The Emperor and the Knightess

“Yes, the ladies put it on me.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Poliana hated putting anything on herself such as makeup. The most she was willing to do was put a little bit of oil in her hair to style it, so this was a shocking change. When Sir Ainno looked outraged, Poliana frowned, and replied, “You’re being rude.”

It has been a long time since they last met, and this was how he treated her. Poliana wanted to punch him, but she knew she wouldn’t win against him; it was pointless for her to even try,

Master Chail knocked on the door to announce her. Poliana glared at Sir Ainno before straightening up. This was the first time she was seeing the emperor since that awful night. She needed to behave perfectly for she knew that she had no room for mistakes.

“Greetings to your highness.”

Poliana kneeled to give a proper and respectful greeting to the emperor. Lucius the First, looking upset, said to her, “Stand up, Sir Pol. There is no need for you to kneel. Why are you acting so formal all of a sudden?”

He sent her a message a month ago, telling her there was no need for her to punish herself and lock herself in her home, but Poliana ignored it and didn’t even send him a single letter all this time.

And now, she was going to get married; this was wrong on so many different levels.

Poliana replied, “I am forever grateful for your forgiveness, your highness. I have done you a great wrong, yet you have been so kind.”

“Sir Pol, please stand up. Why are you acting this way? Are you trying to make me sad? Please have a seat and look at me. Please look at my eyes when you speak. That night… I was too drunk and I didn’t want to show you that side of me. I didn’t want you to see me like that. That is why I asked you to leave.”

Poliana didn’t refuse. She quickly stood up and sat down on the chair. She has learned her lesson. Punishing herself for the last month was plenty enough, so there was no need for her to feel guilty anymore.

When she looked alright, Lucius the First sighed in relief. Poliana replied, “Thank you, your highness. How have you been?”

“That’s not important, don’t you have something more pressing to tell me?”

‘Something important?’

Poliana tried to figure out what the emperor was referring to. During the last month when she was alone in her home, she hasn’t been interacting with anyone. She didn’t know anything important that happened during this time except whatever she heard that morning.

The only thing she could think of was her visit to the princess that morning.

“Oh, I did see Princess Luminae this morning, your highness. She resembles both you and Lady Rebecca, which means that she will become a great beauty!”

“Yes, of course.”

“Indeed, your highness. I always thought a princess would look best with blond hair, but I think I have to change my opinion on this. She looks gorgeous with black hair too.”

“Alright, but don’t you have something else you want to tell me? Something very important?”

‘Even more important than the princess?’

Poliana couldn’t think of anything. The emperor must already know everything about what was happening in the lady’s quarters. Poliana didn’t doubt that her guards kept the emperor well informed. The private conversation she had with Lady Tory that morning… It was just the two of them so she couldn’t imagine the emperor knowing about it. And even if he did, it wouldn’t have been something he would be interested in. It wasn’t that important of a conversation.

The emperor continued to pry, “It’s not something that is work-related. It’s something that involves your personal life, Sir Pol. Something very big. Umm… I heard that you already told my wives about it this morning… Is that right?”

‘Wow, the Intelligence Unit must have amazing sources.’

It was only a little while ago when she announced her marriage plan to Lady Tory and Lady Stra. The maids helped her put on some perfume and brush her hair, but during this short time, it seemed that Lucius the First heard of the news already. Poliana was truly impressed with their Intelligence Unit.

Lucius the First watched her anxiously. Poliana wasn’t showing any emotions, which meant he couldn’t figure out what she was feeling or thinking.

Poliana finally answered, “Yes, that’s right. I decided to get married. I will be marrying Frau Sneke from the Sneke family.”

“Why? Why? Of all people, why Frau? He isn’t a very good man.”

“He isn’t a bad man either.”

Poliana smiled lightly. Every time the woman he loved smiled, Lucius the First could not look at her in the eyes because he felt so guilty as if he had done something wrong.

Poliana added, “It’s not a bad deal for me, your highness.”

Frau Sneke was not a traditionally ideal husband material, but Poliana wasn’t a good wife material either. Frau was too weak for a man, but since Poliana would make a strong head of the family, it didn’t really matter. In fact, it was possible that they might really make a good match.

Most of all, Poliana felt that it would take too long and it would be too hard to find a “good man” for herself as everyone wished for her.

‘Frau is a good enough match for me.’

Poliana didn’t want to complicate things. This was just a marriage; It wasn’t a life or death situation. If for some reason, things didn’t work out, she could just give him some alimony and divorce him. The strange thing was that society was more accepting of a divorced woman than a spinster. Poliana had nothing to lose from this marriage.

Only

‘And if I bear a baby, that would be amazing…’

When she first had her period, Poliana hated the idea, but after she decided to get married, she realized that this could be a good thing. Poliana imagined what she and Frau’s baby would look like. It didn’t matter if it was a boy or girl; their baby would be ugly.

And if this child stood next to the beautiful princess…?

‘It would make such a funny picture.’

It was indeed fun to imagine such things. Poliana smiled again quietly, and this time, she looked genuinely happy. Her joyful smile was enough to shut Lucius the First up.

Poliana didn’t know herself, but since she proposed to Frau, she has been thinking about Frau a lot. Now that she considered him her man, she found him almost cute; she was beginning to like him more and more.

And they were going to live together forever…