“Amelia, shall we talk?”

It wasn’t Amy who answered, but Noah. He immediately stepped forward and glared at Amarelua with wide eyes. People flinched at the harsh look that belied his age.

“What are you doing? Let go of her hand at once.”

Surprisingly, his tone was quiet. But no one was fooled by his manner of speaking. Even Amy was taken aback by the hostility that leaked out explosively like an active volcano, with no attempt to hide it. She quickly tried to restrain him.

“Your Highness, I’m fine…”

“I’m not fine.”

Noah cut her off roughly. It was almost dizzying to see him show such a fierce side for the first time. Amy was perplexed, unable to understand the reason at all.

“Your Highness…”

As Amy stepped forward to try to stop him somehow, Amarelua tapped her chin with her finger and put on an interested expression.

“I see, you’re worried that the head maid might be in danger because you don’t know what kind of people we are, Your Highness?”

“…”

Noah closed his mouth. He seemed to have been hit right on the mark. Amarelua smirked.

“Indeed, you’re still young. Or should I say pure?”

Amy cut off her words.

“Your behavior is disrespectful.”

Her eyes stared directly at Amarelua without the slightest hesitation. It was a look that conveyed the resolve that if she wanted to touch Noah, she would have to trample over her first. Amarelua glared back at her before shrugging.

“As you know, we came to repay a debt. We have no intention of causing any trouble. It’s just…”

She turned her eyes to stare intently at Amy.

“I’m a bit curious about something.”

Following her gaze to Amy, Noah barely managed to keep his expression from contorting. He suppressed his wildly raging instincts and spoke in a low, subdued voice.

“Can you swear to that? I’m well aware that you’ve been more interested in Amy than in me since the moment you entered this place.”

“…Hmm. To have that noticed… I must be getting old.”

At Amarelua’s laughing words, the clan members standing behind her flinched. They couldn’t understand, but her words seemed to have hit a weak spot. Amarelua placed her hand on her chest and spoke politely once again.

“On the honor of the Biscon clan, not a hair on your head maid’s head will be harmed. If that’s not enough, I’ll stake my life on it.”

Noah stared at her intently before his lips moved.

“…Amy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you… really have something to discuss with the shaman of the Biscon clan?”

His inner thoughts were evident – he desperately hoped there wasn’t, or even if there was, he wished she would say there wasn’t. There must have been a reason for him to act like this when he usually agreed unconditionally to everything Amy did.

But Amy was also curious about the intentions of the shaman who insisted on talking to her.

“Nothing will happen. Don’t you trust me?”

Amy approached Noah and gently took his hands. As if that wasn’t enough, she tilted her head to meet his eyes and urged him with her gaze to give permission. Noah, who had been staring down at her, finally let out a sigh.

“…When you act like this, I have no choice but to allow it.”

“I know you quite well, Your Highness.”

As Amy giggled softly, Noah let out a small sigh and took a step forward, gently enclosing her in his arms and crossing his hands behind her slender back. It was more of a slight lean than an embrace, and Amy flinched but soon relaxed her body. Noah put his lips to the side of Amy’s head and whispered.

“I’d rather die than see anything happen to Amy.”

“…How can you say such things?”

Thoughts like ‘this is in front of people’ or ‘it’s troublesome to act so intimately’ completely vanished the moment she heard Noah’s sorrowful voice. Amy felt a pain as if something blunt had hit her chest and looked up at Noah.

Because he was standing with his back to the rising sun, his face was shadowed, but unlike when she first saw him after the regression, his features were now strong and distinct. It was suddenly the face of a full-grown man.

‘When did he grow up so much…’

But his expression was still as dry as when he had been isolated in the palace, making her feel pity. Amy unconsciously raised both hands and lightly placed them on Noah’s cheeks.

Noah buried his face in her hands like an animal seeking its mother’s embrace. He pressed his lips firmly against her palm and looked at Amy intensely.

“Promise you won’t leave me.”

“What are you saying? Where would I go…”

Amy laughed at the sudden words, but Noah was adamant.

“So, say you won’t go… say you’ll stay by my side. Quickly.”

“…”

Only then did Amy realize this was not a simple tantrum. The smile faded from her face. Feeling her hands shrink back, Noah quickly grabbed them. Then, pressing his lips to her delicate hand, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“I’m anxious, Amy. You said you’d make me happy, didn’t you?”

“…”

“So… reassure me, please.”

As his anxious voice pierced her ears, the uneasy feeling slowly melted away. Amy quietly swallowed a sigh. She hadn’t realized she had become this weak to His Highness Noah…

Amy gazed into his golden eyes and whispered affectionately.

“I don’t know what you’re anxious about, but I’ll stay by your side until Your Highness no longer needs me.”

“…Really?”

The lips that had moved from the back of her hand to her wrist finally stopped. Amy felt a little wronged when he looked at her skeptically.

“Have I ever lied to Your Highness?”

“Never.”

Only then did the darkness cast over his handsome face lift, and a bright smile appeared. The change was so dramatic that even the Biscon clan members watching from behind stirred.

Noah let out a joyful laugh and hugged Amy tightly. Then he buried his lips in her earlobe and whispered.

“You promised you’ll never leave my side, right?”

“Only until you no longer need me. You’re twisting my words strangely again…”

Amy patted Noah’s back twice firmly and pushed him away with force. Noah, having obtained more than he wanted, hid his satisfaction and allowed himself to be pushed back with a docile expression.

“Don’t talk for too long. I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes.”

Amy glanced at Amarelua. She asked with her eyes if the business would take long. Amarelua, who had been watching the conversation between master and servant with great interest, quickly shook her head. Then, placing her hand on her chest as if swearing, she said:

“I will bring back Your Highness’s treasure perfectly, just as she is now.”

“…You’d better.”

Noah looked at her with displeasure before suddenly smiling and grabbing Amy’s shoulders to turn her around.

“Go quickly. So you can come back to me quickly.”

“Oh, my.”

Letting out a hollow laugh as if he was incorrigible, Amy approached Amarelua. Although she felt embarrassed by his behavior in front of strangers, she lifted her chin haughtily, pretending not to be affected.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

The two walked side by side, maintaining an appropriate distance. Amy felt a persistent gaze on her back but didn’t turn around. After leaving the hall, they arrived at a nearby corridor and stopped in the courtyard.

“What did you want to say?”

Amy thought it might be related to the black gold, but if so, there was no reason they couldn’t discuss it in front of Noah. She looked at Amarelua with somewhat suspicious eyes.

“Are you loyal to the empire?”

What she asked was something completely unexpected. Amy shook her head in confusion.

“If I had to say, I’m loyal to His Highness the Grand Duke.”

As Amy declared this, she realized her own feelings. Whether the magical tool that caused her regression was given by Noah or by Ilei Tezernet, she knew that regardless, she had already become sincere towards His Highness Noah.

‘I really want him to be happy.’

Looking at Amy lost in thought, Amarelua spoke lightly.

“That’s good. He may be cruel, but he has his limits.”

“…?”

Amy belatedly realized the strangeness of those words. His Highness Noah… cruel?

But what she really wanted to say came after.

“So he probably wouldn’t sentence even the most vicious criminal to death by starvation.”

“…!”

Her hair stood on end. Amy unconsciously took a step back.

‘Starvation… Does she mean death by hunger?’

As Amy recalled her life before the regression and was shocked, Amarelua smiled and pointed to her own head.

“I told you. I’m a person who remembers everything.”

Their eyes met. A whirlwind raged in Amarelua’s ice-blue eyes.

“Even your lost past.”

Amy and Amarelua returned much faster than expected. Rita tilted her head as she saw Amy entering the hall from afar, walking with large strides.

‘Why does the head maid’s expression look so stern?’

Amy, who had walked so fast she created a breeze, soon reached Noah, who was looking at her with puzzled eyes. She slammed her palm on the table.

“Your Highness, the shaman of the Biscon clan says she has an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

“…Amy, why are you so angry?”

Noah turned his eyes to glare at the shaman. It was an accusation asking if she dared to make Amy angry. Amarelua smiled faintly.

“…It’s not like that.”

Amy realized she had gotten too excited and managed to calm her voice. After taking a deep breath in secret, she finally continued speaking calmly.

“In my opinion, it’s a story worth listening to. I think it would be good for you to hear it.”

“If Amy thinks so.”

Noah, who had risen from his seat willingly, came down from the upper seat and politely extended his hand to Amarelua. It was the perfect gentleman’s gesture, asking to escort a lady.

The shaman gladly placed her hand on his. The two sat down in a corner of the hall, looking like a picture. Then they began to converse with their heads close together.

“…”

Amy sat in her seat, folded her arms, and glared at them. In her mind, Amarelua’s words were replaying.

‘The Grand Duke has a great power. It’s a power that has been passed down since ancient times. The way to awaken it is in our clan’s land.’

Amarelua said with a serious expression, wiping away any emotion.

‘Send him to us. As a symbol of friendship, and as proof of our secret that transcends time.’