The Emperor and the Knightess

Chapter 55

Gali the Third walked towards the center of the field with a rigid face. He was being helped by his servant, and he looked like he was still in severe shock. It was understandable, after all, he just watched 10 of his best knights, who were all renown champions, fell off their horse like leaves falling off a tree. Each match was won so easily by Sir Ainno that the entire Bikpa audience was still left gaping.

Sir Ainno, on the other hand, seemed indifferent. He seemed to have expected this to happen. Today’s tournament was going to be remembered as a legendary game, but the other Acreian knights didn’t look too happy. Those who were supposed to participate in the tournament especially looked unhappy and in fact, they looked downright angry.

They were all thinking the same thing. If Sir Ainno was going to win the whole thing, what was the point of training and practicing so hard?! It seemed that Sir Ainno knew this was going to be the outcome, so why was he so harsh on them?

“What can we do as a payback to him?”

It was almost impossible to get back at Sir Ainno. He was the best at everything; he came from the best family and he was the most skilled fighter of them all. Lucius the First was the only one who could do something to Sir Ainno, but he couldn’t do much to him as well.

Sir Bentier regretted not refusing hard enough to participate in this tournament. He did refuse a few times, but he should have been more adamant. He should have said that his duty as the deputy commander prevented him from entering the match.

But it was too late, the only thing Sir Bentier could do now was to swear to himself not to do anything like this in the future.

The king of Bikpa signed the document of surrender. When the witnesses signed it as well, Lucius the First grabbed it with a satisfied smile. Gali the Third looked like he was going to faint again. He looked very pale.

Gali the Third stumbled towards Lucius the First and kneeled in front of him to swear his loyalty. As the king of Bikpa, he made his last request, saying, “After every tournament, a banquet is held in the honor of the champion. Please let me wear my crown until the end of the feast tonight.”

“I will allow it.”

‘Did he really think he was going to win?’

Lucius the First graciously agreed to the request. The fact that he planned the banquet must have meant that Gali the Third was certain he was going to win this tournament. To promise handing over a kingdom over a game was a ridiculous idea to begin with. It was even sadder to think that the Bikpa champions had no chance against Sir Ainno.

Sir Ainno was too good, he was too fast too. The matches were almost boring because it was won too easily. All the knights hated him for being too good.

The doors of the Yapa castle finally opened per Gali the Third’s order. Lucius the First entered excitedly. When he did, the other Acreians tried to get in as well, but the Bikpa soldiers stopped them. Because Lucius the First allowed the Bikpa King his status until the end of the feast, the Acreian emperor was considered a guest still and therefore was honor-bound to enter the castle with minimal soldiers. It was thought to be rude to take many armed men into another sovereign’s castle.

The interior of the Yapa castle was just as magnificent as its outside. It was both practical and beautiful at the same time. Many great art pieces decorated the rooms.

The castle was so big that there were plenty of private rooms for Lucius the First and all of his knights. Gali the Third offered to personally escort Lucius the First to his chamber. The Acreian knights were to be taken to their separate quarters by the Bikpa servants. When Sir Ainno hurriedly followed Lucius the First, Gali the Third said to him, “The great champion of the day will be provided with a separate chamber. Please follow the servant to your own room and rest.”

But Sir Ainno refused, “I am high highness’s personal guard, so I will not leave his side. Besides, I am not tired, so there is no need for me to rest.”

Lucius the First turned to Sir Ainno and ordered, “Inno, Sir Poliana will be with me, so it’s ok. You can go ahead and rest.”

“Your highness!”

“Go.”

“I won’t! I refuse!”

As the head of the royal guards, Sir Ainno had the right to refuse the emperor’s direct order when it involved the safety of his ruler. When Sir Ainno continued to refuse, Lucius the First frowned unhappily. Finally, Sir Rabi walked towards Sir Ainno and grabbed him.

“Let me go!” Sir Ainno roared.

“Let’s go to our rooms.”

“ARGHH!”

Even the best knight of Acreia couldn’t win against the herculean strength of Sir Rabi. In the end, Sir Ainno had no choice but to walk away from his emperor and follow the servant. The other knights left to their rooms as well.

As he followed Gali the Third, Lucius the First enjoyed the castle’s interior. He complimented generously, but Gali the Third’s face crumpled into an unhappy frown. This was going to be the last day he was allowed to stay in his own castle so obviously, Gali the Third was furious. He tried his best to put a fake smile, but he was failing miserably.

Feeling uncomfortable, Gali the Third quickly changed the subject.

“I am sure you don’t have many outfits with you since you are in the middle of a war, so I prepared a few things for you, your highness.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Only

Lucius the First had a big interest in fashion, so he did bring numerous garments and attires when he left to conquer the world. He knew that there will be public occasions where he would receive documents of surrender or meet with important nobles and royalties for negotiations, and he wanted to look decent during these events.

But his best and most luxurious clothes were still in Acreia. They were either too heavy or too valuable, so he couldn’t bring all of them with him. Gali the Third’s offer was both considerate and appropriate. And of course, everything in the castle, including the outfits Gali the Third was “lending” to him were all going to be Lucius the First’s anyway by tomorrow. The Acreian emperor felt pleased with the thought. Gali the Third was acting politely, but this didn’t mean Lucius the First had to treat him with generosity. After all, this was a war. The document of surrender Bikpa signed was filled with general matters and details like these.

“You are indeed very beautiful. I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but it appears that they were underreported,” Gali the Third complimented Lucius the First.

Gali the Third then turned and looked around. It seemed that he was looking for someone. When Lucius the First asked, Gali the Third answered, “And where is the beautiful knightess who is rumored to be your mistress?”

Poliana was standing right behind her emperor. When Lucius the First smiled and pointed at her, Gali the Third showed an obvious displeasure. His daughter, the Bikpa Princess, was so disappointed that she said out loud, “But… she isn’t a beautiful seductress like the rumors.”

She said it so loudly that everyone heard it. Lucius the First didn’t reply because he wanted to be forgiving, and Gali the Third also didn’t reprimand his daughter. In fact, he looked at Poliana with a confused expression. He looked worse than when Sir Ainno won the tournament.

Poliana briefly considered kicking the Bikpa King’s balls but refrained herself. She had to admit that if people were expecting a seductress, they would indeed be shocked to see her. At least, Poliana was wearing a handkerchief that was covering most of her head. If the princess saw her almost-shaven head, Poliana suspected that she might faint.

It was even worse because after they saw Lucius the First and how beautiful he was, they must’ve been expecting a great beauty. Poliana was so used to being treated this way that she didn’t feel angry.