IPMPBB 37

Chapter 37

“Pardon?”

Carlos blankly echoed.

“I just answered your question about His Majesty.”

“……”

Carlos fell silent. For a while, only the rattling of the carriage could be heard.

“…Isn’t the Elvington Marquisate a loyal supporter of the Imperial Family?”

So he hadn’t expected someone from the Elvington family to express distrust in the Emperor.

“I’m just being honest since it’s just us.”

Carlos flinched again.

A swirl of emotion crossed his eyes.

“You trust me… that much?”

Carlos trailed off.

“I do.”

I answered right away.

Because I knew what he was trying to say.

“You mean, do I trust you enough to say something like this? I’ll say it again—I trust you.”

Because I had read in his eyes that he was trustworthy.

And even after being possessed, I had seen firsthand that Carlos was no different from the original character.

Carlos looked at me, surprised.

He seemed so focused that I couldn’t even hear the carriage wheels for a second.

‘He must be shocked.’

Even though we’d gotten closer recently, he probably didn’t expect me to trust him this much.

Or maybe… maybe he wasn’t that surprised.

‘Could just be that he didn’t expect me to say it out loud.’

While I was thinking all that about Carlos—

“Commander.”

Carlos spoke.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Truly…”

Carlos began, but—

Thud.

The carriage jolted with the loudest noise yet and came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived!”

Cezare’s oblivious voice came from outside.

“Sir Ivach?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Carlos shook his head as if shaking off a dream.

‘What the heck? Now I’m curious.’

“Why are you staring? Let’s get out.”

Carlos seemed completely uninterested in finishing what he was about to say.

In the end, I had to get off the carriage without hearing the rest.

Once outside, I was met with the stunning sight of the Imperial Palace.

‘Wow. I’d heard it was beautiful in the original story, but I didn’t expect this.’

“Greetings to the Commander and Vice Commander of the 3rd Order.”

I was still admiring the palace when an attendant greeted us.

“Please, come this way.”

The attendant glanced at us cautiously.

Maybe he’d heard the rumors about my reformation. Or maybe he was just scared of a former troublemaker.

Following the attendant, we walked through gardens lined with majestic trees and grand sculptures.

Passing through ornate gates, we reached a vast corridor.

The audience chamber, where we’d meet the Emperor, lay at the end of that corridor.

“Please wait here,” said the attendant who opened the chamber door. It seemed the Emperor would arrive shortly.

There was no one else inside. Other officials would only join us starting from the second expedition.

As we waited, we heard footsteps echoing down the hall.

“His Majesty is arriving!”

The attendant called out, and Carlos and I stood immediately.

The Emperor, a robust man with a well-kept beard, entered.

“Hmm. It’s been a while, both of you.”

He scanned us with vivid golden eyes.

“At ease.”

With that brief instruction, he took the main seat.

Carlos and I waited for the attendant to straighten the Emperor’s robes before we sat down.

Carlos was visibly tense.

The Emperor, however, looked completely relaxed.

He didn’t seem to have the slightest suspicion that the man before him was his illegitimate son.

“So, the Latham Valley?”

“Yes, that’s right. Our goal this time is to gather intel on the unbelievers in the Masunt Mountains, starting from Latham.”

The Emperor began, and I explained the details.

He listened with a curious expression.

“To think I’d get a tactical briefing from Sir Elia. You really do live long enough to see everything.”

“…Ha ha.”

What a poetic way to say, “I’m shocked the delinquent turned over a new leaf.”

“So that’s the end of the report?”

“Yes, for now.”

The Emperor leaned back in his chair as he asked, and I responded again.

“And you’re joining the subjugation yourself, Sir Elia?”

Just when I thought the audience was over, he brought up my participation.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I couldn’t quite tell what he meant, so I answered carefully.

“Be careful not to get hurt. There are two people who’d go berserk if you did.”

Seemed like a simple warning. The Emperor said no more.

‘Two people? Who’d lose it if I got injured?’

Before I could dwell on it, he waved his hand dismissively.

“That’ll be all. You’re dismissed.”

And just like that, the audience with the Emperor ended anticlimactically.

But Carlos remained silent on our way back to the 3rd Order’s headquarters, deep in thought.

“You’ll have to sleep at HQ tonight,” he finally said as we got off the carriage.

“We leave at dawn. And there’s a lot to finalize.”

“I know. I came prepared.”

I nodded at Carlos’ words.

“Then later to—”

I was about to say “later tonight,” but paused.

Carlos looked so gloomy.

‘He’s clearly shaken by the Emperor not recognizing him.’

He probably hadn’t expected much, but still—it hurt to be treated like a stranger.

‘What should I do…’

But I already knew the answer.

‘Just pretend not to know anything.’

Carlos being an imperial bastard hasn’t been revealed yet. If I acted like I knew, it would only raise suspicion.

And more importantly, I was still just an annoying superior to him.

So I had to act ignorant. That was the right move.

But…

“Sir Ivach.”

I called out without thinking.

“Yes?”

Carlos turned toward me, as if to say: If you’ve got something to say, hurry up.

I remembered my past life.

When everything seemed hopeless, reading Carlos’ refreshing justice-driven actions gave me comfort.

I felt like I owed him something. Maybe just one word of encouragement.

“I don’t know what’s bothering you, but don’t stress too much. It’ll all work out.”

I reached out and lightly tapped his shoulder.

Carlos looked startled.

He raised his hand as if to swat mine away, but stopped mid-motion.

Then he stared at me with conflicted eyes.

“You really are…”

He began.

I tilted my head.

Was he finally going to say what he wanted to earlier?

But—

“It’s nothing.”

You know, Carlos, there are two ways to infuriate someone. But… fine.

“Right. Nothing it is.”

I lowered my hand from his shoulder with a benevolent smile.

“Then I’ll be off. See you after dinner.”

Carlos gave a small nod and walked toward HQ.

I stared at his retreating back for a moment before heading to my own office.

That night, we double-checked all preparations for the subjugation and took a short rest.

The next morning marked the beginning of the 1st Subjugation Mission.

The departure was swift and quiet.

Starting from the HQ, our group grew larger at each supply checkpoint.

After the final checkpoint, we entered a dense forest with no signs of civilization.

“Once we pass through this forest, we’ll reach Latham Valley.”

Carlos explained.

“It’d be wise to set up camp at the edge and send out scouts.”

I halted the column immediately upon hearing him.

“You heard him. Set up camp and send out the scouts.”

At my command, the knights moved quickly and efficiently to build the encampment.

By sunset, several decent tents had been erected.

The true hunt for the unbelievers had begun.