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“Marquess Winter!”

Everyone screamed, but the most desperate voice came from the emperor, who roared, “Poliana!”

Lady Stra’s hands shook as she touched Poliana’s body, which was covering her own. Poliana wasn’t moving at all as she laid on top of Stra. Poliana was very slim, but to Lady Stra, she felt like a large rock crushing her. Stra couldn’t even scream because she was out of breath.

Suddenly, Poliana woke up and Stra began to cry in relief. Poliana asked her, “Are you ok, Lady Stra?”

“I’m fine. It’s you I am worried about, Marquess! Are you alright? Oh my god!”

Poliana patted Stra’s cheek gently and stood up. She wanted to get up quickly but she immediately realized that something was wrong with her body. Based on how she couldn’t stand up straight, Poliana knew what the problem was. The other guards, when they saw how she moved, knew as well.

The ladies and the emperor yelled, “Get the doctor!”

“Marquess Winter is hurt! Get the doctor immediately!”

Poliana muttered, “Why is everyone making such a big fuss…”

The servants quickly took away the dead deer and people swarmed over her. Someone helped Lady Stra to stand up and when one of the maids offered their hand to Poliana, Poliana refused. She remained sitting on the ground and checked out her upper body.

“Ah. Ah.”

She could speak and breathe fine, which meant her lungs were fine. She slowly stood up, and although it was painful, she could still do it, which meant her legs were fine too.

So this meant…

“My ribs are broken.”

Poliana diagnosed herself indifferently and those around her fussed over her. When they tried to help, Poliana stopped them and added, “I’m fine. All of my joints feel ok and my organs are fine too.”

Her guards replied calmly, “Oh, is that so? Good. Can you walk then, Boss?”

Tory looked at the scene. Poliana diagnosing herself and her guards nodding in agreement that her injury was only mild… This was ridiculous.

The emperor announced that the hunt was over. He ordered his servant to blow the horn to let the knights and the guards know they must return immediately. Poliana tried to stop Lucius the First, telling him there was no need to stop the entire hunting party just because of her, but the emperor was adamant.

Poliana thought to herself, ‘I was lucky just now.’

It wasn’t uncommon for a victim of such a kick to die or become paralyzed. Her broken ribs could’ve punctured her lungs, or her spine might have been damaged.

Soon, the doctor arrived and came up with the same diagnosis as Poliana’s. He stated that her ribs were indeed broken, but they were still in place. All she had to do was to limit her movement as much as possible until they healed. When the doctor announced that this wasn’t a life-threatening injury, Stra was so relieved that she began to sob into her handkerchief. She said to Poliana, “I am so sorry, Marquess. It’s all my fault. I insisted on touching the deer even though you warned me…”

“Don’t worry about it, Lady Stra. It is my duty to protect you and Lady Tory. I am just glad that I got the chance to prevent you from getting hurt.”

To Poliana, this wasn’t a big deal. In fact, she blamed herself for not being quicker. Normally, she would’ve been able to roll away with Lady Stra in her arms away from the deer, but this time, she lost her consciousness when the deer kicked her.

‘I’ve become too lazy and relaxed.’

It was partly because she was getting older, but it was also because she had become too comfortable. She wasn’t desperate to survive anymore because she now had everything. Money, power, and even the emperor’s favor… She was no longer as alert and vigilant as before.

Lady Stra offered her carriage to Poliana. After Poliana got into it, Stra tried to follow her into the carriage but the emperor stopped her.

“But your highness, I can take care of Marquess Winter…”

“No need. I will take care of Sir Pol myself.”

Before Lady Stra could protest, Lucius the First entered the carriage first. When Lady Stra tried to follow him, Sir Ainno stopped her.

“His highness probably has something he wants to discuss with Sir Poliana, Lady Stra.”

“But someone needs to take care of her wound…”

“You can do that when we return to the castle.”

“Is his highness planning to reprimand Marquess Winter? That can’t be!”

“…”

Sir Ainno feigned his ignorance. It was possible that the emperor was going to be upset with Poliana, but he was certain it wasn’t for the reason Lady Stra was thinking.

Lady Stra began to cry again and Sir Ainno helped her get into another carriage.

***

Poliana was looking up at the carriage ceiling when someone came in. She assumed it would be Lady Stra, but when she saw that it was the emperor, she tried to get up. Lucius the First waved his hand to stop her and Poliana laid down again comfortably. She was one of the few who had the special privilege of being allowed to lay down in the emperor’s presence. Even if she didn’t, she had a good excuse because she was injured.

Poliana sighed deeply, which caused her immense pain, and said to the emperor, “I have gotten too complacent, your highness. I have gotten too used to peace. Did you see how slow my reflex was back there? When I am all healed, I am going to have to do some serious training to improve myself.”

Only

Poliana had been focusing on training for this hunt that she has been lazy about all of her other drills. She spent any free time she had with Frau, and now, she regretted it. Instead of going to different restaurants with him, she should’ve been riding her horses and doing sit-ups.

And of all days, she chose not to wear her metal chain armor underneath her uniform. If she did, her ribs wouldn’t have broken. She would’ve only suffered from some bruises.

Poliana continued, “As soon as I got kicked, I couldn’t breathe at all and I blacked out. I can’t believe I did that. I am so embarrassed. I have become too lazy.”

Poliana gave the emperor a guilty smile. When the carriage began to move, she winked in pain and Lucius the First supported her body with both of his hands to keep her still. The emperor’s face was rigid. When he saw her collapse to the ground after getting kicked by the deer, it took everything in him not to run after her and scream. He knew he couldn’t show his true feelings to her because it would only make Poliana feel uncomfortable.

In a calm voice, he said to Poliana, “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Pardon, your highness?”

“Don’t ever do that again, no matter what. Don’t ever throw yourself to save another person, even if it’s me or my wives. You cannot sacrifice yourself, Poliana. You are my knight, which means your life belongs to me, right?”