“I already said this before—as a traveler who’s used to freedom, the responsibilities of a knight commander are too much for me to handle!”
Abel seemed oblivious to Prim’s face turning deathly pale in an instant.
He yawned as he spoke.
“I appreciate Your Highness the Princess and His Majesty the King’s generosity, but I can’t take on this position.”
Prim was stunned.
“You… you’re from the Noct family, a kingdom noble…”
“Just now, you said it yourself,” Abel replied calmly. “The second son of a noble has no right to inherit a title—he’s no different from a commoner. You were right.”
“That was said in anger! You can’t take it seriously!”
Prim grew anxious.
“Besides, the appointment letter was issued personally by my father—you’re defying a royal decree!”
Abel pulled a badge from his pocket.
“This is proof of citizenship from the Free City of Endymion. I’m no longer a subject of the kingdom—you can’t command someone from another country using the kingdom’s authority, can you?”
He had obtained it casually while wandering the continent in the Free City, a paradise for adventurers.
It was easy to get as long as you had some strength.
Prim bit her lip, her face flushing.
Finally, unable to hold back, she played her last card!
“Abel, if you agree to become the kingdom’s knight commander, my father said that once you’ve achieved merits, you can—you can become this princess’s husband!!”
She hadn’t wanted to say this in public, but she was truly desperate. If this man got poached by the church, then to her father—
She had no idea how to explain it!
This was her final trump card. As a member of the royal family, publicly declaring something like this left her no way out!
No matter what, she had to marry the man before her!
Even if, in her heart, it was just a marriage in name.
Surely this condition was generous enough? Prim was very confident in her appearance and figure!
Unless it was someone as perfect as Lord Julius, who could possibly resist her?
She clearly remembered how, during their meeting in the palace, Abel had stared straight at her—even blushing!
He definitely had feelings for her!
However—
“Your Highness,” Abel bowed, his etiquette impeccable, but his words sent a chill through Prim’s heart.
“I know my place—I’m not worthy of the knight commander’s heavy duties, and even less worthy of you.”
Abel had no interest in Prim.
Or rather, after learning what kind of person she was, there was absolutely no way he could have any thoughts about her!
The farther away from this woman, the better—that was Abel’s mindset.
He knew full well that Prim had someone else in her heart! How could he agree to that?
What a joke!
Even if she didn’t like anyone else, Abel still wouldn’t agree.
In his previous life as a game player, the longest road he’d ever walked was the one paved by the devs’ traps!
As soon as those words left his mouth, the surrounding knights erupted in whispers.
Prim, the one directly involved, widened her eyes.
She couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
This man had actually rejected her “public” “proposal?”
Rejected a marriage alliance with a kingdom princess?!
Sephilia let out a victor’s laugh. Though she covered her mouth, seemingly trying to hide it, she apparently failed?
The laughter rang out exceptionally clear in the arena, twisting Prim’s entire face in anger.
She immediately redirected her fury at Sephilia.
“Even if you reject me, are you going to go with this wicked woman? Sephilia’s head is full of schemes! She just wants to use your power to solidify her position—for the papal election in three years—”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
Sephilia composed her smile, her expression solemn.
“As an archbishop, I have the right to run for pope. Besides, what cleric wouldn’t want that seat?”
Her utterly candid attitude left Prim’s pent-up rage with nowhere to go.
“My relationship with Sir Abel would be one of mutual benefit. I’ll make that perfectly clear to him.”
Th-this woman?!
Prim was speechless.
She could only turn her gaze to Abel, a hint of expectation hidden in her eyes.
She looked just like an abandoned puppy.
But Abel had no such compassion.
He cleared his throat and declared loudly. “I thank you both for your kind intentions. But I came to the royal capital only to visit my brother and return home to pay respects to my parents. I won’t become a knight commander, nor will I join the church. Once this matter is settled, I’ll immediately return to the Noct Marquis Territory, and after that, continue as a wandering knight.”
“Additionally, regarding the ‘Divine Pollution’ incidents—I’ve already found some faint clues during my travels across the continent. I’ll handle this matter completely soon!”
Abel’s words were crystal clear: he wouldn’t join the kingdom, nor become the church’s lackey.
He would only act according to his own will. And don’t worry about the ‘Divine Pollution’ phenomenon—he’d take responsibility and deal with such crises himself!
He had already made full preparations.
In a few days, once he could use Sutis more proficiently, he’d head straight to the Sky City via hidden teleport points scattered across the continent!
As long as he eradicated the divine disasters at their root, he could avoid contact with these women forever!
Clear the plotline, then go back to being a drifter! Only then could he stay far from those Myanmar North 2D games!
This was the future Abel had planned from the start. He had zero trust in any of the women in this game!
Rather than letting their heaven-defying antics shock him later, it was better to keep his distance now.
With that, he turned his gaze to Sutis, who was obediently watching him from the side. He patted her forehead, and she squinted her eyes like a cat being petted.
“As long as I have Sutis by my side, that’s enough.”
Hearing this, Sutis’s big eyes immediately sparkled, as if reflecting the starry sky.
Her face flushed slightly as she gripped Abel’s hand tightly, her mood apparently quite good.
“My knight! May I interpret this as a proposal to me? Yes, yes—compared to that old hag, I am the one most suited for you! We have merged our bodies, felt each other’s warmth!”
“…Don’t say it like that—it’ll cause misunderstandings.”
Abel wasn’t a lolicon! Sutis was an armored angel, innately capable of countering gods.
Without her, how could he save the world?
This was noble camaraderie in battle!
However, from the corner of his eye, he glanced around and saw that all the watching knights and priests had fascinating expressions.
Ones that said, No wonder you rejected Her Highness the Princess—so you have that kind of preference! Brother, I get you! Small ones can be cute too! Three years minimum, up to…
Abel couldn’t help but facepalm. He knew explanations were useless—the lolicon label was probably stuck for good.
Prim muttered under her breath. “Damn lolicon!” Then she stormed off with the kingdom knights, though she paused and glanced back several times, as if hoping for something to happen.
As for Sephilia, she wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, unsure what to say for a moment.
But the outcome wasn’t bad—at least Abel hadn’t sided with the kingdom.
Moreover, Sutis was an armored angel developed by the church; he couldn’t avoid contact with them going forward.
As they say, there’s plenty of time ahead. She wasn’t in a rush.
So, she grasped Abel’s hand, like a mother entrusting her daughter.
“Sir Abel, then I leave Sutis to you! You can do whatever you want with her—it’s permitted even by the gods!”