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As she became more and more uncomfortable, Poliana began to eat faster. She ate like she fought and attacked the food viciously. Although it was an amazing feast, unfortunately, Poliana could barely taste anything anymore and she didn’t care. She knew that the only way for her to escape this situation was to finish the meal and leave!

Poliana ate and ate until she could no more. There was still plenty of food left on the table and her stomach was beyond full. Lucius the First filled her cup with water and said to her, “Don’t overeat. You’ll make yourself sick. I’ll have an even better feast ready for you next time.”

“Thank you for the meal, your highness.”

“You’re welcome. You are probably still tired from your trip, so you should return home and rest.”

“Your order is my command, your highness.”

“This isn’t an order. It is a suggestion. From now on, everything I say to you will be a request, not an order. Please understand this.”

“Your highness… Why me, why did you choose me? There are so many better women out there?”

“Pol…”

Lucius the First looked at her disappointedly, but Poliana continued, “I am ugly, your Highness. Do you remember telling me how you would rather sleep with a dirty wh*re?”

Lucius the First replied in a clearly upset voice, “Please forget I said that! Please, I beg you!” He hated himself for saying such a thing to her in the past. Poliana hated seeing him so sad, so she decided she will never bring up this again. It was one of the things the emperor said to her that she could never forget, but if Lucius the First wanted her to forget it, she will try her best.

“Alright, your highness. Anyway, I am old and ugly. You are the man every woman wants, but I am the woman no man wants. So I just don’t understand why you are pursuing me like this. I realize there is no logic or reason for love, but still… This still doesn’t make sense. There have been plenty of beautiful and wonderful ladies in your life, so why do you want me?”

“You’re being so cruel, Sir Pol. If what you say is right that I am the man every woman wants, then shouldn’t you feel proud to have me fall in love with you? You have always been a confident and proud woman, so why can’t you be happy about my feelings for you?”

“Those are two very different things, your highness. My pride and confidence have nothing to do with anything here.”

“You are wrong. And even if you aren’t, it doesn’t matter. Also, you are not ugly. I find you adorable.” When Lucius the First told her she was cute, Poliana became quiet. She blushed again and to hide it, Poliana covered her cheeks. They felt warm on her hands and Poliana decided it was time for her to go.

“I’ll see you later, your highness.”

“Alright. I’ll walk you out.”

Lucius the First stood up quickly. Worried that he might try to pull out the chair for her again, Poliana stood up immediately, but to her shock, the emperor was at the door and opened it for her.

‘Dammit!’

This was now the second time she walked through the door that was opened by the emperor. Such an honor was difficult to endure for her; her eyes reddened and she felt like she wanted to disappear.

The servant waiting outside quickly ran to the barn to get her horse. Poliana and the emperor walked leisurely outside. She made sure to walk slightly behind Lucius the First. The emperor must’ve ordered the horse to be brought to the back door. When they walked out, there was no one around, not even a single guard. The servant who ran out to get the horse was gone, thus, Poliana waited for her ride.

Poliana bowed and said to the emperor awkwardly, “Well then… Have a good night, your highness.”

What Lucius the First did next made her feel even more uncomfortable. He bowed politely and asked Poliana, “Please, my lady, allow me the honor of kissing the back of your beautiful hand.”

The emperor has been dying to ask Poliana this ever since he saw Sir Ainno do it to his wife. It was such a respectful request, but Poliana froze as if he stabbed her. She looked like she was about to burst in shock.

“Your highness, you know my hands aren’t beautiful! They are ugly!”

Her hands were discolored and rough with callouses. Her fingernails were broken and misshaped. Until now, Poliana has been proud of her hands, but at this very moment, Poliana felt embarrassed.

Lucius the First said to her in frustration, “Smooth and soft hands aren’t the only hands that are beautiful. Do you think a mother’s hands are ugly if they are worn from sewing so much? Noble ladies work hard to keep their skin soft and beautiful while the common women work hard to feed their families. I believe the hands of all ladies are beautiful, just as I think your hands as the knightess are beautiful.”

Lucius the First gently held her hands. A man’s hands on her skin… Since they were both experienced swordsmen, Lucius the First had the callouses in the same areas as hers. Poliana’s hands were, of course, rougher. The emperor rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, but he did not kiss it. He was going to wait until she gave him her permission.

“Please let my hands go, your highness.”

Only

“If you are going to refuse me, you must say it outright. Tell me not to kiss your hand and I won’t, but if you don’t say it, I am going to stand here and wait.”

The emperor was ready to wait forever for her even if she ran away. He would wait day and night. He would wait for her for a decade. Perhaps longer.

Poliana knew she was allowed to refuse him, but it was difficult to say no. It was because Poliana has kissed the back of the emperor’s hand so many times before. Love and respect were two different things, but… Poliana remembered the first time she was allowed to kiss the emperor’s hand. The happiness and excitement she felt… She would never be able to forget that moment.

And here was the man who was clearly in love with her. He was looking at her beggingly and Poliana didn’t have the heart to refuse him. It didn’t feel right for her to say no when she was given the honor of kissing his hand so many times before.

Poliana finally said to him, “Do whatever you wish, your highness.” Lucius the First slowly kissed the back of her hand. Her hand was rough while the emperor’s lips were soft.

Even though it was the back of her hand he kissed, strangely, Poliana felt her palm feeling ticklish. In fact, her neck, back, breasts, feet, ears, and even her teeth felt sensitive.

It was just a simple kiss on her hand, but Poliana became filled with strange emotions. The unfamiliar feelings refused to disappear even when she went to sleep that night.