IPMPBB 8

Chapter 8

“Wha… what? A boomer?”

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. I squeezed my eyes shut in disbelief.

Elia, have you… been calling Michael a boomer all this time?

“My goodness, a boomer…”

My head spun every time I recalled the countless outrageous things Elia had done.

Drinking or gambling could at least be repented for honestly—but calling her own brother a boomer? I had no idea how to even begin justifying that.

“It’s been nearly ten years since I last heard that title.”

Michael looked at me like he was observing something strange.

“What prompted the change of heart?”

Thankfully—or maybe not—Michael gave me a chance to explain.

I hesitated before opening my mouth.

“You might not have heard, but I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf as of yesterday. So, as part of that, I resolved to stop calling you a boomer.”

Michael narrowed his eyes, clearly suspicious.

But what could I do? It was the truth.

I simply stared at him, signaling I had nothing more to say.

“O-ra-beo-ni.”
(‘Older brother’ in an affectionate, respectful tone.)

He murmured quietly.

“Elia, you…”

He seemed like he was about to say something when—

“Oh my, Michael! You’ve finally returned after rounding up all the heretics.”
“I knew you’d handle it, brother!”

Voices I didn’t want to hear echoed from the other side of the hallway.

It was Lady Doris and ginata.

“Everyone said the heretic purge would be nothing for someone like you.”

ginata was praising Michael? Judging by Lady Doris’s expression, she too was happy to see him.

“Why do they fawn over him like that when they dislike Elia so much… Ah.”

I understood once I saw the sullen face of Zachary behind them.

Michael, as the commander of the First Knights, was a powerful figure within the imperial court.

Which meant he could exert significant influence over personnel matters in the Third Knights—my division.

They were trying to curry favor with Michael the same way they flattered the Marquis of Elvington.

The more Michael disliked me and trusted Zachary, the better Zachary’s chances of becoming the next commander of the Third Knights.

“Zachary! Go greet your brother properly.”

Lady Doris forced a smile and pulled her son forward.

Michael stared at Zachary. The fury he usually reserved for me was replaced with complete emotional neutrality.

I felt wronged. Couldn’t he get mad at Zachary too?

“Greetings, Young Marquis.”

Zachary gave a painfully forced bow.

“Right.”

Michael’s response was as dry as his gaze.

“Tch.”

Zachary clicked his tongue in embarrassment, clearly irritated. He even threw a sour look at his mother.

“Oh dear, what’s wrong with this child.”

Flustered by Zachary’s uncooperative attitude, Lady Doris tried to cover it up.

“ginata, stay with Michael for a moment. I’ll go have a word with Zachary.”

She quickly dragged Zachary off.

“Ow, ow! That hurts, Mother!” Zachary yelped as he was pulled away, but no one cared.

Even the servants in the background disappeared, sensing the tense atmosphere. Only Michael, ginata, and I were left in the hallway.

I could feel ginata glancing at Michael, perhaps trying to read his mood.

Was she also trying to curry favor with him because of her brother?

“Don’t mind Zachary. He’s always like that.”

ginata’s comment was slightly unexpected.

“Honestly, he’s hopeless when it comes to handling his own affairs.”

She didn’t hesitate to belittle Zachary right in front of Michael.

“Mother and Zachary must be such a bother to you.”

She even made a jab at Lady Doris.

Michael looked mildly surprised, as if he didn’t expect such words from her.

When Michael finally looked at her, ginata’s lips quivered.

That look—I know it. That’s the expression you make when you’re forcing down joy to maintain a polite smile.

“Um.”

Then ginata casually ignored my presence and stepped closer to Michael.

“May I ask you to escort me to the dining room? After all, you are a knight.”

She said it with confidence, as if there was no way he would refuse.

But Michael remained expressionless and silent.

Despite his indifference, ginata smiled sweetly and pulled out her trump card: me.

“I could ask Elia instead… but you heard what happened, right? She drank too much yesterday and pushed Zachary, hurting him. I’m afraid she might do something again.”

So that was her secret weapon—trashing me.

A simple but effective tactic.

Since Michael hated me, standing beside me would only make her shine brighter.

Sigh.

I sighed and ruffled my hair in frustration at being used as a prop.

“Lady Doris.”

Michael’s cold, blunt voice called out to ginata.

“Yes, brother?”

She replied in her sweetest tone. Michael’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“I’ve told you many times not to call me ‘brother’.”

“…What?”

ginata clearly didn’t expect that.

“Well, it’s just… you are my older brother. I thought it would be nice to be on good terms… And I didn’t think you really meant it when you said not to…”

She looked wide-eyed and innocent, so much so that even I felt a twinge of sympathy.

But Michael wasn’t swayed.

“I told you we should maintain basic courtesy. We’re not siblings—by blood or law. I don’t appreciate being called your brother.”

“…!”

“I was meaning to bring it up again. My father is merely your guardian, and I am not your brother. Please respect boundaries, Lady Doris.”

ginata’s face turned bright red, like an overripe persimmon.

Embarrassment and humiliation flushed her cheeks, yet she worked hard to maintain her expression.

Impressive, ginata.
Even after being publicly humiliated, she didn’t cry or scowl. I mentally applauded her.

“I must’ve let my admiration cloud my judgment.”

She quickly bowed and hurried in the direction her mother had gone.

Once ginata disappeared, Michael let out a quiet sigh.

“Let’s head to the dining room.”

His tone made it clear he was done with the nonsense and wouldn’t tolerate disobedience.

I didn’t want to go, but I nodded, knowing refusal would only make things worse.

“Yes, Young Marquis.”

Michael stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned to look at me.

“What did you just say?”

“I said, ‘Yes, Young Marquis.’”

“Why?”

This time, I understood his unspoken question easily.

“Because you seemed to dislike being called ‘brother’.”

If he hated it from the sweet ginata, he’d probably loathe it from me, the so-called troublemaker.

I now realized this must have been what Mary was worried about—me calling him “brother” and making things worse.

“I…”

Michael’s face twisted as if he wanted to say something.

Why stop mid-sentence again… Oh.
He must be allergic to the word “brother.”

“Forget it. Keep calling me Young Marquis. It’s better than boomer.”

Yup, definitely an allergy.

“Yes, Young Marquis.”

I added the title again, hoping to show I was serious.

Michael’s expression became strange. A flicker of emotion crossed his face but vanished so quickly I couldn’t identify it.

We entered the dining room and sat in our assigned seats. With the Marquis of Elvington already there, we ate breakfast in silence.

News of the earlier commotion must have spread quickly—only three sets of cutlery had been prepared.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

The food was exquisite, but between the two stony-faced men, it felt like chewing rocks.

Just as I set down my utensils in discomfort—

“Make sure you report to work today.”

The Marquis of Elvington suddenly spoke.

I tilted my head, puzzled. It seemed like such an obvious statement.

“Don’t go wandering off. Especially not to a tavern in broad daylight—I’d be very disappointed.”

Ah. That cleared things up.

“He still doesn’t believe I’ve changed.”

I opened my mouth to say I understood when—

“Act responsibly. Especially in front of your vice-commander.”

That caught me off guard.

I had no idea why he suddenly brought up Carlos.