The Kingmaker System-Chapter 408 - 407. The Heroes’ Homecoming (3)

I returned to Aurelius with a heavy heart. Everything felt like it was piling on top of me—the pressure of the Princes’ return, the looming confrontation with Rune, and now Kai’s reckless decision to step into a battle meant for me. It was as if the world refused to give me even a moment to breathe.

Changing back into Reina’s form, I stepped out of my chambers and paused at the doorway. The hall stretched out before me, bathed in warm morning light, the bustle of activity echoing softly through the walls.

I moved through the corridor slowly, watching the servants scurry around me like windblown leaves. They were finalizing the last touches—dusting, lighting lanterns, aligning flower arrangements along the pillars. Their movements were hurried, but beneath it all, I could sense their anticipation. Rune was coming home. After years away on the battlefield, the future Duke of Aurelius my older brother was finally returning.

A familiar figure caught my eye as the library doors opened, and my father stepped out, glancing around until his eyes found mine. His face lit up in that gentle, unwavering smile he always reserved for me.

"There you are," he said, relief and affection coloring his tone as I approached.

He reached for my hand, and I didn’t resist as he took it in his own. "Come now, Rune is returning. We should be there to welcome him."

I nodded silently, allowing him to lead me down the grand staircase and toward the mansion’s main entrance. The cold stone of the bannister brushed against my fingertips as I descended, the weight in my chest only growing heavier with every step.

Outside, the atmosphere was charged. The estate grounds were immaculate, the gold and white banners of Aurelius fluttering proudly in the wind. The servants had gathered near the entrance, eyes bright with curiosity and pride. It wasn’t just the return of a noble—they were welcoming home a war hero.

I stood beside Father in the front, but my gaze remained fixed on the grand gates in the distance. The longer I stared, the more I felt the pressure knotting in my stomach.

Though I had spoken to Father about what Rune might be thinking—how he’d react to what I did—I hadn’t fully prepared myself for this moment. Not truly. The uncertainty of it all settled like a stone in my gut. What would he say? What would he see when he looked at me now? Guilt? Betrayal? Fury?

I glanced up at Father, my throat tightening. "Father, I should—" I started, my voice barely audible, "—I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Perhaps I should retire to my—"

But I never finished.

A distant sound cut through the morning stillness.

The steady, rhythmic thud of the hooves.

It started as a faint murmur, like distant thunder on the horizon, and then grew louder, more defined. The ground seemed to pulse with it. My heart skipped a beat as every nerve in my body froze.

I turned my head, and the thunderous rhythm of hooves hitting earth reached its crescendo as the knights of the Aurelius family rode into the estate. Their gleaming armor glinted under the sun, banners fluttering proudly behind them. At the forefront rode Rune—tall, commanding, and unmistakably changed.

His cherry blossom hair, once soft and boyish, danced in the wind, but it no longer framed the face of that was filled with innocence, but the mature face of a young man. Time had carved away the softness, leaving behind sharp cheekbones, a defined jaw, and a presence that made even the maids pause in breathless admiration.

He halted his horse with practiced grace, the steed coming to a smooth stop before the grand entrance. Without missing a beat, Rune dismounted, the sound of his boots striking the stone.

Still clad in his armor, it was hard not to notice the dark smears of dried blood marking the silver plates.

Father stepped forward at once, his brows furrowed in concern. "Rune, what’s wrong? Why is there blood on your armor?"

Rune’s gaze flickered toward me for a heartbeat—sharp and unreadable—and I instinctively averted my eyes.

"Ah," he said casually, brushing off a speck of dirt from his shoulder, "There was a little problem on the way back."

Father frowned. "I hope it wasn’t anything serious."

If only you knew, I thought, the words heavy in my throat.

But Father smiled and wrapped his arms around Rune in a long-awaited embrace. It was tender—the kind of reunion only a father who’d counted the days could offer. He had waited so many years for this. I, on the other hand, had only seen him a few weeks ago.

"Reina, what are you doing standing there? Come, greet your brother," Father called, his voice warm.

I stepped forward hesitantly, keeping my head lowered, unsure of what I’d see in Rune’s eyes—or what he’d say.

"Welcome home, Brother," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

I braced for the cold shoulder. For the stony silence. It would’ve been justified. I had, after all, played around with the biggest decision of his life.

But instead of being met with indifference or scorn, I felt a sudden force—strong arms sweeping me into a tight embrace, lifting me slightly off my feet.

"Eh?! Brother? Wait, what—?"

"Oh, I missed you both!" Rune said with a light-hearted laugh, holding me so close I could hear the steady thrum of his heartbeat through the metal plates.

I froze, caught somewhere between disbelief and utter confusion. Was this really the same Rune who had stared me down with ice in his gaze just weeks ago? I blinked up at him as he pulled back, and for a moment, I caught the glimmer in his golden eyes—warmth, mischief, and not a single trace of resentment.

"What’s wrong, Reina?" he asked, smiling.

"Er... well... nothing," I mumbled, still dazed.

He looked genuinely pleased to see me. There was no hidden edge in his tone, no subtle bite behind his smile. It was as if the confrontation between us had never happened.

"Um... Brother, aren’t you mad?" I ventured, uncertain.

He tilted his head slightly, expression curious. "Hm? Why would I be?"

My confusion deepened. Was this really Rune? Did someone replace him while returning home? Or did he hit his head and forget everything?

"Come, let’s go inside. I’m absolutely famished," he said, throwing an arm around my shoulders and the other around Father’s, pulling us both toward the mansion.

After Rune had freshened up, we gathered in the dining hall for lunch, the soft clatter of dishes and warm aromas creating a surprisingly cozy atmosphere despite the earlier tension.

He sauntered in a few minutes after us, his hair still slightly damp and tousled from the bath, and the change of clothes making him look a little less like the blood-streaked war general and more like the elder brother I remembered. Still regal, still sharp—but approachable. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

As soon as he took his seat beside me, his eyes swept over me in one long glance, and then he frowned dramatically. "Oh, my Father, didn’t you feed Reina while I was gone? Why does she look so thin and pale?" he asked, as if I were a poor starved orphan and not someone fully capable of feeding herself.

Father let out a theatrical sigh, placing a hand to his heart. "Does she ever listen to me?" he said, shaking his head mournfully.

I gaped at him. "Don’t I?!"

"You don’t," he said, pointing an accusatory finger. "You’re always buried in work, so much that you barely even show your face to your poor, lonely father. I should’ve written to Rune about how neglectful you’ve become!"

"Ah, I can definitely see that," Rune chimed in, leaning forward with a playful smirk. "She’s always busy with something."

He rested his elbow on the table, cheek nestled lazily in his palm, that easygoing smile still tugging at his lips. I blinked.

I stared at him in disbelief when he casually stabbed a piece of roasted meat with his fork, lifted it, and held it up to my lips.

"Here, say ah!" he said with such childish delight that I almost forgot how to breathe.

My brain short-circuited. Was this the same Rune who hadn’t so much as uttered a word during our last conversation? Did he really get amnesia or something?

Still, my stomach grumbled with painful honesty, and I hadn’t had breakfast. So, throwing my worries out the window and deciding to ride this absurd wave of affection while it lasted, I leaned in and took the bite. It melted on my tongue and nearly pulled a contented sigh from me.

Might as well enjoy this pampering before he decides to scold me and bring the storm crashing down.

That one bite was apparently permission for the two of them to go full throttle. Rune and Father took turns feeding me like I was a toddler who couldn’t be trusted with utensils, and I didn’t even have the energy to protest. Between their banter and lighthearted competition over who fed me more, my plate emptied faster than I realized.

We laughed between bites, shared silly quips and random anecdotes, and for a fleeting while, the heavy weight on my shoulders eased. The dark thoughts that had clouded my morning felt like a distant dream. It had been a long time since we’d sat down like this—like a real family—and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it until now.

For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt like I could breathe.

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