The Emperor and the Knightess

Chapter 114

Lucius the First explained, “I was just so shocked to see you in a dress.” This was why he couldn’t say anything at first. He would’ve been less surprised to see Poliana in full battle gears.

“Sir Pol… I see that you are wearing a dress… It looks amazing. It suits you! I wasn’t shocked because it doesn’t suit you because it does! I was just very surprised to see you in a dress, that’s all. Yes, you look wonderful. Beautiful… Yes… You look good in both armor and a dress.”

The emperor felt embarrassed and awkward, so he kept rambling. What shocked him even more right now, more than the fact that Poliana was wearing a dress, was how his heart was beating so fast and loudly.

Thump! Thump!

Then suddenly, Poliana grabbed his arm and pushed him against the nearest wall.

SLAM!

Lucius the First was trapped between the wall and Poliana. Their eyes met and Poliana stared at him intently. She didn’t look away, but the emperor’s eyes wavered.

Instinctively, his lips puckered a little, but Poliana quickly turned away and began to close the windows and the curtains. She whispered anxiously, “Your highness! What if someone shoots an arrow at you through the window?!”

Her emperor seemed to enjoy shocking her and making her feel nervous. When she was certain that all the windows were firmly locked, Poliana turned towards him again.

“Your highness!”

She ran towards him because she saw Lucius the First panting with his hand clutching his chest. The beautiful man was breathless, and it was clear that something was very wrong with him. Was it his heart?

Poliana leaned towards him. She had him lean on her chest and exclaimed, “Your highness! What’s wrong?! Are you ill?”

“My heart… My heart…”

“I heard you have been working too hard lately. Are you ok? Should I get a doctor?”

“I feel like my heart is going to explode.”

“Just lie down for a second. I will get a doctor right away.”

Poliana laid the emperor down on the floor and tried to leave, but Lucius the First grabbed her hand.

“Don’t go! It’s nothing. I just need to rest a little. It will feel better soon.”

The emperor spoke coherently, and he already looked much better but even so, Poliana couldn’t relax. Trying to help him breathe better, she began to unbutton his shirt.

Lucius the First then murmured, “Sir Pol, you shouldn’t be undressing a man like this.”

“Your highness, please stop joking around. This isn’t the time.”

Poliana’s hand reached inside his shirt and beneath his smooth skin, she tried to feel his heartbeat.

“Oh my god! Your highness, why is your heart beating so fast?!”

“I was just surprised, that’s all.”

Suddenly, Poliana realized that it was she who shocked the emperor. She was the one who slammed him against the wall! Poliana was only trying to protect him, but unintentionally, she upset him.

“Your highness, please forgive me! It is all my fault.”

“No, it’s ok, Sir Pol. You were only trying to do your job.”

“I deserve to be punished!”

“No, not at all. You were so brave, slamming me and locking me in your arms. You looked so brave and loyal that I almost wanted to kiss you.”

Lucius the First knew that he would never forget this moment. He almost died from a heart attack. Poliana Winter was a scary woman, her presence alone was able to cause him such a jolt. She was dangerous, and there could be no man in this world who could have her, other than himself of course. Poliana should never get married…. She should always be by his side…

‘Stop! Stop, Lucius! You need to let her live a happy fulfilling life!’

Lucius the First could no longer think clearly, but at least, his heart was calming down. Poliana asked, “Your highness, who escorted you here?”

“I came by myself.”

Poliana staggered a little, feeling dizzy. Lucius the First reached out, trying to hug her, but before he could, she straightened up. Lucius the First’s arms hung in the air awkwardly, but Poliana didn’t even notice it. She began to nag, “Your highness! Just because the war is over, it doesn’t mean you are safe! How could you roam around the city all by yourself?! Do the guards know about this? Are you feeling safe just because we are in Nanaba? Your highness, I have told you many times before that you can’t! Does Sir Wook know you are here? How about Sir Jainno?”

Lucius the First grinned proudly.

“No. No one knows! I am a very resourceful man, Sir Pol. Everything probably thinks I’m sleeping.”

Indeed, leaving the castle without being caught was quite an accomplishment, but such a skill wasn’t supposed to be used like this!

Poliana became frustrated and confused.

‘It’s the middle of the day… So…’

Then suddenly, she realized what must’ve happened. She was told by many people that the emperor had been overworking lately. She could see that he really did look very tired. The emperor took great pride in his beauty and made sure to maintain his looks. Even during the war, he spent plenty of time caring for his skin and hair. Yet today, here he was, looking not his best, and he came to see her.

There had to be a very good reason for this visit. The emperor Poliana knew would never risk himself like this unless he had an excellent reason.

“Is there a reason why you came to see me, your highness?”

“No.”

Lucius the First shook his head confidently.

“Then why did you come here, your highness! It is too dangerous. You must return to the castle immediately! I will escort you myself. Please wait here while I grab my sword.”

“Pol.”

“Yes.”

The emperor hasn’t called her by her nickname in a long time. When she heard her name, Poliana turned around to face him again. The emperor continued, “On my way here, I thought of so many excuses and reasons I could give you for my visit.”

Poliana didn’t know what to say, so when she remained quiet, the emperor held her hand tightly and continued, “But now that I saw you, I forgot all of them.”

‘He must be really tired.’

Lucius the First had an amazing memory, so the fact that he forgot meant he was truly tired. Poliana became worried. The emperor looked deeply into her eyes and tucked her now-shoulder-length hair behind her ear. His fingers tickled her cheek a little.

His eyes looked a little red and his voice sounded husky.

“Pol… I… I came here because I wanted to see you. I wanted to see you and touch you. When you are not around me, I feel anxious and worried. I know you aren’t by my side because of me… because I haven’t called for you yet, but… I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that you didn’t write me a single letter.”

“I didn’t write to you because I heard you were very busy. I’ll right one right away!”

“No, it’s all right. We will see each other very soon anyway.”

Lucius the First became quiet. When he didn’t move, Poliana followed suit and remained still as well. In this quiet room, the two of them were alone.

Just the two of them…

Then suddenly, a piece of faint music was heard around them. The twins were practicing their instruments in the next room.

The emperor grinned and said to her, “We didn’t get to dance together the last time you were wearing a dress. I always thought that the next time you wear a dress again, I would dance with you all night.”

“If you aren’t too tired, I would love to dance with you right now. Shall we?”

Poliana curtseyed, and Lucius the First’s bitter smile deepened. Only

“No, it’s alright. If I begin to dance with you now, I don’t think I will be able to stop.”

The emperor grabbed his helmet, and Poliana asked worriedly, “But you are tired…”

“No, I’m ok. Now that I saw you, I feel perfectly fine. I am glad I came here to see you. I had to crawl through a crawlspace to leave the castle, and I questioned myself why I was doing it… But now that I saw you, I know I made the right decision. I am so glad I came.”

Before opening the door to leave, Lucius the First said to Poliana, “I know that you feel disappointed and anxious about me not asking you to come to the castle. Everything will be resolved very soon, so please trust me. You are my best knight, and I will never abandon you.”

“I’m your best? What about Sir Ainno?”

Poliana knew she was being petty, but she couldn’t help it. Lucius the First took her question very seriously and answered, “Inno and I… It’s more like a love and hate relationship.”

They looked at each other with a grin.