The Kingmaker System-Chapter 123 - 122. Making New Friends (1)

Grandfather seemed really angry at the new information that I had given them. I could see that if not for the fact that if not for my plan then he might have stormed the palace and strangled the Queen herself.

"I can understand that you must be tempted to..." I let the words hang in the air before I leaned ahead.

"But will you be satisfied if it all ends so quickly for her?" I asked and his jaw clenched.

"Then, please swallow this anger for now. I can take her down at any time but that won’t be her punishment, her punishment should be tenfolds of the suffering that she subjected over others. It should be a lesson for the future generations as well."

Grandfather closed his eyes for a moment as his whole body trembled and I stood up from my chair before crouching near his knees and reached out and placed my hands over his fist.

"I promise you that she will pay for what she did, Grandfather." I said but his eyes still stayed closed and I could feel his anger oozing out of his body as his murderous intent.

"Didn’t I fulfill my word about safely rescuing Grand Duke Alarice and Grand Duchess Dahlia?"

His eyelids slowly opened and he looked at me.

"I trust your ability, Reina. But it seems like there’s no limit to her evil. I... just hope that you won’t end up in any trouble because of her."

I smiled, "For that she has to know who I am and till the time that she realises that, I will be way past her reach."

He placed his hand over my smaller ones before sighing.

"I will be by your side, Reina. So, whatever you do make sure to remember that you can always use me."

I smiled and looked at him, "I already use your help, Grandfather."

I sat back down in my chair and the silence hung between us making the crackling sounds of the fire devouring the wood filled the air.

"I... didn’t thank you for helping the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess." He spoke up.

"There’s no need to thank me."

"But... I didn’t expect you to wage a war just for that."

"That was the need of the moment, Grandfather. Besides, it was a fruitful war since now we can use Mordino’s help in future when Prince Eric ascends the throne."

He stared at me for a long moment before he spoke up, "I have been wondering this for a long while, Reina..."

"What?"

Was he going to ask me why I was so deadset in making Eric the King?

"Why don’t you trust the knights? Assassins are the cold-blooded killers who people usually don’t trust but on the contrary to that, you have recruited all assassins and no knights."

"Knights... are bound by the rules and chivalry, Grandfather. They carress their pride and needless chase glory and all the unnecessary attention."

"But assassins are convenient, they know better than to play by the rules in the battlefield and they follow orders without any problem even if I tell them to wipe out the enemy soldiers in the middle of the night when they are sleeping. There’s no such thing as chivalry or hunger for glory and attention. They are work-driven and that’s why I like them better."

"And is that also why you are training to be an assassin yourself?" He asked making me chuckle.

"I like their swift skills and clean attacks. It’s admirable as how they are so deadly, I want to be good at my skills as well that’s why I am learning it."

Grandfather almost chuckled as he leaned ahead.

"Will you make Prince Eric learn those skills as well?"

"I want Rune to learn them as well." I smiled and he shook his head.

"This is the first time that I’ve heard Knights put to shame."

I laughed at his words, he seemed to have relaxed now as we shifted to another topic.

"The banquet for celebrating Grand Duke Alarice’s and his wife’s return is in half a month, so, are you planning on going?" He asked and I smiled.

"I will accompany Father and Rune for it, Ocean can take some rest."

"Speaking of Ocean," Grandfather started, "Are you taking over Herot city as well now?"

"Yes, I’ve sent Lyall there to look after the matters and keep things in order until the trial with Douglas is done."

"This is the second branch of underworld that you’ve taken over, right? First, was the one of Frosthail, Izkar."

I nodded, "Yes,"

"Make sure that you are careful when dealing with the underworld, Reina. You might be extremely smart and prodent but there are people who are worse than demons there."

I chuckled, "Well, there should be a reason why it is called underworld after all."

Grandfather sighed and I leaned back in my seat.

"I wonder how long it will take Uncle Silas to finish researching the things I gave him."

"It’s been quite some time..." Grandfather mused.

"He doesn’t usually take this much time."

"Those objects seemed quite bizarre to me as well, I could feel a strange energy from them so I guess that’s the reason why he might be having a hard time figuring out what it is."

I looked at Grandfather as he actually spoke in a rather normal tone while taking Silas’s side. Usually both of them would have a special brusque tone reserved for each other but now things seemed to be changing for good.

"I hope he finds out what it is. Besides, it’s a good thing that he sent over his few mages to Mordino to help them out."

"Did you request that?"

"Yes, that way it will be easier and less time consuming."

Grandfather nodded while I fell silent. We sat there in silence for a long moment before we called it a day and I returned home.

I changed back to Reina’s form before I made my way to the dining hall. On my way, I could see that the servants around seemed happy about something. I didn’t ask as I was already famished.

I entered the dining hall and noticed the presence that wasn’t supposed to be there.

"Reina!" I almost reeled back as I saw Rune back home.

"What are you doing back here?" I asked and he smiled.

"Aw... And here I thought you will be happy to see me." He pouted and I crossed my arms at my chest.

Dad cleared his throat as he answered, "It is because of the trial, Reina. A lot of professors and administrative officials were arrested so they are short on hands at Eden. And since there are no professors to look after the children all of them have received a break for a month."

"A month..." I mumbled and Rune still pouted before I thought of something and then looked at Rune.

"That’s great!"

His face glowed at once, "So you’re happy!"

"Of course, I am."

We had dinner together and Rune went on and on about how he wanted to play with me for all his break while I couldn’t help but hold back a little as I let him enjoy his eagerness.

"So, shall we go somewhere together?" Rune asked.

"Sure, there is a place that I want to take you."

"Really?"

"Yes and you’ll love it."

Rune’s eyes twinkled as he looked excited.

"I’d love to go!"

I smiled and then looked at Dad who seemed crestfallen.

"I can’t go though, I have a lot of work."

"It’s fine, Father. We’ll go again some other time." I assured and he sighed.

"Fine, but make sure to take care of each other you two."

The next morning, I summoned one of the assassins who was Rune’s fixed guard.

"Yes, Master?" Einar spoke as he kneeled in front of me.

"Bring Rune to Ryujin mansion and ask anyone from over there to bring him to Eldarf mansion." I commanded.

"Yes, Master." He replied before he leapt out in a blink of an eye.

I changed into Ocean’s clothing after I had put on the sapphire earstud and heard the knock on the door.

"Reina? It’s me!" I heard Rune’s voice.

"Come in." I said and the door opened and he walked inside.

He seemed a little confused as he saw me in Ocean’s form.

"Erm... Why are you dressed like that, Reina? Aren’t we going somewhere together?" He asked.

"Yes, we are. I have arranged for you to reach there."

"We’re not going together?"

"No, I have someone else to pick up as well."

Rune looked slightly displeased and I smiled, "It’s an important place, brother. I want to show it to you so that you could know what I have been doing while I was away from you."

Rune’s eyes widened as he looked up at me.

"The-Then, I’ll go." He said.

"One of my men must have arranged the carriage for you, take that and you will be brought to Ryujin mansion and from there you will be taken to the place which I want to show you. I will come there right away."

Rune nodded with a smile before he walked out of my room and I turned to the window.