Chapter 99
In front of the castle entrance, the high-ranking official and nobles waited for the emperor. When Lucius the First approached them, one man suddenly appeared. He was wearing a luxurious cloak and walked respectfully towards the emperor.
Duke Luzo, Lucius the First’s cousin and the man who took care of Acreia in the emperor’s absence. If Duke Luzo betrayed the emperor, Lucius the First would have never made it this far.
The duke bowed low and greeted, “Congratulations to your great victory, your highness.”
“Please, Duke Luzo. There is no need for you to bow to . You have done a great service during this war.”
Without Duke Luzo’s stable and loyal presence, Lucius the First would have never been able to unite the continent. When the emperor delayed entering the castle to praise him, the duke seed very grateful.
anwhile, Poliana looked around and relaxed when she didn’t see any potential danger for the emperor.
‘Hmm… By the way, the duke looks older than I expected.’
Working on behalf of the emperor must’ve been a very stressful job, Or did he naturally have a high forehead? Duke Luzo looked much older than Lucius the First, and Poliana could see a clear sign of hair loss on his front.
‘Oh, it must be the hair loss that is making him look so much older.’
If Duke Luzo knew what Poliana was thinking, he would have fainted. What she didn’t know was what the duke looked like 10 years ago. Although not as beautiful as the emperor, Duke Luzo was considered one of the most handso n in the kingdom. It was such a sha that he was losing his hair.
Inside the castle was a huge feast ready to welco the emperor’s n. Sir Bentier attended the party while Sir Rabi was absent. Only a few of the personal guards were selected to stay inside the castle with the emperor and their numbers were supplented by Duke Luzo’s own guards.
The people were free to choose whether to attend the banquet or not. Those who were tired were allowed to return ho. Most who stayed, despite their fatigue, while so were mostly there for potential political gains by getting the chance to et their kingdom’s important figures.
The majority of the low-ranking nobles didn’t attend the gathering. They knew they wouldn’t have much of a chance to be promoted.
Sir Rabi claid, “There are so many greedy people in this world. All they want is to get more of everything.”
He took off his elaborate armor before leaving the castle. Even though he was wearing regular non-military clothes, he still looked like a soldier. The other knights were the sa.
But when Poliana changed into sothing normal, the n looked at her awkwardly. They were used to seeing her in her military or guard uniforms, or dirty tunics and pants on her days off. But she was a guest at Sir Rabi’s ho, so she knew she couldn’t wear sothing dirty. Before the parade, Poliana purchased a few outfits and because she found won’s robes uncomfortable, she ended up buying tunics and pants.
Sir Rabi’s ho was located in a wealthy neighborhood, he was Count Bika after all. Sir Rabi owned a significant amount of land with a castle outside the capital, but he chose to have it maintained by a hired agent and live with his family in Nanaba. He found this arrangent to be the most convenient.
Not all nobles chose to live in the capital like Sir Rabi. It was a matter of preference, and Poliana thought she would end up doing the sa thing as Sir Rabi and stay in the capital.
In front of the Bika mansion, a crowd was waiting at the entrance. As soon as Sir Rabi dismounted his horse, two won ran towards him.
“FATHER!”
“FATHER!”
Everyone recognized their voices. They were the sa ones that were heard so loudly and clearly at the parade. As Poliana suspected, they were Sir Rabi’s daughters.
They were the daughters Sir Rabi bragged about so many tis. His son, who was much younger, seed not to recognize him because he remained still and didn’t run after Sir Rabi.
Sir Rabi picked up both of his daughters each in his arms. They were fully grown and therefore couldn’t be too light, yet Sir Rabi didn’t even seem to notice. The girls scread happily, it was so nice to see their happy family together.
“I’m ho, girls!”
“Welco ho!”
“Welco!”
Sir Rabi greeted his parents and then his wife. It has been 10 years since they saw each other, but they all seed calm and collected.
Poliana was impressed.
‘I guess this is how a proper knight’s family behaves.’
But then, things changed quickly. After letting go of his daughters, Sir Rabi hugged his wife tightly. Lady Bika began to cry in happiness and relief as she whispered to him, “I thought of you every single day, I prayed for you every night!”
“It is all thanks to you that I was able to return ho safely!”
During their last 10 years, Sir Rabi kept his family portrait in his pocket and looked at it every day. He also wrote letters to his family often. When he received so letters from his family, he read them over and over again.
All the knights that were invited to stay at Sir Rabi’s ho were unmarried. The servants guided them to their rooms that were located in the separate guesthouse. Sir Rabi’s place was huge, but it was still not big enough to give separate rooms for every knight. The n, however, were happy just to have a place to stay.
Poliana entered the guesthouse with the other knights. It’s interior wasn’t overly luxurious, but it was warm and cozy.
‘It’s so nice.’
Poliana was impressed and envious. Coming ho to a warm fireplace, good food and drinks, clean clothes, and a welcoming wife who gives a loving smile and a hug…
‘I need a wife too.’
It wasn’t just Poliana who was thinking this thought. All the knights whispered how they needed to get married as soon as possible. They were all envious of Sir Rabi, who seed to have a wonderful life and family.
“Finally, we get to take our boots off!”
“I know! My toes were killing !”
They have been marching all day, so the n were tired. When all the n took their boots off at the sa ti, the place was quickly filled with an unpleasant odor. It was a bit chilly outside still, but Donau and Poliana opened the windows. Both of them also took their shoes off.
Poliana was sitting at the window when Sir Rabi entered.
“If any of you need anything, you can let the servants know. I didn’t get to have a feast arranged for you, but there is plenty of food for all of you here.”
Only
“Your wife is so beautiful, Sir Rabi!”
“We are so envious!”
So of the knights complinted Sir Rabi, but they were imdiately kicked by the other knights. Complinting the man’s wife’s beauty was a normal courtesy among knights and commoners, but not among high-ranking nobles. It was actually considered rude.
The Bika family was the official margrave, which was a title honored for the military commander assigned to maintain the defense of the kingdom’s borders. This ant that the Bika family was old and powerful aristocrats. Just the size of their mansion was proof of their wealth.
Sir Rabi turned to Poliana and said to her, “Oh, Sir Poliana, we have arranged a room for you in the main house.”
“That is not necessary. I am perfectly fine here.”
“I know that, but my wife won’t let that happen. You need to co with .”
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