The Kingmaker System-Chapter 442 - 441. Debutante Drama (1)

After wrapping up the paperwork in the office, I teleported directly to the Mage’s Tower. There was something important I had to discuss with Silas. If demons could mask their presence so effectively, then I needed to ensure that even those with low mana sensitivity among my people could still detect them. I wouldn’t allow history to repeat itself—not under my watch.

The moment I stepped into the Tower’s spacious lobby, the familiar shimmer of magic tingled faintly in the air. The usual buzz of mages, scholars, and apprentices was present, but more muted than usual—likely due to the late hour.

Ruya, the young receptionist with that ever-bright expression, looked up from her ledger and beamed when she spotted me.

"Good evening, Mr. Ocean!"

"Good evening, Ruya." I returned the smile with a nod. "Is the Archmage in?"

She tapped her pen against her lips thoughtfully before replying, "Well, he was earlier this morning, but I think he left for the magic stone mine a little while ago."

I sighed under my breath, "Alright, I’ll head over there then."

Ruya gave me a cheerful wave. "Safe travels!"

With a slight nod, I turned on my heel and exited the Tower. The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air met my skin, and without another word, I activated my teleportation circle, vanishing toward the direction of my lair.

I landed softly just outside the entrance of my lair, the stone beneath my boots cool and familiar. Without wasting a moment, I began walking inside.

"I hope he isn’t serious about letting me fight for the succession."

"He isn’t, don’t worry. I’ll talk to him."

"I don’t want to go back to that place again."

I paused for a second, recognizing Alys’s voice, followed by Silas’s. Their conversation drifted from the lab at the far end of the corridor, and I couldn’t help but feel the weight on my shoulders double.

I understood Alys’s fear. Being the daughter of Soros—the man who was meant to be king, but was instead betrayed and killed—was enough of a curse. She had spent most of her life running and hiding, just to survive. No wonder she didn’t want to return to that place.

"Archmage!" I called, standing a short distance away from the lab where Alys was stationed.

There was a clatter from within before Silas stepped out, his brows already furrowed. Without a word, he walked straight toward me, grabbed my wrist, and brushed past as if trying to drag me along. I didn’t move, causing him to jolt and glance back.

"What are you doing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Come with me," he snapped, teeth clenched.

I sighed. "Good, I needed to talk to you anyway. It’s important."

He didn’t reply, just continued walking. I followed him out of the lair into the open space beyond. The moment we stepped outside, he exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his pink hair, turning back to face me.

"I’ve tried talking to her. Asked if she’s even slightly willing to fight for the succession, but she’s adamant. She says she’ll never set foot in that place again. So don’t push her."

I gave a weary sigh. "All right. I understand."

"Good," he replied, visibly relieved.

"But there’s another, bigger problem now, Uncle," I said, watching the lines of concern harden on his face.

He looked at me with an expression caught between exasperation and dread. But as I explained, that look sharpened into something far more dangerous. His mana surged like a storm breaking free.

"What did you just say?"

"Didn’t you hear?" I hissed. "Kai was almost kidnapped by a damn demon."

His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. "But how could a demon appear in your territory out of nowhere?"

"It couldn’t be out of nowhere," I said, voice low. "I have plenty of enemies. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them managed to summon a demon on me."

"That’s outrageous," Silas growled. Then he looked me straight in the eye. "Is it the Golden Serpent?"

"I have no proof." But she was first on my list.

The Queen had more than enough motive. She was already seething after I refused to support her son. She could very well go this far.

"What are you planning to do?" Silas asked.

"I need your help," I said plainly.

He didn’t hesitate. "What do you need me to do?"

Despite everything on his plate—the proposal evaluations from the Tower’s mages, the assigning of research teams, the initial stages of project implementation—he was still willing to throw it all aside.

"Are you sure you’ll have time?" I asked, testing his resolve.

"Kai was attacked, Reina," he said, voice firm. "That’s enough for me to put everything else aside."

Kai had become important to all of us, without exception.

"All right then," I exhaled and began giving him the details of what needed to be done.

He listened attentively, nodding at every instruction. When I finished, he gave a sharp nod, expression set.

"I’ll handle it."

"Also..." I added, glancing back toward the lair. "Tell Aunt not to worry."

He followed my gaze. "I understand where she’s coming from. And I also know that no matter what she feels now, the day will come when she’ll have to step back into that palace. She might not have the strength to fight yet, but soon... she won’t have a choice."

At least he understood.

The next couple of days passed in a blur of relentless effort. My people worked day and night, trying to uncover any trace of the man who had tried to kidnap Kai. I hadn’t told them he was a demon. That part, I kept to myself. But I knew—no human could have vanished like that. A demon needed a host to walk our realm, someone foolish or desperate enough to summon and bind it.

Last time I faced one, it had possessed me. The thought alone still twisted something deep in my gut. But this time... it was different. It hadn’t tried to take over anyone. It had just disappeared, cleanly—without a single trail or magical residue.

That made it more dangerous.

The only person who might have had answers was that Dragon child. But he was still unconscious, lying in the guest room of my mansion under Doc’s and Enora’s eye. My healing had cured him of his physical injuries but he still hadn’t regained consciousness. I tried to use Life connection with him but the grim notification of the host being cursed came up making me grit my teeth. This Dragon child was cursed.

Why was that when I came across any Dragon child he was either cursed or enslaved?!

Kai was recovering slowly. His wounds were healing, but the fear hadn’t quite left his eyes yet.

Davian, on the other hand, had flat-out refused to leave Ryujin. I’d told him to return to his capital residence, to resume his princely duties, but he hadn’t budged. Not even once. He remained firmly by Kai’s side. And ever since that last heated exchange we had in my office, neither of us had spoken a word to the other.

Despite everyone’s best efforts, we’d found nothing. No leads. No sightings. Nothing remotely useful. In the end, I had no choice but to call off the active search.

Finding a demon, especially one that had already vanished, was next to impossible like this. But I issued orders to everyone—if anyone came across even a whisper of suspicious activity, they were to report it immediately.

This wasn’t over. I could feel it. Something had begun. And it wasn’t done with us yet.

And just like that, the day of my debutante arrived.

I woke up late—intentionally so—at the Aurelius mansion, only to be met with my personal maid, Penny’s relentless nagging. Her voice was as shrill as ever, tugging at both my sheets and my peace of mind.

"I don’t want to go, Penny," I mumbled, dragging the pillow over my head.

"What?! But it’s your debutante, My Lady!" she cried, sounding personally offended as she yanked the covers away.

"Ugh... Even if I skip the whole beauty ritual, I’d still surpass the human beauty standards by a landslide," I groaned, squinting up at her.

"That sounded extremely haughty, My Lady!" she chided with a pout—before muttering under her breath, "...Although it’s true."

"See?" I smirked.

"But that doesn’t mean you get to sleep through it. Please, get up already, My Lady!"

Despite my best efforts to resist, she eventually managed to drag me out of bed—with reinforcements, no less. Two more maids joined in, and I surrendered with a groan as they ushered me into the bathroom like I was some reluctant sacrificial offering.

Then began the endless ordeal—cleansing, grooming, moisturizing, brushing, pinning. A procession of combs, oils, steaming towels, and whispered debates over which shades would enhance my "natural glow." I wasn’t sure whether I was being prepared for a celebration or embalmed for display.

I sat there, letting it all happen, my mind elsewhere—on Kai, on the demon, on the silence that followed. Nothing more had happened since that night. And that silence... was more disturbing than the chaos.

The maids laced the corset tightly across my back, it had no effect on me except for being a little uncomfortable, my body was slim enough for the corset to not bother me. But I had lost the habit of dressing up like a girl.

"Try not to move too much, My Lady," one said gently.

I gave a wide, sleepy yawn, ignoring the discomfort.

Time blurred as they continued with their delicate ritual of adorning me, layer after layer—jewels, silks, embroidery spun with actual silver thread. Hours passed, the sky dimmed, and finally... they stepped back with quiet admiration.

I was dressed in my custom-made debutante gown—designed to awe, tailored to perfection.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l