Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Okay, he really said it himself.

Rune fell silent, his head bowed, and said nothing.

“The mere River family.” The count suddenly changed his tone, a hint of disdain in his voice. “Such minor nobles are no big deal to kill.”

Rune looked up at his father with some surprise.

"The heir of the prestigious Aindora family," the count said, his gaze falling on him, his brow furrowing slightly, "and he even stabbed himself a few times, that's outrageous."

Although these words were a rebuke, Rune clearly heard a hint of... relief in them?

wrong.

It seems like there's still a hint of disdain.

It's like that subtle feeling of "Why is my son so insecure?"

Rune blinked.

It seems my judgment of my father was a little off?

He thought his father would give him a severe scolding, then lock him in solitary confinement for three months, beat him, and make him write a 3,000-word self-criticism, probably on parchment, and if his handwriting wasn't good, he'd have to start over.

Is that all?

So what if he was killed?

“Father,” Rune began tentatively, “aren’t you angry?”

The count glanced at him.

"I'll set off tomorrow to return to the family territory for a while," he said. "I'll come back once this matter has completely calmed down."

Rune paused for a moment.

Return to the territory?

He had just been praising his father's open-mindedness in his heart.

really.

Sure enough, things don't come that easily.

“Father,” Rune asked tentatively, “how long will you stay?”

The count picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.

"It depends."

What a load of bragging! "Killing him is no big deal," but in the end, they still had to send him away to avoid the limelight.

Rune sighed inwardly, but maintained a respectful expression on his face.

"Yes, Father."

"And another thing," the count said, changing the subject.

Rune's heart jumped again.

The tail wasn't cleaned properly.

The count's tone returned to its usual calm, as if he were discussing what to eat that evening.

"That commoner girl."

He paused.

"Kill them in a bit."

Rune paused for a moment.

what?

What did you say?

“That commoner girl,” the count repeated, “she saw you, she saw the silk, she saw the scene. Keeping her around is a potential problem.”

Rune opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

He could tell his father was serious.

That tone, that look—it wasn't a joke, nor was it a test. It was stating a perfectly reasonable, normal decision.

killed.

Two words, light and airy, like saying the weather is nice today.

In an instant, the image of that small figure huddled against the wall flashed through Rune's mind: a dusty face, swollen red eyes, and the glance back as he was led out of the alley by the silk thread.

That was a life bravely saved.

Those were the "innocent people" he personally ordered Si to protect.

Rune didn't want Si's efforts to be in vain.

"Father."

Rune raised his head, his face showing an expression of serious thought.

"Could we spare that commoner girl?"

The count's brow twitched slightly, but he remained silent.

“I didn’t mean to release her,” Rune quickly added. “I meant to take her back.”

"Take it back?"

“Take her back to the territory too.” Rune’s mind raced. “Killing her would certainly keep the secret. But if we take her back and make her one of ours, that would also keep the secret.”

He paused, observing his father's expression.

"Besides, killing a civilian only eliminates one potential threat, while keeping her provides another tool. Keep her."

Rune didn't finish his sentence.

He waited for his father's reaction.

The count looked at him, and something in his eyes changed.

It's not anger.

It's more like a... re-examination.

"You mean," the count said slowly, "that she become a suicide squad?"

“Pretty much.” Rune nodded. “Silk saved her, and she has a natural sense of gratitude towards Silk. This bond is stronger than anything else; killing her would be a waste.”

The count remained silent for a moment.

The silence made Rune uneasy, but he forced himself to keep his expression calm.

Then, the count nodded slightly.

"That's interesting."

Rune breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, he spoke again.

"Then, Father."

He cautiously probed.

"Can Si come back with us?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the room seemed to drop by ten degrees.

The count's expression changed.

That's something even more dangerous than when I said "kill".

The count didn't speak, he just looked at Rune.

It was as if they were saying, "You dare to make this request after causing such a big mess."

The gaze that fell upon him felt like a mountain pressing down on him.

"The steward will take you back to the territory tomorrow. Silk will stay here."

His tone was flat and left no room for argument.

Rune lowered his head and obediently replied, "Yes."

In his mind, however, he was furiously complaining: Just you wait, Old Deng, if you keep training your son, he'll go astray sooner or later. When he starts acting like a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), you'll be in for a world of hurt.

Wait, it seems that the signs of chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) are already beginning to emerge.

It's definitely better to leave the blame to Dad.

Rune stood up from the ground; his legs were a little numb.

He rubbed his knee and glanced at the count.

"Father, I'll go back to my room now."

The count ignored him.

Rune wisely withdrew.

The corridor was quiet, the magic crystals on the wall lamps still glowing, casting long shadows. As he walked, he mentally reviewed the conversation. His father's attitude was more lenient than he had expected. Returning to the territory was good; he could arrange some things in advance.

As for this mess, well, we've done what we were supposed to do.

The rest is up to Dad to worry about.

Rune pushed open the door to his room.

Then he froze.

Si was sitting on the edge of his bed, her legs dangling in the air. When she saw him come in, her eyes immediately lit up, but she tried her best to keep a serious expression on her face.

"Onii-chan, you're back."

Chapter 16 Guardian

"Aldred, you're back."