The Kingmaker System-Chapter 371 - 370. First Date (2)

I flew toward Rune’s chambers, the wind rushing past me as I maneuvered through the night sky. As I neared his balcony, I could hear his voice carrying through the cool air.

"Bouquet? Necklace? What about a bracelet? No? Then earrings?" His words were hurried, as if he were rattling off a list in distress. My brow arched in curiosity as I hovered just outside the window. What exactly was he up to?

Peering in, I saw Rune pacing across the room, his expression a mixture of frustration and anxiety. Sitting comfortably in an armchair nearby was Eric, his arms crossed and one leg draped over the other, watching my brother with an air of amusement.

"Don’t be so nervous, Rune. I’m sure she’ll appreciate whatever you give her, as long as it comes from the heart," Eric reassured him, his tone lighthearted.

Was Rune preparing a gift for Celestia?

I smirked. What impeccable timing!

"Yes, but I can’t just give her something random! I don’t even know what she likes," Rune groaned, running a hand through his disheveled hair, clearly mortified by his own lack of knowledge.

His worry was almost endearing.

I activated my telekinesis, silently pushing open the window, and stepped inside, simultaneously dispelling my invisibility spell.

The reaction was instant.

Both Princes spun around, bodies tensed and fists raised in preparation to strike.

"Good to see you too," I greeted them with an amused smile.

"M-Master?" Eric gasped, his expression a mix of relief and bewilderment.

"L-Lord Ocean?" Rune stammered, still recovering from the surprise.

I shifted into my Ocean persona before tilting my head at them. "Good evening. What exactly are you two up to?"

Rune’s face turned a brilliant shade of red, and Eric grinned mischievously.

"Rune is busy choosing a gift for his fiancée," he supplied, clearly enjoying my brother’s flustered state.

[Goddess of Wisdom pities Rune for having a scheming sister like you.]

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to take responsibility for this.]

[Giver of Gifts prays that Rune’s heart won’t be broken.]

"Why don’t you guys just trust me and watch?" I thought dryly before refocusing on Rune.

"Ah, so all those suggestions—necklace, earrings, bracelets—they were all potential gifts?" I mused, tapping my chin.

Rune nodded, still looking slightly embarrassed.

"Well, don’t you think there’s something more important to do before giving her a gift?" I asked.

"What?" Rune asked, genuinely curious.

I smiled knowingly. "She doesn’t know anything about you, and you don’t know anything about her. So why not spend some time with her first? Get to know what she likes, what she thinks, and then decide on a gift that truly suits her."

Rune blinked, as if the idea had never occurred to him.

"Spending time with her?" he repeated, as if testing the words.

"That’s actually a solid plan," Eric chimed in, nodding approvingly. "You should definitely do that."

Rune fell into thought, his brows knitting together. Then, he looked up at me with uncertainty.

"B-But how am I supposed to do that? I mean... I can’t just walk up to her and... well..." His voice trailed off as his cheeks turned redder than before.

I chuckled. "You like her, don’t you?"

His face practically ignited.

"Then there’s no harm in asking her out on a date," I said with a casual shrug.

"That’s correct," Eric agreed, looking highly entertained.

"D-D-D-Date?!" Rune choked, his eyes widening in sheer panic.

"Yes, a date," I said simply. "That way, you can spend time together and actually get to know each other."

Rune visibly floundered, clearly playing out the scenario in his head.

"Earth to Rune? What do you think?" Eric waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his daze.

Rune shook his head rapidly. "Um... B-But how am I supposed to ask her?"

"Simple. Send her a letter inviting her to attend th festivities in the town with you," I suggested.

Rune hesitated, glancing between me and Eric.

"Do you really think she’ll agree?" he asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.

"Why wouldn’t she?" Eric said, nudging him. "You’re her fiancé. Of course she’d want to spend time with you and get to know you."

Rune mulled over our words, deep in thought. Then, after a moment, he exhaled a shaky breath and nodded.

"A-All right... I’ll ask her," he said, though he still looked flustered beyond belief.

I smirked. "Good. Write a thoughtful letter, and most importantly—be yourself. Don’t get too flustered and just enjoy your time with her."

He gave a small nod, still clearly overwhelmed, but at least he was on board now.

Eric then turned to me, eyeing me suspiciously. "Wait, you came all this way just for that?"

I tilted my head. "Hm? Oh, I had some business to attend to here, but on the way, I happened to overhear Young Duke’s little dilemma and thought I’d drop in to see what was going on."

I turned back to Rune. "Don’t take too long to send that letter, Young Duke. Make sure she gets it tomorrow."

Rune nodded. "Y-Yes, I’ll do that."

Satisfied, I stepped back, reactivating my invisibility spell. "Good night, then."

"Good night," Rune and Eric echoed.

With one last glance at my flustered brother, I leapt off the balcony, soaring through the night sky toward my next destination.

"Date seed planted," I murmured to myself, a smirk playing on my lips. Now, I just had to see how it would bloom.

I knew I had said those words, but I couldn’t help worrying. What if the Duchess refused to let them go? What if something happened, and Rune’s heart ended up shattered? I wanted Celestia to see just how incredible my brother was—how kind, thoughtful, and selfless. I wanted her to appreciate him, not think of discarding him like a trivial engagement.

I had promised Celestia that if she truly couldn’t see herself with Rune, I would break their engagement, no questions asked. It was only fair. But after witnessing how invested my brother was—how he fussed over the perfect gift, how his ears turned red at the mere thought of speaking to her—I didn’t want to see it fall apart. Not when he was trying so hard.

"I’m sorry, Celestia, but you will be my brother’s bride even if I have to kidnap you."

[Goddess of Wisdom asks you to stay out of your brother’s personal matters.]

"Huh?!"

[Defender of Divine Glory agrees with Goddess of Wisdom.]

"Wait, what?"

[Giver of Gifts says that you should have asked both parties before arranging the engagement.]

I crossed my arms, exasperated. "I thought the King would never agree to the marital clause if I brought in his niece, but he did! If you have a problem with it, why don’t you talk to him about this?"

[Goddess of Wisdom reminds you that you are their chosen candidate for this mission, so it is you they will criticize.]

"Didn’t you guys promise you’d stand by my side, regardless of my decisions?"

[Defender of Divine Glory clarifies that their support is only for decisions that serve the greater cause—not for leading your brother toward heartbreak.]

"I am not leading him toward heartbreak! He’s my brother. I love him more than anything. I know he will win Celestia’s heart. Just you wait and see!" I nearly shouted, frustrated beyond words.

[Goddess of Wisdom prays that Rune’s good qualities will win Celestia’s heart.]

[Defender of Divine Glory hopes that your intervention won’t destroy their relationship before it even begins.]

"That hurts, you know."

[Giver of Gifts asks you not to make any more careless decisions from now on.]

I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temple. "Yes, yes. I won’t."

I shifted my gaze downward toward the town below. The festival lanterns glowed softly against the evening sky, their warm flickering light blending with the twinkling stars above. The streets were bustling with people, their laughter and music floating up to my ears.

I swooped down and landed in an alleyway, my cloak billowing behind me. Pulling the hood over my head, I made my way toward a nearby stall, where the scent of freshly baked goods filled the air. I picked up a bag full of Nox’s snacks before taking off again.

The next morning, Lyall and I made our way toward what was once known as the slum district. Now, it had transformed into a lively, thriving community. The air was filled with the sounds of merriment—children’s laughter, the chatter of vendors, the rhythm of celebratory drums. It was heartwarming to see the people happy, truly at peace.

"I’m glad everything has gone well so far," I murmured, exhaling a deep breath.

"It’s because you’ve been working hard, Master," Lyall responded.

I shook my head. "No. Everyone did their part perfectly—that’s why things have been so smooth."

As I spoke, I watched the children playing, their giggles infectious. Adults bustled about, setting up more festival decorations or chatting in small groups, their faces free of the weariness they once bore. The change was palpable, and it brought a warmth to my chest.

Lyall walked beside me in thoughtful silence before he spoke again. "What do you plan to do tomorrow, Master?"

"Hmm? Rune’s date?" I considered for a moment before nodding to myself. "I think I’ll stay out of it."

Lyall turned his head to look at me, and even though I wasn’t facing him, I could feel his disbelief. He knew me too well.

"Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking," I added, waving a hand. "But I’ll really try not to meddle in their relationship anymore."

And I did think that.

But somehow, I still ended up doing just that.

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