The Kingmaker System-Chapter 60 - 59. Midnight Snack

It was night time and I was reading the reports of the so far done research before I felt my stomach grumbling. I looked at the time, it was already past midnight.

"Guess, I’ll have to make something myself." I mumbled before I stood up and left my room.

My past life’s memories were starting to fade away yet, the skills that I had worked hard for were still solidly there in my mind.

Cooking was one of them, I had cooked for almost all my life so, I was fairly good with feeding myself even if the world were to end.

I walked down the desolate looking corridors watching the moonlight streaming from the large windows lighting the stony path. It was scary but eerily peaceful and quiet. I was almost tempted to sing.

I was about to cross Davian’s study when I saw the light that was coming from underneath the door of his office.

"He’s working so late." I mumbled before I went over and knocked on the door.

I waited for a moment hearing no response, I frowned a little before I opened the door myself and peeked in.

I walked inside hearing nothing but the crackling of the fire burning in the hearth and saw Davian on his chair with his head down and cheek pressed against the papers.

I smiled as I saw him still holding the pen in his hand.

"So cute."

I walked up to him and poked his shoulder making him groan a little before he cracked open his eyelids and then quickly straightened up with the paper still sticking to his face.

I chuckled lightly as he removed the paper and rubbed his eyes.

"If you are tired please go and rest, Your Grace."

"I’m fine, I still have some more work to finish." He said in a groggy voice.

"What are you here for? Did you want to talk about something?"

"Not really, even I was working but then I got hungry so I was heading to the kitchen to make myself something, would you like to eat as well? I can get something for you as well."

"It’s fine, I’m not hun-"

My dragon senses picked the sound of a grumble and Davian avoided my gaze clearing his throat.

"I’m not hungry."

Another grumble.

"You should go ahead."

Act your age sometimes, Davian. I didn’t say it out loud but this tough guy act somehow justified his situation.

Still, I couldn’t leave him on an empty stomach.

"May I ask of one favour, Your Grace?" I asked and he looked at me.

"What?"

"Can you accompany me to the kitchen please?"

Davian cocked his brow and I brought my hands up.

"Don’t take me wrong, it’s just because..." I feigned the looknof hesitation as I added.

"I am a little scared of darkness so, I was wondering of His Grace would be so kind enough to come along."

Davian gave me a look that said he wasn’t buying it.

"You are scared of darkness."

"Yes, you see I couldn’t even sleep that night when Lady Charlotte said she saw a ghost. I’m really scared of ghosts, you see!"

Davian still gave me the same look before he sighed and stood up from his seat.

We stepped out of his study and started walking towards the kitchen.

"You’re working quite hard these days, Your Grace. If it’s not a hassle then I could help you out." I said.

"You have your own work to deal with, Sir Ocean. There’s no need to burden yourself with more."

"I don’t mind having a little more."

"But I mind it, I don’t like burdening the people who do their jobs properly."

"You’re a good leader."

Davian was quiet for a while as we kept walking until we reached the kitchen.

"Then, I’ll return." He said turning to leave.

"Ah, what about when I return?" I spoke up making him stop and look at me.

He tagged along as we went inside and I picked out some bread, some lettuce and bacon before slicing them up.

Davian took a seat on a wooden stool leaning his elbow against the counter where I was working with his chin resting in the hell of his palm.

"I heard you weren’t going to come for the Winter Solstice ball." Davian spoke up.

"Hm? Ah, yes. I don’t like noisy places."

"... Is that really the only reason?" He asked and I smiled as I kept my hands busy and my eyes on the slices.

"I don’t like mingling with nobles unless it’s necessary. For this occasion I had plenty of other to do so, I don’t want to go."

"You’re quite blunt." I chuckled.

"I don’t care about what others think, they will form their opinions regardless of how I portray myself. If they don’t like me, even if I bring the world to their feet they wouldn’t like me and if they like me then they won’t have any expectations from me." freeweɓnovel.cøm

Davian stared at me as I placed down the sandwich before him.

"Here,"

He didn’t say anything as he picked it up and started eating it. I picked up my own and grabbed a stool before I started eating as well.

"How’s the investigation going?" He asked.

"Still no progress, but I’ll continue looking."

Davian grew a little crestfallen but he didn’t let it show on his face.

"Do you really think they’re alive?"

"I don’t know... Since we haven’t found their bodies so, them being alive is a possibility."

Davian looked at me with wide eyes and I sighed.

"Please don’t look so hopeful..."

I chewed onto my sandwich while Davian ate his own.

The silence grew between us before I spoke up.

"Don’t overwork yourself, Your Grace. It’s fine to rely on the ones who are standing beside you."

Davian didn’t respond and I sighed as I thought I had somehow offended him or made him upset.

"Ethan... told me to thank you..."

"Hm?"

"After the incident where you saved me from those assassins but... I couldn’t find a chance to do so."

"It’s fine."

"You’re a really strange person, Sir Ocean. I don’t understand what you think or do."

I chuckled, "I get that a lot."

"I don’t like owing anyone anything."

I smiled, "Well, I don’t like doing free favours as well."

Davian looked up at me, "Then, what do you want in exchange?"

"I will ask for it when the right time comes."

"Is it good?" I asked and he looked at me with the sauce smearing at the side of his mouth.

"Ah... Yes." He didn’t even realise that his act of a tough guy had fallen.

"I’m glad." I said as I reached out and wiped away the sauce from his face.

He went silent again and finished the sandwich. I cleaned up the counter before we started heading back.

"What were you working on for this late?" He asked me.

"Ah, I was checking some reports."

Davian stopped in front of his study and faced me.

"Thanks for accompanying me, Your Grace. Thanks to you I wasn’t scared."

Davian’s lips curled up in a small smile before he shook his head.

"I wonder what kind of calamity we should be afraid of if the person who can create ghosts to scare others is afraid of darkness and ghosts himself."

I blinked in surprise and internally cursed Ethan for telling even this to Davian. I knew he reported everything to Davian but this part wasn’t supposed to reach Davian’s ears.

I laughed sheepishly before I shrugged my shoulders.

"So you know..."

"I didn’t expect you to use such a tactic but what’s done is done now."

I smiled and then bowed.

"Well, it’s quite late so, I’ll leave now. Please don’t stay up late and rest well, Your Grace."

I walked a few steps away and Davian suddenly called me.

"Sir Ocean?"

I turned to look at him.

"Yes?"

"Thank you... for helping us in such circumstances."

I smiled at him.

"It’s all right, Your Grace. I came here to help anyways. Besides, if you are working late again then, we can have another midnight snack again." I grinned.

Since I had arrived in Frosthail Davian hadn’t smiled wholeheartedly even once but now he was smiling at me. A smile so enchanting that I couldn’t help but feel the swell of pride and relief for being there to help him from the shadows.

I returned to my room and started writing the letter that I wanted to be delivered to the capital to my father as well as to the Marquis.

I still hadn’t received their reports regarding my town, Eric and the stuff happening at the palace. I had to be up to date with them since the war was still going on and anything could happen if I took my eyes off for a long time.

The next evening, I found myself at the black market since I had an order to give for the help in the investigation. I realised that I had left one stone upturned.

Lyall walked behind me as usual and the thought in my mind was that I would simply go, give my order and then return but regardless of what I thought things weren’t as uneventful.