Eight hundred years. Eight centuries had passed since he'd first set foot in this world. Ainz, the skeletal Sorcerer King, As he strode down the opulent halls of his grand palace, each step echoed with the silent resonance of his growing power and the weight of his responsibilities. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, depicting glorious conquests and the myriad beings he had encountered over the centuries. Tapestries, rich in color yet shadowed by the passage of time, told stories of battles won and allies gained, their threads woven with the very essence of history.
"Shalltear!" Ainz's voice, amplified by magic, reverberated through the corridor
Shalltear Bloodfallen, her voluptuous figure clad in a crimson dress that clung to her curves, accentuating her otherworldly beauty. Her golden eyes sparkled with adoration, a reflection of her unwavering loyalty. "Ainz-sama, you look..." she hesitated, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she took in his skeletal form, "as radiant as ever."
"Thank you, Shalltear," Ainz replied, his tone even and measured. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at her blatant affection. Centuries had passed, changing the NPCs of Nazarick in ways he hadn't anticipated. evolved in ways he had never foreseen. Aura and Mare, his once-childish guardians, had blossomed into strikingly beautiful women, their elven features sharpened by the passage of time. Aura, with her playful demeanor, seemed to revel in her newfound allure, often teasing Shalltear about her unchanging form.
And then there was Albedo. The memory of altering her settings, igniting a passionate devotion in her that bordered on obsession, still made him uneasy. He cared for all the denizens of Nazarick, saw them as his children, but Albedo... her love was a constant, fervent flame, and he, the accidental architect of her desire.
"Shalltear," Ainz began, dreading the answer even as he asked, "are you...still set on the idea of marriage?"
Shalltear's eyes widened, a flicker of hope igniting within them, her breath hitching in her throat. "Um… Would that please you, Ainz-sama? Would you… consider it?"
"Ah, well…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "That's not quite what I meant. I see you as… as a daughter, Shalltear. My marrying Albedo was… a consequence of my own actions, a change I made to her settings. But you… you are free to pursue your own happiness, find someone who…"
Before he could finish, the sound of laughter echoed down the hallway, drawing their attention. Two figures rounded the corner, their playful banter filling the air with a lightness that contrasted sharply with the weight of Ainz's words. Aura, clad in a form-fitting black leather outfit that accentuated her curves, and Mare, whose usually shy demeanor had blossomed into a quiet confidence, approached them.
"Still proposing, Shalltear?" Aura teased, a sly smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Shalltear bristled, her cheeks flushing crimson with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "You…!"
"What?" Aura chuckled, her hand resting casually on her hip, emphasizing her ample bosom. "Jealous these are the real deal? No need to stuff your chest anymore, Shalltear."
"I'll kill you!" Shalltear shrieked, her hands crackling with magic, the air around her charged with her fury.
"Enough, you two," Ainz interjected, his voice firm and commanding, brooking no argument. The two guardians immediately ceased their bickering, bowing their heads in unison, their expressions shifting from playful to contrite.
"Forgive us, Ainz-sama," they chorused, their voices filled with respect and a hint of trepidation.
Mare, ever the observant one, tilted his head, his gaze curious. "Ainz-sama, I heard about your plans regarding the gate. You intend to send Ragnarok-sama to that… uncivilized world?"
"Indeed," Ainz confirmed. "It is time we learn more about this Sadera and the threat they pose." A small part of him, he realized, also wished to observe how his creation/son, Ragnarok, would handle this .
"As expected of Ainz-sama," Mare murmured, his eyes shining with admiration, reflecting the loyalty and respect he held for his master.
"I must go," Ainz announced, turning towards the grand doors that led to the parliament chamber. "Important matters await."
"Farewell, Ainz-sama," the guardians chorused, their voices filled with respect and a touch of awe.