Buzz Bogentap was one of the top knights in the North, but he rarely had to deal with fussy nobles.

He had no reason to attend social gatherings, as he served a demonic lord.

Still, he had heard rumors about how much the noble ladies valued etiquette and propriety.

Slapping the cheeks of their subordinates was apparently the norm, right?

If Diana were to behave badly, he planned to grab his wife and run away first.

“It’s nice to meet you too, lady.”

“Oh my, was I being rude? I apologize.”

However, Diana smiled brightly and took Carol’s hand in hers.

Carol, who belatedly realized she had failed to greet Diana with proper etiquette, tried to withdraw her hand, but Diana shook her head.

“I’m grateful that you’re welcoming me so warmly.”

Carol’s cheeks flushed red as she guided them to their seats. She didn’t forget to give Buzz a thumbs up behind Diana’s back.

Beautiful women are the best.

Buzz burst out laughing at her mouthing words. I knew you would like her.

His wife couldn’t contain her curiosity when she heard there was a lady who had melted the heart of the ice-cold Rodrick.

“What are you doing, Sir Buzz?”

“Huh? I’m currently on duty.”

Diana, who was guided to the quietest and most secluded spot, blankly stared at Buzz standing behind her.

“I don’t have the hobby of eating alone while keeping you standing there. Come on, sit down.”

Diana pulled out an empty chair and tapped it.

“… Uh, um.”

What should I do in this situation? I don’t know any guard protocols. Buzz’s deep green eyes wavered back and forth. That’s when his savior appeared.

“Ack!”

Carol slapped his sturdy back muscles and spoke boisterously.

“Here, two mugs of our establishment’s specialty cream beer!”

Despite her small stature, Carol somehow mustered the strength to carry two huge beer mugs in one hand and set them down on the table with a thud.

The precariously swaying white foam filled the mugs without spilling over.

“What are you doing, mister? The beauty is right. Don’t you know?”

“Honey, if my commander finds out, I’m dead.”

The lady of the house, who subdued the bear-like man with a single glance, smiled at Diana.

“I think our young lady here might have more power than your commander. Am I right?”

“Of course. I’m stronger.”

Diana glanced around and whispered softly.

“This is a secret, but I could even defeat the duke. My father is unexpectedly lenient towards his future daughter-in-law.”

“Hahaha. I really like you, young lady.”

Carol laughed heartily at Diana’s words.

“This guy is all brawn and no brain. He’s actually quite timid.”

She slapped Buzz’s back again, asking for understanding.

“Ouch, honey. Your hand really hurts!”

Carol spoke in a ventriloquist’s voice with a smile on her face.

“So, you have a problem with that? Sit down while I’m still being nice. It’s not good to keep a beauty waiting.”

Buzz, overwhelmed by his wife’s ominous force, was about to sit down on the chair.

“Carol! Sister-in-law! We’re here~!”

“This guy said he’s treating us to round two.”

“What are you saying, kid? We agreed to decide that through a bet!”

A rowdy group entered and filled the noisy tavern. Then their eyes met Buzz’s, who was awkwardly seated.

“What’s that bastard doing here?”

“Yeah. He’s on duty right now…!”

The mouths of the 1st Knight Division members shut simultaneously. The dozen knights who had left work early for an outside schedule froze upon seeing Diana.

“Hey, misters over there? Hold on.”

Carol stopped the knights who were starting to back away.

“If you don’t want to pay your tab right now, don’t try to run away.”

They quickly looked around.

‘Commander. Where’s the commander?!’

‘He’s not here. I don’t see him.’

‘Damn. I thought my liver was going to drop.’

Rodrick wasn’t there. The knights let out a sigh of relief and gave Diana, who was smiling, an awkward grin.

Diana rested her chin on the table and wiggled her finger.

“Shall we sit together?”

She would reject any refusal. Diana narrowed her eyes and spoke.

“So you left work early without permission?”

A knight who had chugged down his mug to the back of his throat set it down on the table with a thud and nodded.

The elite knights and regular division members were tightly seated together at tables joined around Diana.

“Hey. We need to have this level of flexibility.”

“Otherwise, we can’t survive as knights.”

“Haha. It’s fine as long as the commander doesn’t find out.”

How interesting. Even though they feared him, the knights, especially the elite knights who guarded him closely, acted freely.

To others, their actions might seem like they were risking their lives, but they never crossed the line he had drawn.

“Wow, but the young lady seems to have quite the alcohol tolerance?”

“Young lady, young lady! How about a bet with us?”

Diana’s lips curled up at the intriguing proposal. She was already on her fifth mug of beer. The cream beer had a surprisingly high alcohol content despite its appearance.

“Sure. If I lose, I’ll pay for everything we ate today and your tab.”

Woohoo! The slightly intoxicated knights cheered.

“But if I win, you each have to grant me a wish, okay?”

“Deal!”

The stage was quickly set as they cleared away the various side dishes they had ordered. Their gathering, which started early, continued late into the night.

Carol, who had sent away all the other customers except the knights, hung a closed sign on the door.

“Ugh. I can’t drink anymore.”

“Hey, you bastard! Have some pride as a member of the Duverc Knights!”

“No! Don’t pass out! Stuff it down your throat!”

It was a one-on-one drinking contest between Diana and a knight known for his alcohol tolerance.

The drinking session, which had been going on for hours, now involved not only cups but also oak barrels filled with rum.

One barrel. Two barrels. Even the liquor brought in by the crate was being emptied.

The opposing knight, his face flushed red, slammed his head down and collapsed.

“Aah! Our tab!”

“No! Carol, get today’s payment from that bastard.”

“Damn, we could have saved our salaries.”

Diana, who had cleanly emptied her remaining cup, wiped her mouth and shook her head.

But the pleasant buzz allowed her to smile carefreely without any worries. The knights chattered incessantly, and it helped clear her mind.

On a night with a high moon. The tavern, from which bright light leaked out, was lively.

At a time when all the shops had closed.

Woohoo! The men’s resounding cheers rang out. That’s when the door with the closed sign opened.

Ding-a-ling— At the sound of the bell, Carol turned her head.

“We’re closed for the day… Oh my?”

As a man with an even more overwhelming presence than the knights entered, Carol was surprised but soon greeted him with a smile.

The man didn’t even sit down, just leaned against the corner with his arms crossed, standing askew.

He gazed at the woman at the center of the boisterous men.

“Wow!”

The dagger hit the target. The knights cheered as the dagger stuck precisely in the center of the bullseye.

“You’re amazing, young lady!”

“Whoa! This calls for a drink.”

“Go, young lady!”

She seemed to oddly blend in and harmonize among the rough men.

Thud— thud— She threw the dagger three times in a row, hitting the bullseye each time.

She had changed into Carol’s clothes. Diana, who was looking at the target with a high level of concentration, was so beautiful that she naturally captivated the gaze. Her beauty shone even in commoner’s everyday attire.

“Ahaha, sir. I won, right?”

She spun around and held out her hand to the knight. The knight handed over silver coins with a frown.

“This is too much! I have my own specialty!”

“Oh my, sir. It’s not attractive for a man to whine like that.”

“Puha, how did you know? That guy has never even dated a woman.”

“Aaargh! Shut up!”

Diana returned to her seat and received a cup of alcohol while watching the knights bicker.

How much time had passed? One, two. Of the dozen knights who had collapsed in their seats, only the elite knights remained to accompany her in drinking.

“We don’t want our commander to die! Hic.”

“That’s right. They’re all crazy bastards who live in their own world, but what’s the point of living without the commander?”

To be precise, Diana was listening to their drunken ramblings.

“Even hanging out with these guys. Hic. It’s all because the commander is here.”

Diana, her cheeks flushed red from the alcohol, propped her chin and looked at them with half-dazed eyes.

Pfft. A smile escaped her lips. She felt good knowing that Rodrick was being acknowledged.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your commander alive. Whoops.”

As she tried to stand up from her seat, her foot caught on the chair, and she staggered. A pair of firm arms that had been waiting caught and lifted her.

“Oh, Rodrick?”

Hazy pink eyes blinked slowly.

“You’re drunk.”

“Oh my, are you worried about me?”

How kind of you. Diana leaned her forehead against his chest and rubbed against it. Feeling secure in his scent, she felt even more intoxicated.

Rodrick exhaled a low breath and glanced around.

The elite knights who had noticed his presence were slyly running away as if they had sobered up.

“You defeated the entire knight division.”

“You’re still here, though?”

He shifted his gaze down from the terrifying glare he was giving the fleeing knights. His eyebrows rose crookedly.

“I don’t entertain drunken nonsense.”

“Tsk. You told me not to hold back. Drunken nonsense isn’t allowed? And I’m not even being drunk and silly, you know?”

“……”

Does she know? That he wants to bite and devour those pouty, plump lips right this moment.

“Don’t provoke me.”

He tilted his head slightly and whispered softly.

“I held back a lot yesterday too.”

Oh my! Oh my! Lewd sounds came from behind, but no one paid attention.

Carol was excitedly slapping her husband’s arm and stuffing a handful of peanuts into her mouth.

“Rodrick.”

She wrapped her slender arms around his thick neck and brought her face close to his, almost touching. In the narrowed distance, her excited breath touched his lips.

“Who told you to hold back? You shouldn’t hold back either.”

“You’re driving me crazy.”

Rodrick’s handsome forehead creased. He took out a heavy pouch of gold coins from his inner pocket.

“I’ll take the entire floor.”

He handed the pouch to Carol and headed to the third floor of the inn that also served as a tavern.

“Of course. Have a good time~”

Hehe, unless it was a special occasion, the third floor was always kept empty for business. How do you know that too? Today’s sales are the best.

Carol grinned at the pouch of gold coins.

“Ahem.”

Carol, who had been smiling nonstop, grabbed the man trying to climb the stairs with keen eyes.

“Where are you going, honey?”

“I, I was chosen as the young lady’s guard. Honey.”

“And?”

“I have to stand guard.”

“Did this mister not sober up from the alcohol?! How dare you try to interrupt them.”

The burly, bearded man made a tearful face.

Even sobering up was frightening. He didn’t know what kind of harsh orders would come the next day for bringing Diana to the tavern.

“The commander’s eyes were dripping with honey. The commander needs to get married soon for your sake too.”

“Still… I played around during work hours.”

“Tsk. He’ll forget about such trivial things after having a passionate night. Shall we also clean up and go to bed?”

The wife’s words are always right. Buzz obediently nodded, left his still-collapsed colleagues behind, and headed to the room with his wife.