Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

It was during this brief lull that Rune submitted his resignation to the Queen on his own.

"Your Majesty, now that the matter of the Dragon Kingdom has come to an end, I plan to set off for the territory of Aindora tomorrow."

Derodile was sitting in a specially raised chair, her glass filled with warm honey water befitting a queen.

Upon hearing this, she paused slightly in her movement of holding the cup, causing a fine ripple to spread across the surface of the honey water.

"So fast?" Derodion's deliberately feigned cuteness unconsciously deepened a few degrees. "The orc kingdom's surrender document has only just arrived. There are still many things to deal with..."

“With the Prime Minister here, those matters should be handled properly.” Rune’s tone was gentle, but his attitude was quite firm. “I have been away from the territory for too long, and I need to go back to deal with the affairs there.”

Derodile was silent for a moment. She put down her cup, folded her hands on her knees, and after a while, finally spoke.

"Lord Lu Enqing, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

Rune gazed at her calmly, awaiting her response.

"Those lost territories that the Dragon Kingdom has recovered..." Deloron's voice was softer than before, as if testing the other party's reaction, "I intend to set aside a piece of it as a fief to Lord Rune, in gratitude for Lord Rune's contributions."

When Derodion said this, her gaze shifted slightly away for a moment.

"A fiefdom?" Rune asked, somewhat puzzled.

Derodion nodded, as if trying to bolster her own credibility.

"Lord Rune has sacrificed so much for the Dragon Kingdom, and the threat from the Orc Kingdom was also resolved by Lord Rune and Mr. Sebastian working together. If the Dragon Kingdom makes no response, I will feel uneasy."

What she said was reasonable. She even deliberately used the tactful phrase "feeling uneasy" to embellish her intentions.

But looking into her slightly evasive eyes, Rune felt that there was something else hidden in her words.

Derodile did indeed have other ideas.

Although the surrender document was signed and the orc kingdom did withdraw its troops, it was ultimately a document signed under duress.

The orc kingdom's submissive demeanor at this moment was only due to the lingering influence of Rune.

As time goes by and the rumors on the Dragon Kingdom's border gradually subside, will those orcs start having inappropriate thoughts again?

If they discover that Rune has left this land, and the Dragon Kingdom still lacks the power to deter them...

Therefore, Derodine needs a name that is catchy enough.

If a fiefdom could be used to pin the name "Aindora" on the border of the Dragon Kingdom, even if Rune himself did not reside there permanently, the banner itself would serve as a barrier.

Before the Orcish Kingdom can make a comeback, it should first consider whose flag flies over this land.

This is less of a reward and more of an insurance policy.

Derodile knew that what she was doing was not entirely honest, but she had no better way out.

The Dragon Kingdom was still weak, so she could only use "gratitude" as a reason and "fiefdom" as a cover, carefully wrapping her little scheme behind appropriate wording.

Derodion raised her head and looked at Rune again.

She had already adjusted her expression, and her innocent and carefree look returned to her tender little face, as if that moment of dodging had never existed.

"What does Lu Enqing think?"

Rune was silent for a moment. He understood Derodile's intention instantly.

This loli queen wanted to bind him to the border of the Dragon Kingdom with a fiefdom, so that the Orc Kingdom would have something to fear.

He could have easily called her out, but looking at the little girl's earnest attempt to pretend she simply wanted to thank him, Rune suddenly felt a little reluctant.

“…I cannot accept this.” Rune’s posture was respectful, but his tone left no room for negotiation.

Derodile blinked, a genuine look of confusion on her young face. "Why?"

Rune looked at her calmly. "Because I can't bear this extra responsibility."

Chapter 119 Escape

Derodile tilted her head.

She thought Rune was worried about not having the energy to manage it, after all, the Aindora Territory was far away from the Dragon Kingdom, and traveling between the two places was indeed not easy.

"Lord Lu En need not worry. I will send the most honest tax officials and administrators to assist in the management. Even if Lord Lu En himself is not in the Dragon Kingdom, it will not matter. The territory will be managed very well."

Derodile spoke sincerely, her large eyes looking at Rune with anticipation, as if to say, "Look, I've arranged everything."

Rune looked at her eagerness to explain and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"If that's the case, what's the point of having me as a lord?"

Derodile's pale pink lips parted, but she couldn't make a sound.

Her eagerness to prove herself deflated like a punctured balloon. Her gaze began to drift to the side, and her shoulders hunched slightly.

Seeing her stammering appearance, Rune's displeasure at being tricked dissipated considerably.

This loli queen really wanted to use fiefdoms to bind him to the border of the Dragon Kingdom, so that the Orc Kingdom would have something to fear.

But the way she racked her brains to find an excuse, coupled with her childish face, made her look like a little girl who had been caught stealing snacks and was trying to make up a reason.

Rune sighed silently to himself.

There was no one around; only the flickering candlelight and the faint chirping of insects outside the window filled the reception room.

As if possessed, Rune reached out a finger and lightly flicked Droron's forehead. The touch was so light that it probably wouldn't even leave a red mark.

Derodile's movements froze instantly.

She maintained that slightly hunched posture for several seconds before slowly raising her head, her large eyes filled with disbelief.

Looking at her expression, Rune suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

This is completely different from Si's reaction when she is flicked on the forehead; Si would cover her forehead and pretend to be wronged.

But the way Derodile looked at him at that moment was as if she were looking at a daring pervert.

Rune felt uneasy under that scornful look, so he quickly changed the subject.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I need to say."

Derodile squinted at him for several seconds before finally taking pity on him and looking away.

“…Speak.”

"It's not a good thing that the Dragon Kingdom has the Eindora family's fiefdom."

Derodile was indeed drawn to the topic and looked at Rune with a questioning gaze: "Why?"

Rune smiled but did not answer.

He picked up the wine glass in front of him, swirled it gently a few times, and then took a small sip. Unlike the special honey water of Derodile, this was genuine red wine.

Then Rune put down his wine glass and shook his head slightly at the Queen with an expression that said, "This is an adult matter, you wouldn't understand."

Derodile was furious at his appearance.

"Lu Enqing!"

"Your Majesty need not ask further; I have my own considerations."

"You bastard!"

The blush that rose from the base of Derodile's ears quickly spread to her cheeks. She took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, as if she had made a momentous decision.

Then the outline of her body began to change.

Rune stared blankly at the petite loli queen in front of him, as if an invisible hand was pulling her down from the top of her head.

The outline of her bones stretched out beneath the light purple dress, her shoulders were broadened, her waist was cinched, and the dress automatically conformed to her new figure as she changed.

In the blink of an eye, a mature, sophisticated woman replaced the little girl who had been sitting on the raised chair.

Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, but her face no longer had the youthful, rounded features of her childhood.

Her features remained delicate, but she had shed her previous childishness, and her chest now possessed the full curves typical of mature women.

The lines of her shoulders and neck were smooth and graceful, and her figure was well-proportioned and upright. Sitting on that raised chair, her feet were finally able to stand firmly on the ground.

Rune's jaw agape slightly as he witnessed the scene of things changing size at will, leaving him with the same shock as Old Bones.

Even so shocked, Rune stared intently, maintaining the inquisitive curiosity expected of a scholar, and soon discovered the blind spot.

clothes.

As Derodion's figure grew from a toddler to an adult, her light purple dress also changed.

The skirt was longer, the waist was narrower, and the fabric at the chest was a bit tighter than before, but there were no signs of tearing.

Rune's gaze swept carefully over the folds and seams.

What material is this garment made of? How come it won't tear from stretching?

He thought of a certain comic book setting from the world he had traveled to before, where the Hulk's underwear remained intact no matter how much his size increased.

The principle behind this light purple dress is probably similar to that one.

"Lord Lu En." Derodion's voice came, much more mature than before, but still retaining the queen's unique tone, with a hint of expectation in the end of her words, "Now that I've returned to my original form, don't you have anything to say?"

Rune snapped out of his daze and met her eyes again.

"...What material are His Majesty's clothes made of?"

Derodile's expression froze for a moment.

"what?"

“No, I was just curious.” Rune waved his hand, trying his best not to look like a pervert. “I’ve never seen a fabric that can automatically adjust to body shape before. If it could be widely used in military supplies…”

"Lord Lu Enqing!" Deloron's voice rose a few decibels, her cheeks flushing a distinct crimson. "I'm asking you about serious matters!"

Looking at her sullen and serious expression, Rune could only sigh silently to himself, realizing that he couldn't distract her.

“Your Majesty, I can only say that the disadvantages of the fiefdoms would far outweigh the advantages for the Dragon Kingdom, and my refusal is for the good of the Dragon Kingdom.”

Deloron's gaze lingered on Rune's face for several seconds without her noticing.

The candlelight fell on Rune's profile, making his light green eyes appear exceptionally clear. The earnestness and sincerity in his eyes made Draco Dillon somewhat bewildered.

She felt as if her heart skipped a beat.

"...I understand." Derodion's imposing manner weakened. "Since Minister Lu En has said so, let's put the matter of the fiefdom aside for now."