IPMPBB 15

Chapter 15

I remained silent all the way back to the Order after retrieving several documents from the Spencer Count’s estate.

It was because I was overwhelmed, replaying the emotions stirred by the Countess of Spencer.

“Let’s go straight to Count Gonnir.”

Once I had composed myself somewhat, I spoke up.

Carlos nodded without much reaction, and just like that, we found ourselves back at the administrative hall of the Knights.

“You’re back? Already? So you failed, didn’t you, Sir Elia?”

Count Gonnir appeared before us with a face that practically screamed “I knew it.”

“Failed? Hardly.”

I gave Count Gonnir a bright smile.

Then I handed over the stack of documents I had brought from the Spencer estate.

“…What’s this?”

“Information we received from the Spencers. It contains details about the heretics that have appeared in their territory—undoubtedly useful when drafting future budgets for heretic suppression.”

“What!?”

Count Gonnir trembled as he flipped through the pages, eyes widening in disbelief.

“It—it’s real!”

He looked at me with a mixture of shock and awe.

“How did you even get this? No one’s ever managed to sway the Countess of Spencer before!”

I simply smiled again, brightly.

Utilizing my knowledge of the original story was sort of my trade secret—I couldn’t go around blabbing about it.

I’d had no choice but to concoct a story for Carlos, but keeping silent was the better option with others.

“From now on, the Spencer family will continue cooperating with the Imperial Knights and the administration.”

I informed Count Gonnir.

At that, Count Gonnir looked up to the heavens like he might faint.

“Thank you!” he shouted.

“So, would you say this more than makes up for the drinking and gambling debts I’ve accumulated?”

“Huhhh…”

Count Gonnir let out a long sigh.

“I can’t deny it anymore.”

He still stared at me as if it was hard to believe.

It wasn’t quite the same as the Countess of Spencer, but there was a new look in his eyes when he regarded me.

Gone was the blatant distrust that had once treated me as nothing but a reckless disgrace.

“The administrative department will cover all the funds you’ve squandered so far.”

Count Gonnir said.

“And we’ll allocate a generous new budget to the 3rd Order.”

‘Yes!’

I barely held myself back from cheering to the heavens like Count Gonnir just had.

“Thank you, Count Gonnir.”

I expressed my gratitude and secured the budget. Then Carlos and I returned to the 3rd Order.

News must’ve spread quickly—members glanced at me with curious eyes.

“Heard you got us a budget?”

“Don’t fall for it. It’s probably just another mood swing.”

Unlike Countess Spencer or Count Gonnir, the members—who had witnessed Elia’s antics firsthand every day—weren’t so easily swayed.

I wasn’t discouraged.

The words I’d heard from the Countess and the success of securing the budget were more than enough to leave me satisfied today.

If I kept going like this, surely the others would acknowledge me soon enough.

“Wow, it’s already this late?”

When I came out in uniform, the sky was already dark.

“Hey, when exactly is our quitting time?”

Feeling it was about time to head home, I asked Carlos.

“…In half an hour.”

Carlos replied with a peculiar look.

Half an hour, huh…

‘Not much longer now.’

Having used up all my energy for the day, I slumped into my office chair and counted down the minutes to quitting time.

And the moment the minute hand hit the hour, I threw on my coat and stepped outside.

“Time to go home, everyone!”

Overjoyed at the prospect of clocking out, I patted Carlos on the shoulder and mounted the black horse I’d ridden in on that morning.

The black horse, clearly happy to see me, neighed and shook its head before trotting cheerfully.

Carlos also mounted his chestnut mare and naturally followed me.

“I’ll escort you.”

“Huh? I can go by myself—”

“I have no intention of going through the ordeal of finding you at a bar again, Captain.”

“…”

“Just because you did well today doesn’t mean I trust you now.”

He made sure to add that for good measure.

‘Whatever.’

It wasn’t like I had any intention of stopping by a bar anyway.

Carlos really did follow me all the way. Only after confirming that I had safely entered the Elvington estate did he finally turn back.

As I recalled, Carlos’s home was in the opposite direction from mine.

He was going to get home pretty late because he insisted on escorting me.

‘…In a way, he’s really paying attention to me, isn’t he?’

“Lady Elia!”

Just as I stepped into the main hall thinking that, Mary’s voice rang out.

“My goodness, you’re home on time—it’s like a dream!”

Mary wiped away tears of joy and held out her hands to take my coat.

“The young lord and the marquis haven’t returned yet. Madam is also out.”

She seemed eager to rush me upstairs before anything could happen.

I, too, had no desire to get caught up in anything annoying, so I quickly followed her up the stairs.

But my hopes of a peaceful retreat were dashed.

“Elia! You—stop right there! Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you today?!”

It was ginata’s shrill voice.

Looking back, I saw her rushing down the stairs on the other side.

“Yeah, Elia! We need to talk!”

Behind her was none other than Zachary.

‘Great.’

Running into the most bothersome siblings in the world the moment I got home.

Best not to engage them, I thought.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

I flatly rejected them and started up the stairs again.

But the siblings didn’t back down.

“Hey, hey!”

Zachary, especially, was loud.

He climbed the stairs three steps at a time and reached out for my shoulder.

I quickly turned and swatted away his hand before he could grab me.

“Are you crazy?”

I shouted sharply at Zachary.

“What if I fell down the stairs because you pulled me like that?”

My fierce scolding made Zachary flinch.

“You treat us like bugs—you think we wouldn’t notice?”

But he soon regained his nerve and shouted at me indignantly.

“If you’d behave, I wouldn’t have to go this far! You think you’re all that!”

“Watch your mouth, Zachary Doris. Just because you have one doesn’t mean you should run it off.”

My cold rebuke made Zachary’s mouth shut instantly.

I was dumbfounded by the way he acted like I was the one bullying them.

“What do you even want?”

To avoid any unwanted situation, I stepped back down to the ground floor and asked.

Zachary and ginata quickly surrounded me as if they’d been waiting for this moment.

“Miss!”

Mary approached with trembling steps, but I shook my head, signaling her not to come closer—I didn’t want her to get hurt.

Mary bit her lip and stood nervously by, watching us.

The siblings, fortunately, had no interest in Mary.

Their attention was solely on me—Elia.

“So? What do you want?”

“You—yesterday, you must’ve bad-mouthed us to the young lord and the marquis!”

“What? When did I ever?”

“You totally did! That’s the only reason they were so cold to us—they’d never act like that normally!”

“…Sigh.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

So they thought I gained favor with the marquis and Michael by speaking ill of them?

“I never said anything like that.”

Even to my own ears, my tone was icy.

Ginata and Zachary flinched at my stern voice.

“Liar!”

“Yeah, you’re lying!”

But they soon recovered and came at me even harder.

“You have proof you didn’t say anything bad?”

“…”

“See? No proof! Liar!”

I remained silent, completely dumbfounded.

Proof? How old were they to be pulling this kind of childish nonsense?

I sighed again and rubbed my forehead.

Since they were minor characters in the original story and seemed pitiful, I had let things slide—but not anymore.

It was time to properly establish the pecking order between us.