Chapter 13
. It’s a Beauty’s Request—Can’t You Even Do That Much?
“Hey, I think that girl’s into me.”
Bane grinned as he took a swig of beer.
“Have a conscience, will you?”
Rochess scolded the youngest member of the Kaisel Knights for his absurd remark.
“I’m serious! She’s been staring only at me and only serves our side of the table.”
“You think it’s you?”
Rochess snapped irritably. Bane glanced toward the waitress. Her gaze had indeed been locked onto him for a while now, and Bane was certain of it—even if the others disagreed.
“Captain, my apologies. I didn’t realize the staffing situation had changed.”
Paikal, the only one wearing glasses at the table, addressed the man seated in the center. A woman had been serving their table for a while now, and her gaze was growing increasingly uncomfortable. She was staring directly—and very deliberately—at their commander.
“Seems it’s time to change our regular tavern.”
The Kaisel Knights had chosen this humble inn not only because the beer was good but because the environment was free of bothersome distractions.
Those distractions were almost always women.
Wherever he went, women flocked to Stern, the dashing captain of the Kaisel Knights.
With long silver hair tied back in a single tail, Stern had sharp jawlines and a well-defined nose—more “decadent flower boy” than rugged man. But it was his mesmerizing sunset-orange eyes that truly bewitched women, leaving them breathless.
Still, the Kaisel Knights held immense prestige in the Kingdom of Campton. Unlike common soldiers, they had a reputation to uphold. Getting caught mingling with women in taverns would tarnish the royal image.
That was why the Vista Inn had been ideal. It was obscure, quiet, and—aside from the innkeeper—completely free of women.
But that peace seemed to be over. Just as Paikal was about to sigh and think they’d need to find a new spot…
“Um… Excuse me, Captain.”
As expected, the waitress finally approached their table and spoke. This was a scene the knights were all too familiar with.
Shanellica, the diligent server, tucked her long hair behind her ear, revealing small, delicate ears. With a soft smile, she asked:
“I know we just met, but… would you mind doing me a little favor?”
The knights let out silent sighs. It was always the same. Another woman, another request. Seeing this unfold, Mos, the knight usually tasked with handling these situations, stood up.
“Hey, miss. If you know it’s rude, then don’t ask favors.”
His voice was low and rough, matching his fearsome appearance. Mos was the tallest and most muscular of the knights, often mistaken for a bandit. Children cried at the mere sight of him.
Usually, women reacted in one of two ways: they either fled in fear or ignored him and clung to the captain. Nine times out of ten, it was the former. This one should be no different.
“Oh! Sorry. But I’m really desperate!”
Mos paused—this was not the reaction he expected. Instead of cowering, the girl smiled even more sweetly. For a second, Mos wondered if he had somehow started looking less scary, and scowled harder.
“Someone like you doesn’t have the right to ask personal favors of him. Beat it.”
He’d seen it all before—women doing whatever it took to get close to the handsome captain.
“Then can I ask you instead, sir?”
Another unexpected twist. Shanellica smiled again.
“I thought the captain could solve it quickly, being so important. But since he refused… I need to get into the royal palace, and as you can see, I’m a foreigner. I can’t get in alone. Could you escort me, just this once?”
Silence fell around the table.
Mos, stunned by a beautiful woman smiling directly at him for the first time in his life, stared at her as if he saw stars in her eyes.
“…Me?”
“Yes! A dependable man like you vouching for me would be perfect!”
The rest of the knights were just as shocked. A woman not running from Mos? Smiling, even? They had no idea she was actually a dragon in disguise, which made it all the more baffling.
“Uh… only the Captain can vouch for foreigners entering the palace…”
Mos, now uncharacteristically flustered, mumbled his words.
“But the Captain probably won’t… so you should… go… I mean, step back.”
Even his tone had softened—though Shanellica’s persistence had thoroughly ignored him.
“Really? Then, Captain! Please hear me out!”
She darted over to Stern before anyone could stop her.
“Please! Just let me enter the palace once. Please?”
“You want me to vouch for you?”
The silver-haired young man finally spoke, his voice gentle and calm despite his cold appearance.
“Yes!”
“What’s your reason for wanting into the palace?”
His tone resembled a kind older brother, more than the stern commander she expected. Shanellica replied sincerely:
“To get a job! I saw they’re hiring translators and I want to apply—but I can’t get inside!”
“Why don’t you have a foreigner’s ID?”
“I just arrived in Campton. They say it takes three months to get one, but I really want this translator job. I can’t wait that long.”
She answered like it was a job interview, her eyes gleaming. Stern set down his beer and asked more questions.
“Which country are you from?”
“I traveled through several nations on the Western Continent.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Here at the Vista Inn!”
“Why do you want to be a translator?”
“Because I need money to survive?”
“Have you translated before?”
“No, but I think I’ll be good at it.”
The knights sighed internally. No matter how sympathetic their commander might be, it was impossible to take someone without clear identification into the royal palace. She probably wouldn’t land the job anyway.
Translator positions were high-level roles. Just because the notice was posted publicly didn’t mean commoners had a shot—speaking multiple languages was rarely within reach for the poor. Occasionally, hopefuls with patchy language skills would apply, only to leave disappointed.
“…”
But Commander Stern remained silent.
Which made his knights increasingly anxious.
He wouldn’t actually entertain such a ridiculous request… right?
They believed in him. Stern was the most valiant commander in Campton, nicknamed “the devil” on the battlefield. He was strategic, decisive, and clear-headed—which was why he held the highest position.
So now, at this moment of rational judgment, surely he would—
“All right. Let’s go in together.”
Huh?
Everyone froze.
Their hopes were dashed in an instant.
“Captain! You’re really going to vouch for a stranger?!”
“If anything happens, it’ll be our entire order held responsible!”
“So what? It’s a beauty’s request—can’t you even do that much?”
Stern smiled calmly, leaving the knights gaping.
Meanwhile, Shanellica silently cheered inside.
A week later, outside the Kaisel Knights’ headquarters inside the Campton royal palace.
“Wha…”
“Did I just hallucinate?”
“I wish I were, too.”
Dozens of knights stood slack-jawed at the sight before them.
The tall, silver-haired man with a longsword on his waist was no surprise—he was a regular beacon of handsomeness. What shocked them was the woman next to him.
A small, fair face with delicate features seemingly sculpted by the gods. Light pink hair that complemented the captain’s aura perfectly. And a radiant smile that stunned even the hardened knights.
A woman… at the Kaisel Knights’ HQ? A young, beautiful one?
As everyone stood frozen, the most shocked of all was Mos. His mouth was so wide open it looked like he could fit two fists in it.
Stern led the way, and the woman trailed behind, curiously glancing around like a child seeing the world for the first time. When she made eye contact with a knight, she gave a dazzling smile that turned their cheeks red.
“You guys lost your minds or something?”
Rochess couldn’t just watch his comrades swoon like lovestruck teens. He marched forward and blocked Stern’s path.
“Rochess?”
“Captain. What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you bring a tavern girl to our sacred order?”
But Stern remained completely unfazed.
“I brought her because she’s worth it.”
“Bringing her into the palace is one thing—but into the order?!”
“That’s just how it worked out. Treat her well.”
“Excuse me?!”
“Treat her… well?!”
“Who is she that we should treat her well?”
“Is she… going to be the Captain’s wife?!”
The front of the building erupted into chaos, voices overlapping like a bustling marketplace. Usually stoic and solemn, the knights looked anything but.
Stern chuckled.
“It’s not what you guys think.”
True, she wasn’t his usual type.
Most women seen with Stern exuded sensuality and confidence. Even the shy ones would try to match that energy just to be around him.
But this girl was different—youthful and innocent, yet somehow not immature. Her aura was pure and serene.
“She’s Shanel—the translator recently hired through the royal recruitment. She’ll be working here officially at the Kaisel Knights’ building, so don’t make her uncomfortable.”
