The Emperor and the Knightess

Sir Ainno could see in Lucius the First the same boy king who claimed he would conquer the world. The young emperor who was so sure that he was going to unite the entire continent…

Sir Ainno, after contemplating for a long while, finally sighed and replied, “I have a debt to repay to Marquess Winter. I think this should make us even.”

Sir Ainno removed his hand from his sword and Lucius the First sighed secretly. He risked his own life just now for love, and it seemed that he won this dangerous bet. Unaware of how the emperor was sweating profusely, Sir Ainno kneeled in front of him.

“Your highness, I, your Inno, will follow you even to hell if necessary!”

Sir Ainno was on Lucius the First’s side even if the emperor became a tyrant. The emperor felt relieved, realizing that he wasn’t going to be stabbed to death in this very room.

Lucius the First said to the other men again, “Anyone who wants to run away, you better do it now. Perhaps if all of you side together against me, you might be able to achieve a successful rebellion. You can at least try if you wish.”

The men shivered as the emperor casually mentioned an uprising. It was clear that Lucius the First was serious about his plan. Duke Luzo, who couldn’t take the tension anymore, finally surrendered. He knew he was going to lose the rest of his hair before it was all over.

Duke Luzo said to the emperor, “I mean it, your highness! You will let me go when this is over! You have to keep your promise. After all the work is one, you will release me!”

Marquis Zeese sighed after long deliberation, “Your highness, people are going to protest. There is going to be a huge backlash. The entire kingdom may become unestablished.”

“That is why I am telling you that you may leave if you wish. You can even protest if you want, but it won’t change the fact that I will become a tyrant.”

“Just for a woman.”

When Marquis Zeese sighed again, Lucius the First shook his head and replied, “Not just for her. I am doing this for half the population of our kingdom.”

Of course, the emperor wasn’t telling the whole truth. He was indeed doing this all for just one woman, but the rest of the kingdom didn’t have to know this.

The men murmured among themselves nervously. Those who knew the emperor well realized that Lucius the First was dead serious about what he was about to do. Those who weren’t very close to the emperor seemed fearful and confused at the same time.

Lucius the First waited while the rest of the men contemplated. He waited and waited without leaving the room and finally after 12 hours of discussion, all of the highest-ranking noblemen bowed as one. Lucius the First nodded in satisfaction and announced, “Now, it’s time to get to work. Let’s see what kind of damages we can do to our kingdom.”

It was going to be a long hard road for everyone.

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Poliana said her goodbyes to her friends in Yapa. Tory, Stra, and Cekel couldn’t hide their concern for Poliana. The other knights couldn’t stop admiring Poliana, claiming that even after her death, she will be the knightess who protects the kingdom. The guards shook their heads, unable to understand why their boss would do this. They joked that she probably would remain the head of the Second Division for another 30 years.

Poliana didn’t feel that it was necessary to waste any more time in the capital city. She immediately headed for Sitrin. The person who seemed most disappointed was her butler.

To her surprise, no one seemed to be against her leaving like this. Even though the wedding was canceled, no one seemed to be angry at her. No one criticized her. The nobles seemed uninterested while surprisingly, it was the commoners who seemed to react more strongly.

Many were hoping for a fairy tale, a happy ending. These people were very disappointed, but most accepted the situation without a fight.

Even Poliana herself felt calm.

‘Perhaps this is for the best.’

It seemed that everyone felt this way.

In any case, Poliana became the first and only woman who refused the emperor. Her already incredible fame increased 100-fold from the recent event.

On her way to Sitrin, there were many moments when Poliana regretted her decision. Did she make a mistake? She couldn’t believe that she gave up having the emperor for herself. But then, she remembered what she gained from all of this. The happiness as Poliana Winter rather than as Poliana Clair. Even if she became unhappy, she would always be Poliana Winter.

Born as Poliana Cranbell, she was reborn as Poliana Winter and almost became Poliana Clair. And now… She will forever be Poliana Winter. She knew it was a selfish decision. Poliana felt apologetic towards Gerald especially. He could’ve become the next emperor, but now, he would have to be happy with becoming the next Marquis Winter. Poliana tried to rationalize her decision, ‘I am sorry, Dog Ste… I mean, Gerald. But this might be a better life for you. You will be able to experience the joy of becoming promoted to a higher rank. Imagine how happy you will feel when you become a duke from a marquis.’

Poliana thought about Gerald often, must more so than when she was pregnant with him. Now that she chose to remain a “Winter,” the burden and the pressure she felt towards Gerald disappeared.

Poliana finally realized that she has been too hard on her son. Even if she didn’t feel love towards him, she should’ve given it to him. She knew she didn’t treat him right. Poliana felt horrible that she became the kind of parent she used to hate as a little girl.

When she arrived at Sitrin, it was, of course, Gerald who greeted her most vigorously. It has been a few months since Poliana left, yet Gerald seemed to recognize her. He raised both of his arms towards her and screamed, “Mama!”

The angelic boy smiled brightly. Poliana took Gerald from the wetnurse and replied, “Yes, Gerald Winter. I am your mommy.”

Gerald was so much bigger than she remembered. He was now big enough to stand if he held onto something. When he crawled around, he was faster than any baby Poliana knew. She felt a little bitter that she missed spending so much time with her son. The heavy weight of the baby in her arms felt meaningful.

Gerald, with his unusual strength, grabbed and twisted Poliana’s nose and lips as he sniffed her. Poliana patted his back affectionately.

“Yes, Gerald.”

“Mama!”

Only

“Yes, yes. I am your mom. I haven’t been with you for a while and I am so sor…”

Suddenly, Poliana narrowed her eyes.

“Wait a minute… There is nothing I should feel sorry about, right?”

She has seen so many mothers apologizing this way that she almost did the same thing, but Poliana realized that there was nothing to be sorry about. Most noble ladies did not raise their children themselves. Poliana left Gerald because she had to take care of some very important things. If she left for no reason, she should’ve apologized to Gerald, but this wasn’t the case.

Poliana raised him high. He was a heavy baby, which meant that most noble ladies would’ve found it hard to lift him, but Poliana was no ordinary lady.

“Gerald, I left you because I had to take care of something.”

Of course, the baby didn’t understand her at all. Gerald just laughed as if she told him a funny joke. He looked so beautiful that Poliana smiled and said to him, “My son, you’re so strong. You will make a great knight!”

Poliana had an ambitious dream. Someday, the next Marquis Winter will also become the head of the Second Division. Gerald Winter, who didn’t know anything, just laughed happily.