#12. Recruiting Talent (3)
2023.08.12.
Before the words even finished, a figure appeared from somewhere with a swish. It was the Mercenary Captain Amy had chosen after careful consideration. Amy was now used to him appearing like a ghost, but Noah still narrowed his eyes and remained wary of him.
“As you instructed, I surveyed the surroundings on the way here, but I did not see any traps or hidden soldiers. I don’t think you need to worry too much.”
At the Mercenary Captain’s words, Amy looked at Noah in surprise. When had he given such an order? Seeing his caution beyond his years made her trust him. Her shoulders, heavy with the burden of having to do everything alone, felt lighter.
Noah tilted his head and whispered to Amy.
“To be honest, I don’t completely trust him, but since Amy trusts him……”
Amy smiled and nodded. The most expensive mercenary in the Empire was worth every penny. Though their relationship was bound by money, Amy trusted him. Because…….
‘Because in my previous life, he threw away his life to protect his client.’
The story entwined with him was truly like a fairy tale. Young siblings whose parents had died tragically, threatened by their uncle for the inheritance left behind, had hired these mercenaries to safely reach their grandparents’ home.
They kept their honor, refused the uncle’s offer to pay several times the amount, and delivered their clients safely into their grandparents’ arms even at the cost of their lives. It had been an incident so sensational that it reached Amy’s ears even while she was imprisoned.
“Understood. Please continue your good work.”
As the Mercenary Captain bowed and vanished without a trace, Amy bid Noah goodnight and went to her chamber. Before going to bed, she thought about her future plans. For now, arriving safely in the North was her greatest goal.
‘I wonder if this small goal will succeed.’
She grumbled inwardly about what business she had being dragged here when every hour counted. Suddenly, her stomach growled.
“Ah……”
The problem was that at the inn, she had been so distracted by Captain Vernon that she hadn’t filled her stomach properly. Amy bit her lip, then got up and went out into the hallway. She intended to sneak into the kitchen and grab something to eat.
‘It should be around here……’
The location of kitchens in mansions or castles was obvious. Walking toward a corner on the first floor, she saw light spilling out from what she presumed to be the kitchen.
‘To think there’s someone awake at this hour……’
It would be troublesome if rumors spread that the Grand Duke was starving his subordinates. Thinking it a shame, she clutched her hungry stomach and turned around, when a thin voice came from behind.
“Huh? A guest?”
Turning around, she saw the young maid who had been struck by the Baroness at dinner. Her face was red and swollen from the whip, but her eyes lit up with what seemed like delight.
“What brings you here at this hour…… Ah!”
As if something had clicked, she glanced at Amy’s expression and muttered timidly,
“You couldn’t eat because of me, right?”
“I just got a little hungry and came out, that’s all.”
At the curt reply, the maid scratched the back of her head. Right then, her stomach rudely growled again. Amy’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Would you like to have this, at least?”
The girl spoke politely and pulled out brown bread and a small jar from the cloth bundle she was carrying. Amy stared blankly without answering. It was clearly something meant to be taken home; she didn’t know if it was right for her to eat it.
As if reading her thoughts, the girl quickly added,
“It’s something commoners usually eat, but dinner ended early today so there’s plenty left. If you don’t mind……”
“I don’t mind.”
Amy said flatly. After her regression, she ate food to fill her stomach rather than for taste. The girl smiled in relief. It seemed she regarded Amy as a benefactor who had saved her from the Baroness’s whip. Well, all’s well that ends well.
Inside the kitchen, the girl dragged a chair to the counter and seated Amy. Then she quickly cut the bread, served oat porridge in a bowl, added pickled fruit from the jar, and brought honey and apple cider from the cupboard. In an instant, a modest meal was set.
“Then I’ll eat gratefully.”
Amy tore off a piece of bread, put it in her mouth, and chewed. The maid sat across from her, staring with bright eyes. Feeling as though she might choke, Amy reluctantly attempted conversation.
“But what happened at dinner?”
The Baroness had reason to be angry. The quality of the food was an issue, but the serving order had also been a mess. Such things couldn’t happen in a properly run mansion.
“Well…… the head maid hasn’t been here for a while now.”
“Oh, dear.”
So that was why. She nodded instinctively. In a high-ranking noble family, it would be the head lady’s maid; in a lower noble family, the head maid assisted the lady of the house and managed the household affairs.
At a glance, the Baroness didn’t seem competent; until now, the head maid—who was currently absent—had probably handled everything. So the moment the position became vacant, this was the result.
‘The Crown Prince’s palace must be in a similar state by now.’
Cutting a piece of cheese and putting it in her mouth, she smirked secretly. Amy had been a head maid who worked at least three or four times harder than others. With her gone, they must be short-handed and in utter chaos.
Not only that, but if rumors spread that the Crown Prince’s palace was creaking along, it would be problematic, so the Empress must have quite the headache trying to keep the maids and servants from talking.
‘If I were Lady Esmein, I would push my own people in during this gap.’
Of course, she wasn’t a fool, so she probably had.
Amy had been so lost in thought that she forgot she was eating, until she felt a piercing gaze and raised her head. Across from her, the girl was staring intently. Feeling awkward for no reason, Amy cleared her throat and spoke.
“I do hope the head maid returns soon.”
But the girl, whom she had expected to agree, shook her head firmly.
“She won’t. The Baroness drove her out.”
“Oh, dear.”
Amy replied half-heartedly, chewing her food. Seeing the girl’s disappointed expression, she must have been quite a good head maid. Huh……?
‘Why would they drive out someone like that? It must be hard to find decent people in the countryside like this.’
As she tilted her head, the girl began to babble unprompted.
“It’s only been a week since the head maid left, but the manor is already a mess. She was strict, but those under her were comfortable. You only had to do the work you were given.”
The girl sighed as though the ground might swallow her up, then added softly,
“Actually, I’m only working until tomorrow. The others are watching how things go and will quit soon, too.”
Rats are the first to flee a sinking ship. It seemed the same here.
Until she finished her meal, Amy had to keep listening to the girl praise the head maid who had left. As someone in the same line of work, she was secretly impressed. It was extremely rare for a superior to be respected by their subordinates.
Then a thought flashed across her mind like lightning.
‘Wait, the Grand Duke’s castle needs a head maid too, doesn’t it……?’
Of course, Amy would handle the overall management, but since it was the castle of the vast Grand Duchy of the North, having more hands was always better. Amy’s eyes sparkled as she smiled at the girl.
“That head maid who was driven out—might I know her name?”
Fortunately, the girl answered readily.
“It’s Madam Weaver. I heard she used to be a governess at a count’s house. She’s a wonderful person. If not for that incident, she would have worked here for a long time.”
That incident. Amy nodded.
“I see. Hmm, but……”
As Amy’s eyes swept over her, the girl spoke up quickly.
“I’m Viola. I’m a commoner, so I don’t have a family name.”
“Alright, Viola.”
Amy grinned. She didn’t dislike a sharp-witted child. She pulled a silver coin from her pocket, tossed it into the air, and snatched it back. Viola’s eyes sparkled like chandeliers. Amy asked,
“Don’t you want this?”
Motivation blazed in Viola’s eyes.
“Just say the word.”
Morning came. Unlike ordinary nobles who rose late even after the sun had risen, Noah and Amy started their day at dawn, so they spent a tedious stretch of time waiting for the Baron and Baroness to wake.
“What do you suppose they’re keeping us for?”
At Noah’s words, the corners of Amy’s mouth drooped. She had a rough idea.
“Who knows?”
Just then, Viola entered the drawing room where they were and bowed politely.
“Breakfast is ready.”
Then she winked at Amy. Amy nodded silently.
They were eating the modest but carefully prepared food in the dining room when the Baron and Baroness arrived late, bustling inside.
“Our apologies. We overslept.”
“We didn’t expect Your Grace the Grand Duke to rise so early……”
The two hurriedly took their seats. Viola and the other maids quickly served them their meals. But they didn’t even glance at the food, exchanged glances, and spoke in a suggestive voice.
“Um, Your Grace the Grand Duke. I hear you received a tremendous fief along with your title this time?”
The smiles of the Baron and Baroness were like hyenas surrounding a piece of meat.
‘So it was money, as expected.’
Amy snorted inwardly. She recalled the reason for Madam Weaver’s dismissal that she had heard from Viola the night before.
‘They tried to make her keep double books for the ledgers submitted to the Emperor……’
All land in the Empire belonged to the Emperor in principle. Nobles received titles and fiefs from the Emperor, but they only gained the right to keep the surplus after collecting the land’s produce and paying taxes.
‘Imperial law punishes tax evasion as a crime tantamount to treason.’
To try to make a mere head maid—rather than an accounting expert—do such a thing. Were they audacious or pea-brained…….
They probably thought arranging this meeting wouldn’t be a problem since they could coax the young Noah into giving them money. Amy let out a hollow laugh. They didn’t even know that she, who had managed the Crown Prince’s slush fund, was right beside him……
‘And to think they didn’t even keep their mouths shut. It’s absurd.’
To think a young maid knew the inner workings. Could collecting crimes and punishments be their hobby?