The Emperor and the Knightess

The guards replied in fear, “We won’t do it again!”

“Do you think that is enough?!”

“Please give us one more chance! We will do our best!”

“Your best may not be enough, but I will give you one more chance, nonetheless. If I hear about any more problems, that will be the end of all of you, got it?”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

Every guard, both her own men and Sir Jainno’s replied wholeheartedly. Sir Wook bowed to her apologetically. Poliana felt guilty; Sir Wook was a good knight who had been loyal to her, yet she was forcing him to apologize to her along with everyone else. It didn’t seem like anyone was disappointed in her behavior, however, and she felt relieved.

When she turned around, she heard Sirs Wook and Jainno reprimanding all of the guards for their mistakes.

‘Dammit…’

Poliana felt frustrated at this situation. She left the men and went to the nearby garden. She began to assault a tree. Right kick, left kick, right punch, and left punch… If the gardeners saw her, they would’ve cried at how their plants were being treated.

Just then, someone asked her from behind.

“Sir Poliana, do you have a moment?” It was Sir Jainno. When she turned around, he took off one of his gloves and offered it to her. Sir Jainno continued, “I have a problem with you.”

It was very obvious that he was not pleased with her. Every time they faced each other, Sir Jainno glared at the golden stripe on her uniform. At least, he was very clear about what he was unhappy about.

‘What’s with the glove…’

Poliana thought highly of Sir Jainno mainly because compared to Sir Ainno, he was a gentleman. Having Sir Ainno as an older brother must’ve been horrible, but Sir Jainno seemed like a decent person.

She couldn’t understand what he meant by offering her his glove.

‘… He can’t mean…’

It couldn’t be, the Sir Jainno she knew would never dare to act in such a way. She was certain that he had a brain.

‘No way… He can’t mean that…’

Poliana flinched, slowly realizing that perhaps he did mean what she thought couldn’t be possible. She then asked him cautiously, “What are you doing?”

“I have no complaints about your gender, strength, or title. But I do have one problem with you and that is your military experience. I have just as much, if not more, experience than you, Sir Poliana, and that is why your position as the head of the guard division is unfair. So I challenge you to a duel, Sir Poliana, like a knight to another knight.”

Sir Jainno was as old as Poliana, and he did indeed have about the same number of years in the military as Poliana. His service to the Acreian army was, of course, much longer than hers.

Sir Jainno felt certain that if he joined the conquest like his brother, which was exactly what he wanted, he would’ve been appointed as the head of the royal guards. He didn’t say anything during Poliana’s announcement just a moment ago because he didn’t want to ruin her moment but the truth was, he did have a problem with her.

Big time…

Poliana flinched again. ‘Dammit.’

She was right, he was asking her for a duel. Poliana took his glove with a serious face and Sir Jainno nodded firmly. He said to her, “I have no intention of damaging your reputation, Sir Poliana. I also do not assume that I will win without a doubt. Sir Wook and the other knights told me that you fight with everything you have, using every possible method that you could utilize. Our duel will have no rules so you can use anything you… Gyaa!”

Poliana slapped Sir Ainno’s face with his own glove. Sir Ainno stepped back with a flinch, afraid that he might lose his eyes from being hit by the glove. Poliana had no mercy for him. She immediately went after him and continued to attack him.

Just as the other knights told him, Poliana fought with everything she had. Her hands never stopped as she kicked and punched him constantly.

This was so disappointing. Poliana thought Sir Jainno was one of the normal ones, but apparently, she was very wrong. Poliana screamed at him, “Are you seriously suggesting we should fight for my position? Do you think this is a joke? This position was appointed by the emperor himself. Do you know what the emperor’s favorite saying was during the conquest? ‘Stop reading stupid romance novels! Get some common sense!’ So I ask you, Sir Jainno. Do you think I’m a joke? Do you think this whole thing is a joke? Do you think this job can be just won by a mere fight? Huh? Answer me!”

“Gya!!! I, I’m sorry!”

Poliana successfully cornered him. Sir Jainno couldn’t say anything other than an apology to her because she was absolutely right. All he could do was block Poliana’s attacks as best as he could.

Left kick, right kick, right punch, and left punch…

Only

And finally, Sir Jainno surrendered and Poliana ordered him to give her ten push-ups. He had no choice but to drop down to the ground and follow her order.

Poliana watched Sir Jainno sweat when suddenly, she felt someone approach them. Sir Jainno noticed them as well, and because he couldn’t show any kind of weakness to other men, he stood up quickly and pretended that nothing happened.

The man who came to them was one of the royal guards. He announced hurriedly, “Sir Poliana! You need to come right now! Something bad has happened!”

“What is it?”

“Sir Donau apparently assaulted Sir Navkin!”

Poliana shook her head in frustration. What was going on around here?! Was everyone trying to give her a heart attack?

Suddenly, Poliana regretted not retiring just like Lady Bika suggested. If she did, she could’ve been home in her own castle now, enjoying a peaceful life.