The Kingmaker System-Chapter 409 - 408. The Heroes’ Homecoming (4)

"Let’s go for a walk, Reina," Rune said gently as I finished wiping my mouth with a kerchief, the comforting remnants of lunch still warming the room with a homely scent of spice and bread.

"Sure," I replied softly.

"You two go on," Father added as he stood, smoothing out his robes. "I have some work to tend to, so I’ll see you later." He patted Rune’s shoulder with a subtle fatherly pride and bent slightly to place a warm kiss on my forehead—one that lingered for just a moment longer than usual and gave me an encouraging smile.

With that, he turned and walked away, the soft rustle of his footsteps fading as silence wrapped around us like a shawl.

"Come," Rune said again with a small smile, and I followed him.

We stepped outside, greeted by the crisp breath of early October. The afternoon light had mellowed, casting a golden hue over the world. Leaves rustled beneath our feet, already dry and tinged with amber and rust. The garden had begun its slow transformation—the once lush greens now kissed by gold, ochre, and wine-red shades. A breeze tugged gently at the ends of my hair, cool but not unkind, as if autumn itself was whispering through the branches.

Rune walked beside me in leisurely strides, his hands in his pockets, eyes taking in the familiar landscape as if it were poetry. Meanwhile, I was coiled tight with nerves. Every step I took was heavy with expectation—waiting for the scolding that hadn’t yet come.

He said nothing.

Not a word. Not even a sigh of disappointment.

The silence stretched as long as the shadows on the stone path, until I couldn’t take it anymore.

"...Brother, are you all right?" I finally asked, my voice quiet against the wind.

He glanced down at me, a soft light in his eyes. "Yes. I’m even more great now that I’m finally home," he said, and the breeze almost seemed to echo the warmth in his tone.

I frowned. "What... about what I told you in Denril?"

He stopped walking, the gravel crunching underfoot as he turned to face me. The fading sunlight caught the edges of his face, his expression now unreadable. My breath hitched, instinctively bracing myself.

His hand lifted.

I tensed.

But instead of the reprimand I expected, his palm settled gently on the crown of my head. Warm. Familiar. He let it rest there for a moment, then ruffled my hair with that same brotherly fondness I hadn’t felt in what seemed like ages.

"You’ve been worried about it, I see," he said gently.

Of course, I was.

He chuckled and pulled his hand away, looking down at me with a light that reminded me of how the autumn sun lingered just a little longer before setting.

"I thought about what you did a lot of times," he said.

I looked down, guilt tightening around my chest. "You have the right to be angry, Brother."

He was quiet for a beat, and I could feel his gaze lingering, trying to reach me.

"And why would I be angry?" he asked, and I looked up, confused by the sincerity in his voice.

"I thought about what you did a lot of times... but not once did I feel angry at you for it," he said.

I stared at him.

"What? You’re not angry? Not even about the fact that I basically played around with your engagement? That I nearly separated you from the girl you like?"

Rune blinked, visibly surprised by my outburst—and then he laughed, the sound echoing softly in the crisp garden air.

"Ah... well, about that," he said, dragging the words playfully.

I steeled myself again.

"I’m not angry," he repeated, more gently this time.

A heavier silence fell over us—mine of disbelief, his of unwavering calm.

"...Why?"

"Because I know you weren’t playing around," he said, his tone filled with certainty. "You kept meeting Lady Celestia as the Dragon. You listened to her. Tried to get her to open up to me. You even followed us during our entire date to make sure nothing went wrong."

I blinked.

He knew?

"In the end, you told me the truth. You accepted responsibility. And I know your heart, Reina," he said with a faint smile. "I couldn’t stay mad."

"I still... don’t understand," I whispered.

He chuckled and gently took my hand, guiding me down the winding garden path toward the gazebo nestled under a canopy of late-blooming wisteria and creeping ivy tinged with red.

"Sit," he said, and I obeyed.

He pulled out the chair across from mine and sat with a quiet poise, his fingers interlaced, eyes thoughtful.

"You made the decision about my engagement without telling me," he began. "That wasn’t right. But after that... you didn’t abandon it. When you realized I had feelings for Lady Celestia, you did everything you could to help me."

He leaned forward, voice lowering.

"I know you sat outside her room. I know you stayed up talking to her when she was too afraid to step out. You gave her courage."

The breeze whispered through the gazebo, rustling the autumn leaves just above us.

"I know how much you love me, Reina. You’ve always protected me in your own way. And with that much love in your heart... how could I ever be angry?"

I couldn’t say anything. His voice, his words... they wrapped around me like a soft scarf against the fall chill, unraveling the tension I’d been carrying like armor.

"I was shocked when you confessed," he continued, his smile now tinged with something apologetic. "I didn’t know how to respond. That’s why I didn’t say anything. I’m sorry for leaving you in worry."

And just like that, the heaviness I’d been holding crumbled. I exhaled shakily, my body folding in on itself as I leaned into my hands, elbows on my knees. My hair fell over my face, and I let it.

The guilt. The fear. The anxiety of days unspoken.

It all began to melt under the quiet understanding of the one person I had feared disappointing most.

Rune just sat there, patiently, like the autumn sun that refused to rush its descent.

And for the first time in weeks, I could finally breathe.

I heard Rune chuckle before his hand came to rest on the back of my head, patting it gently.

"You did well," he said, and I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by the warmth in his voice.

"I... was really worried that... you’d start hating me," I admitted, my words barely above a whisper.

He laughed softly. "Is that even possible? I love you and Father the most in this world."

A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding finally escaped. The guilt I had carried for so long slowly started to dissolve.

I lifted my head to catch the curve of Rune’s familiar smile. "And what about Lady Celestia?"

His cheeks tinged pink, and he looked away. "Well... her too..."

I chuckled, feeling lighter at the sight of my brother genuinely happy.

"Ah, besides," he said suddenly, "who was that person who helped us during the ambush?"

My expression froze.

"I was shocked to see him appear out of nowhere. At first, I thought it was you, but... it didn’t seem like it. And then he just—well..."

"It wasn’t me," I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "It was the child I adopted."

"What?!" Rune nearly shouted.

"A-Adopted...? You adopted a child?" he stammered, his eyes wide in disbelief.

I hummed in confirmation. "He’s a Lesser Dragon I found in Denril under... tragic circumstances. He had nowhere to go and shares the same Aqua Dragon lineage. So, I took him in as my heir."

"Wait, wait! Your heir?!" Rune’s earlier calm shattered, replaced by complete bewilderment.

"Yes, well... Ocean’s heir, to be precise," I clarified, though it didn’t seem to calm him at all.

"How on earth is that man your heir?"

"Man?" I frowned, then realized, "Ah, right. That was because he had my disguise earcuff. He’s only a child."

Rune gripped my shoulders tightly, his eyes searching mine. "How old is he?"

"He’s turning ten... in two weeks," I admitted, and guilt stirred in my chest as Kai’s saddened expression flashed across my memory.

I looked away, and Rune’s brows furrowed. "What’s wrong?"

"Well... I scolded him pretty harshly for jumping into your fight recklessly like that. And... I even forgot his birthday was so close..." I said, massaging my temples.

Rune released my shoulders, sighing in a more relaxed tone. "Well, you could give him a good gift."

I averted my gaze, adding quietly, "I’ve punished him. He’s going to be sent off to Grandfather indefinitely."

"What?!" Rune gasped.

"I couldn’t have him being reckless like this," I said firmly.

"But he is strong. He was fighting well. And his mana control was... impressive."

"That doesn’t mean he should throw himself into danger," I said, exasperated.

Rune went quiet for a moment, lips twitching in thought. "Well... he sounds like you."

I sighed, shoulders slumping. "I wasn’t planning to keep him with Grandfather for too long. I... would’ve brought him back on his birthday."

Rune tilted his head. "You seem to like this child."

"He is my heir, after all."

"No," he said, "you see him as family, don’t you?"

I looked at him, hesitant, but didn’t deny it.

"...Yes."

Rune leaned back in his seat, letting out a long breath and running a hand through his hair. The wind stirred gently between us, crisp with early autumn chill.

"Does Father know about this adopted son of yours?"

"He’s my adopted nephew," I corrected. "And yes, Father knows him. I’ve brought him here for meals now and then. They’re... pretty close. It’s like Father had a son to look after while you were away."

Rune looked at me carefully, then gave a small, thoughtful nod. "Introduce me to him. I’d like to meet this new addition to our family."

"Sure," I said. "But first, I guess I’ll need to go see him."

Rune’s brow twitched. "Fine. I’ll come see him tomorrow, then."

I nodded.

After Rune left to catch some rest, I went straight to Ryujin to talk to Kai. I knocked on the door of his room and the door was opened by Bailey, the maid who was looking after him. She glanced once inside and then at me.

"Is he all right?" I asked and her face fell.

I sighed, "Step out for a while, I want to talk to him."

Bailey bowed and stepped out while I entered the room and spotted Kai who was curled up in his bed, sniffling with my cloak wrapped around him.

I walked over and sat down on the edge of his bed. We sat in silence for a while our backs to each other.

"I’m sorry for scolding you like that." I spoke up breaking that silence but there was no response, just a sniffle.

"I understand that you are trying to help but, you’re still not ready for such things, Kai. I know you are trying to be like me but there’s still some time for that." I said but there was still no response so, I sighed dropping the cool and composed act of Master Ocean Ryujin.

"I brought you with me with a promise that I’ll keep you safe, Kai. I know you’re growing stronger but that doesn’t mean that you have to stop relying on me or earning a credit in my eyes. You are already a special child for me, more special than any other person under my wing." I said.

"I was mad at you not because you entered my office or that you took the cloak or the earcuff but because I was worried, I was scared that something would happen to you." I sighed and felt him shift behind me.

Kai sat up and I turned my head looking at his flushed, tear streaked face and bloodshot eyes that glistened with tears.

"I... I only wanted to help." He whimpered and I sighed wrapping my arm around his shoulders pulling him into my chest.

I felt him clutch at my shirt and I patted his head.

"I’m sorry for scolding you like that," I spoke softly and he sniffled.

"I’m-I’m sorry for being so reckless, I won’t do it again." He spoke and I smiled feeling relieved.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢