The barracks buzzed with energy. Soldiers stood in formation, their posture less about discipline and more about anticipation.
Their captain paced in front of them, barking orders. "Alright, soldiers! Today, we have an official visit from our young master, Javier De Armand! I want everyone on their best behavior!"
However, the soldiers weren't exactly thrilled about their young master. Instead, murmurs rippled through the ranks, excitent growing for a different reason.
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"I heard the head of the household maids is visiting!" one soldier whispered, barely containing his grin.
"Not just her! I bet there'll be a whole entourage of maids!" another chid in, polishing his breastplate with vigor.
"I wonder which one is super hot!" a third added, slicking his hair back as if preparing for a ball instead of a formal inspection.
The captain stopped mid-pace, glaring at the commotion. "What are you all fussing about? This is an official visit! Focus!"
"But Captain!" a bold soldier shouted. "Do you know how many maids are coming with the young master?"
The captain sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "How should I know? Maybe ten... or more."
The ranks erupted in cheers.
"Uooooohhhhh!!! That's amazing! More maids an better chances!"
"Do you think the head maid is single?" one soldier speculated, fixing his posture.
"Forget her! What about the younger ones? There's bound to be soone who'll notice !"
Nearby, another soldier nervously checked his breath by cupping his hand over his mouth. "Does it sll alright? Should I chew so mint leaves?"
One veteran chuckled, adjusting his helt. "I heard there are over a hundred maids at the manor. If even a dozen co, our odds are fantastic!"
The captain groaned, watching as his n straightened their armor, tucked in loose tunics, and sneaked glances at their reflections in shields.
"Have so dignity!" he shouted, but it was no use. The barracks had turned into a fashion show for lovesick soldiers.
One eager soldier leaned over to his friend, whispering, "Hey, if one of them smiles at , I'm proposing on the spot!"
The captain slapped his forehead, muttering to himself. "These fools are more excited for the maids than the young master's inspection. Heaven help us if Lord Garius hears about this…"
As the soldiers continued their chatter, one of them suddenly grinned at the captain. "Captain! You're still single, aren't you? Don't act all high and mighty—this is your chance too!"
Laughter erupted among the ranks, hearty chuckles echoing through the barracks.
Another soldier slapped his knee. "Yeah, Captain! You're not getting any younger. Maybe this is your golden opportunity!"
The captain's face flushed with irritation. He opened his mouth to retort, but a smooth, confident voice interrupted him.
"Heh. Like any of you stand a chance against ."
The barracks fell silent as heads turned to the doorway, where the infamous iken of the squad stood leaning casually against the fra. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a chiseled jawline and a smirk that seed to lt hearts.
The soldiers groaned collectively.
"Ugh! The playboy is here! Damn it!"
"Shooo! Get lost! Go away!" another shouted, waving dismissively.
The playboy chuckled and brushed back his perfectly styled hair. "Don't hate the player, boys. Hate the ga." He adjusted his polished armor, flashing a sparkling smile. "When those maids see , it's over for all of you. Just accept it now."
One soldier stomped his foot in frustration. "You're just here to chase skirts! We want wives!"
The playboy raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "And who says I'm not looking for a wife too? I just enjoy the process more than you boring lot."
Another soldier jabbed a finger at him. "Liar! You're only after their bodies! Don't ruin this for us!"
"Yeah! Go charm soone else!" another added, puffing out his chest as if trying to compete.
The captain rubbed his temple in exasperation. "Why do I even bother? We're supposed to be preparing for an official visit, not competing for maids' attention!"
But the soldiers were too engrossed in their sparring to pay him any mind.
The playboy shrugged, confidence dripping from his words. "Well, you can all keep dreaming. ? I'll just be over here... winning."
The soldiers erupted in boos and protests as the barracks descended into chaos, leaving the captain to wonder if this inspection would be more trouble than it was worth.
Suddenly, the happy chatter among the soldiers stopped when they heard the guards outside announce the arrival of the young master.
"A-Attention! The... the Young Master Javier De Armand has arrived!"
The guards sounded nervous, their words coming out in a stutter. The soldiers in the barracks exchanged knowing looks and smirked.
"Ohhh! That ans the maids escorting the young master are absolutely stunning!" one soldier whispered loudly.
Another grinned widely and nudged his friend. "Yeah! Even the guards outside are stuttering! Can you imagine? They're probably speechless just seeing them!"
"YEAHHH!!" the group cheered together, their excitent clear.
The captain pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long, tired sigh. He had expected this, knowing how his soldiers would act. This wasn't just a normal day—it was a rare chance for the maids of the Armand Household to visit the barracks.
"This is hopeless," the captain muttered to himself, shaking his head. Even though he was annoyed, he couldn't completely bla them. He had once visited the main manor when Lord Garius called him for his promotion to captain. He'd seen the elegance and beauty of the household maids himself.
He paused, his expression softening as he rembered a certain maid. Her calm smile and graceful way of moving had made a lasting impression on him. Though he never learned her na, he thought about her often.
"I wonder…" he murmured, looking toward the entrance. "Could she be one of the maids with the young master today?"
The soldiers, however, were too busy with their own thoughts, making bets and dreaming about which maid might notice them.
"I swear, if it's her, I'll confess on the spot!" one soldier declared, puffing out his chest.
"Confess? You'll faint before you even get a word out!" another laughed.
The captain sighed again and straightened up. "Alright, enough! Everyone, get into formation! Show so discipline for once!"
As the soldiers hurried to fix their uniforms and stand at attention, the sound of footsteps and the jingling of armor grew louder, signaling the young master's arrival. Even with their excitent, they managed to look sowhat orderly, waiting for the show they all knew was coming.
The gates to the barracks creaked open, and Javier rode in on Buddy, his Pekko, with Liana beside him on Pikko. Behind them, Miss Gloria rode gracefully on her horse, accompanied by twenty household maids ,making the guards and soldiers staring in awe.
Javier's sharp eyes quickly noticed the surprised faces of the guards at the gate. "Heheh…" he smirked to himself. "I know that look. They're all staring at the maids, just as I thought. Predictable!"
The head guard cleared his throat, trying to keep his cool. "W-Welco to our barracks, Young Master!" he announced formally, but his eyes kept darting toward the line of maids.
Javier responded with a polite nod but was really thinking about his plans. "I made sure to ask Gloria to bring Cici as one of the escorts. Oh, this is going to be good. I can't wait to see the captain's reaction when he sees her."
Inside the barracks, the soldiers couldn't contain their excitent and began cheering.
"They're here!"
"Look at them! They're even more beautiful than we imagined!"
The captain stood rigidly in the courtyard, ready for the chaos. His jaw tightened as he tried to focus on Javier's arrival, but his gaze slipped toward the maids—especially one in the middle. His heart skipped a beat.
Liana watched the soldiers going wild and sighed, shaking her head. She knew exactly what they were thinking, and it didn't surprise her at all.
Miss Gloria, sitting next to Javier, stayed calm, her smile showing she didn't notice—or care about—the fuss. Her peaceful attitude only seed to charm the soldiers even more.
Javier leaned closer to Liana, whispering with a cheeky grin. "Liana, look at them. They're practically drooling. Should I be worried that Gloria might accidentally cause a mutiny here?"
Liana shot him a sharp look. "Young Master, please behave. You're here on an official visit."
"I am behaving," Javier whispered back, trying not to laugh. "This is at my best."
When they finally stopped in the center of the courtyard, everyone was watching them. The soldiers tried hard to stay disciplined, but many failed. Javier got off Buddy, patting the bird's neck, still wearing that playful smirk.
The captain stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Welco, Young Master Javier, Miss Gloria, and honored guests," he said, though his voice wavered as he glanced at Cici, who stood shyly behind Gloria.
Javier held back a chuckle, noticing every detail of the captain's reaction. "Ah, there it is," he thought. "Bullseye."
(End Of Chapter)
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