Kazien looked at the soldiers with a complicated gaze. His business mind was spinning, but his conscience held him back. He decided to be honest with them about the reason he could not mass-produce such cheap goods.
"I am sorry..." Kazien said softly, yet his voice was clear enough for the soldiers before him to hear.
He sighed, then continued, "I want to help, but it would be fatal for the business owners! They would face mass bankruptcy if I were reckless enough to sell magic tools in the capital at slashed prices just for momentary profit."
Hearing the logical explanation, although they had to swallow their disappointment because their hope of getting cheap magic tools had vanished, the two soldiers nodded respectfully. They accepted his decision with grace, realizing how wise the young man before them was to consider the fate of small merchants.
However, seeing their shoulders slump in disappointment, pity crept into Kazien's heart. Without another word, Kazien reached back into his dimensional storage.
Cling! Cling! Cling!
He pulled out a handful of gold coins. Not one or two, but 105 Gold Pieces. He then distributed them evenly, giving 15 Gold Pieces to each of the seven elite soldiers there.
The soldiers' eyes widened. Their hands trembled as they received the money given by Kazien.
"W-What is this money for, Young Master?" one of them asked, his voice choked with emotion.
Kazien gave a faint smile. "Didn't you really want magic bags? Just use that money to buy decent ones in the capital market. Or if you change your mind, simply use it to provide for your families at home!"
Silence descended for a moment. They couldn't believe the generosity of the young man standing before them.
"Are you serious, young master?" another soldier asked to confirm, fearing this was merely a joke.
"Why would I joke with you about money?" Kazien replied casually, waving his hand. "It is better that you just guard His Majesty properly during his journey to the academy and ensure his safety! Consider it an advance payment for your performance."
"Of course! That is our duty! We will risk our lives for His Majesty!" they answered in unison with fiery spirit. Their respect for Kazien soared through the roof.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Kazien felt pleased. Unconsciously, his defensive walls crumbled slightly. He smiled broadly. That smile was not a polite smile or a business smile, but a smile full of sincerity.
And what followed was a disaster.
Zing!
It was as if invisible magic bullets had sped through the air and pierced their hearts one by one. Time seemed to stop. Kazien's sincere smile radiated an aura so blinding, warm, and captivating that the soldiers' common sense evaporated instantly.
They did not blink. Their faces flushed red. All the soldiers were charmed, hypnotized by the charisma exploding from the young man's face.
Seeing the seven soldiers slowly approaching him with adoring gazes, Kazien, sensitive to the atmospheric change, suddenly panicked. Goosebumps rose on his skin.
"S-Stop! Don't look at me like that!" Kazien cried out, stepping backward. "Don't be charmed by me! I don't want to add any more wives! Enough! Stop!"
Seeing the looming danger, the danger of Kazien's charm, Alvin and Allen reacted with lightning speed. They immediately jumped in and shielded Kazien, protecting their fiancé from the 'hungry' stares of the seven soldiers.
"Stop! Watch your eyes!" snapped Alvin, a bit of murderous aura leaking out.
"Don't take another step! Back off!" Allen chimed in just as fiercely, spreading his arms. "He is our future husband! Go find someone else!"
Allen's shout was like a bucket of ice water splashed onto the soldiers' faces. They jolted in surprise, snapping back from their momentary trance. Their faces turned pale realizing the impropriety they had just committed.
"F-Forgive us!" they said in unison, bowing deeply.
"When seeing his smile, Young Master Kazien looked very handsome in my eyes and... I felt I really wanted to be with him! Forgive my insolence and that of my colleagues, Young Master!" confessed one soldier.
That honest confession only made the situation messier for Kazien. Alvin and Allen turned around simultaneously and glared at Kazien with gazes as sharp as razor blades.
"You..." growled Alvin. "Don't you ever smile in public again! Don't you remember the incident at the Guild? Everyone got charmed and chased you after seeing your smile! Do you want to make a whole battalion of soldiers fall in love with you too?"
Kazien hung his head silently, feeling like a child being scolded by his mother for playing in the mud. He squeaked softly in his defense. "If I am not allowed to smile, eventually I will forget how and lose my smile forever."
"Just smile in front of the two of us!" Alvin cut in firmly, possessively. He then pointed to himself while tilting his head. "You already have me, and Allen! Look! He is cute, isn't he?"
Kazien raised his face, looking at Allen. He nodded slowly. "Yes, he is so cute."
Hearing that admission, Allen's face turned bright red. Though his heart pounded with embarrassment and delight, Allen gathered his courage to step closer. He cupped Kazien's face with both hands. Their gazes met, creating a romantic moment amidst the crowd.
"Listen..." Allen whispered softly, staring deep into Kazien's eyes.
However, Kazien immediately cut him off bluntly. "Your heartbeat is really loud, you know. Are you nervous? Don't force yourself—"
Smack!
Before Kazien could finish his sentence, a punch landed squarely on his stomach, driven by annoyance at his blunt words.
"Ugh..." Kazien groaned, his body instantly curling up like a shrimp while clutching his painful stomach. He looked at Allen with confusion and pain. "Why... why did you hit me?"
Allen's face, previously blushing, now turned into a pout of annoyance. He pulled his hands back.
"You ruined my mood!" Allen snapped. "I just wanted to be sweet and make you smile again, you idiot! Why did you have to say something like that to me?!"
Kazien just frowned while holding his stomach in pain.
On the other side, King Nalvon, who had witnessed the entire drama from the beginning, could only gape. He had just learned a shocking fact: Kazien's smile was actually a terrifying charm that could captivate many people indiscriminately, even trained elite soldiers.
No wonder... King Nalvon thought. It is no surprise that he rarely smiles in public and always acts cold and flat towards everyone. It turns out to be a form of self-defense. His smile can instantly make people fascinated by him. That is truly a terrifying charisma, more dangerous than any illusion magic.
"Kazien..." called King Nalvon curiously. "Are you using charm magic unconsciously?"
Kazien straightened his body, still holding his aching stomach. "I do not possess such magic, Your Majesty! I swear!" he answered with a tone of slight frustration. "I am also baffled! Every time I smile sincerely, everyone ends up charmed by me! It is a curse! If this keeps up, I might truly forget how to smile."
King Nalvon felt deep sympathy for Kazien. The young man seemed very pressured by his own physical advantage. Being too handsome turned out to be a heavy burden.
However, the King's sympathy could not save Kazien from his fiancée's wrath. Allen continued his scolding of Kazien, whom he deemed to have ruined his mood when he wanted to be romantic and make his future husband smile at him.
"Anyway, you must promise not to smile carelessly! Do you hear me?!"
Even as they moved to enter their respective carriages to depart, Allen's voice could still be heard faintly, never stopping the nagging.
Kazien sat in the corner of the carriage, listening to Allen's rambling with resignation. He looked at Allen, then the image of his mother flashed through his mind.
It turns out Allen is scarier than Alvin, Kazien thought, shuddering in horror. When he is angry, he is exactly like my mother. His nagging has no full stops. Truly terrifying!