The Kingmaker System-Chapter 69 - 68. Anchor Of Hopes (1)

The snow had settled in on every crevice and cranny of the Northern territory after the Solistice, it would still take two more months till it would finally melt and the spring would come.

The Solistice was said to be the darkest period of the night before the morning, when the snow would accumulate even more but it would also give hope that spring was just a few steps away.

The people in the territory were aware of the calamity that nearly hit them when they were enjoying themselves but they all rejoiced when they learned that it was diverted.

The people had become fans of Davian and the Mage who had saved them. They didn’t know the whole story but they were making songs over it and it was spreading all over the North giving hope to those who had given up after losing their Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.

Yet, for me and Davian it seemed as if everyday was a different kind of snowstorm that blew us around and throwing is in situations that made it hard for us to tackle.

The nobles had left the castle but not without messing with Davian’s head. Almost all of them had pressured Davian into believing that Archduke and Archduchess were dead and that he should arrange for a funeral now.

Davian wasn’t listening at first but because of the disheartening vacant hands that returned from Siern and all over the North, he was starting to cave in.

The Seraph Knights as well as the other knights were scouring around the North looking for the two attackers or any clue that might be found but nothing was found.

Davian was also asking me about the investigation multiple times but since I was restricted by the workings of my plan, I also had to keep my mouth shut.

He seemed to be losing hope over finding his parents.

For now, he was in my room looking distressed and exhausted, his face had grown paler and there were dark bags under his eyes, his violet eyes had lost their radiance. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Please tell me you found something..." Davian said and I pursed my lips.

He wasn’t looking at me, he was staring down at his fingers that were steepled together.

"Everyone is looking everywhere but they couldn’t find anything... You’re... doing something on your own, aren’t you?... Please tell me whatever you’ve found."

His voice had lost its steel, he seemed as if he was just looking for the words that would justify his belief that his parents were still alive, even if they were hollow words filled with lies.

"I’ve put all of my sources including the ones from underground to work." I answered.

"... And?"

"They’re looking..."

Sorry, Davian.

He was quiet for a long moment, sitting motionless on the chair while I sat in front of him.

"Do you... think there’s really hope that they are... still somewhere?" He asked and I clenched my jaw.

"You said we had hope that we could find them... at least their remains... But you’ve found nothing!"

I flinched as he shouted and then looked at me with his eyes blazing, I could see his aura oozing out of his form.

He was angry. Well, who wouldn’t? He lost his parents months ago, just when he might have started to heal from those wounds, I came around and gave him the hope that they might still be alive. I was arrogant in thinking that I was doing something good for him, I naively ripped his wounds open and now I had to take the brunt of the reaction.

Still, I wouldn’t apologize because I still wanted him to hold onto his hope as painful as it was.

"Why don’t you just say that you failed and that they are... already gone and... we could never find them?" His voice cracked and I could feel my heart beating louder in my chest.

"Because... I haven’t lost hope yet." I spoke making him glare at me.

"What kind of hope are you holding on to? And why isn’t your hope doing anything then?" He demanded and I noticed the moisture that was gathering at the corners of his eyes.

"Why... Why did you start that investigation again? I... was starting to come in terms with it..."

I was quiet for a few seconds before I begrudgingly looked at the envelope that lay on my table. This was the reason why I couldn’t tell Davian anything.

If Davian got involved then he would die for sure. For now, his ignorance was the only way to keep him safe if he got the wind of it then he would surely rush in himself and get himself killed.

I could clench my jaw and watch him go through the pain caused by my shortcomings and also endure his cursing at me but, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for letting him know of the horrendous betrayal and of the enemy that was far too stronger than him.

He could know of them once I was done with taking care of it but for now, he would have to suffice with seeing me as the reason for his pain.

Davian sat there glaring at the ground for a few more minutes before he stood up and left my room without any other word.

I sighed deeply and my shoulders slumped before I leaned back in the chair and gripped my head.

I removed the earstud and shrunk back to my original body feeling the growing tension starting to throb against the insides of my skull.

I had received aetter from Marquis just a day earlier and the news that he gave me was enough to make my blood boil, I was just a step away from rushing back to the capital and burning everything to the ground.

That would explain why I saw the vision that made me rush things.

The next day, I got to know that Davian had cancelled the investigation and ordered the knights and myself to go back to the work we had.

It was his way of saying that he didn’t trust me anymore.

He was venting his anger on me. He knew that I had protected the Second Wall from being destroyed but I sensed something else from his anger. Something that he was hiding under the reason of me failing his hopes.

Regardless, I obeyed as I waited for my informants to gather the intel that I had ordered them to find.

Another week passed by and I received the message from Kyrell which made me set out immediately.

He and his assassins along with the information guild had been working tirelessly on my word. Despite knowing the dangers of the task, they were still willing to do it.

"Here, Master." Kyrell handed me another bundle of papers.

"You’ve been working quite hard these days, thank you for gathering all of this intel for me, Kyrell." I spoke after I scanned the papers briefly.

"I’m delighted to see that you appreciate our hard work, Master but... what could you possibly do with this information? It’s... a royal secret and also could spark a war if it feels in wrong hands."

"I know but I needed the confirmation if I had to make my move."

"Are you going to topple the kingdom, Master?"

"Nope, I am trying to prevent it and for that I would have to step in the arena myself."

Kyrell’s eyes went wide, "Wait, Master, don’t tell me you’re going to- No, wait, Master it’s dangerous enough for my men itself but if you also go to that place then there’s no telling what would happen."

"That’s my concern, Kyrell. Besides, if I die you will be the leader of the guild again, don’t you think?"

Kyrell frowned, "That’s not what I’m thinking, Master. But there are lives that are dependent on you, you are not only the Master of this guild but also of those kids whom you saved... Are you going to leave them to the mercy of the slave traders again?"

I pursed my lips as I recalled the kids whom I had met just a few days ago, the scene of their excited faces at the aspect of having a name was still fresh in my mind.

"That’s why, I should be the one to do this."

"But, it’s as good as a suicide mission, Master. The chances of surviving this are nil."

"That’s exactly why I am going, Kyrell. It’s a suicide mission for any one other than me, my chances of surviving this are good enough." I smiled.

"But, Master-"

"Your Master isn’t so weak, Kyrell." I spoke coldly this time letting my smile disappear and my Dragon’s Presence envelope the air around me.

Kyrell stared at me before he sighed and mumbled, "Are there any more instructions for me?"

I handed him the pouches of money making his eyes go wide.

"I’ll be gone for long so, for the time being take care of the kids, I’ll give them and Kent the instructions on what they have to do, so once the Winter ends send them to this location."

I handed him a slip of paper and he took it

"What about us?"

"Operate here as you always did, I’ll return to this place once my work is done so, till then I’ll leave everything over here to you."

Kyrell’s lips pressed in a firm line before he bowed his head without any resistance to my orders.

"I will do as you say, so, please return safely, Master."

I smiled, "I will."

After leaving the Raven Heart guild I went over to the inn where the kids and Kent were. The kids at once gathered just like last time, they were sensitive to my mana and maybe that was why they would sense me even before they could see me.

They greeted me as Kent had thought them and this time almost all of them could speak the greeting in the Kingdom’s language properly.

They looked so blinding with their glowing eager faces as they tried to tell me about their progress.

They were capable of speaking the kingdom’s language, though broken and with the lisps and mistakes yet, they were smart enough to pick things quickly.

"Oi, you all! Stop jumping on Master like that, go one by one." Kent scolded making the kids go quiet before they looked at each other discussing about who would go first.

"No, wait. I’m here for some other work." I spoke up making them turn their attention to us.

"Give me that." I looked at Lyall and he handed me the papers that I had brought from the castle.

I was busy for the time being but, I still hadn’t ignored the responsibility of giving them names. A name played an important role in a person life and for slaves, it might hold a place that I couldn’t come to comprehend.

The ones who were treated even lower than normal people and were seen with nothing but contempt were now standing in front of me with hopes on their eyes. I was suddenly an anchor to their hopes.

"So, first is," I said and looked at the bundle of papers in my hands.

The elf girl stepped ahead as I gestured for her and handed the first paper to her which had her name on it. She took the paper and stared at the word written on it.

I distributed the papers with the names among the kids and they all almost had the same expressions on their faces.

I might have gone a bit overboard but, I guess it was worth it.

"From now on, introduce yourself with your names to anyone you meet. Do you understand?" I announced and the kids who had tears and smiles on their faces looked at me responding in unison.

"Yes, Master!"