Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

The prime minister wore a polite smile, his gaze fixed on the scene in the center of the reception room, showing no intention of speaking.

Rune sighed silently to himself.

'I still really dislike this guy.'

Sebastian stood two steps behind Rune, his gaze fixed on the hand the Queen was holding Rune's.

'So, Lord Rune likes this type.'

Sebastian thought to himself.

No wonder Lu En was so resistant when I tried to find out his opinion on Suo Liuxiang.

It's not that Lord Rune doesn't like Solus, it's just that Lord Rune's taste leans more towards... the petite and cute type.

Sebastian's gaze swept over the Queen: her pale pink dress, her fair and slender limbs, and her exquisitely beautiful face, like that of a doll.

'She's really cute.'

Sebastian made a fair assessment in his mind.

He then thought of Suo Liuxiang's height; the combat maid was much taller than Her Majesty the Queen, and the difference in their stature was even more obvious.

'I see.'

Sebastian nodded slightly to himself.

No wonder Lord Rune rejected Suo Liuxiang.

Sebastian doesn't object to relationships with a large age gap, as long as it's not forced, then age and race are not problems.

It's just a pity.

It is a great loss to Nazarick that such an outstanding human as Lord Rune was not absorbed into the inner circle of Nazarick.

But Sebastian thought again that the Dragon Kingdom was far away from the territory of Aindora, and judging from the interaction between Lord Rune and Her Majesty the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, there seemed to be no real relationship between the two.

The brief stiffness in His Excellency Rune's body when the Queen held his hand was not a natural reaction between lovers, but rather as if he was caught off guard by the sudden intimacy.

Therefore, Nazarick is still worth fighting for.

Sebastian began silently matching suitable candidates in his mind.

Judging from the size of this dragon queen… he thought of his subordinate, Edoma Basilisa Zeta, one of the maids of the Pleiades.

Edoma Basilisa Zeta is 149cm tall and level 51. She appears as a sweet little girl, but her true identity is a spider-woman who fights by manipulating various insects.

It might be very suitable to introduce him to Lord Rune.

Sebastian silently kept this candidate in mind.

In the center of the reception room, Derodile was still complaining.

"...Three towns have already fallen at the front, and the garrison has suffered heavy casualties. Mr. Serabray and his men have been fighting valiantly, but the number of orcs is simply too overwhelming..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, and the mist in her eyes finally condensed into tears, which rolled down her cheeks.

"I...I really don't know what to do."

Rune watched as tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the neckline of her pale pink dress, leaving a small, dark stain.

He opened his mouth, about to say something...

Chapter 43 Setting the Scene

“Your Majesty,” Chancellor Bergman interrupted Rune’s rhythm.

The old man took two steps forward, a sorrowful expression on his wrinkled face.

"It's all my fault for being incompetent and failing to share His Majesty's burdens. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely have personally taken to the battlefield and fought those orcs to the death..."

He paused, wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, and tears flowed down his face, befitting his reputation as a veteran actor.

"But now, with my old bones, I'm afraid I'd only cause trouble if I went to the battlefield."

Rune watched the prime minister's dramatic performance, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

'They've arrived.'

He was all too familiar with this tactic: the Queen would first play the victim, and then the Prime Minister would come out and put on a show.

Sure enough, the prime minister changed the subject.

“Therefore, this old minister dares to humbly request Your Excellency Aindora.” He turned to Rune, bowing deeply, his silver-white hair falling forward with the movement, “This time, could you please lead the decapitation operation?”

Rune frowned.

"A decapitation strike?"

“Exactly.” The prime minister straightened up, meeting Rune’s gaze with a resolute look in his eyes. “The orcs’ invasion this time is completely different from previous years. According to intelligence from the front lines, the orc king is likely to be personally in charge of command.”

He paused for a moment, as if making a final calculation.

"If we can kill them, the orc army will be thrown into chaos. Even if we can't completely repel the enemy, we can at least buy the Dragon Kingdom some breathing room."

Rune remained silent for a moment.

He glanced at Derodile.

The Queen was looking up at him, her eyes, still wet with tears, now filled with expectation and pleading, a sight that evoked pity in me.

“Lu Enqing…” She seemed light as a feather, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind. “I know this request is excessive. But… I really have no other choice.”

"Mr. Serabreu of Crystal Tears is indeed strong, but he alone is probably no match for the Orc King. Therefore..."

Rune looked at the pitiful little face, and then glanced at the prime minister next to him who looked like he "only regretted his own incompetence".

'Really?'

He silently complained to himself.

'Do I really look that stupid? Would I go and do something so dangerous just because a little girl begged me? Seriously, someone like that doesn't even exist, right?'

But then I thought...

This gave him a reason to carry out his follow-up plan.

He needed an excuse to go deep into the front lines and take huge risks.

Now, the Queen and the Prime Minister have personally presented him with this opportunity.

Rune took a deep breath, his face showing an expression that said, "It's difficult, but I'm willing to do it to protect someone."

"His Majesty."

He spoke in a resolute tone.

"I understand. I will do my best to protect the people of the Dragon Kingdom."

Derodile's eyes lit up instantly.

But soon the Queen realized something was wrong and quickly withdrew the light from her eyes.

It happened so fast it was as if it had never happened. If Rune hadn't been observing her the whole time, he probably would have thought it was just his imagination.

Next, Derodile put on that tearful expression again.

“Lord Lu Enqing,” she said in a pitiful tone, “be careful. When you return in triumph, I will personally cook the celebratory banquet for you.”

Rune looked at the little face that was trying so hard to maintain an endearing expression.

That's outrageous!

He silently complained to himself.

'Bad acting is one thing, but to set such a high bar for me? Do they think I'm too lucky?'

In the movies and TV shows of my past life, those characters who said things like "I'll get married when I get back" or "I'll go home to see my wife and kids after this war" basically never came back alive.

Rune suddenly remembered that when he said goodbye to Silk, he seemed to have made a promise to bring his sister to the Dragon Kingdom next time.

'Oh no, I was so focused on using it as a delaying tactic for my sister that I forgot it was also a flag.' Rune started to panic.

He subtly tilted his head, glancing at the half-step behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Sebastian stood there.

The weight that had been hanging over Rune's heart finally settled.

'fine.'

He thought to himself.

Sebastian is still alive.

Without Sebastian's assistance, Rune would never have accepted such a request, which was fraught with risks.

But now... he really doesn't believe that a dignified level 100 dragonman would be unable to withstand the mere double flags of himself and the Dragon Queen.

Rune looked at the Queen's expectant yet feigned reluctance face, and then glanced at Chancellor Bergman beside him, who looked as if he only regretted his old age and frailty.

"Your Majesty, rest assured," Rune's voice was firm. "I will do my utmost."

Derodile desperately tried to suppress the corners of her mouth that were about to turn up in uncontrollable laughter.

"Then... I'll leave it to you, Lord Lu Enqing."

As she spoke, she released Rune's fingers.

The small hand that had been clenched for a long time was pulled back, the knuckles slightly red, probably from the considerable force used.

Rune took a step back, placed his right hand in front of his chest, and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now and return to my camp to make preparations."

"Mmm," Derodion responded softly.

Rune straightened up and turned to walk towards the door of the reception room.

Sebastian followed behind him.

The two figures passed through the half-open door and disappeared into the depths of the corridor.

The reception room fell silent.

Derodile turned her head to look at Chancellor Bergman behind her.