The Kingmaker System-Chapter 136 - 135. Scene At The Banquet (2)

We returned home a bit later than we had decided and as soon as I returned to my room I contacted Silas.

"Uncle Silas? Uncle, are you there? Uncle?" I called.

"Uh... Yes, I’m here, Reina." I heard his tired voice respond making me frown.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

"Yes, just busy. How was the banquet? Did your father do what he was told?" He asked.

"Yes, he successfully completed his mission."

"That’s good to hear."

"What about you? Did you find something?" I asked.

"I’m... still looking into it. I’ll let you know soon." There was a strange edge to his voice which made me feel uneasy.

"Uncle, are you really feeling all right?" I asked.

"Yes, I’m fine."

"Did you eat?"

"I will eat now."

"It’s almost midnight. At what time do you sleep?"

"Um..."

"When was the last time you slept? And for how many hours?"

"I’m fine, Reina. Stop with these questions, I’m working right now so, I’ll contact you later."

"Wait, Uncle-"

The line went silent and I sighed deeply placing the brooch down. It seemed as though he did find something but he wasn’t able to say it for some reason.

I would need to visit the Mage’s Tower to see what he was up to. There must be something that was making him hesitant and I needed to know what it was.

The next day, my family was in the library after our breakfast including Grandfather who was also there to know what happened of the task assigned to Dad.

"His Majesty agreed to it." Dad announced happily trying to contain his smile as he turned and looked at me as I smiled back at him.

Last night after we had regrouped to return, he’d came and hugged me saying he did it. I was happy to see him feel so accomplished but that wasn’t even the beginning of me unlocking his untriggered potential.

We all clapped at Dad’s first victory and after a few seconds of everyone praising Dad they turned their eyes on me.

"You did a great job, Father." I spoke up making Dad’s cheeks turn slightly pink.

"With this a great work has been done, I have already sent the message to Uncle Silas regarding this and he will see to it that it gets forwarded to those who have already went ahead to Mordino."

"So, what do we have to do now?"

"Nothing as of now, I shall let you know in some time." I said making Grandfather lean ahead.

"What about the scene created by Prince Eric and Rune at the banquet?" Grandfather asked.

I looked at Rune who averted his eyes, "I will think of their punishment when we return to Aurelius but as of now let it be. We can’t do anything about the witnesses so, we have to wait for the reaction of their action."

"I’m... sorry." Rune mumbled with his head down.

"Don’t say that, just be ready to face the consequences that it will bring. The Golden Serpent won’t sit quietly after hearing this, she will try to pull something for you and Eric."

Rune looked at me with an apologetic expression and I sighed.

"There is a chance that she wouldn’t do anything but... Eric shot a fire ball at her son so... We can imagine the worst case scenario here." I massaged my temples making the three males grow silent.

"Father," I spoke up after thinking for a while and my Dad straightened up.

"Yes?"

"You will probably receive the summon from the royal palace soon so, make sure to carry out the rest of your task as we discussed."

"Yes."

"Grandfather," I then turned to the old man.

"Brother, Prince Eric and I shall return with you."

"You want me to stay here alone?"

"Yes, it’s only the matter of you taking the Imperial order and bringing it to me. I’ll handle the rest."

"Don’t you think that this secret meeting between him and the King might have reached the Golden Serpent’s ears by now?" Grandfather asked.

"Yes, it must have and she will try to find out so, father she might call for you when you visit or she will try to meet you using another excuse. You do remember about what to do when such circumstances occur, right?"

Father looked at me slightly confused and then nodded.

"I remember."

"Considering that, you are starting to show promise those two might want to have control over you and that will be possible through me or through Rune so, anything happens don’t accept the engagement talks."

Rune nearly fell off his chair while Grandfather’s mana whipped around and Dad also grew serious.

"I would never."

"You do remember the emergency excuses that I told you of, right?" I asked and he nodded.

"Nobody knows who or what age Ocean Ryujin is so, you could use his name as my fiance."

"What?!" Grandfather and Rune shouted.

"Yes, he’s the sure shot way of getting us out of any engagement mess and as for brother then..."

"Then?" Dad asked.

"Then?" Rune asked as he leaned ahead towards me.

"I guess, I’ll have to find a bride for my brother first then."

"What?! No!" Rune shouted.

"I-I’d rather go on a battlefield than have these engagement talks!"

My eyes narrowed and I looked at him, "Don’t go around saying something like this Brother. You never know when such random thrown words come true."

Rune frowned and then shook his head, "Whatever you say, I’m not interested in the marriage talks so, even if the King asks tell him that I’m not up for it."

"No one’s marrying you off right away, brother." I clarified and he leaned back looking displeased.

"Do you understand what you have to do, Father?" I asked and he nodded.

"But I still need to think about your engagement with Ocean Ryujin... He’s... older and..."

"Doesn’t exist." Rune completed.

I chuckled, "That’s exactly why I chose him."

I heard the collective sighs before Grandfather spoke up, "What about Silas?"

"I will go to the Tower to see him as soon as Father brings the Imperial order. I will have to check on him myself, last night when we talked he seemed a bit worried. I think I should go and see what’s going on."

"Shall I go along?" Rune asked and I looked at him.

"You and Eric will return to Eldarf as soon as we reach back and I will give Kent and the kids specific instructions about your punishment."

Rune shivered slightly and the meeting was dismissed.

We all stepped out and almost ran into Eric as he was passing through the corridor.

"Huh? Rune? Marquis? Even Duke and Miss Reina? What were you all doing in the library?" He asked looking at all of us.

"Playing chess." We all answered.

"All of you?" Eric looked at us.

"Our little Reina is a genius so occassionally we all challenge her for a match to see if anyone of us can defeat her but... as always she beats us all." Rune answered and Eric looked at me.

"That’s great, would you like to have a match with me sometime too, Miss Reina?" He asked and I smiled.

"Why not?"

It was decided that we would leave Laiden after three days with Father staying back if his work gets late. Still surprisingly enough, only two days after the banquet Dad received the royal summon.

"Just be the way you were during the talk about proposal." I said as I adjusted his cravat and his communication brooch.

"Yes,"

"And if by any chance you run into the Golden Serpent make sure to not attract her curiosity. Don’t say anything that would pique her interest and if she mentions about the scuffle between the Princes then act as if you never knew of it and just act exaggeratedly and leave as quickly as you can. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. Don’t worry, Reina." He said with a warm smile.

"How can I not be worried?... That woman..." I shook my head as I gently picked out the lint from his shoulder.

Dad reached out holding both of my hands in his making me look at him.

"Trust your father, Reina. I will make sure to not mess up and do as you said."

"It’s not about my plan, Father. That woman... I don’t feel quite safe sending you alone."

He chuckled, "I will be safe, Reina. I know you will burn the palace down if anything happens to me so, I’m not worried at all."

His smile made me chuckle despite no humor, I nodded and let him leave.

I watched through the window as his carriage left the estate and released a deep sigh.

"You really care about your father, don’t you, Miss Reina?" I heard a voice and turned to see Eric who now stood beside me.

He had walked up to me while I was busy watching father.

"I saw you nagging at him and fixing his clothes a while ago." He chuckled.

"I wasn’t nagging at him... I just don’t like him visiting the palace." I admitted and Eric hummed.

"I can understand, that place... isn’t for a person like Duke Aurelius."

I looked up at Eric who stood in a relaxed posture with his hands in the pockets of his trousers making my eyebrow twitch as it seemed as if he was imitating Ocean’s posture.

"But don’t worry, even if that woman is like a snake, she won’t do anything to your father at this point when she is already in sights."

I didn’t say anything as I watched the gates of our mansion and released a sigh.

"So, shall we go play some chess now, Miss Reina?" He asked with a smile.

"Sure, Your Highness."

"I’m your brother’s friend, Miss Reina and also a disciple of your grandfather so, you could address me as Big brother, you know?"

His attitude had changed from when he was around Ocean and for some reason, I guess I could see him imitating Ocean again with the way he was acting.

We started walking back to the library and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"All right, I’ll call you big brother but in return you should address me as Reina." I said and he chuckled.

"Fine, Reina."