IPMPBB 14

Chapter 14

“How did I know?”

I repeated Carlos’s question with a grin.

> “Because the motive of the man who stole the music box 12 years ago was gambling.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

> “A man named Jimmy, a collateral of the Spencer family, stole and sold the music box to pay off gambling debts.”

Carlos stared at me, clearly demanding a more thorough explanation.

“You know how many years I’ve spent in gambling dens, Sir Ivach. Rumors like that tend to circulate among gamblers.”

In fact, the man who stole the music box was indeed Jimmy, a collateral member of the Spencer family.

And he had sold it to clear his gambling debts.

Carlos had found that out through a backtrack investigation in the original story, after acquiring the music box.

> ‘I used the fact that I used to be a gambling-obsessed troublemaker to create a connection to that trail.’

Perfect, isn’t it?

Everything is going exactly according to plan.

And saying I heard it in the gambling den? No one could really refute that.

> “I figured it might come in handy someday, so I remembered it. And now, see—it really did help.”

Carlos finally averted his gaze from me.

“Even a grub…”

He muttered something under his breath as he looked back at the catalog.

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

I thought I heard something about a grub, but maybe I was mistaken.

> “Let’s buy the music box and head out, then.”

Fortunately, Carlos seemed to believe me completely now.

I ordered the music box from the clerk, paid for it, received the item, and exited the black market.

> “Please don’t go to places like this again.”

> “I won’t. I told you—I quit gambling…”

Our next destination was the Spencer family’s townhouse.

I didn’t bother changing into uniform; time was too precious, so I went in civilian clothes.

“Who are you?”

Perhaps because I wasn’t in uniform, the doorman didn’t recognize us.

> “I’m Elia Elvington. I wasn’t able to send a letter in advance, but I’d like to see the Countess of Spencer today if possible.”

The doorman’s eyes widened.

I pushed back my hood to reveal my blonde hair and blue eyes.

Elia’s appearance was famous—this should be enough.

> “Tell her I’ve brought back something precious that was lost 12 years ago.”

“Uh, uh…”

He hesitated, clearly torn, then said he’d go inside to report.

“Sigh…”

I let out a soft breath.

I had a feeling that if people kept reacting this way—startled and stammering—it would seriously hinder the progress of my plans.

While I was contemplating what to do, I felt Carlos’s gaze on me.

“Why? Do I have something on my face?”

When I asked, Carlos abruptly turned his head away.

“…?”

What’s with him?

While I was puzzled by his odd behavior, the doorman returned.

“You may come in.”

“Thank you.”

I handed over my robe, tidied myself up a bit, and headed to the Countess of Spencer’s drawing room.

“Nice to meet you, Sir Elia. I’ve heard the name, but this is our first time meeting in person.”

The Countess, even in her eighties, carried herself with dignified grace.

> “You mentioned something precious. I allowed you in out of curiosity, but if you’re deceiving me, you will pay the price.”

She warned me with eyes as sharp as frost.

I wanted to say, Don’t worry, but I held back—it might not sit well with such a stern noblewoman.

Instead, I bowed with the proper decorum of a knight and stepped forward to her.

Then I placed the music box from the black market on the table in front of her.

“…!”

Her eyes widened.

“This is…”

> “Please, open it.”

With trembling hands, she carefully picked it up.

She opened the box with the utmost caution, and a warm, simple melody began to play.

Though all the jewels on the surface had been removed during its journey through the black market, the inside remained untouched.

“This is certainly…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence and lowered her head.

> “We’ll step out for a moment.”

To give her privacy to grieve over her son’s memento, Carlos and I discreetly left the room.

The Countess silently accepted our consideration.

> “The music box was real, after all.”

Carlos spoke once we were alone in a small tea room a servant had led us to.

> “It’s real. And given the Countess’s character, she’ll surely reward us.”

I answered while munching on one of the treats the servant had left.

Carlos continued watching me in silence for a while.

> “To be honest, I had no expectations.”

Just as I was deciding whether to eat another snack, he spoke again, unexpectedly.

> “No expectations?”

> “Yes. In gambling dens, all kinds of lies and nonsense float around. I thought you had heard just another baseless rumor.”

“…”

Baseless rumor? That’s harsh…

A little dejected, I put the cookie down.

> “But I was wrong.”

Carlos still looked at me, gaze unwavering.

> “Your words were true. And you made sure the Countess of Spencer would feel indebted to the 3rd Knights.”

His tone grew firm.

Now, the way he looked at me was more intense than ever.

Though his eyes were the common brown—thanks to his enchantment not being lifted—I could almost believe they were golden.

> “Perhaps…”

Carlos glanced down, then back up.

> “Perhaps I…”

He began to speak slowly, as if he was about to say something important—very important.

At that exact moment—

Knock, knock.

The tension shattered at the sound of knocking.

> “The lady is requesting your presence in the drawing room.”

A servant had come to summon us.

“…”

Carlos looked at the servant, clearly frustrated.

The servant, sensing his mood, bowed awkwardly.

> “Perhaps what? What were you going to say?”

Sensing the importance of what was cut off, I asked while grabbing my coat.

> “…It’s nothing. Never mind.”

But Carlos shook his head and refused to answer.

> “Thank you for returning my son’s music box.”

Back in the drawing room, the Countess greeted us, tear stains still visible on her cheeks.

> “It’s the only thing he left behind. It means so much to me. I feel incredible relief to see it again.”

She continued to thank us over and over.

> “You two are like saviors to me. I’d like to repay you in some way—please, tell me what I can do.”

And finally, the words I’d been waiting for arrived.

> “All I wish for is this—may the Spencer family, the Royal Knights, and the imperial administration return to their former closeness.”

> “That much, I can certainly do.”

The Countess nodded.

> “Though I must say, I’m surprised.”

> “Surprised?”

She studied me closely.

> “At your demeanor, Sir Elia.”

My demeanor? What about it?

> “You’re far more composed, calm, and considerate of the community’s welfare than the rumors suggest.”

Ah, so she expected a scoundrel and was surprised to find someone respectable.

> “You’re nothing like the person the rumors describe.”

She continued.

> “I apologize for judging you based only on what I heard.”

She bowed her head to me.

“…”

A rush of complicated emotions swelled inside me.

Since possessing Elia’s body, I had worked so hard to right the wrongs of the past.

Many were surprised by me. Many things changed.

But this—this was the first time someone had actually apologized for misunderstanding me.

> ‘Why does this make me feel so…’

For some reason, I felt an emotional lump in my chest.

And I was glad—so glad I hadn’t given up, even after ending up in a scoundrel’s body.

> “Thank you, Countess Spencer.”

I bowed deeply, sincerity overflowing in my voice.

After some more light conversation over tea, we left the Spencer family townhouse at an appropriate time.