KDYG l CH 01

Episode 1

Anyone who’s ever worked knows—there’s always at least one boss you want to punch in the face.

And for Chloe Amboise, a proud soldier of the Kingdom of Ibanes, that person was her superior officer.

Chloe muttered under her breath,
“Is this even a life…?”

It was two o’clock in the afternoon on a scorching summer day. The royal army’s guard battalion, directly under the crown, was out on the parade ground, and the sun was blazing.

About forty guards were lying face-down in the dirt. All of them in full gear, guns and all.

In short—they were being punished. A few soldiers wiped away sweat as they grumbled under their breath.

“Didn’t you know life under Brigadier General Verck isn’t really living?”
“Ugh, seriously. I swear I’ll transfer out of the guard next rotation.”

The royal guard was supposed to be the elite of the elite—high-ranking knights with both skill and noble status. A position of honor and dignity.

So why were they face-down in the dirt like this?

The reason was ridiculous.

Because Chloe’s boss, Curtis Sian Verck… was insane.

The guards had originally gathered to rehearse for the upcoming royal parade with Glintland. But, as usual, the problem was Squad 1 and Squad 2.

Their leaders, Georges and Ezra, were always at each other’s throats. This time was no different.

They started bickering, and as expected…

“Lack of discipline. Shared responsibility. Time for a review.”

That’s all it took for their commanding officer—Brigadier General Curtis Sian Verck—to punish the entire guard battalion by making them face-plant in the dirt.

That was an hour ago.

Soldiers rarely need a good reason to be punished in the military, but Chloe felt it was especially unfair.

Why?
Because today was her day off.

She shouldn’t have even been on base.

But she had just finished a grueling 48-hour shift because of the assignments her lovely boss dumped on her. She only came in to drop off the final report, thinking she’d be out by lunchtime.

But Verck wasn’t in his office like she expected.

While searching for him, she came across Georges and Ezra fighting like kids in the middle of the training yard.

‘You idiots. I can’t go home because of you. Get it together. Want Verck to chew you out again?’

She was just scolding them a little.

And right then, of course, Verck showed up out of nowhere.

“I heard Warrant Officer Amboise say, ‘Want to get chewed out again?’ Good. She can join in the punishment.”

So now Chloe, who was just about to go home, had been stuck face-down in the dirt for an hour.

Her eyes glazed over.

“Please… someone… just let me go home…”
Or better yet—
“Let me quit. I want to leave the military forever…”

The words slipped out unconsciously. She didn’t expect anyone to hear or reply.

But shockingly, someone did.

“That’s unfortunate, Warrant Officer Amboise.”

Chloe’s eyes flew open.

She knew that voice. That deep, cold voice that stabbed into her skull from above.

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head.

“You can’t quit, I’m afraid.”

Chloe clenched her teeth.

Please, someone—tell me this is just a dream.

“Warrant Officer Amboise. Did you not hear me?”

Without even thinking, Chloe jumped to her feet and saluted like a robot.

“Yes, sir! Warrant Officer Chloe Amboise, I heard you loud and clear, Brigadier General Curtis Sian Verck, sir!”

Standing in front of her, arms folded, was the very man she hated.

Curtis Sian Verck.

Golden-haired, jaw-droppingly handsome—anyone would stare.

But more importantly…

He was that infamous Brigadier General Verck. Chloe’s boss. A duke of the Ibanes Kingdom.
The king’s half-brother.
The war hero who led over ten battles to victory.

And also…

‘A complete lunatic.’

That “lunatic” part? It was kind of a nickname. Said with love and teeth-gritting rage by the royal guard under his command.

And that lunatic was now smiling at Chloe.

Cold sweat ran down her back.

‘When did he even get here? He moves like a ghost.’

There’s a saying you hear on your first day in the royal guard:

“If General Verck looks expressionless, you might be okay—or you might be doomed.
But if he’s irritated, you’re definitely doomed.
And if he smiles… then you are 100% completely screwed.”

Yep. She was completely screwed.

Knowing this, Chloe tried damage control.

“Sir! As punishment for disrespecting my superior officer, I’ll voluntarily stay down for another thirty minutes!”

Translation: She was offering more punishment.

‘Might as well die here today. If I drop dead from heatstroke, my family will at least get a pension.’

Clenching her eyes shut, Chloe started lowering herself to the ground again.

But just before her forehead hit the dirt—Verck spoke.

And surprisingly, not to punish her more.

“I appreciate your eagerness to lead by example, but that won’t be necessary. Stand up.”

“…Sir?”

Chloe hesitated mid-squat. Verck frowned.

His face said: “Are you really going to make me repeat myself?”

She flinched and quickly stood up.

Her mind raced.

‘Wait—is he planning something worse? Like, actually trying to kill me tonight?’

Some might think Chloe was overreacting.

But anyone in the royal guard would say she was being totally reasonable.

That’s the kind of man Curtis Sian Verck was.

Obsessive. Workaholic. No sense of decency. And he handed out punishments like candy.

Some days, they got punished more times than they ate meals.

No one dared talk back. In the military, rank was law—and Verck was both a Brigadier General and a duke.

That’s actually how Chloe ended up as his aide.

You see, before she came, Verck had gone through twenty aides in one year.

Twenty!

That’s why Chloe, who originally came from the navy, was brought in with a 400% bonus incentive.

‘But God… please let me be the twenty-first to quit.’

That was impossible, of course.

Why?

Because along with that huge bonus, she had signed a very specific contract:

“Chloe Amboise will serve as aide to Brigadier General Curtis Sian Verck for two years.”

She’d signed away her soul. She regretted everything.

“Warrant Officer Amboise.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chloe answered sharply, hiding every bit of resentment and regret in her voice.

Verck gave his order.

“You’ll be assisting me at the royal diplomatic banquet tonight. The Duke of Glintland will be attending.”

“Sir? But I’m…”

She almost blurted out, “I’m off duty today.”

She bit her tongue in time and quickly switched gears.

“Would it be appropriate for someone like me to assist you at such an event?”

He shot back instantly.

“Are you questioning your superior?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Chloe flinched. Verck’s violet eyes narrowed, and she rushed to explain.

“Apologies, sir. I just… don’t have anything formal to wear…”

Verck looked at her like she was an idiot.

“Why would you wear a dress to a military banquet? Got shot in the head recently?”

‘Honestly, I should’ve just said I’m off duty today…’

“What, you think the guard uniform is for display only?”

Behind her, she could hear Georges and Ezra barely holding in their laughter.

‘Those little jerks…’

Chloe forced a bright smile and saluted.

“Yes, sir! Understood, sir!”

Verck sighed and continued.

“Come to my estate by 6 PM in full dress uniform.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Also…”

He suddenly reached out and brushed the sweat off her forehead with one finger.

She flinched, startled, as he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hand, frowning.

“At least you don’t smell.”

“…Excuse me?”

“But wash up before you come.”

“…Understood, sir.”

Chloe answered a beat late. Then bit down on her lip.

‘I want to punch that guy. Just once. I’d sell my soul to do it.’

Not that she actually thought it was possible.

Again—rank ruled the military. And Verck was both a brigadier general and a noble duke.

But life doesn’t always go the way you expect.

That very evening…

Chloe would get the chance to smack her boss in the back of the head.

She just didn’t know yet—

That it would come at the price of her own marriage.