The Kingmaker System-Chapter 428 - 427. Say What? (3)

Soon enough, I saw a girl flanked by a couple of maids, all of them looking down on the one person I had been searching for. The blonde girl, brimming with arrogance, was unmistakably the same figure I had seen years ago. She had grown—but only in the physical sense. The rest of her remained as petty and haughty as ever.

"Who goes there?" one of the royal guards barked, stepping toward me.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I released a fraction of my Dragon’s Presence. It hit him like a hammer, forcing him to his knees, and immediately turned the attention of the princess and her maids toward me.

"Who are you, and how dare you barge into the royal garden?" the lady-in-waiting beside Princess Colette demanded.

"I apologise." I spoke without a shred of apology in my tone.

Remi turned at the sound of my voice. One look at his bruised cheek and swollen eye sent a ripple of fury through me.

"Master?" he whimpered, his voice hoarse.

My fists clenched, and with that, my Dragon’s Presence surged, untamed. The very air seemed to tremble. Everyone in the vicinity gasped, buckling under the weight of it—everyone except for Remi. I had shaped the release so he remained untouched. As for Colette, she bore only half the force—out of courtesy, if one could call it that.

"I am Marquis Ocean Ryujin," I said, voice cold as ice. "I greet the star of Sestia, Princess Colette." I bowed, even though every cell in my body rebelled against it.

"May I ask," I said, straightening up, "why my attendant is in this state?"

The lady-in-waiting’s breathing grew labored. "Wh-What’s going on? I—I can’t breathe..."

The maids behind Colette were struggling as well, trembling under the pressure. Colette frowned, clearly unable to understand what was happening to those around her.

"Marquis Ryujin... the one always surrounded by rumors," Colette said, raising her fan to veil her smirk.

"I’m honored Your Highness knows of me," I replied dryly, then extended my hand to Remi, he caught it and I pulled him up beside me.

"Your servant barged into the garden without permission and behaved rudely with me. I was simply educating him—since it seems you’ve failed to do so, Marquis Ryujin."

"Is that so?" I murmured, watching her eyes flick to Remi, who now stood beside me.

Her magic began to swirl, almost imperceptibly—except not to me. She was trying to cast a suffocation spell on Remi.

I stepped forward, shielding him from her line of sight. "Then, by your logic," I said, voice calm but sharp, "since I failed to educate my attendant, I should be the one punished in his stead, yes?"

"B-But, Master—!" Remi protested, panicked.

I raised a hand, silencing him. Then, with deliberate grace, I lowered myself onto one knee.

Colette’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. She was her mother’s daughter through and through.

But she wasn’t stronger than me.

Without a word, I doubled the pressure on her. The air quivered as my presence bore down on her. I kept my gaze lowered, masking the smirk threatening to rise.

A sharp inhale.

"Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

"Are you feeling ill, Your Highness?"

Panic bloomed among her attendants. My head was just inches from the ground when I heard her collapse.

"Stop!" she shouted, voice trembling.

I lifted my head, watching in cold satisfaction.

There she was—on her knees, breathless, while her maids and lady-in-waiting writhed beside her.

I stood tall again, Remi by my side, and looked down at her as she glared up with bloodshot eyes.

"What did you do?" she hissed.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Pardon? What did I do, Your Highness? I merely kneeled at your instruction, and stood when you told me to stop."

"You attacked Her Highness!" the lady-in-waiting cried out.

"Attacked? How so?" I asked flatly.

Before she could continue, I glanced toward Roger’s chamberlain, who had just appeared at the scene. He had seen me vault over the balustrade and had arrived shortly after. A neutral witness—just as I’d anticipated.

"You—!"

Colette raised a hand, silencing her lady-in-waiting. Her pride was injured, but not her cunning.

I turned to Remi, whose face was bruised and swollen. Gently, I brushed gloved fingers along his cheek. He winced.

If it had been anything else, Remi alone could’ve wiped the floor with these so-called guards. But he hadn’t fought back—because he didn’t want to put me in danger.

"I apologize for my attendant’s lack of manners, Your Highness," I said at last. "I shall punish him properly when we return. Until then"—my gaze sharpened as it fell on her—"I hope you will find it in your noble heart to forgive him."

She glared, but my Dragon’s Presence still weighed upon her shoulders, preventing any retort.

"Since we are done here, we’ll take our leave," I said, turning on my heel.

"Let’s go, Remi."

He nodded quickly and turned with me, staying close as we left the garden behind.

The Dragon’s Presence would gradually diminish with each step I took away from her. By the time she would get back on her feet, I would be long gone. This was the most lenient form of retaliation I could allow myself for what she did to Remi. Had it been anything more, I would have torn her and everyone around her apart.

Remi followed silently. Once we boarded the carriage, he sat across from me, head bowed low.

As the carriage rolled away from the royal palace, my resolve hardened. I would be far less forgiving when it came to the Golden Serpent and her children from now on.

"Tha-Thank you, Master... And I’m sorry that because of me... you had to lower your head," Remi said softly, voice quivering with guilt.

I clenched my jaw. Without a word, I slipped off my glove and reached out, brushing his bruised cheek with a featherlight touch. He winced, and I immediately cast the Supreme Healing spell. The swelling disappeared, the bruises faded, and color returned to his skin.

I sat back, still simmering with quiet rage. Remi touched his now-healed face and lowered his head once more.

"Master, I—"

"It wasn’t your fault," I interrupted firmly.

He folded his hands in his lap. "But because of me..."

"It’s not your fault, Remi," I said again. "It’s her habit to humiliate people. If it hadn’t been you, she would’ve found another excuse to hurt someone."

"I really didn’t do anything though. I asked the chamberlain and he said I could look around the premises. She just came..." His voice trailed off, and I sighed, reaching over to ruffle his hair gently, hoping to soothe him.

"I understand," I said quietly. "That’s why I put her in her place. And soon enough, I’ll drag her, her mother, and her brother from their high pedestal and show them where they truly belong."

Remi looked up at me, and I withdrew my hand—only to feel him clasp it in both of his.

"What—?"

His eyes glistened with unshed tears. I sighed and placed my other hand atop his head, coaxing his gaze downward again.

"Don’t look at me with those teary eyes. I know you’re grateful. I understand."

He giggled softly.

"Why do you avoid being thanked, Master?"

"It’s embarrassing," I muttered, and he giggled again.

"Let’s hurry back now," I said, trying to steer the moment away.

"Ah, what about bringing a sorry gift for Young Master?" Remi suggested, brightening.

"We don’t have that much time, Remi," I reminded him.

"I know a store that sells really delicious sweets, Master! I’ll rush over and get the famous strawberry custard. I’m sure Young Master will forget his sadness if he eats that," he said eagerly.

I hummed thoughtfully. Kai did love sweets, so I supposed it wouldn’t hurt. We weren’t too late—an apology gift would be a nice touch.

Remi asked the coachman to stop at the marketplace, which was already buzzing due to the upcoming parade. Most of the preparations were complete, and the stallkeepers had begun setting up.

It was ironic how the Prince once branded the Prince of Shadows was now hailed as their hero.

"It’s here!" Remi said, pointing excitedly at a bakery.

The air was thick with a sweet, inviting scent.

"Hurry, then," I said, and he nodded before heading in, with me following close behind.

Inside, the aroma was even stronger. Remi joined the short queue, and that’s when I noticed a familiar figure picking up a pink-and-white box and heading toward the exit.

"Count Wallace?" I called, and he turned his gaze toward me.

His eyes widened in shock.

"M-Master?" he gasped.

I smiled. "What a pleasant surprise!"

He smiled sheepishly. "Wel, yes..."

"Did you get it, Father?" A young man in his early twenties approached him. Tall, with bright blonde hair and soft pink eyes.

"Ah, Ezra," Count Wallace said, glancing between him and me.

"Ezra—your son," I said, and the Count nodded.

"Yes, Master."

"Master?" Ezra echoed, and then his eyes widened.

"Wait... you mean, Master Ocean Ryujin?!"

I smiled as he froze, his jaw slackened in disbelief.

"Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet the future Count Nash," I said, offering my hand.

He took it with a slight tremble.

"I-It’s my honor," he said, and I smiled again.

"So, what brings you two here?" I asked, turning to Count Wallace.

"Well..." he glanced at Ezra, who sighed.

"The thing is, since only Father was invited to the party at your estate, my sisters are upset. So, he’s buying the strawberry custards as an apology." Ezra explained.

"You’re not coming, then?" I asked the Count.

"I am," he replied, handing the box to Ezra. "Ezra’s just here to take these back home."

"Besides, what brings you here, Master?" Count Wallace asked.

I gave a sheepish smile—right on cue, Remi returned, carrying the same pink-and-white box.

"I got it, Master," he said. "I bought four, so Young Master won’t be sad anymore. Ah—Count Nash, good noon."

Remi bowed to Ezra, who looked to me for explanation.

"I was summoned to the palace today, so I had to step out. I figured I’d bring something back for Kai so he won’t be too upset," I said.

Count Wallace chuckled heartily while Ezra looked between us with curiosity.

"Young Master Ezra," I said, making him flinch a little.

"Yes, Master?"

"Why don’t you hurry home and let your mother and sisters know that I’ve extended an invitation for them to attend the party at my estate?"

Both father and son blinked in surprise.

"Pardon?" Count Wallace gasped.

"Really?!" Ezra beamed.

"Yes. It’s been a while since I saw them, and I’d like to introduce them to someone. I hope they’ll come."

Ezra glanced at his father, visibly eager to bolt back home.

"All right," Count Wallace said, and Ezra dashed off immediately, making me chuckle.

"You’ve got quite the lively son, Count Wallace," I said.

He gave a soft sigh. "He adores his sisters and mother."

"Well then, since we’ve run into each other here, shall we head back to my place together?" I asked.

Count Wallace smiled warmly. "Of course, Master."

We walked together toward the carriage. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"By the way, Master... what’s with your hair?"

"I alter my appearance a little when dealing with the royal family. Since they don’t actually know what I look like, it helps me stay one step ahead," I replied, making him laugh.

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