The princess stood on the balcony and looked at the chaos below with sad eyes.

The palace was surrounded. A crowd consisting of nigh every citizen of the city had battered down the gates and now stood just beyond the palace doors, waving their torches and chanting. It would not have been out-of-sorts to call this a revolution, even if there had been no deaths so far, merely a couple of bruised palace guards.

The princess closed her eyes and listened to their chant. The combined might of a thousand voices thrummed through her bones.

“GIVE HER UP!

“GIVE HER UP!

“GIVE HER UP!

“GIVE HER UP!”

There was a rustling behind her. She turned her head to see the shadowy figure of her father, illuminated from behind by the light from the doorway. “Frau, come inside.”

She shook her head gently, then stepped forward to the edge of the balcony. Gripping the railing tightly, she took a deep breath and bellowed to the crowd below. “MY PEOPLE!”

The chanting died down. Reflected in the ruddy light of the torches were a thousand eyes, watching her intently. She glimpsed her father behind her, restraining himself, not daring to stop her in front of such a crowd.

“My people!” she said again, “Good and noble citizens of Silene. I am your Princess, Fraularia Vel Agthenon Goethe Tyr Silene. I stand before you deeply humbled and ashamed, for you have been greatly wronged by my father.”

Princess Fraularia sensed her father, the king, shrink back into the doorway, no longer willing to be seen by the crowd. Undeterred, she continued speaking.

“I am here to atone for my father’s mistakes. Tomorrow, at sunrise, I will ride for the lake. I will sacrifice myself to the dragon, so that you all may have a few more days of peace.”

Fraularia heard a sharp gasp behind her, and silence from the crowd. Then, one of them yelled, “How do we know you’ll keep your word?!”

“If you find me false,” Fraularia responded with noble bearing, “you may march upon the castle tomorrow eve and burn it to the ground. Indeed, you would be justified in doing so, for I would be unworthy to be your princess.”

There were murmurs among the crowd. No doubt they were wondering if Fraularia could be trusted or was merely offering an excuse so her family could escape through some secret passage. Ultimately, Fraularia’s upright reputation served as a firm foundation for the people’s trust in her, and the crowd slowly began to disperse. Fraularia let out a deep sigh and retreated inside.

There were three people inside, waiting for her with worried eyes. Her father, King Exedra spoke first.

“Frau! What have you DONE?!” Snot dribbled down his nose, ruining the dignity of his kingly grey beard, and he heaved sobs as he spoke.

Behind him stood Queen Maylaria, her hands resting on the king’s shoulders. “That was rash of you, Frau.”

“Was it truly?” Fraularia responded bitterly, “The rashness is Father’s doing. Had he simply honored the terms of the sacrificial lot, a law he himself laid down, then the people would have little cause for revolt.”

Prince Hypodra, Fraularia’s older brother, stepped forward. “You do realize that very law means your death, doesn’t it? This is not the abstract we’re discussing, Frau. This is reality.”

“Of course,” Fraularia responded, holding her head high, “I would give my life a thousand times over to safeguard the lives of my people.”

“What a splendid time you picked to embody noblesse oblige, Frau. I’d call it admirable if it wasn’t so tragic.” sighed Hypodra, “You know, there are other ways to serve the people’s interest. Your betrothal to Silas, for example.”

Fraularia shuddered a bit, involuntarily. “Such a SHAME that my life shall be demanded from me instead of my hand in marriage. Oh well, nothing for it. My decision is final, and nothing any of you say will cause me to falter.” Her firm determination was ironclad, and her family gave up trying to convince her otherwise.

Prince Hypodra and Queen Maylaria spent the rest of the night doting upon Fraularia, serving her favorite foods and reading from her favorite books; the last rites paid to one who would face death tomorrow.

King Exedra was inconsolable and wailed long into the night.

*****

As the sun began to set over the city of Silene the next day, a lone figure rode up on horseback to its gates. Ever since the dragon had begun its attacks, visitors to Silene were rare; the guards gawped at the figure of a muscular woman with regal bearing, clad in fine leather armor and with a greatsword, bow and quiver slung across her back. Her fierce green eyes regarded the guards with a steely gaze, and her red hair pulled back in a ponytail fluttered in the evening breeze.

“W-Who goes there!” said one of the guards, shakily.

“I am a mere wandering knight,” responded the woman, “Georgina of Lydda. I come to this town seeking supper and bed.”

One of the guards leaned over to the other and whispered, “No way. That can’t be… the Demon Georgina, can it?”

The other whispered back, “It is! Look at the insignia on her breastplate. It’s the crest of House Lydda. She’s Imperial nobility!”

Georgina’s ears twitched as she caught their whispered conversation. Her tone turned frosty. “Would you two like to keep gossiping all night, or may I enter your fair town?”

“Aye!” said the first guard. “We’ll open the gates at once!” He leaned over to the other and muttered, “Make for the castle. Tell the king at once.”

Georgina rolled her eyes as the gates opened. She was used to this sort of reaction whenever she entered a new town or city, and it never failed to tire her body and mind both.

*****

Sure enough, an hour later, Georgina stood in the audience chamber of Silene’s palace, respectfully taking a knee before the city’s royalty.

A white-bearded man in his fifties, adorned in velvet robes and with a gold circlet upon his head, spoke first. “I am King Exedra Skyr Agthenon Eldrest Tyr Silene.”

Second was a woman, also in her fifties, dressed in the same type of robes as her husband. Her grey hair was pulled back in a simple bun and a silver circlet sat upon her head. “And I am Queen Maylaria Skyr Goethe Nyxar Tyr Silene.”

Finally spoke a young lad, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with close-cropped brown hair and blue eyes; he wore a simple military uniform. “I am Prince Hypodra Vel Agthenon Goethe Tyr Silene.”

Georgina didn’t bother memorizing their overlong noble names. “Greetings, rulers of Silene. I am Georgina of Lydda. To what do I owe the pleasure of your audience?”

The king looked puzzled at her reply. “Is that… all you wish to identify yourself as? I thought your name considerably longer, Madame Knight.”

Georgina frowned. It was common practice, both in the Empire and beyond, for nobility to inflate their names to ridiculous lengths, including indicators of their marital status, father and mother’s family names and precise rank in the nobility. Georgina had never been one to follow that trend; the pompous affectations of status didn’t really interest her.

“My name is exactly as I have stated, Sir King,” she responded tersely.

The king spoke his next words in a carefully respectful and formal tone. “If I may be so bold, perhaps there is another name that is familiar to you; that of Saint Georgina, Hero of the Unification War and Savior of the Empire.”

Georgina’s frown deepened. “Truly, you would call me a Saint? The guards at your gate seemed to think me the Demon Georgina instead.”

The king’s complexion paled. Georgina had asked a loaded question; Silene stood against the Empire during the Unification War, the very conflict where Georgina had earned her fame as the Empress’ blade. Even if that war was now a decade past, bitter sentiments still lingered; loyal territories thought of the famed knight as a Saint, whereas former rebel lands called her a Demon.

“Forgive the impertinence of my guards, Madame Knight,” the king said, desperately trying to patch things up, “They will be severely disciplined for their loose tongues.”

“Please do no such thing,” Georgina said, “It caused me no offense. ‘Saint’ and ‘Demon’ are meaningless titles that were ascribed to me in the past, but if I were truly so powerful as the legends proclaim, then surely I would have been able to save my own lands from destruction. Failing that, I am simply Georgina of Lydda, a wandering knight whose house has long since passed into extinction. Judge me by my actions, not the hyperbolic tales you heard from the bards.”

“I see,” said the king, wisely choosing not to pursue the matter further, “In that case, Georgina of Lydda, this may seem impertinent of me… but I have a favor to ask of you.”

Georgina’s eyes narrowed. “And what might that be?”

The king suddenly took a step forward, and tears began to fall from his eyes, “PLEASE SAVE MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER!”

Georgina’s involuntarily shrank back a bit. She had been expecting this request, but the sudden naked emotion of King Exedra’s outburst still startled her.

*****

As Georgina listened, the king wove his sad tale. Most of the details had been exactly as she had heard from travelling merchants.

Some year and half-season ago, Silene was attacked by a ferocious dragon that hailed from a nearby lake. The city’s knight brigade, consisting of the finest warriors and mages, had marched against the beast, but it issued forth poisonous breath that melted flesh and armor alike; the whole brigade was reduced to slurry in moments, and the city left defenseless. To buy time for his people, the king ordered livestock sent to sate the beast’s appetite: goats, pigs, cows and horses alike were sacrificed until none were left. With no animals left to appease the creature, it attacked once more and the people feared the end of their city… until a noble knight, one of the few survivors of the earlier massacre, offered himself up as food to the beast to sate it once more.

After that, the king organized a drawing of lots. Once a week, the citizen whose lot was selected would travel to the lake and willingly allow themselves to be consumed by the creature, to keep the rest of the town safe. The king included the names of himself and his family in that drawing of lots, to assure the people of the fairness of the process. And so, every week, another citizen marched to their death.

With the dragon temporarily satisfied thusly, the king put out desperate pleas to neighboring domains and the Adventurer’s Guild for help; however, none answered the call. And who would? Could an expeditionary force or ramshackle band of adventurers succeed where an entire knight’s brigade had failed? The population of Silene dwindled as many fled, including almost the entire merchant population; Silene had made its fortune as a trading town, so this was a devastating blow indeed. Only one merchant remained, charging exorbitant rates for his wares, and the coffers of the Crown had been depleted in paying him to provide basic food and necessities for the remaining people.

And then, two days ago, a further misfortune struck. The drawing of lots turned up the name of Princess Fraularia. The king had begged the people to offer his daughter a reprieve, even promised to pay them recompense out of his meager remaining fortune, but his words merely fomented rebellion. And so, when the palace was surrounded by an angry mob, Fraularia appeared to them and promised to follow through with the sacrifice. This very morn she had walked out to the lake to offer herself to the dragon.

The king broke down as he finished his story, sobbing uncontrollably; clearly, his love for his daughter was great. The queen and prince looked embarrassed by their father’s weeping, but their eyes betrayed similar desperation.

“Have you not thought to send to the Empire for aid?” asked Georgina.

The queen answered in place of the bawling king. “As you are well aware, Madame Knight, we are a former rebel territory. We did not think the Empress would be inclined to hear our plea.”

“I see.” For the first time since entering the city, Georgina smiled. It was a savage smile, bereft of joy. “Very well. In the stead of my Empress, I shall ride for the lake at once and challenge the beast.”

The king wiped his eyes and surged forwards, grasping Georgina’s hands in thanks. “If you save my daughter, I shall grant you any reward you desire! Wealth, status, even my very kingdom shall be yours! I promise you!”

“No reward is required,” responded Georgina, “except the satisfaction of having performed my duty as an Imperial Knight.”

“Let me summon my head armorer,” said the king, “and we shall have you outfitted with the finest plate mail and weapons at once.”

Georgina waved him away dismissively. “That won’t be necessary. I will simply make use of my current equipment.”

The prince protested her flippancy. “Surely you would wish for something more protective than simple leather armor, Madame Knight?”

“Why? From your tale, I gather the dragon’s breath would melt steel plate like butter. I would rather have my mobility unhampered.”

The royals seemed in awe of Georgina’s courage, or perhaps her foolhardiness. She rebuffed all further offers of aid and excused herself from their audience soon after. Time was of the essence, after all.

*****

There was no great celebration as Georgina rode out of the town on her steed. The people were too downtrodden to foster much hope in a single knight, no matter how lofty her reputation. The lack of ceremony suited Georgina just fine; she was glad to be free of the stuffy royal audience and headed towards that place where she felt most comfortable: the battlefield.

The moon was mostly full, giving ample light for riding even after the sun set. When she caught sight of the lake, glimmering in reflected moonlight, Georgina dismounted her steed and tied him to a nearby tree, bidding him to rest and feed on the grass until she returned. Then she made her way towards the lake on foot, watching and listening for any sign of the fearless beast.

At the edge of the lake, she spotted a sole human figure kneeling on the shore, hands clasped together in prayer. It was Princess Fraularia, dressed in wedding finery and still unharmed. Georgina approached the maiden softly, wary of startling her.

When Georgina drew within a meter, Fraularia opened her eyes and turned around. “Who…?” she asked hesitantly. Georgina took note of her frizzy brown hair, freckled nose and limpid blue eyes; in her wedding dress which sparkled in the bright moonlight, the princess looked gorgeous.

“I am Georgina of Lydda, a wandering knight. Your father bade me to slay the dragon that has troubled your city.” Georgina extended her hand, clad in its leather gauntlet, in greeting.

Fraularia did not take her hand, studying the muscular redheaded knight with curious eyes before heaving an exaggerated sigh. “I see. My father’s foolishness continues, even now. Pray leave at once, Madame Knight. This dragon is an opponent you cannot hope to defeat.”

Georgina smiled confidently. “You must truly be a peerless sage, princess, to discern my abilities mere moments after having met me. I confess consternation at your low assessment of me, however.”

Fraularia frowned at Georgina’s sarcasm. “You know I meant no disrespect. An entire brigade of knights could not oppose this beast. One will make no difference.”

Georgina took Fraularia by the arm and lifted the maiden to her feet. “Then I shall take great pleasure in disproving you, my dear princess.” She began to guide Fraularia back to where the horse was tied up, taking care not to step on the hem of her dress.

Fraularia gazed at Georgina’s rippling biceps for a moment, the freckled bridge of her nose tinged red by a slight blush. Coming to her senses, she tried to protest further, but her words were interrupted by a ghostly wail from the lake.

“The beast!” cried Fraularia.

Georgina gave Fraularia a shove, away from the lake and towards her horse. “Make haste, princess. This battle will be intense, and I would not see you caught in the crossfire. It would bode ill for you to be melted by this creature’s poison breath.”

“But…” Fraularia began.

“I promised to bear you to safety, and on my honor as a knight, I shall do so. Now flee to cover and leave the creature to me.” Georgina turned and strode towards the lake confidently.

Fraularia watched her shrinking back and felt her heart skip a beat. Could this dashing and impulsive knight actually succeed where so many others had failed? Dare she allow herself this small hope, when she had known nothing but despair for so long?

*****

The dragon was a water-creature, bearing itself not on wings or legs but four flippers that jutted out from its rotund body. It had a long neck with the head of an alligator, and a tail that ended in a horizontal fin, not unlike a whale’s. Despite its lack of wings, it swam through the air as easily as it did the water.

Georgina studied the creature as it rose up before her, searching for the telltale glow of mana. She spotted a faint blue aura around the flippers; the source of the magic it was using to fly without wings. In a single smooth motion, Georgina drew the bow from her back, nocked an arrow, filled it with her own red-tinged mana, and let it fly.

Georgina had quite a large reserve of mana in her body but lacked the finesse to weave it into spells or incantations. Instead, she simply channeled it into her muscles, bones and skin to enhance her durability, speed and strength, making her a dedicated physical brawler. She could also pour mana into her weapons so long as she held them, granting them extra destructive power. Sadly, this ability did not allow her to control an arrow’s trajectory after it left her bowstring, and the dragon handily dodged to the side with a derisive snort before unleashing its poisonous breath in a whirling green gale.

Grunting, Georgina funneled mana into her legs and dashed away from the foul gale, moving faster than the dragon’s eyes could follow; as the breath attack struck, a bubbling crater of liquid earth appeared where she had been standing a moment ago. Georgina leapt some ten meters into the air, nocked another arrow, and once again aimed it at the dragon. Her speed caught the beast off guard, and the arrow pierced one of its flippers before exploding into a torrent of destructive red mana and shredding the limb’s flesh.

Fraularia watched the battle unfold with wide, sparkling eyes. She had never seen a knight move as Georgina had, so quickly and with such grace. Her heart fluttered once more, and the kernel of hope within her began to flower.

With one of its flippers shredded, the dragon wobbled unsteadily but did not plummet to the earth. It swiveled around and unleashed another breath-attack, which Georgina dodged easily. She shot another arrow, which the dragon dodged in turn. Growing frustrated, Georgina stowed her bow on her back and poured even more mana into her legs, crouching down before springing high into the air and straight towards the dragon. Shocked, the dragon reared back… but it was too late. Georgina closed the gap and slammed her armored fist into the dragon’s jaw, sending it reeling.

“Did she just… PUNCH the dragon?!” Fraularia gasped in utter amazement. Beside her, the horse whinnied its affirmation.

The stunned dragon crashed to the earth, throwing up a huge cloud of dust. Georgina wasted no time in springing upon it once more. She unsheathed her greatsword, filled it with mana, and plunged it deep into another of the beast’s flippers. The dragon wailed in pain and swiped its tail at Georgina, who dodged backwards before assuming a defensive stance.

Like a wounded animal, the dragon struck desperately at Georgina, who poured mana into her muscles and skin to render them firm as steel. She blocked every blow with her greatsword, parrying… until she saw an opening. She sprang forwards, burying her sword up to the hilt in the dragon’s thigh, then alighted upon its handle and jumped up onto the dragon’s back. As the creature thrashed about wildly, she crawled forwards, up the back of its neck. Then, gripping tightly with her thighs, she brought both her hands together high above her head, channeling all the mana she could muster into her shoulders and biceps, and slammed them down upon the dome of the dragon’s skull.

There was a loud cracking noise from the impact, not unlike a peal of thunder. The impact turned the dragon’s brains to slurry, and it slumped down to the ground, dead.

The princess reeled at the stunning sight of the victorious knight astride the dead dragon’s neck as if riding it into the afterlife. Her heart pounded so loudly her eardrums nearly burst. She couldn’t quite believe it, but the truth was undeniable.

Saint Georgina had slain the dragon.

*****

As Georgina dismounted the dragon, Fraularia ran up to her. “Madame Knight, that was stupendous! I’ve never seen a warrior move so gracefully, or strike with such power! You must be the mightiest knight in the whole Empire!” She took Georgina’s hands in her own and pumped them up in down as she gushed praise.

“Haha, thank you.” Georgina smiled, but her eyes were tinged with sadness. Fraularia noticed her forlorn gaze and frowned.

“Is something the matter, Madame Knight?”

“It’s nothing. I was just hoping for a more rousing battle, that’s all.”

“Surely you jest! It was a battle for the ages, one destined to be retold in song!”

Georgina laughed humorlessly. “If you say so.”

Fraularia wasn’t sure how to respond to the knight’s melancholy. “S-So shall we make for the city? I’m certain my father will want to hear of your triumph. He must be consumed by worry.”

Georgina looked up at the sky. “The moon has been shrouded by clouds, and it is nearly midnight. I think it better if we make camp and set out after sunrise. You remain here and I will gather us some firewood, princess.”

Fraularia acceded to Georgina’s expertise. A half-hour later they sat around a roaring fire, huddled together for warmth as the night’s chill nipped at them. The shadow of the dragon’s corpse loomed large over their impromptu campsite.

“I must confess, Madame Knight, I’m surprised you are not more cheered by your victory,” Fraularia said, deciding to probe her rescuer a bit.

“Haah. It’s not that I’m unhappy. I was merely hoping for a more visceral battle,” sighed Georgina.

“It’s certainly true the dragon did not pose much threat to you, Madame Knight. Are you perhaps one of those ‘battle maniacs’ who constantly seeks to test her strength against mighty foes?”

“That’s… not quite right,” Georgina responded, “My melancholy arises only from my past misfortune. It’s a long and sad tale, and I shall not bore you with it.”

“But my dear knight,” Fraularia said, drawing closer to her, “I insist.”

Georgina found herself unable to resist the princess’ limpid blue eyes. She resigned herself to Fraularia’s probing and began to relay her life story. Once, a decade past, she had been Georgina Tyr Lydda, noble ruler of the Lydda province and one of the Empire’s most trusted knight commanders. When the Empire had been torn apart by civil war, Georgina lent her blade to the Empress and presided over many victories; she was lauded as the Saint (or Demon) of the Empire, claims that were only slightly hyperbolic.

Alas, that fame was also her undoing. The rebel forces, backed into a corner, launched a raid upon Lydda while Georgina was away on campaign. They put her family and subjects to the sword and burned her lands to a crisp. They figured this would demoralize her; when Georgina returned home, she found naught but ash and bone.

Instead of capitulating to despair, Georgina sought revenge. Spurred on by hate, she crushed the rebels utterly and returned their slight sevenfold. When the dust settled, Georgina was the last of her line with no lands or fortune to speak of. Although the Empress offered Georgina a place by her side as prime minister, Georgina rejected the offer and set out alone, journeying across the Empire as a wandering knight.

Fraularia found her eyes moistening as she lost herself in Georgina’s fierce, distant emerald gaze. “A journey of recompense? You are seeking a purpose for living after losing everything?”

“Not quite,” Georgina responded, “Rather than seeking something to live for… I’m seeking something to die for.”

“Ah.” Fraularia understood perfectly. Georgina was looking for a place to sacrifice herself, a noble death.

“If I could simply die in service to some great cause, slaying a monster or opposing an army of tyrants, my soul could pass on peacefully to the afterlife and rejoin my family,” Georgina said in a voice filled with pain. Suicide was a mortal sin that doomed one’s soul, but a glorious end in battle guaranteed one’s place among the honored dead.

There was a long stretch of silence. Fraularia reached up and gently stroked Georgina’s cheek. “I would think it a shame, Madame Knight, if my handsome and dashing rescuer were to die so senselessly. I count myself lucky you survived unhurt, even if you do not.” Her face flushed red as she spoke.

Georgina was uncertain how to react to this bold princess, clad in a wedding dress, nestled so close to her and gently consoling her. Something stirred deep in Georgina’s chest, and she felt her face grow hot.

“Princess?” she began slowly.

“Yes?”

“I would ask that you not address me as Madame Knight. I have a disdain for stuffy titles. Instead… could you simply call me Gina?”

“But of course,” responded Fraularia while smiling brightly, “On one condition. I would have you address me as Frau.”

The knight nodded. “Frau.”

“Gina.”

They nestled all the closer as the fire crackled brightly.

*****

The next morning, Frau and Gina mounted the latter’s horse and began the ride back to the city. Although the horse was strong enough to bear them both, it moved at a trot barely above walking speed. Frau sat side-saddle in front of Gina, her arms wrapped around the knight’s waist.

“In truth,” Frau said after a while, “I’m quite dreading my return to Silene.”

“Why might that be?” asked Gina.

“Some half-season ago, my father arranged my marriage to a local merchant, Silas Penthe. He’s the only merchant who was willing to remain in our town after the dragon attacked, and part of the reason he stayed is my father enticing him with the prospect of my hand in marriage.”

Gina frowned. “Is that the merchant who has been selling goods to your father at exorbitant markups?”

“The very same,” confirmed Frau, “He is a vile man who has used our desperation as an excuse to loot my family’s coffers, in exchange for providing the citizens with table scraps.”

“He sounds thoroughly loathsome.”

“Oh, you don’t know the HALF of it,” spat Frau with startling acidity, “He is a boorish old creep four decades my senior, and he already has a dozen other wives to boot. They are misfortunate, battered women who find themselves at the whims of both his fists and his sexual appetite.”

Gina winced. “And your father engaged you to such a man? Has he no love for you?”

“He does love me, yes… and had the times not been so desperate, he never would have entertained the idea. But the people are starving, you understand. With our livestock gone and our fields lacking farmers to work them, we need some source of food. My life is a small thing to trade for the well-being of my subjects.”

Gina frowned. “So I save you from a dragon, only to have you threatened by a pig.”

“I suppose so,” sighed Frau, “In the darkest part of my heart, I actually welcomed the prospect of being eaten by that dragon. At least it would be a quick death, not a prolonged torment.”

Gina thought for a moment. “Frau, would you be willing to entertain a wild idea?”

“Huh?”

Gina leaned over and whispered something in Frau’s ear. The princess’ eyes grew wide, and a mischievous smile spread across her face.

“You would truly do that, Gina? For me?”

Gina grinned sheepishly. “I’m a knight, am I not? It’s my duty to rescue the princess.”

Frau craned her neck and gave Gina a peck on the cheek. The two women, suddenly filled with fresh happiness, rode towards the town gates.

*****

When Gina and Frau returned to the palace, King Exedra practically flew to greet them, embracing his daughter tightly and crying tears of happiness.

“BWAAAAAAAAAAH! MY DEAREST FRAU, I WAS SO WORRIED!”

Frau was embarrassed by this display but allowed her father the indulgence. Her mother and brother were considerably more restrained, yet no less happy.

“Frau! We’re so happy that you’ve returned to us safely,” said Queen Maylaria, wiping her eyes.

“Indeed, my dear sister. I take it this means the dragon is slain?” Prince Hypodra added.

Gina nodded affirmation. “I suggest you dispatch butchers and wagons to carve and retrieve its corpse. Dragon materials can be quite valuable, and their meat is delicious.”

The prince bowed deeply to Gina. “Our kingdom owes you a great debt of gratitude. We could never begin to repay all you’ve done for us in slaying the dragon and rescuing Fraularia.”

The king, finally disentangled from Frau at her prompting, blew his nose, and offered profuse thanks to Gina. “You have saved us all. Once more, please ask for any reward you desire. If it is within my power to grant, I shall do so.”

Frau, still wiping her father’s tears from the front of her dress, shot Gina a sidelong glance. The knight nodded in return.

“In fact, your majesty, there is one thing I would deign to ask of you.”

“Anything! Ask for anything and you shall have it!”

Gina kneeled before the king and placed her hand over her breast. “I would ask for the hand of your daughter in marriage.”

The room fell silent as the king, queen and prince all stared at Gina in disbelief. Frau’s face lit up with a huge smile. Gina gazed firmly into the king’s eyes, awaiting a response.

The king finally spoke after a long, awkward moment. “…This is truly what you desire? May I ask why?”

“In truth, your majesty, the fair princess Frau has captured my heart with her bold demeanor. She is a rare woman; courageous, kind, just and sweet. I find myself aflutter in her presence, my heart set afire by her every word. I have fallen in love with her, and I wish to spend the rest of my days by her side.”

The king’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He had not been expecting such a frank love confession.

When it became apparent the king was too dumbfounded to speak, the prince took control of the conversation. “You do realize, Madame Knight, that Frau is already betrothed to another? The merchant Silas Penthe has already asked for her hand in marriage, and we consented.”

“On that point,” replied Gina, “I shall defer to the princess herself.” She turned her head to Frau expectantly.

“You are no doubt already aware of this,” Frau said, “but I have no love for Silas. My engagement to him was a political ploy, but I find him personally repulsive.”

The queen spoke next. “And your feelings towards the Madame Knight?”

The princess spoke proudly and boldly. “I am in love with her. She is dashing, handsome and strong, and I find myself blushing in her presence like a maiden with a hopeless crush. If I could spend my days at her side, it would make me happier than anything.”

The queen studied Frau for a moment, then nodded. “I see the truth in your words. That being the case, I have no problem with your wedding Madame Georgina.”

The prince sighed theatrically. “It will be troublesome dealing with Silas, but my sister’s happiness matters above all else. I too approve of this request.”

The king, shaken from his stupor, protested. “W-Wait just a moment! It will be more than TROUBLESOME dealing with Silas! His company is the sole lifeline for this city! Without him, we will starve!”

“Regarding that,” Gina replied, “upon returning to Silene, I dispatched a courier to the Imperial capital. I have requested the Empress send an aid convoy at once with preserved foods and livestock. That should significantly ease your woes until you can begin farming once more.”

“B-But we are a former rebel territory! Why would the Empress deign to assist US?”

Gina shook her head in frustration at the king’s stubbornness. “I must confess, your assessment of the Empress as some manner of petty villain is most inaccurate. She cares for all her subjects equally, even those who once raised a sword against her. Besides, I still have the Empress’ ear as one of her most trusted confidants. She will not refuse a request from me.”

“Even so! Silas will not take this news peacefully! He will wish to challenge you for my daughter’s hand!”

Gina’s face twisted into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, I know. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

*****

That afternoon, King Exedra held a public assembly in the palace courtyard. There, he announced that the fearsome dragon had been slain by the mighty Saint Georgina. The people’s cheer reverberated throughout the city, and when the king added that Georgina had asked for Fraularia’s hand in marriage, the crowd went wild with jubilation.

One person, however, was displeased. “This is BULLSHIT! A CRIME!”

The crowd fell silent, and one man stepped forwards to face the king. It was the infamous merchant Silas Penthe, a hawkish lout in his sixties trumped up in ostentatious clothes and jewelry. Accompanying him were four of his wives, who looked haggard and exhausted despite being dressed in luxurious gowns. Gina noticed that one of the wives had a nasty black eye, which makeup could only partially conceal.

“I was already promised Fraularia’s hand in marriage!” Silas spat, showing no respect for the king. “What is this treachery?”

The king regarded Silas coldly. “The princess has expressed her desire to wed Saint Georgina instead.”

“That’s quite right,” Fraularia added, “I would much rather marry a handsome, dashing knight than a boorish old crow like you.”

“There you have it.” the king said. “Are my daughter’s wishes not paramount?”

Silas glowered. “You would defer to the word of a woman over that of a man? I always took you for a fool, Exedra, but this is beyond the pale.”

The crowd gasped sharply at Silas’ brazen lèse-majesté. They had all grown to hate Silas over the past year for his exploitation of their desperate circumstances, but insulting the king so openly turned their distaste into naked hatred. Silas was loudly jeered and booed.

Silas was practically spitting venom. “Silence, ALL OF YOU! You UNGRATEFUL WRETCHES! Was it not I who fed and clothed you in your darkest hour?”

Gina stepped forward, her hand on the hilt of her sword. “You dare insult the king so openly? In any realm of the Empire that is a capital crime, and as a knight I cannot let it stand. Would you care to retract your words, merchant?”

“I will do no such thing,” Silas replied.

Gina sighed. “In that case, I will give you one chance to prove you are not a craven fool. If you truly desire Fraularia’s hand, fight for her.”

Silas looked around at the hate-filled eyes of the crowd. “A duel?”

“To the death,” Gina replied, “The prize shall be Fraularia’s hand in marriage.”

“Hah. I accept your challenge, DEMON.” He reached into his robes and drew an ornamental sword, encrusted in jewels and lined with gold leaf. “Do not take me lightly. I have trained with the finest sword masters money can buy. In front of all these witnesses, I shall prove that Georgina is no legend, but merely a woman who doesn’t know her place!”

As the crowd parted to make way for the duel, Gina studied Silas’ combat stance. Although he seemed to have a firm grasp of the basics, his form was filled with holes. Gina guessed he had taken a few months of basic training at most, and many decades ago at that. This might have been sufficient to fight an untrained commoner or even a green recruit, but any knight worth her salt would make short work of him.

Still, Gina didn’t want to end this duel too quickly. Silas had visited much suffering on the people of Silene, and Gina would repay it in full. She unsheathed her own greatsword and lowered herself into a defensive stance.

Silas screamed and charged. Gina noted with disapproval that his footwork was sloppy as she easily blocked his first vertical strike, pushing back with such force that he stumbled for a moment. Silas’ face twisted into a mask of rage as he charged again, swinging horizontally. Gina ducked under the merchant’s sword and, shifting her greatsword into her left hand, clenched her right hand in a fist and drove it into Silas’ stomach. The merchant heaved and vomited, stumbling backwards once more.

As the merchant retched, Gina frowned in disappointment. “Hmm, it seems I can not even make good sport of you.” She hadn’t even needed to enhance her body with mana; Silas was so weak, she wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“Sh-Shut up!” Silas groaned, wiping flecks of vomit from his lips. He moved to strike vertically once more, with barely any power behind the blow. Before he could bring his blade down, Gina swung her sword in a high horizontal arc above the merchant’s head, cutting off his blade at the hilt. As the severed steel of his sword clattered to the ground, Silas’ eyes grew wide in fear.

“W-Wait!” he cried, throwing his hands up. “D-Don’t kill me, please!”

“And why shouldn’t I?” Gina asked nonchalantly, “I thought this was a duel to the death.”

“I-I’m rich! I can give you money, women, anything you desire! If you would only spare my life!”

At that proclamation, the crowd booed loudly and called out for his blood to be spilled. “FINISH HIM!” they screamed.

Gina looked around and smiled. “It would seem the people wish to see you dead. However, I am not without mercy.” She turned to Silas’ wives, who were standing on the fringe of the crowd. “You, wives of this pathetic merchant. What say you all? If you ask it, I will spare his life.”

The women didn’t even hesitate a moment.

“Kill him.”

“Gut him like a fish.”

“Chop off his head!”

“Slice him in two! Let his blood and intestines spill out onto the earth!”

That last remark came from the wife with the black eye. Gina smiled and turned back to Silas.

“It would seem even your wives wish for your death, Silas.”

“YOU BITCHES! YOU’LL PAY FOR BETRAYING ME!” Silas screeched, spittle flying from his mouth.

“That’s quite enough out of you.” Gina swung her sword once, a lightning-fast strike that nobody in the crowd could follow, and the merchant’s head went flying. His decapitated body slumped to the earth.

A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd. Gina shook her sword once, flinging the blood from it, and returned it to the sheath on her back. A moment later, Frau came flying forwards from the crowd, leaping into Gina’s arms.

“You’ve done it, my darling! You saved me and my people from the pig, as well as the dragon!”

Gina dipped Frau low and planted a kiss on her lips. The crowd cheered so loudly it could be heard from the neighboring kingdoms.

*****

As the victor of the honor duel, all of Silas’ possessions passed on to Gina. She decreed that the money he had taken from the king’s coffers would be returned to the Crown, and his remaining fortune split evenly among his twelve wives. His merchant company was also placed in their trust. It turned out his wives had been doing all the hard work of running the company anyway, so they relished the opportunity to take complete ownership and transform it into an honest business instead of an exploitative one. They continued to provide Silene with essential food and supplies, at fair market rates this time.

Three weeks later, an aid convoy arrived from the Imperial capital. It contained some hundred wagons loaded with food and supplies, as well as a thousand head of cattle and various other livestock from the Empress’ own demesne. The Empress also sent a hundred knights to reinforce Silene’s undermanned guard, and three hundred workers to assist in tilling the farmland surrounding the city. King Exedra was in awe of the Empress’ generosity.

And three months after that, when it finally came time for Gina and Frau to be wed, the Empress herself attended the festivities, alongside many of the Imperial nobility. The ceremony was held in the city’s largest public square, with commoner and noble alike in attendance.

Gina was dressed in the sharp military uniform of an imperial knight, resplendent blue trimmed with gold braids, a ceremonial saber at her hip. Opposite her stood Frau, in a lacy white dress that sparkled with diamonds. Ever the gentlewoman, Gina knelt before Frau and kissed her hand, before slipping a ring on her finger.

As Gina rose, the priest behind them spoke loudly and clearly so all could hear.

“Do you, Georgina, take Fraularia to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Gina replied, flashing a confident grin.

“And do you, Fraularia, accept her affection and take Georgina as your wife also?”

“I do,” Fraularia replied, her face tinged red as she looked upon her dashing knight.

“What the Gods join here today, no person may ever separate. Before the eyes of Heaven and all the people of Silene, I now pronounce you married.”

The two embraced and kissed deeply. The city erupted once more in celebration.

*****

At the reception after the wedding, the Empress was the first to offer her congratulations. She wore a red ballgown that matched her eyes, and her raven-black hair was neatly braided in a long ponytail that stretched down to her mid-back.

“I must say, Gina, I certainly didn’t expect you to get married before me.” There was a hint of bitter jealousy in the Empress’ voice, but Gina just laughed. “Now that you’ve taken a wife, perhaps it’s time for you to settle down? I’d still like you by my side in the capital as my prime minister. The divisions in the Empire run deep, and I can think of no better person to help mend them than Saint Georgina.”

Gina rolled her eyes. “You know better than anyone I’m no saint.”

“Really?” the Empress replied. “Your accomplishments in Silene have only inflated your reputation further. Now even former rebels are calling you a saint.”

“Just ‘Gina’ is fine with me. I hate pompous titles.”

The Empress chuckled. “Indeed. How about my offer, though?”

Frau suddenly cut into the conversation. “Forgive my impertinence, your Excellence, but you can’t have her. She’s MINE!”

“Huh?” The Empress tilted her head in confusion.

Gina laughed. “I promised to take Frau on a tour of the Empire, to see all its varied realms and kingdoms. It seems my wanderlust has infected her.”

“That’s right!” Frau added happily, “It’s going to be our prolonged honeymoon.”

“I see,” the Empress said, pinching the bridge of her nose, “And how long will this journey last?”

“Who can say?” Gina replied, “Five years, maybe ten. We’re in no rush. We have our entire lives to spend together, after all.”

The Empress signed, defeated. “Very well, I suppose. When you two have finished flitting about like lovebirds, I will extend the offer again. Your talents shall be mine, SAINT Georgina, and those of your lovely wife as well.” With that, she wandered off to mingle with the other nobles.

Frau looked at Gina in confusion. “What did she mean by that last part?”

Gina chuckled. “The Empress finds you interesting, no doubt. She must have some high position planned for you in her administration.”

“Well, she’ll have to wait,” Frau said, smiling, “The next few years belong to us, and us alone.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Gina replied.

*****

A fortnight later, Gina and Frau set out on their great journey together. They took nothing with them except two horses and basic supplies. As they crested a hill some distance away from Silene, they turned back to look upon the city one last time.

“You know,” Gina said wistfully, “I came here looking for a reason to die. Instead, I found a reason to live.” She turned to her wife and grinned.

“And I found a dashing knight who swept me off my feet and stole my heart,” replied Frau.

The two maneuvered their horses side by side and kissed, before leaving Silene behind and riding off into the sunset.