The Emperor and the Knightess

Poliana dropped her fork. Her eyes widened, and Frau continued to blurt out, “I was planning to propose to you because I want your money!”

His voice became louder, and he practically shouted his last sentence. Everyone in the restaurant stared at them, but thankfully, he didn’t yell out the word “marquess.” It didn’t seem like anyone heard him addressing her by her title, and Poliana was glad that she changed her clothes before coming here. If she was wearing her blue uniform… The rumor from this incident would’ve been a juicy one.

Perhaps Lady Rebecca was wrong. Poliana realized that Frau Sneke was actually a very ambitious man.

Poliana worked as Lucius the First’s strategist during the war. Because the emperor didn’t have an actual strategy unit, Poliana’s official title was the emperor’s personal guard, but if there was such a unit, Poliana didn’t doubt that she would’ve led that division. She was called the “Witch of War” and her specialty was using the existing landscapes as part of her battle strategy. If she was given a map and ordered to get to the other side of an unfamiliar mountain, she had no doubt that she would accomplish this without a problem.

Most strategists were superstitious with specific jinks. Poliana didn’t like it when one was forced to battle without any advanced information. She hated going into a battle without knowing as much as she could find out about the landscape and her enemy. She believed that information was the basis of any victory.

How many enemy soldiers would be coming? Who was going to be their leader? How did they fight their last battle? What kind of path would the enemies take to get to the battlefield? What would the landscape look like?

Poliana could be very easy going about many things, but if there was anything unexpected, such as an unexpectedly large number of enemies or a surprise attack, she would react at it violently. She became so furious and vicious that even Lucius the First had a hard time calming her down in these situations.

And today… Frau’s attack was something that Poliana never expected. It was a complete shock to her.

Well, Poliana decided to be brutally honest to herself. The truth was that the people around her warned her about Frau, but she ignored them. A leader who ignored other’s advice and information was a useless one. A long time ago when Poliana worked as a knightess for Aehas, she once warned her superiors of the impending attack from Acreia. At the time, she was ignored and even laughed at.

Poliana knew better than not to listen to others. Even if what they said sounded ridiculous, it was a job of a good strategist to listen and consider the possibility of it even occurring. Now that she broke her own rule, Poliana felt ashamed. She ignored the warnings from the others, and she ended up coming here absolutely unprepared. If this was a battle, she would’ve died along with all of her men.

Didn’t people say that marriage was the grave of life? She was so shocked that she almost said yes to Frau.

If Frau was smarter and continued with his surprise attack, he might have won, but unfortunately, Frau was an awkward indecisive man. Just like Poliana, Frau himself seemed shocked at what he said. They both looked at each other uneasily as they contemplated.

Frau Sneke proposed to Marquess Winter because he was interested in her money.

In his defense, Frau actually wasn’t planning on proposing to Poliana tonight. He wanted to get closer to her before asking her to marry him, but he was so nervous that he made a mistake. He even blurted out the real reason why he wanted to marry her. He obviously didn’t mean to ever tell her that.

It was game over.

Frau wanted to disappear. He didn’t know what to say, so he continued to blurt out.

Frau stammered, “Marquess… I… I didn’t mean to… I was so nervous that I…”

Poliana thought quietly, ‘So he really means it… He wants to marry me for my money…’

She was so shocked that she couldn’t think. She asked, “Marriage? With me?”

“I-I… I know I am not worthy, Marquess, but this marriage can benefit you too. If you can read my plan here… I wrote it down…”

Oh boy, he wrote a report for her about his proposal.

Frau clumsily took out his paperwork, giving some time for Poliana to think about it clearly. It seemed that Frau was even more nervous than he looked because he kept muttering, “Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit.”

Swearing did not suit him at all. Besides, if he was thinking clearly, he would’ve never sworn in front of a noblewoman like this. His hands were shaking violently as he took out his paperwork. He dropped them, and as he gathered them off the ground again, Poliana noticed his lips tightening. It was an expression Poliana was familiar with.

It was the expression a man had before he was about to die. An expression one had when he knew his life was over at a specific moment.

It was true that what Frau just did was an unforgivable sin. To ask the greatest Marquess of this kingdom to marry him because he wanted her money when he was barely a noble himself? A man who had nothing, not even his family name? This was ridiculous.

There were plenty of higher-ranking nobles who wanted to marry her. All of them obviously wanted her status and money, but none of them were stupid and rude enough to every disclose their true intentions to her.

‘Bastard.’

Poliana narrowed her eyes. How could this man be so vulgar? There were basic unspoken rules in this world, and he was breaking them.

Frau’s hands continued to tremble as he kneeled in front of her.

“Please just kill me now, Marquess Winter. I deserve it.”

“Hmm…”

Poliana briefly considered smashing his head with her empty plate, but she thought against it. It seemed that he was aware of his mistake, and besides, she was interested in finding out more about his intentions.

“Continue with your explanation.”

It was strange, but Poliana was actually impressed with Frau’s ambition. It was so unexpected because he has been acting so weak until now. It actually felt refreshing. Poliana also needed more time to organize her thoughts, so she wanted him to continue talking.

Frau’s face became pale before bowing deeply.

“I am so sorry, Marquess Winter.”

Frau kept his face bowed and everyone around them continued to stare. They whispered, “Did you hear that? That man just proposed to that woman!”

“He said he wanted her money!”

“Well, look at her face. She better be wealthy or else, no one would ever propose to her.”

“Why does that woman’s hair so short?”

“That’s a woman?!”

“How poor is that man that he asks a woman like that to marry him?”

‘F*ck.’

Only

Poliana could hear them whispering. She glared at them, making most of the people look away. Poliana, however, knew that although they weren’t looking at her, they were trying their best to listen to her conversation. Although Poliana hated them, she couldn’t blame them. If she witnessed something like this, she would’ve certainly stared too.

She was Marquess Poliana Winter, the one and only knightess in the world. She wasn’t wearing her uniform, but it was possible that some people recognized her. She had distinct scars on her face and was wearing a very masculine outfit.

Poliana gestured Frau to take a seat; when he hesitated, she kicked him. Even the way he stood up and sat down looked weak and unmanly.

Poliana repeated, “I told you to continue.”

“I didn’t mean to do this, Marquess. And it’s true that when I first heard about you, a woman knightess, I was very impressed. After I met you, I admit that I began to feel sorry for myself because I could never become a knight myself. I also felt jealous, but I never lost my great respect for you and your work, Marquess Winter. But then, I heard people talking about how you could never get married because no man would have you… And I began to think that maybe I can propose… If you come to like me, maybe you will marry me… I thought it might be a good idea…”

Even an unambitious man couldn’t help dreaming when he saw a chance. Frau wanted a new successful life for himself. He actually couldn’t understand why more men weren’t proposing to her. Although Poliana was not a beauty, in terms of her wealth and status, Marquess Poliana Winter was the best wife material. Even though he wouldn’t be able to get a new title with this marriage… Even though he wouldn’t be the head of the household… Even though he would have to change his last name rather than the other way around… Even though she was ugly and barren… Even though people would point their fingers at him because he married for money and power…

Even though he would lose so much with this marriage, he would gain even more with it. Besides, Frau had nothing to lose at this point, so this would actually be a dream come true for him.