The Emperor and the Knightess

Chapter 72

Poliana stood around near the tent’s door, wanting to hear what Sirs Rabi and Baufallo were talking about. She secretly spied on them and saw that Sir Rabi was showing Sir Baufallo the portraits of his daughters.

Sir Baufallo shook his head. “The gaps between our stations are too big. Sir Rabi, your family comes from one of the longest Acreian noble lines, while mine is a family of mere knights.”

“Oh, come on. After this war, you and your sons will be greatly honored for your hard work and sacrifices. I just know it!”

‘Oh my god!’

Poliana covered her mouth to stop herself from yelling. All of her senses were focused on the two knights’ conversation. She felt breathless and her heart began to beat fast in excitement.

‘Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…’

“They are about the same ages, and I already know what fine young men Sirs Howes and Donau are,” Sir Rabi continued.

“Thank you, Sir Rabi, for thinking so highly of my sons.”

The Bika family was much wealthier and more powerful than the Ribo family. Sir Baufallo was lucky enough to be noticed by the former Acreian emperor, but his family never went much further, politically or financially.

There was a vast gap between these two families, and yet it seemed that there was going to be a marriage happening among them in the future. Possibly two marriages!

Sir Rabi’s two daughters and Sir Baufallo’s two sons. Sir Rabi suggested that they should move to somewhere more private so they could talk about the details. When the two men disappeared, Poliana looked around.

‘I can’t believe what I heard! This is crazy!’

Unfortunately, she could tell no one about this. Arranging a marriage was a serious and sensitive business, and this involved the people close to her. She knew not to talk about it with anyone, but she couldn’t help feeling excited.

Poliana grinned as she walked and noticing her odd behavior, Sir Donau approached her.

“Sir Pol.”

“Huh? You must be tired, Donau, so you should return to your tent and rest.”

Of all people, she had to walk into the very person she was excited for. Poliana tried her best to hide her elation. She wore a serious face, and thankfully, Donau seemed to be oblivious. Instead, he said to her kindly, “Even if you are barren…”

“Yeah?”

“And even though you are ugly and foreign, I am certain there is a man out there who would want to marry you. And when you find this man who likes you the way you are, I am sure you will end up in a happy marriage.”

“Hmm!”

Poliana explained to him what Sir Baufallo told her a long time ago. If she wanted to remain and die a knight, she should never get married. When Donau heard this story, he flinched and replied, “But then was then, and now is now! Things have changed! Your situation has changed completely! There has to be a man out there who won’t mind you continuing your career as a knight even after you get married. I just know it! You will find the right man, so please don’t ever say you will never get married.”

‘What’s with him?’

It was true that her situation had changed greatly since her conversation with Sir Baufallo. At the time, she was accepted by only a few knights, but now, she was the head of the personal guard division.

To hear Donau telling her that people will accept her as a knight even if she gets married… It was such a wonderful thing to hear, but the way Donau reacted seemed a little odd.

‘I wonder if he is drunk.’

“I am telling you because I consider you my adopted sister. I want you to be happy, that’s all.”

When Donau seemed serious about his hope for her, Poliana thought about his claim carefully.

A man who loved her the way she was… A man who would be understanding of her barrenness, ugly appearance, and her career as a knightess… A man who wouldn’t mind her being surrounded by other men 24/7…

‘Sounds like an idiot to me.’

There could be no such an idiot in this world. Well, at least not a normal sane man who still had all of his limbs, and even if by some chance she found such a kind man, she would feel too guilty and sorry for him. She would never punish such a good man by marrying him. She would introduce him to a proper lady.

Only

She looked at Donau and frowned. What an awful young man, trying to force a poor innocent man to marry someone like her. She thought about pinching him, but she stopped herself.

Poliana thought of Donau as her younger brother as well, but even though she still saw him as a little boy, Sir Donau was a grown man now. He was over 20 years old and pinching him would be too embarrassing for him. Besides, she secretly felt ecstatic that Donau really thought of her as his sister and genuinely cared for her. It seemed like it was yesterday when he used to hate and fought her tooth and nail. He used to scream that he would never accept her as a knight.

Poliana then said to him, “I am so grateful for your thoughts, little bro.”

Donau looked up at him and Poliana gave her the biggest smile she could muster. Poliana then added, “But I want you to know that I am very happy just the way things are right now, Donau.”

Sir Donau smiled back at her. What Donau didn’t realize right now was that he could become that idiot who fell in love with Poliana. If he knew how he would feel about her in the near future, would he have done something different now? If he knew his affection and sympathy towards Poliana was going to turn into something else…

Who knows?

For now, Donau nor Poliana could ever even imagine Donau falling in love with her.

So the young man smiled guilelessly. He was just happy that the woman standing in front of him was smiling.