Chapter 41
“Did the commander just pick a fight with that crazy bastard who doesn’t know his place?”
“I thought she was always close with Viscount Mile…”
“Am I seeing things?”
They all murmured as quietly as possible, but Elia had excellent hearing—she heard everything.
Meanwhile, Ulrich stared at me in shock. It seemed he couldn’t believe I had taken Carlos’s side.
But oh well. I’m not done yet.
“And I heard you tried to barge into my office. Cut that out. If you want to meet me, submit a formal request.”
I let go of his collar after saying that.
Ulrich’s face, stunned and slack-jawed with his wrinkled uniform, was truly a sight to see.
“I… uh…”
Ulrich stammered.
“I don’t want to associate with you people anymore.”
I drove the nail in.
“So get lost, you damned bastard. Don’t come looking for me again.”
“……!”
Only then did Ulrich realize he’d just been thrown out, and his face turned beet red.
“Elia, you… you’ll regret this.”
He muttered through clenched teeth, furious, but I didn’t care. Threats from spoiled brats like him are usually just talk.
And even if he truly had it out for me, I wasn’t afraid.
Whether in strength, power, or integrity, Ulrich didn’t stand a chance against me.
More importantly, I needed to make it clear to everyone that I had cut ties with him.
“Regret or not, that’s up to me. If you get it, then get out.”
Ulrich spun on his heel and stormed out of the 3rd Division HQ like a tomato.
“The rest of you can go too. This won’t happen again.”
I said to the gathered knights.
“Sir Ivach, stay. I need a word.”
Carlos paused mid-turn at my words.
His eyes held a swirl of emotions as he looked at me.
“Want to come into my office? I think this talk is better inside.”
I invited him in.
The door shut with a click, and the noise of the hallway faded instantly.
“Um… let’s sit.”
Now that it was just the two of us, I suddenly felt awkward.
After all, in the end, it was my ‘friend’ who had harassed Carlos. Embarrassment was natural.
A moment later, we sat across from each other at my desk.
Carlos still looked conflicted.
Let’s begin with…
“I’m sorry.”
Carlos immediately looked up at me.
“Did… did you just say you’re sorry?”
His tone was almost accusatory, but it sounded more like he was genuinely shocked.
“Of course. I mean it.”
I said again, sincerely. Carlos’s eyes showed only confusion now.
“Why… why are you taking my side?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve turned over a new—”
“You’ve already said you’ve turned over a new leaf enough times.”
Carlos cut me off.
“It was clear to anyone that you were in the right.”
I shrugged. But Carlos still shook his head as if it didn’t make sense.
“Commander…”
He hesitated.
“It’s okay. Say what’s on your mind. I can handle it.”
Encouraged, Carlos took a deep breath.
“Do you… no longer think of me as a mongrel mutt?”
“……”
Why did I say to speak freely?! This is uncomfortable!
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat to break the tension. It didn’t help much.
“I think the last time that was said was… back at the tavern, right?”
When I first possessed Elia’s body and met Carlos, I had already told my friends not to call him that.
“Back then, you only said I was a fine knight.”
“Did I…?”
“You did.”
Carlos remembered clearly.
“And at the time, I didn’t think too hard about it because I wasn’t convinced you had truly changed.”
Fair point.
“So now you’re finally asking.”
Carlos nodded slowly.
“I…”
I’ve never thought of you that way, I almost said—but stopped myself.
It didn’t matter how I felt as a reader. The real Elia had used those slurs and scorned him.
And I had to take responsibility for that now that I inhabited her body.
“I made a lot of mistakes.”
I began by acknowledging Elia’s behavior.
“But I’m not that person anymore.”
I spoke with sincerity.
“I see the world differently now. I think differently.”
Carlos’s eyes widened slightly.
“And that means I see you differently too.”
I could see it—his perception of me was changing at the core.
“That insult—‘mongrel mutt’—doesn’t suit you at all.”
I said it with weight.
“You’re a fine knight. A righteous man.”
Did any of that reach him?
Carlos’s gaze wavered.
“Even if I…”
He began. But didn’t finish.
A sharp instinct told me he wouldn’t be able to say it.
Because what he wanted to say was likely about his bloodline.
“No matter what you are, you’re a good knight. That won’t change.”
Carlos bowed his head, his brown eyes shadowed.
He wouldn’t be able to accept this easily.
His bloodline—being a disowned bastard—had haunted him all his life.
“How do you know?”
He asked, just as I expected.
“How can you be sure I’m a fine knight or a righteous man?”
Silence lingered for a moment.
I looked at Carlos and tilted my head.
“Is that such a hard and complicated truth to accept?”
Carlos flinched at my counter-question.
“I don’t get why you can’t accept it.”
I leaned forward slightly, showing my sincerity.
“Just accept it. Don’t overthink it. That’s a sickness too, you know?”
Carlos raised his head. For a second, I thought his eyes glowed gold.
“You really are… incredibly carefree, Commander.”
And just like that, the strange atmosphere shattered.
“Anyway, understood.”
I was about to say I wasn’t actually carefree when Carlos abruptly stood up.
“The second subjugation will keep us busy again. I’ll be counting on you.”
He left my office in a hurry—almost like he was fleeing.
* * *
After Ulrich spread the word, my former “friends” stopped visiting the Knights altogether.
Instead, I received other visitors.
People from Divisions 1 and 2, the administration, imperial officials—all wanting updates on the heretic purge.
And two weeks after the first purge ended, the second round of preparations was complete. It was time to meet the Emperor.
“There will probably be some of the lords and the Crown Prince as well.”
Cesare said while receiving my formal uniform from Mary.
“With such a sudden change in schedule, not everyone might make it.”
The meeting was originally three days away, but the imperial schedule had shifted it to today.
“Still, Count Gonnir and the 1st Division Commander will definitely be there.”
Hearing that Michael would attend left me with a strange feeling.
Training with him daily in hellish drills was one thing—seeing him in formal court was another.
“Thanks for the update.”
I changed quickly into my ceremonial outfit.
Outside, Carlos was waiting in matching formal wear.
“Let’s go.”
Carlos said, and we headed toward the main palace.
But on the way there, we ran into someone completely unexpected.
“Oh my, Sir Ivach! And Sir Elia. It’s been a while since the illegal auction, hasn’t it?”
It was the Saint.
