The Kingmaker System-Chapter 363 - 362. In The Name Of Family (3)

The rain poured relentlessly, drenching me as I soared through the storm-filled sky. My cloak, woven with weatherproof enchantments, kept me dry everywhere except for my hair, which clung to my face in heavy, dripping strands. The cold air bit at my skin, but I barely felt it—I had only one thought in mind.

By the time I reached Rune’s bedroom balcony, my hair was completely soaked, droplets tracing a cold path down my neck and spine. I barely had time to shake off the chill before I saw him enter his room. His steps were quick, his shoulders tense with barely restrained fury. I stayed outside, watching as he dismissed the servants with a clipped tone, waiting until the door finally shut behind them.

Then, I knocked on the glass.

Rune’s head snapped toward the balcony, his eyes widening in shock. I reached up, disabling my invisibility spell, and the moment I came into view, he gasped.

"Reina?!"

I used telekinesis to unlatch the balcony doors and stepped inside, the storm still howling behind me. Rune was already rushing toward me, his expression shifting from surprise to frustration as he took in my rain-drenched state.

"Wait—you’re dripping wet! Were you out in this storm?!" He ran his gaze up and down, assessing me for any signs of discomfort.

I shook my head, droplets flying from my hair. "It’s fine," I reassured him. "I just didn’t have my hood up, so my hair got wet. I’m dry otherwise."

The idea I had back in Frosthail—designing a heat-resistant cloak—had eventually led me to create a weatherproof fabric, which now made up most of my clothing. It would hit the markets soon, but that wasn’t important right now.

Rune wasn’t convinced, though. He had already grabbed a towel, his worry overriding his previous anger. "Gosh, Reina! How could you be out in a storm like this?" He reached up to dab at my hair.

I sighed, channeling a small pulse of mana to lift the excess water from my strands. With a flick of my fingers, I redirected the droplets into the potted plant near his desk. Rune huffed but didn’t protest further as I placed my hands firmly on his shoulders, rooting him in place.

"Brother," I said softly, my gaze locking onto his, "are you all right?"

His body stilled.

For a moment, he just stared at me, as if my words had dragged him away from his previous distraction. Then, he lowered his gaze, and a smile curved his lips—but it was one of those forced smiles. A carefully placed mask to keep me from worrying.

"I’m all right," he said, though the slight waver in his voice told me otherwise. "But I... I’m sorry, Reina. I messed up the political alliance with Duchess Konstantinos. She... well..."

He was fumbling for words.

I clenched my teeth, my mind going into overdrive. My Dragon’s Presence simmered beneath my skin, thoughts spiraling in rapid succession.

Should I just kidnap Celestia?

Or should I show myself as a Dragon and arrange their marriage myself?

Or perhaps I should remove Nymeria from the way entirely...

[Goddess of Wisdom warns you against any rash actions.]

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you not to be blinded by your emotions.]

[Giver of Gifts requests that you do not harm anyone unjustly.]

"Shut it," I muttered under my breath, my jaw tightening.

Rune, ever perceptive, placed his hands over mine, squeezing gently. His golden eyes were steady, tinged with a quiet sadness. "I’m fine, Reina," he murmured. "These things happen. I just feel... a little bad that I couldn’t do better."

My fists clenched. My heart twisted at the way he said that.

Without thinking, I pulled him into a tight embrace. Rune’s breath hitched slightly, but he didn’t resist. Instead, his hands clutched at my cloak, his grip firm, as if grounding himself.

I closed my eyes, focusing on steadying my rage. If I let go of him now, I might do something... irreversible.

"It wasn’t your fault," I whispered. "I heard everything."

Rune tensed.

"I was mistaken to think this would be a good match," I admitted, guilt twisting inside me. "I’m sorry for getting your hopes up, Brother. Please forgive me." I buried my face into his shoulder, unable to look at him.

Rune exhaled softly. He tried to pull back, but I tightened my hold, unwilling to let go just yet. Sensing my stubbornness, he patted my back in silent reassurance.

"It wasn’t your fault either, Reina," he murmured. "If you were in her place, you might have done the same thing."

I pulled back slightly, just enough to meet his eyes. "I would never reject you," I said instantly, my voice firm with conviction.

Rune chuckled at that, a small, genuine sound. "Let’s just say it was a miscalculation," he suggested lightly. "And think of another way to fix this problem, hm?"

I sighed. "I was supposed to be the one consoling you, not the other way around, Brother."

He laughed again, this time fully, the warmth in his voice easing some of my tension. "Well, I am your older brother, after all. It’s my duty to be there for you—whether you’re angry, sad, or happy."

His words only made my heart ache more. I had watched him fall in love. I had seen the spark in his eyes when he spoke of Celestia. And now...

[Goddess of Wisdom reminds you that not everything will always be in your control.]

[Defender of Divine Glory says that failure is a natural part of life.]

[Giver of Gifts prays that Rune will find a better match.]

No, I thought darkly.

"Nymeria will pay for this. She made my brother sad, and I will make sure she regrets it."

[Defender of Divine Glory warns you against doing anything reckless.]

"Reckless or not, she will pay for breaking my brother’s heart."

[Goddess of Wisdom calls you yandere.]

"How do you even know that term—no, whatever."

Rune pulled back slightly, his expression growing thoughtful. "This changes things, doesn’t it?"

I inhaled sharply. He was right.

"Since the marriage won’t happen," he continued, "His Majesty might try to arrange my engagement with someone else. We should start thinking of another option."

I exhaled slowly, forcing my emotions to steady. "Don’t worry about that," I said, voice firm. "I’ll take care of it."

Lightning cracked behind me, illuminating the room in a stark flash. Rune glanced toward the window. "That’s some storm out there," he murmured.

It’s violent because of me, Brother. But I couldn’t tell him that.

Instead, I turned my gaze back to him. "What will you do, then? Talk to His Majesty?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked, his tone laced with sincerity.

I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "No," I said softly. "Just rest for a while. You’ve worked hard. You’ve survived, you’ve grown strong. You deserve a moment to breathe."

Rune smiled, his golden eyes warm as he reached out, touching my cheek gently. "I had to, Reina," he whispered. "I was dying to return to you and Father. It’s been so long... but now, it’s only a matter of days. Or maybe a couple of months at most. And then, we’ll finally be together again."

I placed my hand over his, grounding myself in his warmth.

I hated seeing him upset.

Rune was the first person in the world who had risked his life for me without a second thought. He had stood by me, supported me, believed in me—even when no one else did. He never questioned my decisions, never doubted my words. No matter how impossible things seemed, Rune was always there, unwavering in his faith.

And now, I had to watch him force a smile to reassure me.

I clenched my fists, suppressing the growing storm inside me. I couldn’t just let him be sad.

[Goddess of Wisdom is against you murdering Duchess Nymeria Konstantinos.]

"I won’t kill her," I muttered, my tone sharper than intended.

[Defender of Divine Glory warns you against the kidnapping of Princess Celestia.]

"Stop making those rules!"

Rune’s eyes flickered before settling on the pendant around my neck. Without a word, he reached out, clasping it gently in his palm. Warmth spread from his touch as he poured his mana into the pendant, strengthening its enchantments.

I felt the pulse of his power intertwining with mine, reinforcing the protective spells he had placed long ago.

He sighed once he was done, then smiled at me—genuinely this time. And I swore to myself, right then and there, that I would keep that smile on his face.

"I should get going now," I said as I stood up.

Rune immediately frowned. "Wait, where are you going? It’s still stormy out there!"

I smiled reassuringly. "Please don’t worry about me, Brother. This cloak is waterproof—I won’t get wet."

"It’s not just the rain, Reina! It’s a violent storm with constant lightning. Stay put for a while."

I sighed. The storm was natural but it was influenced by my temperament. Because I had lost control of my emotions, the skies had mirrored my turmoil. The worst part? Since it was already there but became violent because of my mood, I couldn’t even calm it down.

"Fine," I relented, and Rune finally relaxed.

"So, shall we play a game of chess while we wait?" he asked with a small smile.

I nodded, and he quickly set up the board.

Within ten minutes, Rune lost.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Wow, how long has it been since we played like this?"

I leaned back slightly, feeling lighter than I had in days. "Five years."

"Time flies," he murmured, staring at the board as if lost in thought.

I nodded. Five years... Five long, brutal years where we hadn’t been able to sit like this—just existing together without any burdens weighing us down.

We played another round, and in between our moves, we talked—catching up on little things, things we had missed out on while separated by our duties and responsibilities.

It was comfortable.

But then, a knock on the door broke the moment.

Rune exhaled, looking toward the entrance as the servants announced their arrival. "Ah, it’s already that time," he sighed.

The peace treaty signing.

I glanced at the window. The storm hadn’t fully cleared yet. Dark clouds still loomed overhead, heavy with the promise of more rain, but for now, it had stopped pouring. The air was thick with humidity, the ground outside slick with water, but it seemed like the weather would remain calm for a couple of hours.

Enough time for me to move undetected. freeweɓnovel-cøm

"I’ll see you later, then," I said, activating my invisibility spell once more.

Rune gave me a small nod, his expression unreadable as the doors opened and the servants stepped in. I silently slipped past them, my presence unnoticed as I made my way down the hallway.

There was one more thing I needed to do before I left.

I turned toward Eric’s room.

It was time to check on him.

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