Chapter 109

"When I said I was looking for a cartographer, someone recommended you."

"Ah, really? I haven't been able to find proper work lately. I don't know who it was, but I'm very grateful."

"I heard that Jonas, this child here, can create maps?"

"Yes. That's right. He's my son. Though young, he's clever and does his job well. Hahaha."

It was exactly as he remembered.

Max still had his habit of laughing "hehehe," and Jonas was fidgeting beside Max while looking at him.

Seeing them gave him a strange feeling.

He couldn't understand why, but it felt like something was blocking the center of his chest.

"That's fortunate. As you probably already know, what I'd like to commission from you is drawing a map of the Dikenter Mountains. However, since my family hasn't conducted demonic beast subjugation for quite some time, the number of demonic beasts has increased considerably."

"So that's why you were looking for both a cartographer and an escort mercenary. Don't worry, Your Grace. Despite appearances, I was quite strong in my younger days."

"That sounds reassuring. Then rest at the ducal residence today, and we'll start preparations tomorrow."

"Yes, understood. Jonas, you should thank His Grace for commissioning us."

Max said while holding Jonas's shoulder.

But knowing that Jonas couldn't speak, he shook his head.

"It's not such a big task. Besides, if you need additional equipment or items that fit the child's size, we can look into it separately. Feel free to ask."

"Such kindness. Thank you very much!"

Max repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

He bent down in front of Jonas to match eye level.

The child's round eyes contained a mix of slight wariness and curiosity.

After looking at them for a moment, he gently patted Jonas's head.

"Rest well today."

The sensation of the hair under his palm was ticklish.

What really was this feeling?

* * *

Amelia had been in a foul mood for the past few days.

This was because Arndt, whom Duke Hartmann had assigned as a replacement for her servant who had met with an accident, was busy without a moment to spare.

It had been quiet until the Duke left the castle, but upon his return, he had brought an enormous number of guests.

Amelia had noticed that the maids and servants belonging to the Hartmann ducal family were not accustomed to serving nobles.

It was obvious. They must have hastily brought in uneducated commoners with the intention of assigning them only simple chores.

Indeed, why would experienced employees want to come to a ducal family that had once fallen? 

If they could go elsewhere, they would rather go to other places.

Anyway, having filled the castle with such disorganized people, they couldn't be sent out to receive guests.

Poor Arndt, who at least knew noble etiquette, was the only one suffering.

What kind of person was the Duke anyway?

Amelia did not have good feelings toward Duke Arenheit.

It was natural, given that her distorted first impression had deeply remained, and she had never even had a meaningful conversation with him.

When she saw even Arndt, who had become her temporary servant, struggling to the point of having to apologize, her already negative impression worsened.

Amelia spent her time idly lying on the bed, partly cursing Arenheit, and partly resenting Arndt for not being able to protest to the Duke.

From day to night, from dusk to early evening.

Throughout the passing time, only her maid visited or checked on Amelia as she lay still.

Arndt, who would normally have come to check if she had eaten dinner, if she had eaten more than half a bowl, or if she had thrown away the medicine prescribed by the physician, did not come.

So Amelia waited, and waited, and waited some more.

But Arndt did not come.

She suddenly felt her anger rising and sat up.

Mine, he said?

He said he would temporarily assign him to me?

But why did it not feel like "my" servant?

It was at that moment.

A knock was heard at Amelia's door.

When she granted permission to enter, the face she had been desperately waiting for popped out from behind the door.

"You're not asleep yet, are you? Have you taken all your medicine, Lady?"

"Y-you come now!"

Why do you ask so late!

By now, I would have thrown away the medicine and then some!

Amelia snarled, but Arndt paid no heed as he entered and closed the door.

In his arms were bundles of papers that Amelia had not seen before.

Arndt placed them face down on the table to hide them, then pulled down the heavy curtains to prevent Amelia from catching a cold while sleeping.

"I apologize, Lady Baroness. There's a banquet for the merchant group representatives tomorrow, and I was discussing the seating arrangement with His Grace, which is why I'm late. Please forgive me."

"Y-you're h-having a b-banquet with m-merchant group repr-representatives?"

"As you are also a guest, you may attend if you wish."

"I d-don't want to."

Do you think I can go to a place with many people?

Amelia looked down at her own hands, still thin and unsightly.

She knew better than anyone that she was not in a presentable condition.

Amelia glanced at Arndt, who had turned his back to her as he lowered the curtains and lit incense to aid in sleep.

She reached for the papers that Arndt had placed face down.

She was curious about how difficult the guest arrangement could be for Arndt to be held up by the Duke all this time.

At first, she had only intended to take a quick peek,

But Amelia couldn't let go of the papers until Arndt turned towards her.

"Ah, you shouldn't look at that!"

"Th-these people, w-why are they p-placed t-together..."

"Pardon?"

Arndt opened his eyes wide.

But Amelia's eyes were fixed on the papers.

"I've h-heard of this m-merchant group. The g-grandfather of the p-person next to them h-had overlapping i-import items. So it b-became an issue at the m-merchant group, and l-later also p-personally..."

"Wait a moment. So you're saying that this person is entangled in various troublesome ways with the person sitting next to them, and their relationship isn't good?"

Amelia nodded.

Though it was from a long time ago, when people competing for profit invaded each other's territories, there was no way they could have a good relationship.

Arndt, with a face burdened by worry, looked at the draft of the banquet seating arrangement together with Amelia.

"Then what would you think about seating them at the end if I may humbly ask?"

"W-would that person be t-treated with c-complete dis-disrespect...?"

"No, that wasn't my intention, but might it appear that way?"

"Yes."

"I don't know much about merchant groups... Then what would be good to do? It seems I should consult with His Grace again."

Amelia, looking at Arndt's dejected face, became certain.

Arndt was not a perfect person either.

As far as Amelia knew, Arndt was not of noble birth, and for the past few years, he had lived a nomadic life with Arenheit and Sir Leandros.

It was already a miracle that he remembered noble etiquette.

Amelia's index finger pointed at the arrangement plan.

"I d-don't know well either, b-but first according to th-their fame... A-and here, if they d-don't have a good relationship, p-place them opposite like this. And the e-end seats m-might be seen as the l-lowest positions. So i-instead of this kind of t-table, a d-different shape. Yes. L-like this."

Throughout Amelia's stuttering explanation, Arndt listened attentively.

The two started by standing and talking, but later found seats and continued their conversation.

Arndt was a student with many curiosities,

And Amelia, though timid, was a good teacher who shared the information she knew to the best of her ability.

Despite lighting the sleep incense, Amelia and Arndt continued their questioning until the incense had burned down completely.

By the time their discussion ended late at night, Arndt left the room, saying he would draw up the revised seating arrangement.

And the next day.

An unexpected visitor came to Amelia's room.

Duke Arenheit himself came to see her with the seating arrangement in hand and asked.

"According to Arndt, the Lady helped in drawing up this seating arrangement."

"Y-yes, that's r-right. Is th-there a p-problem...?"

"I have a few more things I'd like to ask you. I heard that you know something about the relationships between merchant group heads."

"It's from a l-long time ago. So it's n-not that d-detailed or even r-recent events."

"That's sufficient. Could you explain in detail about the events involving these two merchant groups?"

Amelia hesitated momentarily, not knowing how to respond, but decided to speak honestly as she hadn't done anything wrong.

Duke Arenheit, just like Arndt, listened to her explanation with a serious expression.

A few more questions followed, and Arenheit, seemingly satisfied with all the answers, nodded slightly.

"Thank you. I've taken up your valuable time."

"N-no, not at all."

"I heard you were of great help in drawing up the seating arrangement. Only after hearing that did I recall that the Lady was once an assistant head butler."

Amelia's face suddenly flushed hot.

For a brief moment, intense shame pierced through her body.

If she had known this would happen, she would never have stepped forward.

When Amelia didn't say anything, Arenheit casually dropped.

"Would you consider doing it again?"

"P-pardon?"

"Being an assistant head butler. If no one else, the Lady still seems to enjoy working."

"Th-that's n-not true. I'm s-still not h-healthy, so I w-would be a b-burden. Besides, also..."

"Hasn't your health improved a lot since coming here? How about your headaches? Nausea or fatigue? I heard you even went for a walk before."

"Th-that's."

Is that so?

Amelia considered the points the Duke had raised.

In the past, her head had felt as if it was being pierced by a skewer, but now it was a bit better.

Her stomach, which had been so nauseous that she couldn't eat anything, had also become more comfortable.

It had also become rare for her to sleep all day as if she had fainted.

It was still painful to keep her eyes open.

But strangely, as days passed, she could stay awake for longer periods.

Had recuperating at Hartmann been a valid choice?

Had she needed clean air and a change of mood?

The events that had happened to her from the time she came to the ducal residence until now hadn't been positive.

She had been sold for gold coins, and her family's servant had died in a suspicious accident.

But strangely... was it too strange to feel as if these things had been for her sake?

Amelia thought.

'I must be going crazy.'

But she didn't feel bad.

Honestly, when she had discussed various business matters with Arndt yesterday, it had even been somewhat enjoyable.

Observing the subtle changes in Amelia's expression, Arenheit feigned innocence and said.

"I apologize if I've made an unreasonable request. But, as the Lady knows, my servant Arndt, whom I lent to you, has been overworking lately."

"O-overworking?"

"After all, Arndt is the only one familiar with the affairs of the castle, isn't he? I can't ask others for help with such matters."

"Th-then, bring in e-employees from o-other families w-with recommendations."

"But I think the probability of a sane employee from a recommended family coming to the ducal family is low."

Amelia felt a pang in her chest.

It seemed as if the Duke had read her thoughts.

Arenheit let out a deep sigh.

"It's true that there are many inadequate aspects in various ways, but for now, we must manage with what we have. I've been rude, Lady. Rest well."

In the fleeting moment as Arenheit turned away.

Amelia recalled Arndt's dark circles and slightly bloodshot white of the eyes,

His normally tousled hair looking even more puffed up than usual,

His habit of rushing to finish everything quickly,

The thick bundle of papers he had been carrying the day before...

"J-just a m-moment...!"

"Yes, what is it? Is there something you'd like to say?"

"W-well, about b-being an assistant h-head butler! R-right now I'd r-really need to think a l-lot, so. B-but if it's just a l-little. To h-help, I mean!"

Incoherent words poured out.

Arenheit blinked his innocent-looking brown eyes.

"So, in conclusion...?"

"In c-conclusion."

This isn't right.

The Hartmann Duke who made such a proposal was a strange person.

It's best not to get involved with strange people.

But, if. Just if.

If this could repay, even a little, the sin she had committed in the past.

Amelia's nervous hand firmly grasped the hem of her skirt.

"If it's j-just a l-little, I th-think I c-could h-help."

Upon hearing her answer, Arenheit's face bloomed as brightly as a spring bud.

It was the moment when Amelia of this life set foot into the Hartmann ducal family.