IPMPBB 21

Chapter 21

Clang!

A tremendous sound rang out.

Cesare barely blocked my blow, staring in disbelief at my right hand.

“Your right hand was…”

“You sure have time to talk, huh?”

I quickly took a step back and thrust my sword toward Cesare’s shoulder.

“Guh!”

Cesare twisted his body in a large motion in panic.

Now’s my chance.

I didn’t miss the opening he left while making that big move—I swept his leg and tripped him.

Crash!

Cesare’s massive body hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust across the training field.

I stepped on his chest to pin him down and pointed my sword at his throat.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Silence fell.

Despite the large crowd gathered on the field, you couldn’t hear a single breath.

“Looks like I won, don’t you think?”

In the stillness, only my voice rang out clearly.

* * *

It took a while before Cesare finally came to his senses.

The rest of the spectators were the same.

“Th-the commander is the winner!”

Even the official overseeing the duel only managed to announce my victory after a long delay.

Once I heard those words confirming my win, I sheathed my sword.

Cesare stared blankly at the spot where my sword had just been, as if he were possessed.

My right hand ached.

‘As expected, it’s still hard to use it properly.’

While I casually switched the sword to my left hand, wincing from the aftereffects—

“That right hand…”

Cesare stood abruptly and spoke to me.

“What happened?”

“Is that really important right now?”

“If that’s not important, then what is—”

“The fact that you lost to me is what matters.”

“……”

Cesare closed his mouth, clearly with nothing to say.

“So? Can we call it even now?”

“…A knight doesn’t go back on his word.”

“Good to hear.”

I sighed in relief.

Judging by how much my right hand was burning and throbbing, I didn’t think I could handle a second duel today.

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

I quickly made my exit—I desperately wanted to ice my right hand.

But of course, things didn’t go as smoothly as planned.

“…Commander.”

I made it off the training field.

But on the way back to my office, Carlos stopped me with a deadly serious expression.

“Sir Ivach.”

I had no choice but to stop and face him.

“What happened?”

Carlos asked with a grave expression, his voice trembling slightly.

“Don’t tell me… you were pretending all along? That you couldn’t use a sword this whole time?”

“No, not at all.”

I immediately raised my right hand and showed it to Carlos.

His eyes widened at the sight of my hand, still trembling from the strain of gripping the sword.

“As you can see, my right hand still isn’t functioning properly.”

“But…”

Carlos trailed off.

I get it—I knew what he was thinking.

If I couldn’t even lift a sword before, how was I able to swing it now?

The answer was simple.

‘Elia’s inability to use her right hand wasn’t just because of an injury. There were psychological reasons too.’

Elia had been injured.

But not to the extent where she couldn’t even hold a sword.

She couldn’t wield it with the same confidence as before, but with steady rehabilitation, she could’ve fought like a normal knight again.

But Elia despaired too deeply over her lost peak form.

So she gave up on rehab, refused to use her right hand, even cursed it.

As a result, her condition worsened far more than necessary.

Even when she wanted to try again, the deep-rooted despair made it impossible for her to move her hand properly.

‘But I’m different. I’m not Elia.’

Because I wasn’t Elia, I could use the hand without all that psychological baggage.

‘It hasn’t been long since I possessed her, so I couldn’t fully rehabilitate it.’

But even that was a major accomplishment.

“Commander?”

Carlos called out again after a long silence.

“What’s going on with your right hand?”

He asked, and I hesitated.

I couldn’t exactly tell him I was a possessor. How else could I explain it?

“Didn’t I tell you? That I was going to change.”

The answer I landed on was simple.

“With your sharp eyes, I’m sure you already realized my right hand isn’t beyond saving.”

Carlos flinched at my question.

“I wasn’t using it because I wasn’t ready.”

“And now you are?”

“More or less.”

I smiled at him.

“I’ve decided to stop wasting time despairing over what I can’t have, and instead accept myself as I am.”

“…You…”

Carlos’s gaze shifted.

Where once there was only shock and confusion, now there was something like admiration.

“How can someone…”

He trailed off again.

I perked up, waiting for him to continue—but he didn’t say another word.

“Anyway, I’m heading to the infirmary. My right hand’s killing me.”

I reached out to pat his shoulder, then remembered he didn’t like physical contact and pulled my hand back.

This time, Carlos didn’t stop me.

I went to the infirmary, received treatment, and ended up lying on a cot for a while, eventually dozing off.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already time to clock out.

“Wow, slacking off officially is kind of amazing…”

“Yaaawn.”

I stretched with a big yawn and cheerfully waved goodbye to the stiff-faced infirmary staff as I walked out.

Then I received unexpected news.

“Sir Ivach isn’t here?”

“Yes, he left early.”

Cesare, who had been waiting for me in the office on Carlos’s behalf, answered.

“Did he leave you a message?”

He asked, surprisingly polite in tone.

“No, nothing like that…”

Carlos, who insisted on greeting and seeing me off every day to “keep an eye on me,” was suddenly gone?

I was confused, but didn’t ask Cesare for details.

“So, I’m free to leave too, right?”

“Of course.”

Just as I turned to fetch my black horse, Cesare called out urgently.

“Wait, Commander…!”

“What is it, Sir Girotti? If it’s about the duel…”

“No, it’s the opposite, actually.”

Cesare lowered his head, biting his lip.

When he looked up again, his expression was grave.

“I’d like to apologize for all the disrespect I’ve shown you up until now. Not just because I lost the duel.”

Apologize? Cesare, to me?

I was genuinely surprised.

“I think I misjudged you.”

Cesare continued.

“You must’ve gone through your own difficult times, but I overlooked that.”

Then came something even more unexpected.

“Despite that, you overcame it and took up the sword again. I respect you for that.”

“Uh…”

I didn’t know what to say.

Ever since the Countess of Spencer acknowledged me, I didn’t expect anyone else to recognize my struggles.

It was both heartwarming and deeply fulfilling.

“I didn’t apologize expecting a reply, so you don’t need to say anything.”

Cesare added quickly, noticing my hesitation.

“Then, I’ll take my leave…”

“Wait, Sir Girotti.”

This time, I stopped him.

“Thank you.”

Then I said, with all my heart—

“For understanding me. For recognizing my efforts. I’ll never forget what you said today.”

A smile spread across my face on its own.

“…I’ll be going now.”

Cesare gave a deep bow and hurried out of the office.

After sending him off, I hummed a tune, in an excellent mood, as I rode my black horse back to the Marquisate of Elvington.

“Young Lady, Young Lady!”

Mary was waiting for me outside the manor.

But her expression was strange.

“Something terrible’s happened!”

She rushed over to me and whispered urgently.