The Emperor and the Knightess
chapter-23

Chapter 23

While the main troop went on to cross the river, the soldiers left behind continued to train and work on improving the military base. Some were even sent out to Aehas and Kukda to volunteer and help the locals. It was very important to maintain a positive impression on one’s colonies.

Sir Baufallo left the base to supervise the men who were sent to help the locals. Poliana remained on his behalf to take care of the station.

After what she did to Donau, no men disrespected her.

At least not in front of her.

They no longer spat in front of her. They waited until she left. The soldiers also didn’t call her a b*tch. When they needed to address her nowadays, they would look at her awkwardly and call her, “Hey…” or “You over there…” Some knights went as far as calling her “Sir,” but never her full name of “Sir Poliana.” There were odd people who convinced themselves that she was really a man. These men called her “Sir Paul.”

But despite the change in all the men on her base, there still was one boy who continued to call her nasty names.

Donau.

Lately, he has been constantly trying to pick a fight with her.

“I dare you to have a duel with me!”

“Hmm… A hairless boy like you? Do you have a death wish or something?”

Since that incident, Donau began to wear a cup for his protection. Until that incident, he was more of a nuisance as he bullying Poliana, but now, he openly challenged her for a fight. She kicked him again once, proving that a protective cup was useless, but Donau refused to learn his lesson.

‘It’s not that he is stupid… so why?’ Poliana wondered.

Donau showed his intelligence when he wrote out many of the reports for his older brother. Poliana also witnessed how friendly he could be with others, which meant it wasn’t his personality who had the problem.

So why was he being an idiot around her? Was it simply because he was a teenager?

Strangely, Poliana felt a little guilty. She felt apologetic towards Donau because what she did to him was mainly done to establish her strength and position in this place. She made an example out of him. And it worked because now, she was seen as a person to be feared. What she did to Donau was unnecessarily violent. She admitted this much.

But it also didn’t make sense how Donau continued to disrespect her. Poliana couldn’t help but feel the burning need to show him again how a proper soldier needs to behave around his superior.

But Poliana was a woman of her word. She couldn’t beat him unless he made the first move, and whenever he did, she’d only attack his crotch. It must’ve been painful every time, but strangely, Donau never gave up. Poliana had to admire his persistence.

Every single day, Donau picked a fight with her. He always tried to get away before she could kick him, but on most days, Poliana was quicker.

But she was getting sick and tired of this interaction.

Poliana tried to figure out why Donau was acting this way. She recently learned after meeting the emperor that she had a secret need and desire to be acknowledged. Was Donau feeling the same thing? Did he want his persistence and existence to be acknowledged by her?

She asked about it to him once, vaguely, and this wasn’t the case.

Finally one day, Poliana grabbed him and asked, “Are you doing this because you like your penis being kicked? Because if you like that kind of pain, you should just get a prostitute.”

Poliana has seen some soldiers developing a strange fetish after going through many traumatic battles. When she asked if he was a masochist, Donau reddened. Poliana continued, “I’m just telling you because I feel like my legs are going to rot from kicking your balls all day.”

“You b*tch! Have you lost your mind?”

“I am trying my best to control my strength. I have been avoiding turning you into a eunuch but getting injured like that every day can’t be good. It’s a very sensitive and fragile area, you know. Aren’t you in pain?”

“I have no choice because you won’t accept my challenge!”

“A duel is a privilege only given to the knights. A mere help like you have no right!”

“If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve become a knight…! DAMMITTT!”

“Donau, manhood is a very important part for any man. You are young, so perhaps you haven’t realized this yet.”

Poliana should’ve stopped here, but she was so used to verbal and sexual abuses that she continued without thinking, “Have you ever been with a woman before, little boy?”

SLAP!

Suddenly, Donau slapped Poliana with his leather glove. He then threw it at her and screamed, “I challenge you to a duel!”

“… I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Poliana felt a little sad. Just now, she acted like all the men she hated so much. What she said was wrong and she had no excuse for it.

Poliana remembered her first day in a military camp, and how her superior treated her. If it was her who was forced to be with Sir Batre instead of that pretty boy, she would’ve cried.

She thought to herself, ‘Hmm… HE said the similar thing to me too I suppose.’

Only

Lucius the First.

But his intention was very different than that of Sir Batre.

Poliana slowly picked up the leather glove and handed it to Donau. If he was a proper knight, the act of picking it up would’ve meant Poliana accepted his challenge, but Donau was only a help. A duel was not allowed for him and in fact, it was against the military law.

Poliana felt envious of him. He could challenge and insult her all he wanted, and she couldn’t fight him to the death.

Donau screamed again, “I want a duel!”

“What I just said was wrong, so I won’t kick your balls anymore.”

Donau ran towards her with his sword out. Without much effort, Poliana kicked the boy’s stomach. When he fell, she easily took away his sword and threw it far away. She then kicked his legs a few times, and before Donau could stand up, Poliana placed her foot on top of his chest and said to him apologetically, “And don’t worry. I won’t break any of your bones. I’m not very strong, so without a weapon, I can’t break bones that easily.”

And with that, she punched his stomach without mercy.