The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World Chapter 561- News From Rune (2)

For one heartbeat, the entire world narrowed down to the small space between them. A stifling weight hung in the atmosphere, thick enough to make breathing a struggle, as unspoken words clamored for release.

If they had not been standing in the heart of the audience chamber, Reinhardt would have pulled the woman directly in front of him into a tight embrace.

The Queen felt exactly the same. Even so, she quickly repressed her inner turbulence and forced her gaze away.

"Since we are currently discussing diplomatic affairs, there is something I must address regarding the Kingdom of Rune," she said, using a graceful hand gesture to pivot the conversation with practiced poise.

"What about it?" Reinhardt arched a brow in curiosity.

His mind instantly flew back to Gwen. He had previously led a mission into the Kingdom of Rune specifically to clear the names of a core member and her kin, ensuring they were not wrongly implicated in a scandal. Why, he wondered, would the Queen bring that up now?

The Queen continued, "Following his ascension to the throne, Jerrel formally conveyed his gratitude for your past intervention. Furthermore, he enacted a series of decrees that have fundamentally altered the internal hierarchy of the Kingdom of Rune."

"One of those laws has shifted the status of the demi-humans residing in Rune. They have been elevated from slaves to full residents. They are no longer treated as second-class citizens."

A ripple of murmurs erupted among the ministers as they listened to her. This was the second shock they had endured in a single morning, and both instances revolved entirely around the knight standing before them.

Yet, the tide of revelations had not reached its peak.

"That is far from everything. King Jerrel also ratified a decree permitting free migration. Any demi-human wishing to depart Rune and enter Solaris is now free to do so, exempt from all taxation, registration fees, and bonded service contracts."

Reinhardt’s eyes widened visibly. Because of his personal efforts and the legislative changes within Solaris, it was now common knowledge that the demi-humans in his territory were no longer enslaved, possessing identical rights to human citizens.

For the countless demi-humans who had known only a lifetime of systematic oppression, that single decree was nothing short of a miracle.

He was well aware of the massive ripple effect this would trigger. Trade routes, labor markets—the Kingdom of Rune would face significant transformations as a result of that law.

Reinhardt exhaled slowly. Was this Jerrel’s way of settling his debt?

The Queen paused for a moment of reflection before speaking once more.

"If your primary objective is to locate a High Elf, then perhaps investigating through the demi-humans of Rune is a far wiser strategy than wandering aimlessly elsewhere."

Reinhardt stopped to consider this. At first, the connection seemed tenuous at best, but as he pondered the logic, he realized it was a remarkably sound strategy.

Demi-human societies were ancient, with roots stretching back further than most contemporary nations. They maintained vast amounts of information preserved through their ancestral bloodlines, and they provided shelter to a wide variety of tribes within their collective networks.

Even if he failed to find the specific elf he sought, he was sure to stumble upon some lead. If a High Elf were hiding anywhere in this world, such an extensive network would prove invaluable.

He reached into his [Dimensional Storage] and withdrew the Origin Seed.

Reinhardt lifted the seed into the air, focusing his senses to detect its subtle pulse. For a brief, fleeting moment, a magnetic tug beckoned him in a specific direction. It was faint and incredibly distant, but it was unmistakably real.

Unsurprisingly, the destination the seed resonated with was precisely where the Kingdom of Rune lay.

"Very well."

He tucked the seed away and, without wasting a single second, prepared to depart.

Yet, before he could retreat more than two steps, the Queen’s voice rang out, arresting his movement.

"My knight, come with me." Without waiting to see if anyone would follow, she turned and strode toward the exit, her flowing robes sweeping against the polished marble floor.

Reinhardt followed a polite distance behind her.

The moment they crossed the threshold out of the hall, silence descended upon the assembly. The ministers and nobles stood rooted to the ground, staring at one another in utter bewilderment. The Queen had abruptly abandoned a formal court session to whisk Reinhardt away without a whisper of explanation or even a parting glance.

Had they not been so ignorant of the private bond between the two, they might have easily suspected a illicit affair.

While most of the court remained in a state of confusion, one man certainly did not.

The King remained firmly upon his throne, though his fingers gripped the armrests with such intensity that his knuckles turned white. His heart was a chaotic storm of conflicting emotions.

Unlike the oblivious ministers, he saw the truth. He knew of the clandestine connection between his Queen and the hero Reinhardt. He knew every detail of what had transpired that night, the lingering glances, and the palpable tension that crackled in the air whenever they stood in close proximity.

The buried, volatile emotions they projected toward each other were impossible for him to miss.

By all rights, he should have been consumed by wrath, perhaps even a murderous intent. Instead, an inexplicable rush of blood surged through him. Now, watching her walk away alone with the knight, his chest tightened as his heart thundered within his ears. A wicked, scorching heat rose from his core, stirring forbidden images he had struggled to suppress for far too long.

Visions of betrayal, surrender, dominance, and unbridled passion flashed before his eyes. Bodies tangled together, shimmering with sweat, bathed in something illicit and intoxicating.

The sight of them left a jagged, maddening knot in his heart, one that felt as if it were corroding his very soul.

The King’s breathing became jagged. The mere thought of what could potentially happen between them in private ignited a fire inside him that was both repulsive and addictive.

Had he not been constrained by the duties of the court, he would have stood and stalked them to catch a glimpse of their intimacy.

.

.

Deep within the palace, far removed from the prying eyes of the corridors, the Queen and Reinhardt came to a halt. The air here was refreshingly cool, illuminated only by the dim, filtered light of narrow stained glass windows.

Reinhardt had barely processed their new surroundings when the Queen turned sharply and launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his chest.

Standing this close, the intoxicating scent of her perfume washed over him.

He returned her embrace, and for a long moment, they simply existed, breathing in the quiet. Reinhardt could feel the rhythmic tremor of tension coursing through her body, the weight of a soul desperate to be unburdened.

The Queen he knew was never one to act on impulse. Which meant, this was not her.

Observing her for a moment, he whispered softly, "Miranda?"

The woman in his arms stiffened. Then, she slowly surrendered her hold and looked up at him.

"You always know, don't you?" Miranda murmured with a faint, melancholy smile.

Reinhardt sighed inwardly. The Queen’s plight was deeply tragic. Her physical vessel played host to two competing souls: one burdened by the crushing weight of a kingdom, the other by an unending, hollow loneliness. To make matters worse, there remained that malevolent fragment sealed within her spirit.

"I could not help myself. The news that you intended to leave the continent was unbearable. It isn't just me—she, too, desires for you to stay."

Inside the mental realm, the Queen watched her counterpart in a state of panicked dismay. Miranda had confessed their true feelings, plunging the Queen's sanity into chaos. Had she realized Miranda would speak so brazenly, she never would have relinquished control of their shared body.

Reinhardt’s expression remained composed. Since that fateful night when they had crossed the boundary together, he had come to view the Queen as his own. It was, in truth, the primary reason he had burned a divine oath to ensure her safety.

"I have no choice but to leave. To restore balance to this world, it is imperative that I revive the World Tree."

Reinhardt allowed her a moment of indulgence before gently guiding her away to create some space.

"How is the egg?"

The inquiry snapped Miranda out of her emotional stupor. A rare, genuine warmth blossomed across her features.

"The egg you entrusted to me is truly remarkable."

She took a step back, touched the pendant at her throat, and with a soft discharge of light, the football-sized egg materialized in her arms, held with the tender care one might show a newborn child.

Upon its appearance, the very essence of the air shifted. A gentle, pleasant heat radiated from the shell—not the burning intensity of a dragon, but a comforting warmth reminiscent of the morning sun piercing through a patch of mist.

Ancient, swirling runes covered the surface of the shell, pulsating with dim gold and crimson hues that shifted rhythmically, as if the object were breathing. Each surge of power carried a density of vitality that made the ambient mana nearby feel thin by comparison.

"I keep it with me constantly; it never leaves my side. I have followed your instructions and fed it mana every single day. At the start, there was no acknowledgment, but now? Now it reacts the instant I lay a hand upon it," Miranda explained.

As if to confirm her testimony, the spotted patterns on the shell glowed brightly, and a sharp, ringing cry of a bird echoed clearly through the vast stone chamber.

Reinhardt’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the egg.

Good… indeed, very good.

He could sense the bond slowly knitting together. Thanks to the Queen’s tireless dedication, a connection based on absolute familiarity and trust was beginning to form.

"You have performed exceptionally well. At this velocity, by the time it finally breaks free from its shell, it will recognize you as its only parent, and will protect you with its very existence."

Reinhardt offered her a rare, genuine word of praise.