The Kingmaker System-Chapter 137 - 136. Instructions

Eric lost miserably three times in chess and I couldn’t help but watch as he still stared at our fourth game where I’d given him a check.

"I... guess, they weren’t bluffing when they said all three of them couldn’t defeat you." He chuckled running his hand through his hair.

"I have been wanting to ask you this, Big Brother."

"Yes, Reina?" He smiled at me.

"Why did you suddenly fight with His Highness Prince Carlos?" I asked making him frown slightly.

"I didn’t decide to fight him, Reina. He picked a fight and I showed him that tables have turned." He announced with a triumphant smile.

"You think you’re strong enough for that?" I asked making him flinch slightly and look at me.

I placed my elbows on the table and steepled my fingers in front of my mouth as I gave him a cold gaze.

"And not only that but you also almost exposed your benefactor." I spoke making his eyes narrow.

"How-"

"I am his partner, Your Highness." I spoke up making his eyes go wide and back straighten up.

"H-His?"

"You know who." I said.

"A-Are you really?"

"Why do you think you’re here right now?" I asked, "Rune and Father are incapable of doing his bidding, that’s why he chose me from this family."

"I-I’m-"

"Save the apology, Your Highness. He is angry because of what you did. I guess since he’s usually lenient you thought it’s easy to just do whatever you want since he’s not around but please don’t forget his eyes and ears are everywhere." I stated.

I guess not as Ocean but as Reina I could stay as a strict adult, ironical as it was.

Eric looked down and I added, "He will be issuing you and big brother Rune punishment once we return."

"R-Rune has nothing to do with it. I was the one who caused a scene." Eric quickly said and I sighed.

"You don’t understand, Your Highness. The thing that Ocean hates the most is his plans being foiled and what you did must have caused a ripple effect that will mess with his plans, do you understand that?"

Eric sat in his chair like an obedient child listening to my scolding.

"I-I will take any punishment that Master gives me." He said and I sighed.

"From now on, please don’t get involved in any of such fights. Let them do whatever they want, the throne is yours and that’s decided so, I hope you keep that in mind."

"Yes." He replied politely.

"There are some instructions from him for now," I said and he nodded.

"Don’t flaunt your power, it’s not to the point that you could win fights." I said and he nodded.

"Don’t attract unnecessary attention that would cost unnecessary annoyances."

"Yes."

"Don’t, at any cost reveal anything about your benefactor. Remember what you would lose if anything happens to him." I said making the blood drain from his face.

"I-I understand..."

"Ignore the annoyances of the present, you will have your revenge at the right time and also the power and throne so, if anyone tries to pick a fight act like Ocean just the way you imitate him."

His face flushed red, "Ye-Yes."

"That’s all." I said as I stood up from my chair.

"Please remember all this." I said as I turned to leave but then I stopped and looked back at him.

"And also, just for your information, you are still extremely weak so, the next time you flaunt your strength remember that I can ground you in three seconds."

He stared at me as I turned and left the library.

[Giver of Gifts says you were a bit harsh on the child.]

[Goddess of Wisdom disagrees saying that he needs to know what his acts could result.]

Maybe I did scold him a little bit too much but he should know the consequences of his acts. He might not even know what the worst case scenario of his scuffle would be.

"If he takes a lesson from this then, it would be for the best but... I’m still waiting for the Queen’s move."

I walked over to Rune’s room since my room was being cleaned.

"Father left about half an hour ago, right?" Rune wondered aloud as we sat in the chairs with the communication brooch on the table in front of us.

"Once the conversation starts please don’t say or do anything that will cause any kind of sound."

"I understand." Rune said and I looked at the brooch which sat silently.

After a few minutes, Rune ended up speaking as there was no sound from the communication device.

"When will you talk with Eric?" He asked.

"I already talked to him." I said and he blinked.

"Did you meet him here as Ocean?"

"No."

Rune’s eyes widened and he leaned forward.

"Di-Did you tell him that you’re..."

"I said I’m Ocean’s partner."

"Partner?" I nodded.

"I thought you’d tell him that you’re Ocean."

"Not yet." I mumbled as I looked at the brooch.

The sounds of shuffling emerged from the brooch and Rune straightened up while I leaned ahead.

"I will do as you say, Your Majesty." It was Dad’s voice.

"Also, tell that Baron of what I told you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

We could hear the voices of father and the King clearly now. Father must have forgotten to activate the device when he started the conversation with the King but I guess it was fine.

"I’ll be leaving this matters in your hands then, Duke Arthur Aurelius." The King said.

"You can rest assured, Your Majesty. I shall see to it that it gets done."

The sound of fabric ruffling and footsteps replaced the prior conversation and I tapped my finger lightly over my thigh.

"Your Grace!"

The sounds of footsteps approaching reached us before there was an unfamiliar voice speaking.

"Her Majesty, wishes to see you, Duke Aurelius."

I felt my muscles growing strained and Rune gulped looking at me.

"Ye-Yes,"

I saw this coming, now all I had to do was wait and see what the Golden Serpent was planning.

The sounds of footsteps followed by for a few minutes along with the doors opening and closing. I waited patiently and soundlessly until I heard father’s voice again.

"Glory to the moon of Sestia,"

"Duke Aurelius," I heard the Queen’s voice.

"Please have a seat," she said, "you wouldn’t mind having some tea with me, right?"

"How can I dare refuse, Your Majesty? I’d be honoured to have some time from your busy schedule." I heard father say before I heard the sound of shuffling.

After a few seconds of hearing the sounds of the ceramic pot and cups clinking, the Queen’s voice followed.

"I heard you were summoned by His Majesty." She started and I entwined my fingers before placing my chin over them as I closed my eyes.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Is there something that I should know of?" She asked straightaway.

"His Majesty asked me to offer a deal to the Mage’s Tower." Dad answered in a hesitant tone.

"What kind of deal?"

"It’s more of an Imperial Order, Your Majesty... His Majesty told me to bring it to the Archmage in order for the Mage’s Tower to set up a Magic Gate that would connect Mordino with Sestia."

It must have surprised the Queen as there was a small pause before she asked.

"That sounds ridiculous. Mordino isn’t in the state of helping us in any way right now. Instead of focusing on the war with Denril why is His Majesty building this Magic Gate?"

"Apparently, because he wants to bring Mordino to our side using their weakened state through trade." Dad answered in a meek manner.

There was a small pause and I imagined the kind of face the Golden Serpent would be making right now.

"It sounds like a good plan but it’s foolish." She commented.

"There are a lot of factors to be considered before doing such a thing, and even if we ignore them the budget is currently tight because of the war and spending unnecessarily on such a useless venture... I can’t understand what His Majesty is thinking..."

"About that," Dad spoke up, "there is a person whom His Majesty has assigned to be the one to do the spending."

"He has?"

"Yes,"

"And, who is it?"

"... Baron Ocean Ryujin."

"The Baron who owns the Magic stone mine?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And why would he sponsor such a big project?"

"His Majesty has promised to grant him the title of Marquisate."

"... The title of Marquisate?"

The underlying tension in her voice wasn’t missed by me. She knew which Marquisate was vacant at this moment and offering that to someone who wasn’t her person would make her uneasy.

I had instructed Dad to shift the conversation in such a way that would make the Queen to believe that it wasn’t the third person but King himself who was planning. She wouldn’t confront him herself because he would never admit to it. So, it would easily lead to the misunderstanding and eventually trust issues that were already between them would grow.

This conversation would end up becoming the beginning of the rift that would grow between them.