The Emperor and the Knightess

The war was over, but across the field in Cranbell, several knights in armor rode fiercely towards the local castle. The Cranbell patrols, shocked and confused, ran out and demanded to know the name of the head knight.

The knightess announced loudly, “I am Poliana Winter, the head of his highness’s personal protection division!”

Even when they heard her name, the guards did not recognize her as their old Lady Cranbell. The rumors of Poliana Winter were spread wide across Cranbell, but there were only a few who knew that she was once Poliana Cranbell. This was because the Cranbell family hid this fact from everyone.

The local guards did not stop Poliana and her men. When they entered the Cranbell castle, the people were shocked to see a female knight in charge. One maid, who worked for the Cranbell family for a long time, recognized her and called out, “Lady Poliana!”

“You may now call me Mistress, do the Cranbells still live here?”

“Pardon? Umm… Yes, they do.”

“And did Liana get married? Does she live here too?”

“The master retired, and the mistress has been managing this place…”

“No use calling him Master now. His highness has given me this land to me, so spread the word.”

The maid explained to her what happened since she left home. Liana, who used to hate soldiers, was successful in seducing and marrying an Acreian official who was assigned to Cranbell. The Cranbell family was no longer the official lord of this city, but they were still managing everything. Apparently, they led a comfortable life so far.

The man Liana married was an Acreian nobleman. He was from a poor, weak, unknown family, but still, a noble, and this meant that Liana was successful in remaining an aristocrat herself. Her husband refused to take her family name, so in the end, Liana had no choice but to give up the Cranbell name.

Several children ran out to the second-floor balcony when they heard the excitement. They must’ve been Poliana’s nieces and nephews. The kids were followed by the mistress of the castle herself.

“What the heck…!”

Poliana raised her eyebrows at her stepsister. It seemed that indeed, she led a comfortable life. Liana didn’t change much at all.

Her definitely-not-blond light brown hair was up. She was still wearing that stupid extravagant rode that dragged on the ground. Liana gaped and Poliana walked towards her.

“Liana, I’m sorry I called you ugly that time.”

“What?”

“At the time, I just met his highness, so my standards were raised much higher all of a sudden. But now that I have gotten used to him, and had time to reflect, I have to admit that you are indeed pretty. I heard you were able to seduce an Acreian official. Good job, It sounds like you did well for yourself, congratulations.”

As a late wedding gift, Poliana decided she should build her little sister a new house. Poliana continued, “His highness has gifted me Cranbell recently. I was rewarded with other better lands, so I will not be living here, but it would be unseemly for you people to be living in this castle since you aren’t the masters of this place anymore. I will get builders to make you a house fit for the managers of Cranbell, so you will live there in my absence.”

Liana became pale while her husband gasped in shock. Poliana noticed her father standing nearby. He looked much older than he should have been. To him, Poliana announced, “I will not be apologizing to you about what I said since it was the truth. Everyone knows you are impotent.”

“Y-you!”

The entire Cranbell family had been ignoring the stories of the emperor’s favored knightess. They have been denying the possibility that it was Poliana, but now, they had no choice but to admit it.

Poliana was here, she was back.

Her father, stepmother, and Liana all looked ill. It made sense because, at any moment, Poliana could get her revenge against them in whatever way she desired, and they would be helpless to protect themselves.

It was illegal for the lord of the land to punish the managers for a personal reason but in this case, it was different. Poliana used to be Poliana Cranbell. She could do anything she wanted to them and just say it was a family business.

Her family trembled in fear and Poliana’s men smiled evilly, realizing what was going on.

“Sir Poliana, all you need to do is give us an order. We will do whatever you ask of us.”

One of them suggested she should take her revenge right here and right now, but Poliana was not interested. She wasn’t bitter about her past. She felt indifferent.

Poliana didn’t even miss her biological mother. She didn’t feel much for her father either. Compared to what she felt for her emperor, Lucius the First, her feelings towards her family were minimal at best.

When her father tried to approach her, Poliana’s men stopped him.

Only

She ordered her soldiers, “You may all go and rest. Just make sure not to stay too far away from this castle. When it is time to return, just come back to me and let me know. You are free to go.”

She didn’t need a vacation, but she got one. Poliana decided she might as well enjoy it and rest as much as she could. Her men cheered excitedly.

Poliana’s idea of a vacation was eating and sleeping. She walked into the castle to find a bedroom, but unlike before, she didn’t plan on finding just any empty room. She was the owner of Cranbell after all, so this was her castle. Why would she stay at a guesthouse in her house?

When she stood in front of the master bedroom, the butler quickly came to her and handed her the key. When she walked in and closed the door behind her, Poliana suddenly realized her mistake.

‘Oh! I forgot to bring some snacks.’

She needed to go to the kitchen or the dining room to find something to eat, but if she left the room right now to raid the pantry, it would look ridiculous. She contemplated when suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A maid walked in with a tray full of snacks and fruits. The first thing that caught her eyes was the dried cranberries.

Poliana grabbed a handful of it and emptied it into her mouth. A sweet and sour taste filled her mouth, making her salivate. Poliana didn’t like cranberries much, but they still tasted great to her. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since she tasted her hometown’s local specialty.

It was good to be home.