The Kingmaker System-Chapter 385 - 384. I Have Homes (2)

The next morning, I woke up later than usual—a rare indulgence, but one I sorely needed. The weight I’d been carrying had lessened, thanks to last night’s conversation with Dad. His words still lingered in my mind like a balm, soothing the ache I hadn’t even realized had settled so deeply in me.

As I made my way into the dining hall, the warm scent of freshly baked bread and brewed tea greeted me. Dad was already there, sipping from his cup and reading through a few documents. He looked up the moment I entered and smiled.

"So, will you return for dinner?" he asked, his tone hopeful but casual.

"Um... probably not," I replied as I took a seat. "There’s bound to be a mountain of paperwork waiting for me. I might stay back home and come again in two or three days."

"Reina," he said with a small sigh, "this is your home."

I smiled gently, warmed by his sentiment, but I shook my head. "At this point, Father, I don’t have just one home. I have homes."

He didn’t argue. He just watched me for a moment, and in his eyes, I saw understanding—the kind that only fathers could offer. A silent agreement passed between us, and with that, I finished my breakfast and set off.

By the time I reached Ryujin, the sun was peeking through the mid-morning haze. I didn’t even have to announce my arrival. The message I sent ahead had done its job well; the entire household was already assembled outside, lined up in orderly fashion. As I descended in a smooth flight, the breeze caught the hem of my long coat, causing it to flutter dramatically behind me. My blue hair swayed with the wind, and as I touched the ground, the air stilled—as if the mansion itself was holding its breath.

In perfect synchrony, the maids and servants bowed. Their voices rose as one in crisp unison.

"Welcome home, Master!"

I smiled at the sight. "Good to be back."

With practiced ease, I started walking towards the mansion. The staff followed, keeping pace at a respectful distance. Remi, efficient as ever, stepped forward to retrieve my coat, slipping it from my shoulders without a word. My eyes moved to Lyall, who stood with Enora just a few steps ahead—his posture straight, but the exhaustion etched in his face didn’t escape me.

"Kate," I called out, and the teenage girl snapped to attention like a well-trained soldier.

"Yes, Master!"

"Take your father to get some rest," I instructed. "I don’t want to see him for two whole days."

Her eyes lit up with the weight of duty and mischief combined. "Yes, Master!" she said and immediately turned to her father, grabbing his arm.

"Come, Father. Master’s orders!"

"Wait, but Master—" Lyall began, protesting out of habit more than necessity.

"No excuses. Go and have some rest, Lyall," I cut him off, a playful but firm tone threading my voice.

He sighed, defeated, and allowed himself to be dragged away. Enora watched the scene unfold, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she folded her arms.

Just then, a figure appeared at the top of the staircase—Kai. The young boy who bore such an uncanny resemblance to my Ocean form that it never failed to catch me off guard. The same aqua-blue hair, the same glimmering blue eyes that mirrored the sea itself.

"Master!" he called out with a grin, his youthful voice carrying warmth.

He dashed down the stairs but came to a sudden halt at the base. Straightening his back, he gathered himself, then bowed deeply with grace far beyond his years.

"Welcome home, Master. I hope your journey was safe and that you accomplished your motives," he said with composed politeness, his tone that of a perfect noble hier.

A smile tugged at my lips. "I did."

He looked up at me then, waiting—hesitating just slightly. His eyes darted toward Enora, silently seeking her permission. She responded with a small nod and an encouraging smile. That was all he needed.

I spread my arms just a little, and in the next instant, he rushed forward, flinging himself into my embrace.

"Master! I missed you!" he exclaimed, clutching me tightly.

I laughed softly, my hand rising to pat his head. "I missed you too."

Though he’d grown taller, his spirit was still that of a child—the child I never missed a chance to spoil. I was his guardian and parent after all.

"Did you have your breakfast?" I asked, gently pulling back to look at him.

He nodded eagerly. "Yes, Master!"

"And your studies? Training? Were you keeping up while I was gone?"

"Of course!" he said with pride.

"What about the books I told you to read?"

"I finished all of them." His chest puffed a little at that, and I couldn’t help but smile.

"Good," I said with a nod. "Then we’ll have a little test this evening after dinner."

He beamed. Kai was nothing if not eager to learn. The desire to become like me served as his strongest motivation. He devoured the strategy and political theory books I gave him, and his results spoke for themselves. Within just two years of proper sword training, he was already on par with the junior knights.

But of course—he was being trained by the finest minds and warriors across the kingdom. The Elves had taken charge of his basic combat forms, while the Dwarves honed his endurance and core strength. Both races were now nearing the heights of their respective potential, and their teachings had shaped Kai into something promising.

In a few more years, he would be ready to take over my responsibilities here in Ryujin, while I diverted my focus to more pressing matters on the horizon.

"Would you like something to eat, Master?" Enora asked gently from the side.

I shook my head. "No, I ate before I came. I’ll be in my office until lunch."

I turned and made my way upstairs. Kai, of course, followed, like an eager child.

"Master," he said as he climbed beside me, "are you going to visit Eldarf today?"

I paused for a beat. "Hm... not today. Maybe tomorrow. We’ll go together."

His face instantly lit up, eyes sparkling like twin gems. That innocent, ocean-deep gaze framed by his soft, aqua-blue locks gave his smile an almost divine aura. I could practically see my own essence running through him.

[Goddess of Wisdom asks you to not be delusional.]

[Defender of Divine Glory corrects that Kai is not your biological son.]

[Giver of Gifts says that you’re not old enough to be a parent to any child yet.]

"Oh, hush," I muttered under my breath. "Given the age of my soul, I’d be nearing my fifties. And yes, he has my genes—I gave him my blessing, remember?"

Kai tilted his head at me in confusion, clearly hearing the muttering. I just smiled at him and shook my head.

When we reached the upper floor, I gestured toward my study. "Are you coming in?"

He shook his head. "I’ll go to the library," he replied dutifully.

I watched him disappear down the corridor before turning toward my office.

Expecting the usual chaos—papers stacked from floor to ceiling—I braced myself.

To my surprise, the room was pristine. Not a page out of place.

"Master!" Esme Magnolia, one of the aides, stood from her seat, her smile bright and full of surprise.

"Wow, Master’s really back!" Blake Blossom gasped.

"Welcome home, Master!" Julio Johannsen added, offering a neat, respectful bow.

Even Roan, who had been lounging in his chair with his usual calm demeanor, gave a small smile. "Welcome back, Master."

My gaze lingered on him a moment longer. He didn’t look haggard or drowning in paperwork for once, a rare sight considering how often I dumped all the office work on him whenever I snuck off for field operations.

"You seem surprisingly healthy, Roan," I commented.

He casually gestured toward the three young aides. "It’s all thanks to my new assistants."

"Right," I smirked. "If not for them, you’d probably be in tears by now, overwhelmed by all the paperwork I left you with."

Roan rolled his eyes dramatically. "Give me some credit—I worked hard."

I chuckled. "Fine. Now that I’ve returned, you don’t have to be here. Go on, take two days off."

He blinked, clearly taken aback. "Wait... am I having auditory hallucinations? Did you just say two days off?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "All right, then. You three—go take the break. Roan stays."

"Wait, what?! No!" He shot up from his chair and marched toward me with urgency. "I need a break!"

I laughed under my breath. "Then go."

He stared at me for a moment, trying to gauge if I was serious. When he saw I was, he finally relaxed and smiled.

"You all as well," I added, glancing toward the three aides.

"Um... can I stay?" Esme asked softly, and the boys exchanged uncertain glances.

"We’ll stay too," they chimed in unison.

Roan groaned. "You people are hopeless."

"It’s fine," I said, waving a hand. "You’ve earned some rest. Seriously."

"Actually... we’d rather hear about what happened in Denril," Esme said, her voice laced with curiosity. Her companions nodded beside her, clearly intrigued.

"Ah." I tapped my chin thoughtfully, then looked toward Roan.

He sighed in resignation. "Fine. I’ll stay too. But I’m not working. I’ll hear the story and then I’m off."

With that, he flopped dramatically onto the nearby sofa like a man exhausted by his own sense of duty. frёeωebɳovel.com

The others turned their eyes to me, full of expectation.

I exhaled lightly, suppressing a smile.

"All right then," I said, sitting down. "Huddle up."

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