The Kingmaker System-Chapter 399 - 398. Worries Of A Single Parent (1)

By the time I arrived at Ryujin, the evening had already settled in, and the soft glow of twilight painted the world in golden and pink hues. Remi, ever diligent, helped me out of my coat as I stepped inside.

"Archmage Silas is waiting for you in the drawing room, Master," he informed me, his voice respectful as always.

I nodded, my thoughts already shifting towards the task ahead, and made my way up the stairs. As I approached the door to the drawing room, Kate stepped out with a tray in her hands. She gave me a slight bow and greeted me with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Master."

I returned her smile with a nod, silently grateful for her quiet presence. Pushing open the doors, I walked inside.

"I’m sorry for being late, Uncle," I said, settling onto the couch, my body tired but still alert.

Silas observed me for a moment, his sharp gaze never missing a beat. Then, without a word, he placed a small chest on the table between us, his hands moving with the precision of someone accustomed to handling important matters.

"Here," he said, as he picked up his teacup with an air of casual grace. "The things you asked for."

I opened the chest, my eyes scanning the carefully packed communication devices inside. Satisfied, I closed the chest and set it aside.

"What are you going to do with so many communication devices?" Silas asked, his brow quirking in mild curiosity. "Planning on starting a business?"

I shook my head, the corners of my lips curling up in a faint smile. "Not yet. These are for my kids."

His brow furrowed further. "Your kids?"

"The children of Eldarf," I clarified, watching as his confusion deepened.

"And why do they need so many?" His voice held a note of concern, though I could tell he was also intrigued.

"Because I’m dispatching them," I said, my tone calm yet firm. "As an extra layer of protection for the people under my wing."

The frown that appeared on his face deepened, his expression darkening slightly. "Are things really that serious? You do realize the kind of chaos this could stir up if anyone saw them."

I sighed, leaning back against the couch, the weight of the situation pressing against me like a physical thing. "They’re the best-trained assassins, Uncle. They can handle themselves. I trust them."

I picked up the teacup he’d offered earlier, the warm, soothing chamomile filling my senses. Taking a sip, I let the warmth settle in, a small comfort amidst the brewing storm.

"Ah, this hits the spot," I murmured, slumping a little further into the back of the seat, momentarily surrendering to the peace of the moment.

Silas didn’t let the conversation die there, though. "You’re working harder, I see."

"Don’t ask," I replied, my voice dry.

"To think a serpent can make a Dragon work so hard," he scoffed, a slight chuckle escaping him.

I rolled my eyes. "I’m immune to her venom, Uncle. But those around me aren’t. I can’t be everywhere at once, so I have to rely on those who can act as my eyes and ears."

He studied me in silence for a few seconds, his gaze sharp but thoughtful. "And for how long will this last?"

I paused, my eyes lingering on the distant view outside the window as the colors of the sky deepened. "Prince Eric will return in a couple of days. Until then, the Golden Serpent will do everything she can to drag me down for not helping her and to rebuild her reputation from the ruins of mine. I just need to hold on until Eric arrives. Once he does, his presence will be enough to distract her."

Silas sighed, clearly not entirely convinced. "It sounds complicated."

I gave him a small, tired smile. "Well, compared to what my kids suggested, this one’s complicated."

He raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Let me guess — they suggested you take her down right away?"

I chuckled, the sound low. "It’s definitely doable. But the repercussions would be... messy. I’d rather avoid that if I can."

"Personally," he said, taking a sip of his tea with a contemplative expression, "I like their idea better."

I shot him a mock glare. "Et tu, Uncle?"

He tilted his head, innocent as ever. "What?"

"Nothing," I muttered, unable to hold back a smile. I took another sip of my tea, feeling the tension ease just a little.

For a moment, we both simply sat there in quiet companionship, the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth the only sound between us. Through the window, the twilight sky was now a canvas of golden and pink strokes, the stars beginning to emerge in the deepening dark.

"Ah," I said suddenly, the thought striking me out of nowhere.

Silas looked up at me, mildly exasperated. "What now?"

"Do you still have those books about childrearing that you got when we met for the first time?" I asked, leaning forward a little.

He frowned, puzzled. "Why?"

"Kai," I began, letting out a sigh. "He’s... well..."

I went on to explain how Kai had been unusually tense lately, overworking himself to the point of exhaustion. His behavior had changed — subtle enough that most wouldn’t notice, but not enough to slip past me.

Silas hummed thoughtfully when I finished. "So you’re saying," he began, tapping a finger against his knee, "that it seems like he wants to talk to you about something but he’s holding it back. And you want to help ease his worries."

I nodded. "Exactly."

He grew quiet for a moment, the thoughtful crease between his brows deepening. "He knows what’s going on in the territory, doesn’t he?" he asked.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Maybe he’s just worried," he suggested, but I shook my head lightly.

"I don’t know... he is worried, but I feel like there’s something more. Something he isn’t saying."

Silas went back to pondering, his gaze distant. I waited, hoping for a fresh perspective — something I was clearly missing. After a long pause, he blinked and his eyes sharpened as he looked at me.

"What?" I asked, leaning in slightly. "Did you figure something out?"

"Send him to me," he said.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What?"

"He’s started lessons with your Grandfather, right? Send him to the Mage’s Tower for magic lessons too. I’ll talk to him."

"You’ve figured out what’s troubling him, haven’t you?" I said, watching him carefully.

Silas sighed, giving me a look that was far too knowing for my liking. "Well... apart from you, everyone else would probably understand Kai’s state right away."

My eyebrows shot up. "What?! Why not me?"

"Because you are you," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

I scowled. "What does that even mean?"

"Exactly what I said," he replied with a maddening calm, placing his empty teacup down.

"Send him to the Mage’s Tower. I’ll talk to him," he repeated, already preparing to teleport.

I pressed my lips together for a moment, watching him. Just as he was about to leave, I called out, "Uncle."

He paused, glancing down at me.

"If the danger rises... I’ll be entrusting Kai to you and Grandfather. Please... take care of him."

I didn’t want Kai to get entangled in this mess just yet. In the future, he would have to shoulder many hardships as my heir. He had already endured so much back in Denril — I wanted him to have a normal childhood for as long as possible, to hone his skills at his own pace without any burdens. He was a child carrying the headname of Ryujin, and one day, that weight would be his to bear... but not now.

Not while I was still alive to protect him.

Silas held my gaze for a long, unreadable moment. There was something in his eyes — something deep and unspoken — before he finally nodded once.

And then, without another word, he vanished, leaving the drawing room quiet and the evening air heavy with unspoken fears.

Sylvia reported to me that evening in my office after Kai returned from his lessons with Grandfather.

"So, did he say anything?" I asked as she stood before my desk.

She shook her head. "He studied diligently. Marquis even praised him for being smart and hardworking."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Didn’t you get a chance to talk?"

Again, she shook her head, looking apologetic. "He was focused on studying the whole time. I couldn’t find a good moment."

"I see. You’re dismissed," I said, and she bowed before quietly leaving the office.

I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling, the weight of my worries pressing harder against my chest.

"Are you worried about Kai?" Roan asked from his seat near the fireplace.

"Yes," I admitted without hesitation.

He hummed thoughtfully. "He’s probably just going through puberty."

I glanced over at him, incredulous. "He’s only nine. How on earth could he already be hitting puberty?"

Roan shrugged. "Well, he doesn’t look nine. More like thirteen... or fifteen."

I frowned, considering it.

Maybe he had a point. Dragon children were different from humans — even Drac had looked far older than his actual age when I first met him. Dragons matured faster, stronger, and wiser than any other race. Maybe puberty was the reason behind Kai’s strange behavior.

"Maybe..." I murmured under my breath.

Roan chuckled, breaking the heavy mood. "Being a single parent is hard, huh?"

I looked over at him, a small, tired smile tugging at my lips. "Sure is."

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