The Emperor and the Knightess

“It’s too hot, Sir Pol!”

“That’s right, it’s so hot!”

The men complained, and yet they had their arms around each others’ shoulders in brotherly affection. Just watching them so close together made Poliana sweat. The knights looked like they were close friends. Sirs Howe and Mahogal became fast friends after they became part of the special forces under the lead of the mean Sir Ainno. In the past, Sir Howe complained of how all the personal guards were all fancy boys while Sir Mahogal disliked Sir Howe for being too loud-mouthed but now, it seemed that they have become best friends.

Poliana wasn’t interested in going out drinking with these men. When she refused, the knights went their way. Sir Donau tried to escape the group, but Sir Howe grabbed him quickly. Donau protested, “I told you I don’t like to drink!”

“You are so young and naïve. You don’t know anything. We will teach you to be a better man!”

“GYAAA!!”

Poliana thought to herself, ‘Hmm… He used to hate it when he was given watered wine… How the time flies…’

Since when did Sir Donau avoid drinking? Time went by so fast. Poliana looked back and remembered the past. She was now 30 years old. It had been 10 years since she first met Lucius the First. From that time, she never looked back. She only looked forward and every day, she did her very best.

Her emperor was her guide to the right path. He led the way and she followed him. She never once doubted him. She never once hesitated. She only followed him like his shadow and protected him with everything she had.

Poliana was never worried she might get lost. She was never worried that she might not reach her destination. She knew that all she had to do was to follow her emperor.

And after 10 years, she was finally here.

10 years ago, she found a new master she knew she could die for, and the 10 years she spent in this war… It wasn’t all that bad.

The knightess stood in the hallway and contemplated while many people passed by her. Soldiers, knights, servants, maids, citizens of Pucachi, and messengers from other kingdoms…

She heard the sound of the trumpet, which meant that the new messengers were arriving from another kingdom. Poliana remembered the map of the southern region. Majority of the southern kingdoms already surrendered and there were only three nations left before reaching the ocean. In the Southern Ocean, there were a number of islands with their own kingdoms, but Lucius the First had no plans to go after them. Crossing the ocean was a fool’s errand.

So three kingdoms left…

After these nations surrendered, Lucius the First would finally become the first emperor to unite the entire continent. He turned 32 this year. It was common for many royal heirs not to inherit the throne even when they were over 30 years old. There were times when the princes died before they could even become the next ruler.

But Lucius the First… At the age of 32, he united the entire continent.

‘How strange.’

The unification of the continent, it was such a giant goal. Some said it was an impossible dream, but the emperor and his men worked tirelessly, and they were finally here.

Just a little bit more…

But even though they were so close, it still felt surreal. It was such an unbelievable accomplishment that Poliana still had a hard time believing it.

With another trumpet sound, a messenger with a foreign flag entered the castle entrance followed by several delegates on horses.

So only two more to go.

Poliana remembered that winter 10 years ago. She could still feel the painful cold on her skin. She was almost naked, and the cold wind at the time felt like a knife slicing through her body. Whenever she breathed, the inside of her nose and mouth froze, even her eyeballs felt cold.

She no longer felt angry or resentful of that day, but this didn’t mean she had forgotten about it. How could she? Naked and covered in dirt and her own blood… She remembered the beating and the insults that she took. No one helped her. No one even gave her a piece of cloth to cover herself.

All alone, in the middle of the winter day…

But her worst day in her life turned into the best day of her life in an instant. She was reborn as Poliana Winter. Being no longer Poliana Cranbell, her life changed completely. Even the deadly cold could dampen her happiness that day. The cold glares of the men around her could stop her from feeling the pleasure of being alive.

There was no way she would ever forget that winter day. Her emperor personally gave her a sword. She could still feel his beautiful smooth fingers on her skin as he handed it to her. Poliana knew that even if she became senile, she would always remember herself screaming.

“Get me a sword, someone get me a sword now!”

Only

Only two more to go. Two more kingdoms to surrender and her emperor’s dream was finally going to come true. His ambition to unite the entire continent, which was just south from his homeland, Acreia, was going to be a reality.

And then… what?

What would happen after all of this?

Poliana couldn’t even guess, but she wasn’t afraid of the unknown future. She was certain that the Lucius the First she knew would come up with another dream for all of them to follow. As long as she followed him… As long as she remained beside him as his shadow and protect him… Poliana knew she would forever live as herself.

A knightess.

And then…

Poliana heard the trumpet again and this time, it was blown twice.

Finally, it was done.