Chapter 6.1 – Are You Jealous, Captain? (Part 1)

“You idiot!”

“Ah, father!”

Puh-!

The sound of the slap was so dull that it was almost primitive. Galverd, who was hit by the thick palm, collapsed and sat down on the floor.

“What are you going to do now? What are you going to do, I say!”

Galverd’s father, Earl Paraton, shouted so loudly the mansion seemed to shake.

Not long ago, due to Galverd’s affair, the engagement with Baron Leshuriel’s family was canceled, and Earl Canabella, who had been supporting the Paraton family’s business, suddenly withdrew his support.

The Earl’s loss of composure and anger was due to Earl Canabella, Lena’s uncle, breaking the contract, but the root cause lay with his son, Galverd.

Earl Paraton had long dreamed of a business venture. It was none other than the commercialization of magical tools. It was a venture no one had easily touched before, but if tackled, it was bound to be a huge success.

The problem was the cost of the magic stone itself and hiring a wizard to imbue it with magic. To put it simply: money. The biggest issue in this venture was money.

“You couldn’t control yourself and caused this mess, you fool!”

“I’m frustrated too, father!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Of course, it was understandable why he felt aggrieved. Earl Paraton also did not expect the other party to react that way.

Earl Canabella had agreed to invest in his business, using Lena’s engagement as leverage. They had been running the business together when he suddenly broke the contract.

‘To think he would break the contract despite the penalty.’

Who could have imagined that Earl Canabella had such a bulldozer-like personality?

The penalty was worth the price of an entire diamond mine.

For a while, they managed to continue the business with that money, but the problem was… he had no business acumen.

In the end, not only did the business go bankrupt in a short period, but the Paraton family also ended up with an enormous amount of debt.

Earl, grabbing the back of his neck, sat on the sofa and barely caught his breath.

“Hah! I don’t want to see you anymore, so get out.”

“Pardon?”

“Can’t you understand when I say it once? Get out of my house!”

“F-Father!”

“My son is Kashner Paraton. Only him.”

“Father, please, just give me one more chance!”

“Your chance ended with the Lengay family.”

“Th-That’s…!”

When the Earl mentioned that name, Galverd hesitated. The woman who caused him to part ways with Lena and the one he got pregnant, Canella Lengay.

Whenever he thought about what happened with her, his mind went blank. Galverd couldn’t argue anymore and kept his mouth shut.

“You fool. If you don’t want to be dragged out, you’d better crawl out on your own!”

As if there was nothing more to hear, the Earl left the room. Left alone, Galverd trembled without even holding his aching cheek.

“It’s all because of that woman….”

She, who had an affair with the knight commander, only made a fuss about him.

“I’ve lost everything, but…!”

That girl lost nothing. His bloodshot eyes burned with seething anger.

***

The Red Knights, symbolizing the Monster Subjugation Squad, had been busy lately with matters other than monsters. Especially on days like today, when a guest visited the Knight Commander’s study, they were even busier.

In the middle of the Knight Commander’s study, there was a guest table, a long sofa, and a single-seater sofa.

The Knight Commander’s desk was located north of the guest table, with the aide’s desk to the east.

To the west were two five-tier cabinets, and in the northwest corner was a space for discarded documents.

Additionally, the entrance door was to the south, and behind the commander’s desk was a large window and a wall clock.

Alhendore sat on the single-seater sofa at the guest table, flipping through documents.

Today, the ‘guest’ visiting the knight order brought the agenda, so the overall proceedings of the meeting were handled by the guests.

Thanks to this, Lena, who had no tasks, sat at her own desk rather than the guest table and comfortably watched the meeting.

The guest visiting the Red Knights this time was the leader of the White Knights who served the princess.

“To celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday, distinguished guests from abroad are also expected to attend.”

The aide of the White Knights’ leader began a brief explanation. Alhendore and the White Knights’ leader were looking over the documents handed out by the White Knights’ aide.

“We need to increase the palace guards and adjust the capital’s security deployment.”

Alhendore stroked his chin as he skimmed through the list of distinguished guests visiting the palace.

Whenever the palace became crowded like this, there were always factions that took advantage of the chaos to make unscrupulous moves.

Ophelia, the leader of the White Knights and the head of the Marquis Renassen family, nodded while sitting on the long sofa.

“We should also send cooperation letters to the other Knight Commanders as well.”

“They said they would hold a meeting soon anyway.”

The leaders of the five Knight Orders guarding the empire were to gather in one place to prepare for the Crown Prince’s birthday.

Since they would need to organize newly added parts later anyway, Ophelia, who was lazy to work, stretched leisurely.

“Then shall we decide the details after the meeting?”

“Is playing the only thing on your mind?”

Alhendore glanced at him with a disdainful look.

Unfazed, Ophelia admired the elegantly prepared tea table.

“Ah, hey, Lengester. By the way, what is this?”

She picked up a well-baked cookie and waved it in front of his nose. Taking a bite, the crispness of the freshly baked cookie filled her mouth.

“Wow, it’s amazing! I didn’t know the Red Knights’ commander had such a knack for bringing out things like this.”

Ophelia was astonished to see refreshments in the Red Knights’ commander’s study, grinning broadly. It was the first time she had been treated so well in the Red Knights’ commander’s study, which usually offered only poor hospitality.

Naturally, Ophelia didn’t think that Alhendore had prepared them, so she leaned back over the sofa and turned her head.

“You wouldn’t have prepared this for a guest. Could it be Dame Leshuriel’s work?”

“Ah, yes!”

Lena, who was sitting quietly at her seat, quickly affirmed towards Ophelia who had spoken to her.

“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it. Have you ever thought about joining the White Knights?”

“Me?”

Ophelia, munching on a golden brown cookie, rested her chin on her arms draped over the back of the sofa.

“Yes, Dame Lena Leshuriel.”

“Really?”

Surprised by her sudden proposal, Lena’s eyes widened. 

Was she joking? 

It sounded like a compliment, making Lena smile happily.

“Yes, my aide is getting married soon and leaving the order. Isn’t that right, Sir Andel?”

As Ophelia winked, the knight with a tidy appearance nodded. Ophelia, excited, continued talking.

“A position is opening, so why don’t you stop suffering under this incompetent guy and-.”

“Marquis.”

Alhendore’s voice was chillingly calm at that moment. Cutting off Ophelia, who was being overly familiar with Lena, he raised his eyebrows.

“If your business is done, get out.”

“Oh, Lengester. Are you telling me not to poach your aide?”

Finding his reaction quite unfamiliar, Ophelia giggled and teased him. Unperturbed, Alhendore waved him off.

“If you understand, stop hanging around and leave.”

“Hey, hey, leave? You know I’m free, and you treat me like this?”

“Are you bragging about that now?”

“Of course! Hey, Lengester. Listen to me, today. Sir Matheda, you know what?”

Ophelia clapped her hands with an exaggerated gesture. The longer she spoke, the more Alhendore’s expression twisted. Her loud, boisterous laughter, as if she had swallowed a megaphone, was irritating.

“Ha, so noisy.”

Lena, sitting at her desk behind the sofa, glanced at the two of them. She covertly hid her face behind a document and peeked over it with her eyes.

Ophelia Renassen. She was the first woman to rise to the position of a knight commander in the empire, where there were almost no female knights.

Lena looked at the esteemed Dame Ophelia intently. Her bronzed skin adorned with well-defined muscles, sharp eyes, and curvaceous figure exuded mature beauty.

‘So cool…’

Her eyes sparkled until she suddenly met Alhendore’s gaze. Embarrassed, she quickly turned her head away, making his gaze narrow slightly.

“So, Lengester. Hey, Lengester. You’re listening to me, right?”

“I’m not listening. If you’re done talking, get out, Marquis.”

“What’s with that attitude? We’re close.”

“Don’t associate me with someone like you.”

Annoyed, Alhendore scowled and clicked his tongue.

Alhendore, Ophelia, and the Crown Prince were all alumni of the same academy. Among them, Ophelia was the woman who always bothered him along with the Crown Prince.

Ignoring the chattering Ophelia beside him, Alhendore turned his head. Lena, who was watching him, pretended to look at the documents again while stealing glances at Ophelia.

‘I do want to go… to the White Knights.’

What would it feel like to work under such an impressive knight commander? 

As Lena, fascinated, watched Ophelia, she met Alhendore’s gaze once more.

‘Ugh…’

No way he noticed that I was briefly tempted by Ophelia’s offer, right? 

Feeling a twinge of guilt at his slightly narrowed eyes, Lena hastily stood up as if to flee.

“I’m going to patrol now!”