LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 24
Karem, who was fundamentally employed by Catherine and worked in the Wizard’s Tower, rarely found himself outside the tower.
Ordinary matters ended with Mary, the Brownie, and it was rather Karem who was cautious about engaging in anything beyond cooking.
As a result, Karem only ventured outside the tower on one occasion: when the food supplies ran low.
Although there were only three people living in the tower, things were different when that trio included a growing boy, a female wizard stuck in her growing body, and a Brownie who had never seen a full meal.
Perhaps because of this, Karem often went outside, but even that was limited to a specific route.
And when the first snow began to fall at the end of autumn, Karem unexpectedly had to return to his duties as a personal servant, which he thought had finished.
“Karem, my junior. Didn’t you say your personal servant duty was over?”
“No, that’s unfair for me too!”
“But didn’t you say the contract wasn’t finished?”
Karem, who had unintentionally told a lie, shouted in indignation, but Mary, having no intention of sympathizing with him, furrowed her brow and put her finger to her lips.
“Shh, too much talk. No excuses.”
“Sir Atanitas, wasn’t the personal servant duty finished?”
“Turning the blame onto the contractor, I see. I knew this would happen. Have you finally started taking actions to steal my work?”
Catherine, who was walking before Karem and Mary, simply turned her head and shrugged.
“Kid, I never said your personal servant duty was finished.”
“Eh? But until now—”
“No, think carefully. Did I ever say it was over? Especially not in the contract?”
At this, Karem recalled a past that felt distant yet close.
The conversation that had taken place at the inner castle of Borderster before everything began, facing the cake.
“Annual salary: 6 crowns.”
“Kid, I will provide a private room and furnishings for you.”
“Salary adjustment considering the rise in living expenses twice a year.”
“Your duties include being a personal cook and a personal servant.”
“And do you remember the content of the contract roughly?”
“Contract?”
Karem vividly recalled that contract, filled with benefits and lacking any disallowed clauses. He had never seen such a clean and pro-labor contract even in his previous life—wait a moment…
“There’s no line that says the personal servant duty is over…?”
“Very clever. You read the contract carefully, but you need to know there are twists like this.”
Karem realized too late. He didn’t expect such a trap to exist! And Mary, who took that reaction positively, narrowed her eyes further.
“Karem, my junior—”
“No, this is beyond my control.”
“Did you dare to encroach upon my domain?”
“No, I wouldn’t want that even if you agreed.”
“Are you taking household chores lightly!?”
“This is slander.”
As the expanding interpretation and distortion of opinions began to overwhelm Karem, signaling a potential drawn-out fight, Catherine quickly intervened.
“Well, Mary. That’s enough from you.”
“To a Brownie, household chores are as important as the soul—”
“Even if the kid is handling personal servant duties, it doesn’t mean you have to do them too.”
Catherine raised her arm and lightly tapped Mary’s forehead as if to calm her down.
“Ultimately, my servant is your responsibility, Mary. The kid’s duty as a personal servant is merely nominal.”
“…If the contractor says so, then I shall stop here.”
With the contractor’s firm assertion confirming her territory, Mary felt relieved, and Karem, who almost got caught in the crossfire, could finally let out a breath.
Ah, of course, it wouldn’t do any good to anger Mary, who was taking on all the annoying tasks just because they lived in the Wizard’s Tower.
Oh, and there was the relief of not having to serve Catherine.
Though some time had passed, Catherine’s appearance was still quite striking.
In a positive sense, of course.
“…Huh? But if it’s like this, I won’t follow—”
“What are you muttering about? We’ve arrived.”
“Ah.”
Karem immediately closed his mouth after that thought. It would be one thing to turn back before starting, but there was no way he could return alone now.
After all, they were on their way to meet the Duke of Iceland, Alfred Felwinter, the owner of this castle, Winterhome. He wasn’t brave enough to return to the Wizard’s Tower after coming this far.
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The castle situated in the heart of Coldon, Winterhome.
Alfred Felwinter’s office, who could be said to be the lord of Iceland, was entirely different from what Karem had imagined.
The first thought that came to mind was how humble it seemed for a duke.
It wasn’t devoid of luxury items. Sofas, chairs, a fireplace, bookshelves; even the leather and stuffed creature mounted on the wall exuded opulence at first glance.
But that train of thought ended there.
“So, is this the personal cook you hired yourself?”
Alfred sat behind his desk, his eyes filled with curiosity, directed at Karem who was standing behind Catherine, following Mary.
“Yep.”
“No need to be tense. I’m merely curious.”
Alfred’s curiosity was genuine.
Having come back after abandoning the contract and returning with a load of forgotten items that the Grand Wizard asked him to retrieve, how could he not be interested in the mysterious boy who showed up beside him?
However, Karem found that attention quite uncomfortable.
In fact, one had to wonder if there was any normal person in this situation who wouldn’t feel tense. Of course, in Karem’s view, a normal person referred to the oversaturated commoners and serfs street-side, not someone with power.
And with the awareness of remembering his past life, the concept of normalcy had already strayed far away. Although Karem didn’t contemplate that far.
“I heard about Alicia’s bragging. She claims you cook extremely well?”
“Uh, you mean Princess Alicia?”
“Yes. Apparently, she boasted endlessly about the snacks she had when she invaded the Wizard’s Tower.”
Alfred’s curiosity shifted to questioning. Though he felt tense, he appeared more mature than his peers.
“That’s a lack of skill.”
“No, I know very well that her taste is quite picky, even from her father, who is me. Thank goodness she doesn’t have many food aversions.”
“Princess you mean?”
“Yes. She has been boasting around the castle, and the head chef at home is starting to see her as a rival?”
Saying that, Alfred scrutinized Karem. While he had calluses on his hands as a defining characteristic, nothing particularly special seemed apparent.
“I can’t believe Alicia would lie to me, so your skills must be genuine.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
That was the only sentence Karem could muster.
And surprisingly, he could even provide a proper response.
Of course, he expected that a situation like this might someday arise. Someday, he would face someone of high status, but this was a bit too high!
Considering the environment and circumstances, it was naturally more difficult not to encounter higher-ups than to encounter them, given that he had met them three times already, including now.
“Well then, how about stopping there?”
Just then, Catherine, who had been sitting on the sofa with an appearance of dissatisfaction, unfolded her arms.
“Could you please stop tormenting my personal cook?”
“Tormenting? I think it’s perfectly natural for a father to be curious about how his daughter’s picky taste is satisfied.”
“But before that, do you think that based on the kid’s appearance?”
At those words, Alfred, who was observing Karem diligently, quickly caught on.
Indeed, he had thought it was calm behavior for someone so young, but Karem, the person in question, was paler than a ghost, looking thoroughly terrified.
It was apparent that he had reached his limit of tension.
“Um, that was my oversight.”
“I’m glad you noticed, my lord.”
“Before anything else, I want to speak not as a noble but as a father.”
Alfred, sitting at his desk, put down the parchment and quill to speak seriously. His solemn gaze was directed at Catherine, who was seated along with Karem and Mary.
“Has Alicia committed a great rudeness?”
“She didn’t cause any accidents.”
“Really?”
“She merely intruded into the tower and got caught eating snacks.”
Hearing that from Catherine, Alfred let out a sigh of relief as if coming to ease.
“If that’s all, then I’m truly relieved. We should apologize.”
“She’s younger than this kid here, having not even gone through her Coming-of-Age Ceremony yet, so it’s acceptable for her to do so. Nonetheless, I will graciously accept the apology.”
Catherine waved her hand as if to dismiss it, but Alfred couldn’t let it go so easily.
“No, this can’t just slip by. To intrude without being invited is akin to an act of thievery.”
“Strictly speaking, this castle, and the whole city belongs to you, doesn’t it?”
“But Atanitas, you are staying in a place I provided by my invitation.”
“The etiquette of hospitality. Is that where you draw the line?”
“There must be clear rewards and punishments. Perhaps I have been too indulgent with Alicia.”
Alfred nodded heavily.
Children can’t help but be overwhelmed by curiosity. Alicia was that kind of child, and as the youngest daughter of a duke, the number of people who could truly reign her in could be counted on one hand.
Not to mention that her home was the Winterhome of the Felwinter Family, as large as a small town in size. Her desire for adventure was only natural.
“Come to think of it, at least once a day, the castle buzzed with visits from the princess.”
“Being the youngest, she must be spoiled and misbehaved.”
However, precisely because of that, education and discipline were necessary.
Not to mention, to intrude uninvited.
This could raise issues concerning Alfred’s authority, who extended the invitation and provided shelter to Catherine.
Karem, feeling nervous, was on the verge of both astonishment and gratitude.
Compared to his previous life, he felt Alfred was a true father.
“Huh, very well. My lord, as you know, you have called me during a particularly busy time. What matter prompted your call?”
“Busy, is it…indeed?”
“…Ahem. My lord, I believe you know what I wish to say?”
“Mm.”
Karem, who was sitting next to Catherine, suddenly gripped her shoulder, as did Mary. If they hadn’t, Catherine might have jumped out ahead.
Naturally! Although she had reached the level of Great Wizard, she was, after all, still a living human. Not someone who was undead and had risen from the dead.
Given that the wizards who would usually be overworked had been faded away, she had to shoulder all those duties alone. Even if he treated her with respect as he would a duke comparable to a king, this had crossed the line.
“Then, since you have already assigned me so many tasks, I shall apologize in advance.”
Then Alfred’s following words would incite her anger.