#10. Recruiting Talent (1)
2023.08.10.
"Eat, eat. When would we ever get to taste something so precious?"
"We're leaving tomorrow anyway, so what's the harm in us eating a bit?"
They hid in a corner of the kitchen, frantically shoving chocolate cake into their mouths.
"The Second Prince probably doesn't even know it exists."
"Well, that's because it goes straight into your mouth the moment it arrives."
"True, that."
The maids snickered as they quickly worked their forks.
"By the way, I wonder where the head maid gets these things."
"It's hilarious how she's so devoted to the Second Prince when she's barely even seen him."
"Right? And does she really think the Second Prince will become the power in the palace? Even that ghost of a head maid has had her day."
Someone was watching them cackle and speak ill of the head maid. It was the Second Prince. Leaning against the kitchen door and observing their antics, he spoke calmly.
"It must be delicious, seeing how well you're eating?"
"Gasp!"
The maids jumped in fright and swallowed dryly. The Second Prince slowly straightened up and gazed indifferently at the chocolate cake they had been eating.
He had never had much interest in food or anything else. So all this time, he had pretended not to notice when the maids secretly snatched his food. But this time, he couldn't let it slide.
*Because Amy likes chocolate cake.*
He recalled Amy's proud expression as she told him she had bribed the Crown Prince Palace's chef to secretly bring this cake, insisting he try it. She had swallowed her drool, wanting to eat it so badly, yet stubbornly refused to take a single bite, saying he had to eat it all.
The Second Prince gestured with his chin, his face expressionless.
"Leave."
"Pardon?"
When they blinked in confusion, the Second Prince frowned.
"You've done your share, so there shouldn't be any problem with you leaving now, should there?"
He was saying this knowing they were acting as someone else's eyes, spying on him. The maids stiffened, their bodies rigid, and could only roll their eyes.
They had thought the Second Prince was merely young, but facing him properly, he was so intimidating that the down on their bodies stood on end. It felt all the more alien because he only showed a docile side in front of the head maid.
After glaring at them, the Second Prince turned his back, then turned his head again with a soft click of his tongue. His golden eyes gleamed like a beast's.
"Make sure to greet the head maid properly before you go."
Then he swung his body around with a sound like the wind and left.
"......."
The maids stared at his retreating figure with pale faces, then looked at each other. They abandoned the cake, their mission as spies, and everything else, scrambling to flee the palace.
"So that's what happened......."
One maid, rolling her eyes, swallowed dryly and spoke.
"Head Maid Amelia threatened to beat us if we didn't leave immediately, so we just......."
Another quickly chimed in.
"He already knew we were spies."
The fact that the Crown Prince was obsessed with the former head maid was well known to everyone in the Crown Prince's Palace. So they thought using her as an excuse would get them off without trouble.
"......Amy is quick-witted, indeed."
As expected, the Crown Prince merely furrowed his brow and no longer scolded them. The maids secretly exhaled in relief.
"......."
Someone was staring at them with displeasure. It was a maid standing at the very end of the line of attendants and maids against the wall. With common brown hair, green eyes glistening with fear, and a thin, freckled face, the anger that rose upon it soon faded, and longing filled its place.
A soft voice seemed to echo in her ears.
*'Sally, always keep a low profile. You especially lack tact, so you must never stand out, understand?'*
Sally's thin lips pressed tightly together, then she mumbled, forming someone's name.
Amy.
Then the Crown Prince spoke with an annoyed expression.
"Since things have turned out this way, it can't be helped. I suppose I must go see my mother."
When he rose, the servants all bowed their heads in unison. The Crown Prince strode past them with hurried, heavy steps. Soon after, Sally, straightening her back, watched the Crown Prince's retreating figure with resentment.
***
When the carriage stopped, Amy sat up and spoke.
"Lord Noah, we will be staying here today."
Noah looked outside, where it was gradually growing dark, and raised one eyebrow.
"Are we actually heading north right now?"
"......."
While gathering the documents she had been skimming in the carriage, Amy was surprised. Because the place they had arrived at was slightly off the road leading to the Grand Duchy. She readily confessed the truth.
"It is a bit of a detour. There's something I absolutely must take care of here."
"I see."
Noah, who had suspected the coachman might have ulterior motives, relaxed the guard he had sharply raised. Amy looked at him with approval.
"But how did you know?"
When she asked as they got out of the carriage and walked toward the inn entrance, Noah silently shrugged. Amy was curious, but since there was a more urgent matter, she pushed her curiosity aside and entered the inn.
"Welcome~."
An obliging owner ran out and beamed a bright smile. His eyes busily assessed the value of his guests.
*The robes worn by the woman and the boy are of unusual quality from the fabric alone. Not only does it have a lustrous sheen, but the clasp decorations... are those black pearls?*
His calculations finished in an instant. He rubbed his hands together faster, and his smile deepened.
"Shall we start with a meal? Or shall I prepare your rooms first?"
Amy looked around the interior once and spoke calmly.
"There are twelve of us in the party, so serve us a suitable meal first."
"Yes, yes~."
The owner raced to the kitchen as if cutting through the wind. Amy removed her robe and attended to Noah. Noah sat in a chair and asked in a low voice.
"Who did you come here to meet?"
"!"
She stopped her hands in surprise while folding Noah's robe. She had been surprised several times today. How had he known? Noah shrugged.
"Because the moment we entered, you looked around as if searching for someone."
"Ah......."
Not only had he noticed the change in direction, but the Second Prince was more perceptive than he appeared. Amy sat beside him and nodded.
"Yes, there's a talented person living here whom I absolutely must take to the Grand Duchy."
Curiosity appeared on Noah's face.
"Who?"
"Someone suitable to serve as a militia captain...... I'll tell you once we eat first."
Not long after, the meal was served. The food brought by a waiter with dense freckles on his nose was a feast rarely seen in the countryside.
Although the meat gave off a gamy smell and was so tough that they had to grimace and chew hard, it was decent compared to the food they had eaten on the way here.
Tired from the long carriage journey, Amy, Noah, the mercenaries, and the coachman ate ravenously. Then the owner's booming voice came from inside the kitchen.
"Vernon, is that you?"
"!"
Amy's ears perked up as she ate lamb stew.
"Got anything to eat?"
A low but powerful voice asked.
"We've got plenty today. I packed some up, so take it with you."
"I'm always indebted to you like this...... I'm so grateful I don't know what to do."
"No need for thanks. Thanks to you and your men, we can do business with peace of mind. We're the ones who are grateful."
The freckled waiter chimed in with the innkeeper's words.
"My grandfather said that not only bandits but even mountain beasts don't come down anymore, and that being able to farm with peace of mind is all thanks to Captain Vernon."
Amy tore at brown bread half-heartedly and listened intently to the conversation. The person called Vernon seemed to be exactly the person she was looking for, and her heart began to thump.
*I have to somehow get him on my side.......*
Amy glanced sideways at Noah, who was eating heartily. For him to stand tall as the victor of the North, he needed trustworthy people above all else. So she was acting based on the knowledge she had gained before her regression to recruit talent.
The innkeeper's voice boomed out again.
"Could you look at some horses this evening? They're fine-blooded horses, so I'm anxious about leaving them to that Mark fellow."
"Horses like that came in?"
"Don't even get me started. Why, the guests who just arrived......."
The voice suddenly trailed off. Amy chewed her bread with an expressionless face. Her mind was spinning with thoughts.
The freckled waiter came out of the kitchen and circled the tables to see if anything was lacking. Amy hesitated, wondering if she should ask him something, then changed her mind and ordered more roasted quail and preserved fruits, which Noah was eating well.
As the meal was nearing its end, the innkeeper's voice was heard again.
"Then Vernon, come again this evening."
Amy blinked. He said he'd come again in the evening, right? Just then, a large-built man opened the kitchen door, crossed the hall, and headed for the exit. Amy and Noah inadvertently raised their heads to look at him. At that moment,
"Hurk!"
A strange sound burst from the large man's mouth. He covered his mouth with his hand and stared at Noah with wide, bulging eyes. Noah stared blankly back at him, then turned his head to Amy. His eyes asked what was going on.
*I was worrying about how to call him out, but to run into him like this—what luck?*
It was indeed a familiar face. Amy's eyes sparkled brightly as she rose from her seat, extended her hand to him, and spoke confidently.
"Nice to meet you. I am Amelia Vesford. Could we talk for a moment?"
The man looked at Amy with a dazed expression, then opened his eyes wide again. Watching his trembling gaze, Amy inwardly cheered at the premonition that things would go well.