Chapter 349

Poliana couldn't accept this situation. It was too unfair. It was true that the emperor also faced some difficulties, but what he had to endure if they got married could not compare to how much she would have to suffer. Pouting, Poliana said to him, “Your highness, you don't actually lose anything from this relations.h.i.+p.”

Everyone in the world thought it made sense for Poliana to be the one who gave up in order to make this marriage work. Even worse, Poliana herself thought the same way.

Lucius the First didn't have to give up anything for this union. He had everything. He was going to get everything he ever wanted, yet for Poliana, she was going to be forced to give up everything she achieved for love.

Career and love… Love and job… t.i.tle and love… Love and t.i.tle… Properties and love… Love and properties…

While the emperor could have both, Poliana had to give up one to get the other. What made her the angriest was the fact that her surrender was going to solve all the problems and bring the textbook happiness everyone in the kingdom believed in. It seemed that everyone was going to be happy and satisfied when she gives up and marries the emperor.

Everyone except for her.

So why did she have to give up her own happiness for everyone else?

“Your highness, you're a coward. You're being selfish. You're being too greedy.”

“So you hate me for it?”

Poliana shook her head emphatically and replied, “No.” She felt her eyes tearing up, so she bit her lips to stop herself from crying. Just like that night of the accident, it was again Poliana who seduced the emperor. She needed to take responsibility for her actions.

Looking straight at him, Poliana confessed her feelings to the one she considered the most precious treasure in her life.

“I love you, your highness.”

“Could you call me by my name?”

“…Luci.”

“Luci” was the nickname only Sir Ainno used when he and the emperor were alone. Poliana knew this and was jealous of Sir Ainno for being allowed to call the emperor by his nickname. When Lucius the First heard this, his eyes widened before smiling. He looked so happy like a man who had everything he ever wanted in this world. Indeed, he had the entire continent and now he also had the love of his life.

“Pol.”

This was an inevitable conclusion. Lucius the First was Poliana's whole world. He was her everything, so how could she ever push him away? How could she ever deny him?

Lucius the First was the man who completed Poliana Winter as a person. It was him who gave her an ident.i.ty, so now, she must accept the fact that he was going to take it away and give her a new one.

‘Poliana Clair. It doesn't suit me at all.'

Both Lucius the First's nickname and last name sounded very feminine. It was a mystery how the emperor of such a male-oriented kingdom ended up with the family name of “Clair.”

‘Gerald Clair… That doesn't sound right either… But Luminae Clair sounds very pretty.'

Poliana was not completely happy with how everything was going, but it couldn't be helped. She smiled brightly at the man she loved.

Lucius the First's happiness was her own happiness after all.

Poliana continued to stay in the Yapa castle. Officially, she was the emperor's guest, but everyone treated her like she was already the empress.

As soon as he heard about Poliana's stay, Duke Luzo visited the emperor and asked which day should be set as the wedding day. Marquis Zeese went to both the emperor and Poliana to ask if they had any special requests for the wedding ceremony. Because it was a royal wedding, it was considered a national event. This meant that Poliana's personal taste could not be applied too much, but Marquis Zeese was willing to satisfy Poliana as much as possible.

All Poliana said to him was that she wanted an ordinary wedding. Marquis Zeese asked, “And what is an ordinary royal wedding?”

The way Marquis Zeese spoke to Poliana was different now. He treated her with much more respect and formality.

Poliana replied, “How should I know?”

“I am afraid you are no help… You will need to be more specific… Is there anything you want…”

“Oh, I want my wedding ring to be big enough to fit on top of a gauntlet.”

Marquis Zeese refused immediately, “Denied.” He murmured that he was very busy and left.

Everyone thought the wedding should take place sooner rather than later since the bride and groom were both in their 30's. Those who knew about the existence of Gerald seemed even more anxious for the wedding. They wanted the heir to become legitimate as soon as possible.

Poliana began her skincare regimen again. Whenever she practiced sword fight with the emperor, the maids watched nervously, worried Poliana might end up with a scar on her face.

One thing that displeased Poliana was the fact that Sir Ainno also began his own skincare routine. He was confident he was going to become the best man, so apparently, he wanted to s.h.i.+ne during the wedding.

‘Why is he so sure that he is going to be at the wedding party? I don't want him to be the best man, but then, I know his highness would want him…'

Whenever Sir Ainno talked to her respectfully, Poliana couldn't help the gooseb.u.mps covering her entire body.

‘That b.a.s.t.a.r.d is faking it! How dare he show respect to me?! So annoying.'

What shocked Poliana most recently was the fact that Sir Ainno and his wife, Lady Seki, actually got along much better than she expected. Poliana had to admit that Sir Ainno must truly love Cekel.

It was decided that Cekel will be Poliana's maid of honor. Vaxi and Vanessa lived too far away, and it was going to be difficult for them to travel with such young children. Poliana was close to Tory and Stra, but they were both the emperor's ex-wives, so it seemed inappropriate to make them her bridesmaids. The only other n.o.ble lady Poliana could think of was Cekel, so by coincidence, both the husband and wife of the Seki family became the official member of the wedding party. Cekel seemed surprised at Poliana's request, but she accepted it graciously.

As the bride-to-be, there was so much Poliana needed to do, yet her acquaintances would not leave her alone. Now that she was going to be the emperor's wife, her t.i.tle and wealth would have to be inherited by someone else. Sir Jainno already asked her if she would accept his second son as the next in line to her t.i.tle. The other n.o.bles also wanted their own sons to inherit her wealth and status. Poliana tried to choose carefully, which meant there was much research she needed to do on each candidate.

Poliana was busier than she has ever been in her life. She could've just denied all of the requests, but if she did, her t.i.tle and wealth were going to be confiscated by the royal family. The name “Winter” was going to disappear forever and Poliana did not want this.

This name was given to her by the emperor and she wanted it to thrive. Lucius the First gave her permission to give away her t.i.tle to a person of her choice. This was considered to be her right and her obligation.