Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

"Then let's teach it now!"

Lagis scrambled to her feet, grabbed her wooden sword again, and shouted, "Teach me how to hit Onii-chan!"

As Rune listened to Lajus's energetic declaration, he inexplicably felt that something was amiss.

Before he could think it through, Rune was pulled up by his sister.

"Okay. Then tell me first, when you rushed at me just now, how were you planning to hit me?"

Lahoz thought for a moment, then raised her sword and brandished it.

"Just... fight like this."

"Didn't you think about where I might hide?"

Lahoz shook her head.

"Didn't you consider how you would strike next if I parried your attack?"

Lahoz continued to shake her head.

Rune nodded, walked up to her, took her hand holding the sword, and adjusted the angle.

"Now think about it," he said, "If you were me, how would you have dodged that sword strike?"

Lahoz paused for a moment, then lowered her head and looked intently at the sword in her hand.

The sunlight was warm, shining on the two people and casting long shadows on the ground.

----------

By evening, Lahoz was finally exhausted.

She sat on the lawn, looking up at the sunset. The orange-red light fell on her face, giving her a warm glow.

"Onii-chan," she suddenly said.

"Um?"

"Do you think a knight can protect everyone?"

Rune was tidying up the two wooden swords when he heard this, and his hands paused for a moment.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because in the story Teacher Cecilia told, the Silver Knight couldn't protect himself," Lajus said softly. "He died. But the people I want to protect, I don't want them to die."

Rune remained silent for a moment.

He put the wooden sword away, walked back, and sat down next to Lahoz.

"A knight cannot protect everyone," he said.

Lahoz turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion and a faint disappointment.

"But," Rune continued, "we'll protect as many as we can. We'll protect them for as long as we can."

He looked at the sunset on the horizon, his voice calm.

Lahoz looked at him for a while.

Then she laughed.

"Then I'll protect Onii-chan."

Rune paused for a moment.

"And Father, Mother, Teacher Cecilia, and... and so many other people." Lajus counted on her fingers, but eventually ran out of fingers, so she gave up. "Anyway, I have to protect them all."

Looking at her earnest little face, Rune suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Young Master Rune, Miss Lajus, it's time for dinner," the butler Aldred said, stepping in to save the day.

Butler Aldred, nearing fifty, had served at the royal residence for thirty years, from the time of the old Earl until now. His hair was gray, but his back remained ramrod straight, and his dark gray tailcoat was without a single wrinkle.

That face, etched with the marks of time, always wore a perfectly timed smile—neither making one feel distant nor overstepping boundaries.

"Coming!" Lajus jumped up from the lawn, grabbed Rune's hand, and ran outside. "Hurry, hurry, I'm hungry!"

Rune was pulled along by her, and his pace quickened involuntarily.

The restaurant in Aindora's house wasn't very big, but it exuded the refined elegance characteristic of old-fashioned aristocrats.

The long dining table was covered with a snow-white linen tablecloth, and six thin candles flickered in silver candlesticks, illuminating the room with a warm and bright light. The tapestry on the wall was woven with the family crest—a black sword standing upright with a long hilt and the ancient inscription "As Solid as a Rock" below.

The father was already seated in the main seat.

Alvis Sarik Drew Eindora, Earl of the Kingdom of Ri Yestize, was nearly forty years old, yet still maintained the upright posture of his youth. His hair was a deeper gold, meticulously combed, and his facial features bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Rune, only with a touch more adult composure and sharpness.

He was looking at a thin document, his brows slightly furrowed.

His mother sat to his right, and when she saw the two children come in, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

Eleanora Elbein Eindora was the eldest daughter of Lord Elbein before marrying into the Eindora family. She lacked the haughtiness of other noblewomen in the capital; her eyes always held a reassuring gentleness. Her light brown hair was styled in an elegant updo, adorned with a simple pearl hair ornament at her temple.

"You're all sweaty from running," she said softly, beckoning to Lahoz. "Come here, let your mother wipe you down."

Lahoz obediently walked over, tilting her head back so her mother could wipe the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. Her light green eyes narrowed, like a kitten being stroked.

Rune walked to his seat and nodded to his father.

"Father."

The count grunted in acknowledgment, looked up from the documents, and glanced at Rune.

What are you doing today?

"I attend classes in the morning and practice swordplay with Lahas in the afternoon."

The count's gaze lingered for a moment on that youthful yet overly calm face.

It's remarkable that a six-year-old can remain so composed in front of him. Sometimes he even feels that his eldest son's eyes hold more depth than his own as his father.

But he didn't ask any further questions.

"How's your training going?" he asked.

"Lagus is very talented," Rune said. "In a few years, I might not be able to beat her."

"Really? Really?" Lagis, who had just finished wiping her sweat, immediately leaned over upon hearing this. "Onii-chan said I'm very talented!"

Her mother gently pressed her shoulder, gesturing for her to sit down. Lajus then remembered and obediently sat down next to Rune.

Then the servants began to serve the dishes.

Golden-brown, crispy roasted chicken, stewed meat drizzled with a rich sauce, freshly baked white bread, and a plate of sliced ​​seasonal fruit. Each dish was presented neatly on an elegant silver platter.

Looking at the food in front of him, Rune couldn't help but recall the dry bread and nutritional supplements he was forced to eat in his previous life in order to save money on YGGDRASIL.

"What a decadent feudal aristocracy," Rune said, taking a big bite of the roast chicken to vent his anger.

Laju quickly forgot about the conversation and focused on the stew on her plate. She ate very seriously, her little mouth puffed out, and occasionally she would let out a satisfied hum.

Her mother looked at her, her eyes full of smiles.

Eat slowly.

"Mmm."

Rune lowered his head and ate his food, his movements much more refined than Lajus's.

The count cut the meat on his plate, his gaze shifting between the two children before finally settling on Rune.

"Runes".

"exist."

"Have you been teaching Lagis swordsmanship this afternoon?"

"Yes."

The count nodded and remained silent for a few seconds.

"You've taught very well," he said, his tone still indifferent. "But don't forget your studies. Cecilia said you don't have much talent in magic, so focus on your swordsmanship. The Eindora family doesn't need an heir who only knows how to play around."

Rune lowered his eyes.

"Yes, Father."

"And another thing," the count paused, "have you been reading some strange books lately?"

Rune's heart tightened.

But there was no change in his face.

"What book?"

The count looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. "I heard from Aldred that you had a lot of historical texts brought to you. Those things are still too early for you."

Rune breathed a sigh of relief.

So that's what it is.

Wait a minute, it seems like Rune has never read any strange books in his life.

What was that strange feeling of guilt I had just felt?

Rune poked at the roast chicken on his plate, silently trying to find a reason for his inexplicable guilt—it was probably the lingering effect of being caught by his mother for secretly staying up late to play games in his past life.

"Those books..." he began cautiously, "I just want to learn about the kingdom's past wars."

"Oh?" The count raised an eyebrow. "What did you figure out?"

"I see..." Rune paused, then said seriously, "When fighting, you must be careful not to be ambushed by a third party."

The restaurant fell silent for a moment.

The count paused slightly in his grip on the knife and fork, and a subtle change appeared in his gaze as he looked at Rune.

The mother covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Lagis didn't understand at all, but she still nodded vigorously in support, "Onii-chan is right!"

The count was silent for a few seconds, then put down his knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped his mouth.

"To be able to see this at six years old," he said in a calm tone, but the corners of his eyes seemed to curve slightly. "It seems you really haven't been reading any strange books."

Rune: "..."

That sounds a bit strange.