The Emperor and the Knightess

Lucius the First wondered secretly, ‘I wonder if they are really pleased.’

He knew all the proper ladies were taught from an early age never to snow their true feelings to men. They might be smiling prettily now, but he knew that there was a possibility that they were crying inside because they didn’t want to be here. Even Lucius the First himself wasn’t paying attention to his partners, even though to others, he looked like he was mesmerized by his brides.

‘I know this is rude of me, but…’

The emperor couldn’t help himself as he glanced at the woman he truly loved. Poliana, as the leader of the Second Division, was busy socializing. The first people that approached her were her colleagues. After greeting them, Poliana was then swarmed by the parents of the guards that were in her division.

“Please take good care of our sons.”

“Yes, of course.”

It was a well-known fact that she was favored by Lucius the First. She might have been “demoted” to guard his brides and not the emperor himself, but no one disrespected her in any way. People could tell that she was not someone to be underestimated. In their minds, Marquess Poliana Winter was proof that a foreigner could succeed in this kingdom. She was clearly the emperor’s left hand, or possibly even his right hand, and it was likely that she would live the rest of her life as a powerful and wealthy woman.

People who greeted her tried to console her, “We are sure you will get to leave the lady’s quarters soon and be by the emperor’s side again. His highness can’t remain angry for too long about your drunkenness, right?”

Every time someone said this to her, she smiled brightly and swore that she would never get drunk again.

Of course, Poliana also knew she wouldn’t be able to keep this promise to herself.

Both Sir Ainno and Poliana had resting bitch faces. They found it very awkward to smile constantly for others, which meant that they found this kind of event very difficult. Her smile was clumsy, but Lucius the First couldn’t stop staring at her.

“Your highness?”

The voice of his current dance partner, Rebecca, forced Lucius the First to break his gaze at Poliana. He apologized to her, “Oh, I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Are you worried about Marquess Winter?”

“A marquess isn’t someone I need to worry about. She is a soldier after all, and she can take care of herself. Why do you ask?”

“Here in the castle, I know you cannot wield a weapon. It is the words that can do the real damage in this world anyway. The political and social battles can be just as brutal as the ones out in the battlefields.”

“Haha, you don’t have to worry about that. My court isn’t that sophisticated and harsh yet.”

This was especially the case when compared to the mid and southern continent, where the courts were filled with intrigues. In Acreia, the worst thing that could happen in the court was the elders having an ugly tantrum. The nobles in the northern regions weren’t as sneaky and refined as the others.

This was a good thing for Lucius the First, of course. The politicians in Acreia were straight in their behavior. For example, if they were unhappy with someone, they made public complaints to the emperor to embarrass their enemy. In the southern regions, however, the more popular method to get rid of your enemy in the court would be framing or assassinating that person. He smiled as he thought of the people in his court, ‘They are so innocent and naïve compared to those in the southern regions.’

“But your highness, people can be very smart. They learn quickly, especially if it’s something that can benefit them.”

Lucius the First’s smile disappeared as he knew this was true. Even the naïve Acreians would soon learn that it was easier to frame your enemy to bring him down rather than work harder and make an effort to accomplish something to stand out.

Rebecca studied Lucius the First carefully before offering, “If you aren’t feeling well, we can always return to our seats.”

The emperor then lied, “No, I’m fine. I love to dance, and I am having a good time. How about you, Princess?”

“I am having a wonderful time as well, your highness.”

Lucius the First wasn’t having a good time at all. He loved another woman and he could never marry her, so how could he be happy? He knew that love had no purpose in a marriage for aristocrats and royal members. He was born a prince, lived as the heir to the throne, and became the emperor. As long as he could remember, Lucius the First always promised himself not to be a bad husband. Both himself and his brides had no choice in choosing their partners, why not make the best of it? Why not be kind to each other and live a pleasant life?

But what the emperor never considered was the fact that he would fall in love this desperately. Was it so painful because he could never have her, or did all love feel like this? He was going to be married very soon to these ladies, but Lucius the First couldn’t stop thinking about Poliana. It was even worse because he felt guilty about it.

‘I love someone, and I’m about to marry other women… This is horrible.’

If Sir Ainno heard this, he would’ve grumbled and walked away.

Because the emperor wasn’t having a good time, he assumed that Rebecca was lying as well. He said to her, “You don’t have to lie to me and pretend you are having fun. It’s ok.”

“No, that’s not it at all. I am truly happy.”

“May I ask why?”

“A woman is at her happiest when she has a good husband and gets to bear many children. To get the best husband a woman can get is the greatest luck in her life. As soon as I become your bride, your highness, I will become the luckiest woman in the world.”

“So I am the best husband material?”

Only

“In the current world as well as in history.”

Rebecca gave him a small smile. Even after her younger sister drowned, she could smile on cue if necessary. They taught this to her even when she was still a small girl. The marriage offer from Lucius the First was the best deal she received. She knew that she was going to be one of his many brides but belonging to the emperor was still going to be a great honor. Rebecca didn’t expect to become the empress. She assumed that Tory from Acreia would be selected.

The moment she became one of the three brides of Lucius the First, she was going to become one of the three most important women in this continent. Her worth would increase dramatically not because she accomplished anything, but because she became a bride of an accomplished man.

Rebecca added, “I am so happy that I will get the honor to become your bride, your highness.”

Her words made Lucius the First feel less guilty. Just as he picked the ladies based on their qualifications on the paper, these ladies saw him as the emperor.

As someone who could boost their standings…

As long as they didn’t hurt each other, Lucius the First knew that he would be able to maintain an amicable relationship with his brides. This time, the emperor’s smile was genuine because he realized that this business relationship was going to be beneficial for both of them.