A Horror Novel’s Supporting Character Wants to Live as a Human Chapter 109

"When I said I was looking for a cartographer, soone recomnded 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 rembered.

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 sothing 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 so ti, the number of demonic beasts has increased considerably."

"So that's why you were looking for both a cartographer and an escort rcenary. 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 equipnt 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 mont, he gently patted Jonas's head.

"Rest well today."

The sensation of the hair under his palm was ticklish.

What really was this feeling?

*

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

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

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

Alia had noticed that the maids and servants belonging to the Hartmann ducal family were not accustod 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 co 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?

Alia 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 aningful conversation with him.

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

Alia spent her ti 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 ti, only her maid visited or checked on Alia as she lay still.

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

So Alia waited, and waited, and waited so more.

But Arndt did not co.

She suddenly felt her anger rising and sat up.

Mine, he said?

He said he would temporarily assign him to ?

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

It was at that mont.

A knock was heard at Alia'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 dicine, Lady?"

"Y-you co now!"

Why do you ask so late!

By now, I would have thrown away the dicine and then so!

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

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

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

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

"Y-you're h-having a b-banquet with m-rchant 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?

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

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

Alia 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 arrangent could be for Arndt to be held up by the Duke all this ti.

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

But Alia 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 Alia's eyes were fixed on the papers.

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

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

Alia nodded.

Though it was from a long ti 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 arrangent together with Alia.

"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 rchant groups... Then what would be good to do? It seems I should consult with His Grace again."

Alia, looking at Arndt's dejected face, beca certain.

Arndt was not a perfect person either.

As far as Alia 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 rembered noble etiquette.

Alia's index finger pointed at the arrangent plan.

"I d-don't know well either, b-but first according to th-their fa... 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 Alia'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 Alia, though timid, was a good teacher who shared the information she knew to the best of her ability.

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

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

And the next day.

An unexpected visitor ca to Alia's room.

Duke Arenheit himself ca to see her with the seating arrangent in hand and asked.

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

"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 sothing about the relationships between rchant group heads."

"It's from a l-long ti 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 rchant groups?"

Alia hesitated montarily, 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 ti."

"N-no, not at all."

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

Alia's face suddenly flushed hot.

For a brief mont, intense sha pierced through her body.

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

When Alia 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?

Alia 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 beco more comfortable.

It had also beco 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 ti she ca 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?

Alia 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 sowhat enjoyable.

Observing the subtle changes in Alia'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 recomndations."

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

Alia felt a pang in her chest.

It seed 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 mont as Arenheit turned away.

Alia 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-mont...!"

"Yes, what is it? Is there sothing 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 an!"

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.

Alia'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 blood as brightly as a spring bud.

It was the mont when Alia of this life set foot into the Hartmann ducal family.