The Kingmaker System-Chapter 372 - 371. First Date (3)

Disguised in my Ocean form, I perched on the sturdy branch of an old oak tree, hidden beneath the veil of my invisibility spell. Nox nestled comfortably on my shoulder, his feathers ruffling slightly as he observed the scene below with keen eyes. From my vantage point, I watched Celestia’s maids bustling around her, fussing over the final touches of her attire. They had dressed her in a delicate pink gown—far too extravagant for a noble girl intending to go out incognito. The soft shimmer of the fabric caught the sunlight filtering in the room, making her seem almost ethereal.

With a measured breath, Celestia pulled on a deep red cloak, the hood slipping over her lavender locks just as a knock resonated at the door. One of the maids opened it, revealing another servant waiting in the hallway.

"His Highness is waiting at the entrance," the maid informed her in a respectful tone.

Celestia inhaled deeply, her hands clenching for a brief moment before she relaxed them. "All right, I’ll be heading out now."

As she stepped forward, her maids dipped into a bow, their expressions unreadable. I watched as Celestia squared her shoulders, determination settling into her features, and left the room.

The moment she exited, I leapt from my branch, maneuvering gracefully through the palace grounds to avoid the patrolling guards. I soared effortlessly to the entrance, landing soundlessly on the tiled roof above. Settling myself comfortably, I peered down, waiting for the duo to appear.

A few minutes later, Rune and Celestia emerged from the palace doors. Rune was clad in a crisp white shirt, layered with a brown vest and tailored black trousers. A sleek black cloak rested on his shoulders, adding a refined touch to his otherwise simple ensemble. He looked presentable, yet there was an undeniable stiffness to his posture—an awkward tension that betrayed his nerves.

I watched as he extended his hand toward Celestia, hesitating only slightly. Celestia, without pause, placed her small hand in his, allowing him to assist her into the carriage. Rune followed suit, and once both were seated, the driver gave a curt nod before urging the horses forward.

With a nimbleness honed through years of training, I leapt onto the carriage roof, ensuring my landing was featherlight. My presence went undetected, and I crouched low, straining to hear their conversation.

Except... there was none.

Silence stretched uncomfortably between them, thick with an unspoken awkwardness. I frowned, leaning closer to the edge of the window, curiosity piqued. Inside, Celestia sat demurely, hands neatly folded in her lap, while Rune looked as if he were contemplating the mysteries of the universe rather than speaking to his date.

Then, finally, a breakthrough.

"Um... Y-You look really beautiful today," Rune stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "N-Not that you didn’t look beautiful before, but well... Y-You look really beautiful."

I resisted the overwhelming urge to smack my forehead. The sheer secondhand embarrassment made me wince, but Celestia, ever composed, merely offered him a polite smile.

"Thank you," she said softly.

That was it? That was all?

I sighed, shaking my head. At this rate, their date was going to be a disaster. But no, it had only just begun—I couldn’t lose hope yet.

The carriage rattled along the cobblestone path until it finally arrived in the bustling town square. As Rune stepped out first, he turned, extending his hand to Celestia once more. She took it without hesitation, allowing him to guide her down. The gesture, while small, was at least progress.

I leapt off the carriage and trailed behind them, careful to keep a respectable distance. The lively streets teemed with people—merchants shouting their wares, children laughing as they ran through the crowd, and couples strolling hand in hand. Rune and Celestia blended in effortlessly.

As I maneuvered through the throng, I found myself bumping into several individuals, eliciting confused glances from those unable to see me. Muttering under my breath, I swiftly ducked into an alleyway, pressing myself against the cool stone wall before dispelling my invisibility spell. Once visible, I cautiously peeked out, scanning the crowd until I spotted them again.

At a nearby stall, Celestia gazed at a display of cotton candy, her eyes alight with childlike wonder. Rune, noticing her interest, hesitated briefly before purchasing one. When he handed it to her, Celestia shyly accepted, a small smile gracing her lips. Rune’s own lips curved into a pleased grin. Finally—a victory!

They continued strolling through the market, and I resumed my careful pursuit, keeping my hood low to obscure my face. Rune had yet to notice me, and I intended to keep it that way.

[Goddess of Wisdom wonders what he will think when he comes to know that his sister was stalking him on his date.]

[Defender of Divine Glory is disappointed.]

"Cut me some slack," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. "I’m only here because I couldn’t calm down thinking about how things would unfold."

Despite my precautions, Rune suddenly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. I barely managed to duck into the alleyway, pressing myself flat against the wall. My heart pounded as I peeked out just in time to see Celestia admiring delicate trinkets at a nearby vendor. Rune, however, was still glancing around warily.

I exhaled slowly, stepping out from my hiding place and maneuvering behind a burly man carrying an enormous crate on his shoulder. His broad frame provided the perfect cover as I discreetly resumed my surveillance.

"Damn, I almost got caught," I sighed, shaking my head.

"I don’t think he’d notice that it’s you who’s following him, Master."

"I know, but I still need to keep my distance. He’s quite sharp." I responded on impulse, but as I turned, a pair of amethyst eyes locked onto mine.

"You—" My voice nearly burst out in alarm before I caught myself, but it was too late. Rune’s ear perked as if he sensed something, his sharp gaze subtly scanning the surroundings. Before he could catch sight of me, a sudden shift in space pulled me away. In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing within the shadows of an alleyway.

Davian stood before me, arms planted against the wall at the sides of my head and expression unreadable. I sighed before turning back to our previous vantage point. Together, with Nox perched silently on my shoulder, we cautiously poked our heads out, peering at the couple we had been tailing.

"We almost got caught," I muttered, shaking my head.

Davian hummed in agreement.

"Speaking of which, what are you doing here, Young Master Davian?" I asked, glancing at him suspiciously.

He didn’t hesitate to answer. "I sensed your presence around the palace a couple of times since the night before yesterday. I wondered why you were lingering but never approached me. Now, I see it was because you were keeping an eye on them." He nodded toward Rune and Celestia, where Rune was purchasing something from a street vendor.

"Ah, is that so?" I mumbled, my attention shifting back just in time to catch Rune gently clasping a bracelet around Celestia’s delicate wrist. Her cheeks tinted a soft shade of pink, her gaze lowered in shy delight.

"There you go. That’s how you do it," I murmured approvingly, proud of my brother’s progress.

"Are you going to keep following them all day, Master?" Davian asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

"That’s the plan." I nodded, resolute.

He observed me in silence for a moment before his gaze flickered to Nox, who sat still and unbothered on my shoulder. "Let’s do it together, then."

"Huh?" I raised a brow.

"If you follow someone like Young Duke Rune alone, he’ll sense it immediately. But if both of us are here, we can watch each other’s backs."

I crossed my arms, considering his words. "Don’t you have anything better to do at the palace?"

"No," he admitted easily, a light smile playing at his lips. "I’m bored of sitting around with nothing to do. Let me tag along."

A chuckle almost escaped me at his honesty. "Fine."

His eyes brightened at my approval, but I added, "However, it would be suspicious for two men to roam the festival together like this."

He tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, I raised a hand and touched the ear stud I always wore. A faint glow enveloped my body, shimmering like water reflecting moonlight. As the magic settled, my form shifted—broad shoulders narrowed, height adjusted, and the familiar weight of a flowing dress settled against my skin.

Davian took a step back in the narrow space, his face turning an interesting shade of red. His lips parted slightly, eyes wide as he took in my transformed appearance.

"This will be better," I said, glancing down at myself. The disguise spell had altered my clothes as well, draping me in an elegant jade green dress. A black hood shadowed my long blue hair, obscuring my face just enough that those who knew Mirielle might not recognize me at a glance.

Davian remained rooted in place, his expression unreadable. I tilted my head. "What? Don’t tell me you’re seeing this form for the first time."

He averted his gaze almost immediately. "I-I hadn’t..." he admitted, barely above a whisper.

Nox flapped his wings, disturbing the air between us. The motion startled Davian, making him instinctively take another step back before his gaze landed on the black owl. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Why do you have an owl?" he asked, latching onto the topic as if it were a lifeline.

"Oh, he’s my pet," I replied, running my fingers over Nox’s soft feathers. The bird hooted in response, his intelligent gaze flicking toward Davian as if analyzing him.

Davian exhaled, shaking his head slightly before his gaze softened. "A lot of things seem to have changed around you, Master."

I smiled. "Change is the only constant in this world, Prince Davian. I move with time and keep transitioning for the best of my people."

He studied me for a moment longer, as if weighing those words against the person he had once known. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, I suddenly remembered the purpose of my mission here.

I straightened, eyes snapping back to Rune and Celestia. "No time for chitchat. Let’s keep moving."

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