The Emperor and the Knightess

Chapter 334

Yesterday, the emperor went to sleep early. As soon as he woke up this morning, he did not go immediately to work. Instead, he put great effort into his skin and hair. While Lucius the First was busy taking care of his beauty regimen, his cousin, Duke Luzo, and Marquis Zeese were burdened with the work of running the kingdom.

Duke Luzo with his receding hairline from all the work…. Marquis Zeese who found the castle more comfortable than his own home because he did not trust his own wife… These two men shuddered as they saw the work piling up on their desks.

“Is his highness taking another day off today?”

“Yes, that is what I was told.”

“…Chancellor… I have a son, who resembles an adorable little piglet, and a wife, who resembles a pretty squirrel, waiting for me at home.”

“My lord, I have a foxy wife and a dovely son waiting at home myself.”

Marquis Zeese’s wife was able to avoid being punished during the recent political turmoil thanks to her husband. However, Lady Zeese was shocked to find how her husband was secretly on the emperor’s side. She couldn’t believe she was never told of his plan, and ever since, they have been living as strangers.

Marquis Zeese and his wife, although were married by an arranged marriage for a political purpose, shared a close bond. They weren’t in love with each other, but they were affectionate. But ever since the time when all the elders and many nobles were removed for being traitors, things changed between the husband and the wife. They only talked when necessary, and just like that, the couple Poliana envied was over.

Sir Bentier regretted his decision, but it was too late to change what he did. He should’ve trusted his wife. He should’ve trusted women in general. Sir Bentier did not blame anyone because he knew it was all on him. It was his fault.

Unfortunately, his relationship with his son also became strained. Feeling uncomfortable in his own home, the chancellor became an even bigger workaholic than the emperor.

But what about Duke Luzo? The chancellor has always been a workaholic, to begin with, but Duke Luzo never was! He was being used just because he was the emperor’s cousin.

The Acreian government was still short on officials. The emperor was being very thorough in hiring people because he wanted to pick the best of the best. This was a great idea, and it was going to pay off in a few decades, but it also meant that the government was going to be short-staffed for a very long time. The only reason the current officials were able to survive being overworked was because their own emperor worked very hard alongside them.

Then recently, the emperor announced all of a sudden that he was going to take a vacation for himself in order to focus on seducing Poliana. The emperor’s marriage was an incredibly important deal for the entire kingdom, which meant that no one could fault the emperor for taking some time off. Sir Bentier and Duke Luzo would’ve loved to just tell the emperor to marry someone else, but when they heard Lucius the First and Poliana already had a son together, the two men could not oppose this marriage.

Duke Luzo complained, “When will I get to rest?! When will I get to enjoy my life?”

Unfortunately, Duke Luzo still had a long way to go.

The emperor, meanwhile, was hard at work to make Poliana fall in love with him. He was waiting at the outer door of the lady’s quarters and when Poliana came out after visiting the princess, he snatched her away. He asked her to lunch with him again and Poliana could not refuse. After the meal, he suggested they should take a walk in the garden as he claimed that he hadn’t had the time to exercise at all due to his work.

Lucius the First has always been a workaholic emperor and Poliana didn’t doubt his words. In the past, she has been worried for him for working too hard.

‘He should take a vacation.’

She felt obligated to walk with him in order to give him at least a small break from his work. Today, the emperor looked as gorgeous as ever. He dolled himself up again and he was glowing, perhaps because he was in love. Poliana thought he reminded her of the beautiful mist of an early morning on a crisp autumn day.

The two walked quietly in the garden. Because this particular castle garden boasted of beautiful blooming flowers, it was often crowded. However today, it was completely empty. Lucius the First walked ahead while Poliana followed him from behind awkwardly. Whenever he turned to look at her or stepped back to get closer to her, Poliana became nervous. She begged him, “Your highness, you’re going to fall. Please be careful.”

“If I do fall, I am sure you will catch me, Sir Pol.”

“Please just keep walking. You will hurt yourself if you fall onto the paving stone; it’s very dangerous.”

“But I can’t help it. When I see the flowers, I think of you. When I see the birds, I think of you. When I see the sky, it reminds me of you.”

When Poliana saw Lucius the First, he reminded her of flowers. Whenever she saw beautiful birds, they reminded of the emperor. Whenever she saw amazing statues, she thought of Lucius the First. Every time she saw something beautiful in this world, she thought of the emperor, and now that she was the recipient of this admiration, Poliana felt shy and embarrassed.

She said to the emperor, “Then, I will walk ahead of you, your highness.” Poliana walked faster to pass the emperor, who replied, “But this way, I only get to see the back of you, Sir Pol.”

Only

Just as the emperor did, Poliana looked back from time to time to see him. The two, trained to be brisk during the war, were fast walkers. Poliana walked as fast as she could, but she could feel Lucius the First closing the gap easily. It almost felt like she was being chased and the tension intensified. Poliana realized her mistake. This was supposed to be a simple walk, but it felt different.

Poliana also began to see the things she never noticed when she was walking behind the emperor. His beautiful summer forest green eyes greeted her. Even though they were walking the best garden in the castle, it seemed that Lucius the First could not take his eyes off of her. He smiled at her, happy that he could look at her all he wanted. Suddenly, Poliana felt ticklish again. Her heart especially did a somersault, and the feeling was much more intense than yesterday. Poliana looked down and continued to walk.

Lucius the First asked her, “It has been so long since I last saw you wield your sword. Perhaps you will honor me with a spar sometime soon.”

“Of course, your highness. Whenever you like.”

Did the emperor know how he made her feel? He brought up the subject he knew made Poliana feel comfortable. During her stay in Sitrin, she kept herself sedentary. She tried her best to train whenever possible, but the midwife and the doctor kept a close eye on her. It was a miracle that she was able to give a decent fight when Sir Donau asked for a duel. Poliana felt excited at the prospect of a spar with the emperor. When she looked happy, Lucius the First grinned.

“You are finally walking alongside me.”

“What do you mean, your highness?