Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

As Sebastian stepped onto the stone steps leading to the Rune Mansion, the rain intensified.

He wasn't using an umbrella. Rain fell on his graying hair, trickling down his temples and soaking the shoulders of his black tuxedo.

Sebastian didn't care. His steps were steady, each step making a soft, rhythmic sound on the puddle-covered stone slabs.

The gate to the mansion was open.

No, it should be said that someone saw him from afar and opened the door in advance.

As Sebastian crossed the threshold, a young maid waiting in the entryway gave him a slight bow, her movements respectful and natural, as if she were already accustomed to the arrival of this guest.

"Lord Sebastian, Lord Aindora instructed that you may go straight in."

Thank you.

Sebastian nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He walked through the entrance hallway, along the corridor he had traversed many times before, towards the reception room.

Thanks to Rune's instructions last time, this kind of treatment has become the norm.

Sebastian remembered it clearly; it was dusk. Rune told the maid named Hill, "Next time Mr. Sebastian comes, there's no need to announce your arrival; just invite him in directly."

Not every nobleman would be willing to open his door to a foreign merchant steward of unknown origin, especially in a place like the capital where hierarchy is strict and a nobleman's residence is a symbol of his status.

But Mr. Rune never seemed to consider these things.

Recalling Lord Ainz's previous reply, "We need to observe for a while longer," Sebastian felt that Mr. Rune could already be considered half a Nazarick.

After all, what bad intentions could Mr. Rune have?

Sebastian, whose thoughts were still lingering on Rune, suddenly paused slightly.

His level 100 strength granted him enhanced perception, making his hearing far superior to that of ordinary people. Even as the rain pounded noisily against the eaves, the subtle sounds still reached his ears clearly.

Two maids were talking.

The voices came from around the corner of the corridor. Two young women's voices were very low, with the kind of excited yet cautious tone that you only hear when talking about something behind someone's back.

Sebastian stood there, silent for a moment.

Although Sebastian didn't want to do eavesdropping, he stopped in his tracks when he remembered Lord Ainz's order to observe.

Perhaps from the perspective of a servant, one can get to know a more authentic Mr. Rune.

"...Have you heard? The baron's eldest son is dead."

"Huh? Is that the famous illegitimate child?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Although he's an illegitimate child, his virtue is widely known. And it's said he's quite handsome; many noble ladies have secretly inquired about him."

A brief silence followed. It was probably another maid processing the information.

Then came a soft hum.

"Hmph, no matter how wise or good-looking they are, can they be as capable as our Lady Aindora? Can they be as handsome as Lady Aindora?"

The voice carried a sense of entitlement, almost blind pride. It wasn't deliberate flattery, but a genuine statement of what she considered a self-evident truth.

"Haha, of course not. My husband is the most handsome and best in the whole kingdom."

After the laughter subsided, the maid's voice lowered further, tinged with regret, "It's quite a pity, though. I heard he was killed by a band of mercenary thieves. So young, and yet..."

"Hmph, what kind of thief mercenary group?"

Another maid interrupted her, speaking with the air of someone who'd been through it all, "I think it was the second son who did it. The illegitimate child was in his way; isn't this kind of thing all too common?"

The air fell silent for a moment.

"Shh—there's no need to say such things."

Sebastian, having heard this, was about to leave when suddenly...

"Oh? Am I really the most handsome man in the whole kingdom?"

That was Rune's voice.

Gentle, casual, with a slightly irreverent smile typical of young people.

"what!"

"what!"

Two gasps rang out almost simultaneously, followed by the rustling sound of skirts, probably as two maids hurriedly turned around and bowed.

"Lady Aindora!"

"Lady Aindora, we...we were just..."

"Hahaha."

Rune's laughter was light and cheerful, without any sign of being offended or annoyed. Instead, it sounded like a passing older brother who had stumbled upon his sisters' little secret.

"It's alright, you guys keep going."

His tone was as kind as a warm spring breeze.

"It's not good to talk badly about others behind their backs, but you can say more about praising me."

A brief silence followed, then suppressed, relieved laughter from the two maids.

"Yes, sir."

"Understood, sir."

Footsteps sounded again. This time they were heading in the direction of Sebastian.

Sebastian stood still, without moving.

A few seconds later, Rune emerged from around the corner of the corridor.

Today he was wearing a light gray casual suit, the collar loosely open, his golden hair casually gathered at the back of his head, with a few stray hairs hanging down in front of his forehead.

He looked languid and casual, as if he had just woken up from an overly long afternoon nap.

Upon seeing Sebastian, Rune showed no surprise whatsoever.

He just smiled, a smile that seemed particularly bright in the dim light of the rainy day.

"Mr. Sebastian, eavesdropping on the maids' whispers is not a good thing."

Sebastian's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Mr. Rune, my apologies."

Sebastian bowed slightly, his tone apologetic, but his light gray eyes showed no panic. He straightened up, looked at Rune, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"However, it seems Mr. Rune listened for a while as well."

Rune paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it seemed to dispel some of the oppressive atmosphere of the rainy day in the corridor.

Sebastian smiled too.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

I don't know when it started, but the atmosphere between them has become like this.

Sebastian thought for a moment, and figured it was probably after that moonlit night of fencing.

When Mr. Rune stood up from the ground, his face showed no frustration or anger, only a magnanimous smile.

From then on, the distance between the two gradually shortened without them even realizing it.

Indeed, for men, fighting is the best lubricant for friendship.

However, compared to before, Sebastian has gained a new understanding of Rune.

Mr. Rune is the same no matter who he is in front of.

In front of nobles, in front of commoners, in front of himself, an "ordinary" butler, and in front of the maids in the mansion, that gentle and composed demeanor was not feigned.

Such a human being is indeed worth Nazarick's serious consideration.

Sebastian thought to himself, his face still bearing that calm expression.