Chapter 103

Arndt felt uneasy.

The Arenheit he had seen thus far had been sensitive and sharp-tempered.

After his illness, he had become somewhat more mellow, but still, that personality couldn't have changed completely.

He could fully understand why he had humiliated his subordinate in front of a guest.

But the one who was humiliated was none other than Leandros.

Hadn't he slapped him multiple times in front of everyone, not just once?

It might be understandable if it were a mere servant or himself.

But to treat someone with a knightly title like a servant.

Arndt was anxious that Leandros might leave the ducal family.

The ducal residence was already short on people.

If Leandros left, only he would remain.

Arndt knocked on the Duke's bedroom door, lost in thought about how to prevent Leandros from leaving the castle.

"Your Grace, I heard you called for me. I'm coming in."

"Uh-huh."

A halfhearted response.

So His Grace really didn't seem to be thinking about what had happened earlier as seriously.

Arndt sighed inwardly as he opened the door, then froze in place, standing still.

The Duke was sitting on the edge of the bed, and Leandros, who had arrived before Arndt, had pulled up a chair and was sitting beside him.

The two had spread out a bunch of dried herbs on the bed and were in the middle of discussing something.

Why was the atmosphere... good?

* * *

"Why are you standing there like that? Go get a chair for yourself too."

While Arndt was pulling up a chair with stiff movements,

He tried to give Leandros a leaf with pain-relieving effects, but Leandros politely pushed his hand away.

Honestly.

"Your face is swollen and must hurt. Try chewing on one of these."

"It has an addictive effect, so it should only be used in emergency situations."

"Isn't this enough of an emergency?"

"This much is fine. It didn't even itch."

No, a person with such a swollen cheek saying such lines didn't look cool at all.

As he was arguing about whether to chew it or not with the dignified Leandros,

Arndt slipped into a seat beside them and observed cautiously.

"Um... is it alright, Your Grace?"

"What?"

"How, earlier in front of that Lady. The way you severely scolded Sir Leandros."

Arndt mumbled, completely deflated, even though he wasn't the one who had been scolded.

It was certainly understandable if he had only seen that scene.

"It's fine, because actually."

Where should he start explaining?

He looked at Leandros, and he readily suggested.

"I offer the opinion that you might first tell the most important part."

"That would be good. Arndt, that servant was killed because he was the Crown Prince's spy."

"What? Huh? What?"

"Your Grace, that's not what I meant. Perhaps with a bit more explanation."

"Ah, really? Lady Arnold was one of the spies who betrayed the Hartmann ducal family and leaked information from the inside. Does that make sense now?"

"Eh?"

"Your Grace... may I have permission to explain in your stead?"

Leandros slowly explained to Arndt, who seemed as confused as if he had just heard the news of the world ending.

The revelation, the four spies in the ducal family, their relationship with Crown Prince Yurik, and the story of Amelia Arnold and the servant.

When the story roughly ended, Arndt composed his expression.

"Then Your Grace had a separate reason for reprimanding Sir Leandros."

"If I hadn't done that, the Arnold barony would have demanded Amelia Arnold's return. After all, her servant died, which could be perceived as a threat."

"But what do you aim to gain by removing a spy planted by the Crown Prince?"

"Talent."

"By talent, do you mean Amelia Arnold?"

"Exactly. Among the elements we need right now, we've somehow resolved the issue of money, but we haven't yet resolved the issue of people."

The Hartmann ducal family had few people.

In his previous life, the total number of people he could manage was just four.

Leandros, Arndt, Amelia, Russel.

These four were the only people he could trust.

But at the same time, it also meant that he could only accommodate those four.

If he had built trust with more people, would the ending of the previous iteration have been different?

For instance, if he had made the mercenary band he visited in the north his allies, he might not have had to die seventeen times to figure out how to defeat the demonic beasts.

Then Leandros wouldn't have been so sensitive about his deaths.

In that case, Leandros would have stayed at the ducal residence and bought him time.

While Yurik was showing interest in him,

He could have secretly expanded his business and power, and then strangled the royal palace's lifeline or something.

Well, it was already in the past, so he shouldn't think too deeply about it.

Still, while shaking off lingering attachments, he had to learn all the lessons from the past.

In his previous life, he had operated with himself at the center, thinking of Leandros as a tool for his purpose.

He had the original setting plus accumulated information from his regressions.

So he hadn't felt the need to manage more than the minimum number of people.

But now, the protagonist of this story was not him but Leandros.

He needed to think and move with Leandros at the center.

He needed to thoroughly relegate himself to a supporting role,

And clear the obstacles blocking the protagonist's path.

And in the end, he needed to help Leandros eliminate Yurik on his own and end things in a manner befitting a protagonist.

Then what did Leandros need now?

As could be easily understood from the standards of boys' comics and adventure stories,

It was friends who could stand back-to-back with the protagonist when in danger.

Moreover, Leandros was a type with considerably lower sociability than others.

So he had no choice but to step in.

"First of all, even if the Lady stays at the ducal residence, I won't give her full authority. Arndt, you might become her temporary superior."

"Me, Your Grace? Would I be able to do it well?"

"Yes. Of course. Besides, we haven't asked for the Lady's opinion yet. Don't worry too much in advance."

"But if that's what Your Grace wants, we have no choice but to help make it happen, Your Grace. Because you are our master."

"I won't force you if you dislike it. Still, I would appreciate it if you understood my feelings."

Arndt slightly raised the eyes he had been keeping down.

"What feelings are you referring to?"

"That I'm sorry for not taking proper responsibility for you all until now. And that I want to do better in the future."

Strictly speaking, it wasn't him who should be sorry.

The one who failed to take responsibility was the fictional character named Arenheit.

Yet, why did he make such a resolution every time he returned?

It wasn't just because he was in Arenheit's body.

Arndt wore a blank expression for a moment, then asked.

"...Are you really Your Grace? You've changed a lot."

"What are you talking about?"

Leandros immediately stiffened his face and spoke coldly to Arndt.

"You've been saying impertinent things to His Grace for days now."

"Ah, I'm sorry, Your Grace! For a moment, you seemed so different that I couldn't help it. Of course, I meant it in a positive way. You've become very mature!"

"It's useless to try to smooth things over now."

Fortunately, Leandros had delivered a sharp rebuke.

Otherwise, he would have been pondering how to respond.

He cleared his throat in front of Leandros, who was sending a slight look of disdain, and Arndt, who had shrunk back again.

"Besides, if no one has any objections, I'd like to discuss the matter of recruiting Lady Arnold."

"Your Grace, forgive my presumption, but aside from the Lady's health, her wariness toward Hartmann is at a considerable level."

"How wary is she?"

"I understand she's not going out at all except to come out for dinner with Your Grace."

"Is that so? Arndt, you've seen the Lady's servants and maids several times, right? What do you think of them all?"

"They seem ordinary. They were reluctant to speak hastily about the Lady's health or other issues."

"So the loyalty of the employees is quite high, you're saying."

The plan to win over Amelia through the servants brought from the baronial family seemed like it would have to be abandoned.

This way didn't seem to work, and that way seemed difficult too.

Arndt looked at him, lost in thought, and pulled his chair closer as he asked.

"Still, since I'm likely to have the most contact points, should I try something?"

"What could you possibly..."

Oh. So.

"You're saying you'll try something?"

"Yes, anything. Like recommending healthy herbs to the Lady's maid, or gaining favor by providing conveniences?"

"No, Arndt. I think there's a better way."

"What is it?"

"Before that, can you promise me one thing? Can you really do anything?"

"Of course. If it's something I can do, I'll devote myself diligently to the best of my ability."

He jumped up and firmly grasped Arndt's hand.

"You've sworn it!"

"What? What? What are you planning to assign me?"

Arndt looked back and forth between him and Leandros with surprised eyes.

Thank you, Arndt. He wouldn't forget your sacrifice.

* * *

At midday, when the rain had passed and the sun began to shine.

-Knock knock knock.

In front of the quarters where Amelia Arnold was staying.

After knocking, a maid with a polite but somewhat cold attitude came out from inside.

"Your Grace, I apologize for making you come in person."

"Not at all. How is Lady Arnold's condition?"

"Thanks to your concern, she has improved a lot. She's taking a nap now, shall I tell her you're here?"

"I didn't come to disturb the Lady's sleep, so don't bother."

"But Your Grace has personally visited..."

While they were exchanging courtesies, Amelia, having heard the commotion, walked out from inside.

Judging by her thin indoor gown and dress, it seemed the statement that she had been resting was true.

She spoke stiffly.

"Your Grace, what brings you here? I fear I might unintentionally be rude today as my body is particularly unwell."

"Lady, what happened yesterday is regrettable. Though I cannot make complete amends, I thought I might help fill the shortage of hands by assigning a servant to you."

He stepped aside to show the person standing behind him.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and greeted her.

"Let me introduce myself formally. Please call me Arndt. From today, I will be serving the Lady during your stay at the ducal residence."

Amelia's gaze fell on Arndt.

He slipped away slightly from there and watched the two.

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