Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Rune froze. His right leg instinctively fell back to the ground, stopping right in the center of the doorway, caught in a dilemma.

“…I just wanted some fresh air.” Rune’s voice was a little weak.

Silk had already walked up to him.

Her figure appeared exceptionally tall in the sunlight, casting Rune entirely into shadow.

"Get some fresh air?" Silk repeated the word, her tone flat, yet it made Rune gasp for breath. "Get some fresh air while you're meeting Her Majesty the Queen?"

"Hmm...it's a bit hot in the reception room..."

"Then, elder brother, please explain what 'marriage' and 'family' mean."

Sebastian watched this scene in a daze, not quite understanding what had happened.

But another image suddenly flashed into Sebastian's mind: a scene from long ago, in the guild hall of YGGDRASIL, where Lord Bubble Teapot and Lord Peroroncino would do the same.

The siblings bickered as soon as they met, and although they often fought, they actually had a very good relationship.

The noisy yet intimate atmosphere had an inexplicable similarity to the feeling between the brother and sister in front of me.

Sebastian stood there, his gaze slightly unfocused, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.

Rune was grabbed by the back of his collar by Silk, his body leaning back slightly, presenting a dejected posture as if he had been caught by a predator.

He glanced in the direction of Sebastian out of the corner of his eye, hoping that the old butler could speak up and help him out of the predicament.

Then he noticed that Sebastian was looking up at the ceiling, his gaze unfocused, with a kind smile on his lips.

Rune's lips twitched.

'...It's completely useless.'

He sighed silently to himself, then met Si's eyes again, which were burning with anger.

"Silk, I can explain."

"Brother, can you explain this completely?" Si held onto Rune's collar tightly, showing no sign of letting go.

Derodion stood not far away, her hands behind her back, slightly tiptoeing, with an "innocent" expression on her face.

Chapter 114 Rewards

The sunlight shifted further west, casting a long, slanted band of light across the living room floor.

Silk finally released Rune's collar, but her light green eyes still held a lingering scrutiny, like a cat that had just caught its prey but decided to let it go, with wariness still lingering on its claws.

Just now, at that critical moment...

With textbook-perfect speed and sincerity, Rune righteously explained that his aid to the Dragon Kingdom was purely for the sake of his people, without any selfish motives, and he had no intention of marrying anyone.

After hearing this, Si's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and she was willing to let him off the hook.

During this brief moment, Rune straightened his wrinkled collar and silently thanked Si for not pressing the matter further.

Derodion stood a few steps away, her innocent face bearing an expression that said "it's none of my business," as if the words "we'll be family after we get married" had not come from her mouth.

But to Rune, this posture was clearly a script carefully orchestrated by Chancellor Bergman.

He looked at Bergman.

The prime minister's expression was undergoing a subtle change.

Bergman's gaze froze for a moment, as if his preconceived notions had been shattered, and then he tried to piece them back together.

"Lady Aindora".

Bergman looked directly into Rune's eyes, his gaze filled with an irrepressible curiosity.

"I'd like to confirm that your aid to the Dragon Kingdom is truly solely for the protection of our citizens, and not... for other reasons?"

Rune nodded.

"Exactly."

He met the prime minister's gaze with composure.

"The humans of the Dragon Kingdom are being used as food by the orcs. I cannot stand idly by. That's all."

The reason he speaks with such confidence is naturally because it is indeed part of the truth.

His main purpose in aiding the Dragon Kingdom was to set up a trap for Sebas, but that did not prevent him from rescuing the Dragon Kingdom's citizens who were being treated as livestock by the orcs in the process.

To say that he had absolutely no selfish motives would be a lie, but to say that he was entirely driven by self-interest, Rune felt that he wasn't that cold-blooded.

Chancellor Bergman remained silent for a long time.

Throughout his life, he had encountered all sorts of nobles, and behind their so-called "good deeds" lay a price tag.

The young lord before him said that he risked his life to help them only because he did not want to see civilians being eaten by orcs.

This reason is so simple that it's impossible to find any flaws in it.

If we rule out the "lolicon" option, there is only one remaining explanation: he was telling the truth.

"I see."

The prime minister spoke softly, his voice filled with relief, as if he had let go of a matter he had been pondering for a long time.

"It was my narrow-mindedness that led me to be so."

He bowed slightly to Rune in apology, bending even lower than usual.

"To attribute Lord Aindora's righteous act to... such a reason is an oversight on my part."

When he said "that reason," his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Derodile's direction before quickly returning to his own.

Rune looked at him and sighed silently in his heart.

He certainly understood what the prime minister was referring to.

After all, the "lolicon" excuse was indeed useful as a cover for Rune's true purpose, at least giving most nobles a reason they could accept.

For nobles, subconsciously denying Rune's noble motives of risking his life to aid the Dragon Kingdom is a way of affirming themselves, because they are neither benevolent nor kind.

They were unwilling to believe that any nobleman could be so upright; if they admitted it, they would appear even more despicable.

By labeling Rune as a "lolicon," they can stand on their moral high ground and interpret Rune's behavior as impulsive and childish.

Ironically, most common people are willing to believe that Rune's aid to the Dragon Kingdom is selfless.

Because ordinary people cannot save themselves, they can only hope that a "savior" will come to their rescue, so they are unwilling to break this kind of illusion.

Rune now has no choice but to abandon his useful "lolicon" shield, since the pressure from the girl next to him is just too strong.

“Prime Minister, there’s no need for that.” Lu En waved his hand, his tone relaxed. “It is His Majesty and the Prime Minister who wish to repay me in this way that I am somewhat flattered.”

When Rune said the word "repayment," his tone unconsciously became more forceful.

However, seeing that Her Majesty the Queen looked ready to charge at Silk again at any moment, Rune had no choice but to soften his stance.

Sebastian finally snapped out of his daze.

He saw Rune standing in the center of the reception room, his collar slightly askew, with Si standing beside him. The atmosphere was no longer as tense as it had been before.

Sebastian wondered if he had missed something, and why the atmosphere returned to normal after Lord Rune explained the obvious reason.

But Sebastian didn't think too much about it; he simply expressed his inner feelings.

"The relationship between Lord Rune and Miss Eindora is truly enviable."

Rune felt a throbbing in his temple.

“Sebastian…” he said with a hint of helplessness, “There’s no need to say such things.”

"Hmm?" Sebastian clearly didn't realize there was anything wrong with what he said, so he gave an even more pleased smile. "I just think that the two of you can joke around like this, so you must have a very good relationship."

A crack appeared in Si's previously serious expression for a moment. She glanced at Rune, then turned her head away, a faint blush rising at the base of her ears.

"...My brother and this Mr. Sebastian have quite a good relationship." Her voice was low, her words carrying a subtle implication that "you're hiding something from me."

Rune's head throbbed even more.

The atmosphere in the reception room became even more delicate after Sebastian's words.

Chancellor Bergman, however, seemed completely oblivious to this scene, and was simply immersed in self-reflection that he had "misjudged Lord Eindora."

After a long while, the prime minister finally raised his head.

The admiration on that wrinkled face had faded somewhat, replaced by a more realistic expression of distress.

“But…” he began, his voice much slower than before, “this makes it even harder to know how to reward Lady Eindora.”

Rune was slightly taken aback.

"The original reward plan was to marry Lady Aindora to... cough cough." The prime minister stopped himself in time, not saying the whole sentence "to betroth Lady Aindora to His Majesty," but the meaning was already very clear.

He cleared his throat and reorganized his thoughts.

"However, that was based on... Lady Aindora's feelings for His Majesty. Since Lady Aindora is acting purely for the sake of the people, then this arrangement is indeed inappropriate."

Rune's lips twitched.

Marriage was given as a reward.

So, in the prime minister's eyes, having him marry into the Dragon Kingdom was a "reward"?

However, if viewed from the perspective of a "lolicon," then it is indeed a reward.

Looking at the prime minister's serious face, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

“Prime Minister, there’s no need for such trouble,” Rune said calmly. “My assistance to the Dragon Kingdom was entirely voluntary, and I do not require any additional reward.”

“That won’t do.” The prime minister shook his head. “Lord Aindora resolved the threat from the Orc Kingdom and saved millions of lives in the Dragon Kingdom. If this achievement is not rewarded accordingly, the entire nation of the Dragon Kingdom will not agree.”

The light in the reception room shifted a little further.

Rune stood at the boundary between light and shadow, looking calmly at Chancellor Bergman, and refused again in a steady tone.

"Your Excellency is too kind. I was only speaking from the heart."

As Rune said this, Silk beside him was looking at him with shining eyes.

His eyes were filled with undisguised adoration, his lips were slightly curved, and he seemed to be illuminated by light.

She adjusted her position so that she could see her brother's profile, which showed his selfless dedication to the people.