Story 7: Friendly Master
Chapter 63
Poliana Winter was now an official member of Lucius the First’s personal protection team. She was no longer one of his mere guards, but she was assigned the position of a commander. Sir Mahogal, who used to be the commander, was not promoted to become the head of the department.
Then what about Sir Ainno, who was the head of the protection division? Lucius the First made him the head of a new department titled the special forces. As expected, Sir Ainno was adamantly against this idea. “Your highness! Please! Please do not do this!”
Sir Ainno looked determined. He stood in front of the emperor’s tent, refusing to leave until Lucius the First changed his mind. Sir Ainno looked unkempt and messy.
When Lucius the First gave him a frustrated look, Sir Mahogal smiled and went out to remove the resolute knight. Of course, Sir Ainno wasn’t the type to be easily removed. When the emperor heard Sir Ainno and Sir Mahogal arguing, he went out himself to take care of the situation.
Lucius the First asked Sir Ainno to join him for a drink.
The two drank as long-time friends and talked frankly.
Lucius the First tried to make his case. He explained that Sir Ainno was too good of a knight to be wasted as a personal guard and left out of the battles. The emperor was safe, and the other knights were all very skilled; they would do a fine job of protecting the emperor. Lucius also told him that he knew Sir Ainno loved going into the battles whenever he got a chance.
“How can I trust those weaklings to protect you, your highness?!” Sir Ainno retorted.
“Inno, if an assassin is skilled enough to sneak into my tent, which is located in the middle of our base, then perhaps it would be only fair that I die… I’m just kidding.”
The emperor was allowed to joke just about anything, but not about his own life. It was an unspoken rule.Lucius the First continued, “Inno, I am not saying being a personal guard isn’t an honorable position, but as you know, your talent can allow you to do much greater things. Rather than staying by my side, you can go out there and lead the battles into victories. This is how you will honor your family name.”
The emperor was making a perfect sense.
“Go, Inno. Go where you can shine the most.”
Later, Poliana heard about this conversation in details from the emperor himself. After being carried on his back, Poliana now considered herself a close acquaintance of the emperor. Lucius the First thought the same way too. They became close enough that Poliana now felt comfortable making a joke first.
“Then, your highness, where should I be to shine the most? Would it be by your side?”
“That’s not true, Sir Pol.”
Poliana expected the emperor to joke back, but when he replied without a smile, she kneeled in front of him. Did she just make a huge mistake?
After a tense silence, Lucius the First added seriously, “I can shine because of you by my side.”
It was such a corny thing to say, but Poliana liked it. Because Lucius the First said it, this comment sounded poetic. Besides, it was true. Everyone here was following him to make his dream come true. The soldiers and the knights were there to make Lucius the First, the first emperor of the entire continent.
They would become the legend to be talked about for decades.
Poliana bowed and replied, “Thank you, your highness. I am honored.”
“Don’t you think you and I get along great?”
“I do, your highness.”Even if she disagreed, she obviously had to say yes to such a question. Lucius the First smiled like a naughty boy and Poliana smiled back.
They looked at each other for a long time, smiling widely and showing off their white teeth. Of course, unlike the emperor, Poliana was missing a molar.
“Sir Pol, I really think we will have a very good relationship.”
“Of course, your highness. I will always try my best to be a good knight no matter what. No matter what kind of emperor you become, I will serve you to my best ability.”
“And I will never abandon you, Sir Pol. Even if you aren’t a good knight.”
Lucius the First was impressed with how Sir Donau fought at the banquet hall as well. He promoted Sir Donau to become a guard in the personal protection division. Donau was ecstatic, but Sir Baufallo respectfully refused because he thought this was too big of an honor. With a smile, Lucius the First explained to Sir Baufallo, “There aren’t that many knights who can fight even after being kicked in his balls, Bau.”
Only
Sir Baufallo understood immediately and gave his blessing to his youngest son. Sir Howe became very jealous after he saw his younger brother in the handsome guard uniform. Sir Howe insisted that if he wasn’t chosen to participate in the tournament, he would have become a personal guard instead of his little brother.
Wanting to boast, Donau wore his uniform everywhere. To eat, to sleep, and to train. When the other personal guards found out about it, Donau was harshly reprimanded for being too careless with his position. The personal protection division was known for its harsh internal discipline process.
Several of the existing personal guards wanted to participate in active battles too. When they asked, Lucius the First allowed them to join Sir Ainno in the new special forces. To fill their positions, new personal guards were selected. These knights became overjoyed as they received their new blue uniforms, which they admired from afar for a long time.
To get to know the new guards, Lucius the First gathered everyone in the personal protection team. He ordered the drinks and food, and he smiled at the knights. He was happy and he felt finally free.
Lucius the First announced, “Then! Let’s drink to celebrate the departure of Inno! I finally got rid of him!”
“WAA!”
“Long live Sir Ainno!”
“Cheers!”