Apparently, the bed sheets were slightly crooked.”

“She also said the washing water was a bit hotter than she wanted.”

Snorts of laughter erupted here and there, as if it was all much ado about nothing. Then one of them suddenly sat up and spoke quickly.

“I don’t know what the head maid said, but later that lady called them and gave them brooches, saying she had been too harsh.”

“With even His Highness the Crown Prince becoming docile, isn’t the head maid like a wild animal trainer at this point?”

The employees continued to chatter, still slumped over the table. Although they were so tired from running back and forth attending to the flood of guests that they felt like collapsing at any moment, their hearts were still content.

“So this is where you all are.”

The hall door opened, and Amy entered. The startled employees all jumped up at once. Amy waved her hand.

“It’s alright, keep resting.”

People glanced around and sat back down. Meanwhile, Cecil and Mary looked at Amy with sparkling eyes. Amy looked around at everyone with a grin.

“I dropped by to say that everyone really did a great job.”

“…”

“This must have been your first time with something like this, so I’m grateful you all kept up so well.”

People listened to Amy’s words with highly encouraged expressions.

“When the banquet concludes successfully, His Grace the Grand Duke will express his special appreciation. Until then, don’t let your guard down, understood?”

“Yes!”

The people who had been drowning in fatigue just moments ago responded vigorously. Amy smiled, satisfied with their reaction, and went around patting each person on the shoulder, praising their good work and pointing out areas for improvement.

Everyone was deeply impressed that she had carefully observed each person without exception even in the midst of such busyness, though they already knew she was remarkable for memorizing the names and faces of all employees on her first day at the Grand Duke’s residence.

“Well then, get some good rest.”

As soon as Amy left after saying goodbye, one of the servants raised his hand. When Rita nodded to allow him to speak, he exclaimed:

“Is there still room in that grave?”

“Me too, I want to join too.”

People clamored one after another. Rita crossed her arms and raised her chin, snorting.

“You know it’s not a real grave, right?”

“Of course. It’s a group for people who respect and love the head maid.”

“You understand well.”

Once again, new members smoothly increased in the grave.

“Your Grace, there’s something urgent you need to look at…!”

Amy, who had hurriedly knocked and flung open the door while speaking, stopped in her tracks. It was because the Crown Prince was in the office. He brightened his frowning face upon seeing Amy.

“Amy!”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, what brings you here…?”

Amy glanced towards Noah. He smiled weakly in response. She got the gist of it. It seemed the Crown Prince was trying to persuade the Grand Duke again.

‘I heard rumors about the leader of the southern rebellion were spreading… I guess he felt a sense of crisis.’

She had wondered why he suddenly came to the north when it seemed he would never come, but the guests visiting the Grand Duke’s residence were already abuzz with those rumors.

‘It looks like he’s trying to emphasize ties with the north.’

She could tell it was the Empress’s scheme without even seeing it. The Crown Prince before her eyes couldn’t think that far ahead.

‘He doesn’t even know who should be bowing, and instead he’s trembling?’

Amy glared at him with narrowed eyes. The Crown Prince cleared his throat at her gaze.

“Don’t be like that, come sit here. Let’s have some tea together.”

“Shall we?”

Noah nodded, indicating she should do so. Amy promptly took a seat. Noah then rang a bell, and a maid waiting outside entered.

Amy asked the Crown Prince deliberately mischievously:

“Shall I bring in the grape wine you enjoy?”

“…I’ll just have tea.”

The Crown Prince clicked his tongue. As she sent the maid away, she pouted.

“Your tastes change too often. I’m worried people will gossip that you’re not steadfast.”

“…”

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth. Meanwhile, Noah silently observed Amy and the Crown Prince before lowering his gaze.

The door opened again, and the maid brought in tea and refreshments. They drank their tea quietly for a moment.

Amy sipped her tea and pondered deeply.

‘The Crown Prince still doesn’t know the money from the vault is gone.’

If he knew that fact, he would have interrogated her first. Amy found him pathetic.

‘How long will he think I’m on his side…?’

It left a bitter taste in her mouth, considering she once thought of him as family. Now they were nothing short of enemies, but seeing him still so naively stupid made her feel frustrated. However, he was now a person who had nothing to do with her anymore.

Amy cast aside unnecessary worries and focused on other thoughts.

‘I wonder if he retrieved the money I put in the guild vault?’

It was about the First Prince, who would soon become the new Crown Prince. She had placed ample funds in the vault along with one or two weaknesses of the Empress and Crown Prince. If the First Prince had seen it, he could certainly use the situation to his advantage. But given how quiet things were, he might not have seen it yet.

‘Perhaps it won’t work because of the variable that is me.’

Many things had changed after her regression. Although she tried not to touch anything related to the Empire and the capital, many things would have gone awry just from Noah leaving the Imperial Palace for the north.

In any case, she thought she should look again for something that might help the First Prince, taking even that into account.

That’s not to say she was overly worried about the First Prince. The First Prince in her previous life had managed to secure the Crown Prince position just fine without an aide like her. What Amy was contemplating was how Noah could benefit from the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the First Prince.

“Since Amy is here too, I’ll say this.”

Just then, the Crown Prince put down his cup and spoke seriously.

“Are you aware of the unsavory rumors circulating these days?”

“…”

Noah and Amy stared at the Crown Prince with identical expressions, their mouths shut. They had already discussed this matter before. Thanks to getting the most recent information through the mercenary captain first.

However, the Crown Prince, thinking they were quiet because they didn’t know well, babbled on excitedly.

“The traitor from the south is going around spouting the outrageous claim that he’s of royal blood. So you and I, being real royal people, can’t just sit back, can we?”

He was so confident, as if he thought Noah would naturally follow his words. Amy briefly wondered if this was also the Empress’s plan, but soon judged that it wasn’t.

‘In my previous life, the First Prince advanced to the capital with unstoppable momentum.’

It was an impossible feat even considering that the defense of the capital and Imperial Palace was entrusted to good-for-nothings like Lord Martin, who obtained their positions through bribes.

‘They say he achieved a perfect victory with ghost-like strategies, using the strength of commoners with almost no knights.’

That momentum couldn’t have just disappeared. Even if the Crown Prince was carefree because he didn’t know, the Empress couldn’t be. In fact, she must be in a dire situation right now. But it was incomprehensible why the Crown Prince was holding his head so high, what he was relying on.

At that moment, Noah spoke calmly.

“I’m already struggling just to govern my territory… I believe you, as the future Emperor, will handle it well, brother.”

“!”

The Crown Prince and Amy both showed surprised expressions at the same time. The Crown Prince because Noah dared to talk back to him, and Amy because Noah had cleanly drawn the line.

“…The Grand Duke’s territory and the Empire are one, how can you speak like that?”

At the Crown Prince’s words, spoken while suppressing his anger, Amy and Noah exchanged meaningful glances.

‘Wasn’t it for times like this that we became an independent grand duchy?’

Amy nodded to encourage Noah. Noah spoke calmly again.

“The Grand Duchy is an ally and exchange partner of the Empire. Your Highness’s words just now could be taken as allowing the Empire to interfere in our Grand Duchy’s internal affairs.”

“!”

The Crown Prince’s face immediately turned pale. Amy watched with satisfaction as he blinked his eyes in bewilderment.

‘It’s not just the Empire that can cut off the Grand Duchy.’

If Noah had remained an imperial citizen and the Second Prince, he might have had to confront the First Prince, who would become the Crown Prince in the future. Amy had made him the head of an independent grand duchy in consideration of such situations.

Noah drove in the final nail.

“It would be good if you could deliver such important words through official documents. Because matters between countries need to be documented as evidence.”

“…How long has it been since you left the Imperial Palace, and your neck has already become so stiff?”

The Crown Prince, realizing that Noah would not move according to his will, revealed his hostility. He and Noah glared at each other. Just as the atmosphere was becoming ominous, there was a knock at the door, and a man with a dashing mustache entered.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have an urgent matter to discuss, if I may have a moment.”

It was Baron Pierson of the Empire. The man was one of the Crown Prince’s attendants, someone Amy had never seen when she was at the Imperial Palace.