IPMPBB 4

Chapter 4

“Are you saying you’ll pay?”

The tavern owner asked cautiously.

He seemed worried I might take offense and refuse to pay.

“Of course. But on credit.”

At the word credit, the tavern owner’s face briefly darkened.

“I’ll leave my signature.”

But at those words, his expression brightened once more.

“Really?”

With my signature, even if I later pretended not to know, the Elvington family would be held responsible. No wonder he looked relieved.

“Thank you, thank you!”

“Let’s save the gratitude for after I sign.”

“Oh!”

The tavern owner gave a belated exclamation and hurried inside to fetch paper and pen.

I signed the rough sheet with a cheap pen, still stained with half-dried ink.

Luckily, Elia’s habits and memories still lingered faintly in my body, so imitating her signature wasn’t difficult.

Despite the unpleasant sensation from the alcohol, Elia’s memories were surfacing one by one. It really did feel like possession.

“Thank you. Truly… thank you. I won’t forget this kindness.”

It was just a rightful transaction, yet the tavern owner’s joy made me feel strange.

It also made me realize just how feared Elia was. And how strict this class-based society really was.

Leaving the cheerful tavern owner behind, I stepped outside. A sharp gaze pierced the back of my head.

No doubt about it—it was Carlos.

He glanced back and forth between the bowing tavern owner and me, then slowly followed me outside.

“Haaah.”

A long breath escaped my lips in a puff of white.

Was it midwinter? It’s cold…

I pretended not to notice his gaze and stood still.

Step, step.

Carlos’s footsteps approached, but I stubbornly kept my eyes on the buildings across the street.

As expected of the entertainment district, taverns were tightly packed along the road.

In the distance, I spotted three or four knights wearing unfamiliar uniforms sneaking glances our way.

“…That scoundrel Elia…”

“Yeah, shouldn’t she be drinking herself silly in some bar?”

Their muttered whispers reached me, carried by the wind.

Wow. I’d expected it, but Elia really was infamous.

“This isn’t the right place to talk, is it?”

I asked Carlos as he came up beside me.

“Too many people recognize me.”

I crossed my arms and shrugged against the cold.

“…What are you thinking?”

Unexpectedly, Carlos spoke.

He seemed to be clenching his teeth, his words slurred slightly.

When I turned to him, his face was frozen in fury as he stared holes through me.

“I just paid my tab.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

Carlos looked even more upset.

It felt unfair to be the object of his anger, but I couldn’t blame him.

If I were him, and my delinquent superior suddenly acted like this, I’d be suspicious too.

“Are you talking about… defending you? I mean, defending Sir Ivach?”

Carlos didn’t respond.

His expression said my guess was wrong, but since he didn’t object, he clearly wanted an answer.

“You might not believe it, but I’ve changed.”

I went straight to the point. I needed him to know I’d turned over a new leaf.

“Let’s just say I’ve had a change of heart. I’ve decided I want to stop acting like a fool and start living right.”

Just in case he didn’t get it, I clarified again.

“When I made that decision, I realized how loyal you’ve been, and how terrible I was. That’s all there is to it.”

Carlos still didn’t reply.

‘…Did I ramble too much?’

I anxiously watched his face.

He stared at me with the same intensity, but the fury in his expression gradually faded into something unreadable.

Could it be… I got through to him?

Just as a sliver of hope glimmered in my heart—

“Don’t pull this nonsense on me.”

Carlos shot back, sharp as ever.

“Whatever game you’re playing, I’m not falling for it.”

Well… that’s more like it.

But I wasn’t disappointed.

One conversation, one act of decency—of course it wouldn’t change everything.

It’s urgent, yes, but if I rush it, I’ll just fail.

I’d just need to keep trying. Earn Carlos’s trust little by little. Improve my reputation. Then the world and story around me would shift too.

“Seems like a trick to you, huh.”

So I spoke plainly.

“Given my history, I get it. But just like a scoundrel doesn’t need a reason to act like one, a change of heart doesn’t need a grand reason either.”

“I can’t speak for the latter, but I know the former all too well.”

…Whoa. That was harsh.

With nothing more to say, I shrugged again, ending the conversation.

At that moment, an odd glimmer passed through Carlos’s eyes before disappearing.

‘What was that?’

It had happened so fast, I couldn’t be sure what that emotion was.

Neither of us spoke, and silence settled over us.

I racked my brain, trying to remember where to go.

It was nighttime, and Elia wouldn’t be on duty. I should head back to the estate.

‘But where was the Elvington estate again?’

I remembered the route from the knights’ station, but not from the tavern.

Because Elia had always staggered home drunk—carried on Carlos’s back.

Once again: Elia was the worst.

‘If I were your subordinate, I’d have quit ages ago.’

In fact, her aides had changed multiple times.

Carlos endured only because he had a secret reason to stay.

Fortunately, a solution came quickly.

A few knights who had been mocking me earlier hailed a carriage on the main road.

“I’ll take a carriage.”

I didn’t have my wallet, but I could settle the fare once I reached the estate.

Turning toward the street, I called over my shoulder:

“You’re off duty now. Go home.”

That’s when it happened.

“No.”

Carlos refused to go home.

A subordinate refusing to clock out…?

“I’ll escort you to the Elvington estate.”

What?! He’s volunteering for overtime?!

I turned to him in shock, only to see that sharp, suspicious glare aimed at me again.

Yeah. He thinks I’m going to sneak off somewhere shady.

“Refusing won’t work.”

“Fine by me.”

We spoke at the same time, and Carlos looked at me in surprise.

“…What did you just say?”

“I said, ‘fine by me.’”

Carlos fell silent. His wide eyes narrowed slightly.

‘What’s he going to ask now? What scheme am I cooking up?’

If he did, I’d just give the same “I’ve changed” speech again. I wasn’t tired yet.

I stared back with full sincerity.

But Carlos didn’t ask.

He just kept looking at me with that unreadable gaze.

“…Will you be alright?”

And then came a question I didn’t expect.

“What could possibly….”

I almost asked what could possibly go wrong—but I shut my mouth.

Because a flicker of Elia’s family memories rose to the surface.

Not in the original story—but in this body, the memory remained.

Her stepmother and step-siblings, watching her coldly from the second floor. Her father, the Marquisate of Elvington, and her older brother Michael, turning their backs on her.

All their eyes held the same emotion—

‘Yeah, this is going to be a problem.’

Elia would never bring Carlos home in a sober state.

I didn’t care, but since I’d possessed Elia, I figured it was best to act in line with her personality—at least for things other than the drinking.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go alone.”

Carlos gave me a knew-it kind of look.

“I can’t let you do that.”

And like it was routine, he stepped in front of me.

“I don’t want a repeat of last time.”

‘Last time’?

Oh—when Elia ditched Carlos and snuck off to a gambling den.

From his face, that had to be it.