The Kingmaker System
Chapter 168 - 167. Bigger Game (3)

Chapter 168: 167. Bigger Game (3)

Grand Duchess and Sir Adler were shocked to know that all the kids that she saw were none but commoner children.

"And you’re giving them education and everything else for free?" She asked looking at me as I led her down the dirt path towards Eldarf.

"Yes,"

"Even the hospital and all the facilities that you’re planning?" Sir Adler asked and I smiled.

"Yes,"

"And not for nobles?" She asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"My place is open for everyone, the only thing that I ask for is peaceful cooperation. If the noble kids are ready to forget about their status and pride then they could come enjoy this space as well." I explained.

"It’s really hard to picture." Adler admitted making me chuckle.

"Not quite," I said making him glance at me, "From where I stand, this will be possible within the next five or six years."

Their eyes widened and they stared at me as if expecting me to say that it was just a joke but I wasn’t joking. I was planning a huge revolution within this kingdom.

Eric wouldn’t inherit what was left to him by his ancestors but he would take over what I would prepare for him. The kingdom which he would love to rule over and the kingdom which would be loved by everyone living in it equally.

"I... I still find it hard to imagine." Sir Adler spoke.

"It’s fine, you just have to wait for it to happen."

They glanced at me as we kept walking until we crossed the magic barrier and Grand Duchess flinched slightly looking around.

"Don’t be startled, Your Grace." I spoke.

"But that..." She pointed behind us.

"That’s the magic barrier, it’s placed all over this place for the protection of those who live here."

"You need a magic barrier for protecting a few people?" Sir Adler asked and I smiled.

"You’ll know when you see them."

He looked at me with a slightly dubious expression but didn’t say anything as we continued onto our path until I spotted the Eldarf manor.

"Also, I hope you don’t act impulsively when we reach there. They’re only kids," I warned making the two frown.

"Kids?"

"Special kids." I corrected.

They looked at Roan as if asking for an explanation.

"You shall know when we reach there." He said instead.

Lady Dahlia and Sir Adler didn’t say anything after that and soon we were entering the meadow, I sensed the presences spiking around me and before I knew it they were all focused on me.

"Ah, you should step a bit back, Your Grace." Roan said and I stepped ahead.

It was almost out of nowhere but the kids suddenly appeared and pounced on me.

"Master!"

"Welcome back, Master!"

I chuckled as I carried their weight with ease and saw Kent who came out with the same exasperated expression.

"Oi, brats! Come back here and greet Master properly!" He hollered making the kids groan.

"Now!"

They got down and stood in front of me in a line and greeted me in sync with perfect bows.

"Welcome back, Master!" Their voices resounded as one as and I turned slightly to see Lady Dahlia who seemed like she was unable to believe her eyes.

"Good, now invite Master in." Kent instructed.

"Master, please enter, we have been awaiting your presence!" The kids spoke making me smile.

"All right, but aren’t you going to greet the guests that I brought along?" I asked making the kids to crane their heads to look behind me

"E-Elves? Dwarves?..." Lady Dahlia breathed making me smile as I looked back at her.

"Th-The real... elves and dwarves..." Sir Adler gasped as his one hand rested on the hilt of his sword, it irked me.

"Didn’t I tell you they are special kids?"

"Welcome to Eldarf manor!" The kids greeted in unison making the newcomers stare at the kids.

"Let’s go inside and have some lunch, Your Grace." I offered but she stood rooted in her spot with Adler looking like he would recoil at any movement.

"Are you also planning on amalgamating these kids with... humans?" She asked making my eyes to turn icy despite the smile still being there.

"They have every right to be, if the humans can’t accept these kids then I can take care of them as my own." I announced and saw as a shiver ran through both of them before I gestured towards the manor.

"Please come if you’d like and if not then... the Ryujin mansion is close from here Roan can escort you back." I spoke without any mercy.

The kids were important for me, they were an integral part of my life now. As much as I didn’t want to be involved with them in the past, I couldn’t imagine my future without them in it. These kids deserved my affection, care and protection, and I wasn’t going to forego them just because someone else discriminated against them.

These were my kids now.

"I-I didn’t mean to sound inconsiderate, Master Ocean." Lady Dahlia spoke and then looked at the kids.

"I... have never been in contact with them before so..."

"Right... the elves and dwarves that I had seen up in Frosthail were... quite hostile so..." Sir Adler said as his hand slowly moved away from his sword.

"It’s fine, these kids are used to it." I said as I spread my arms to the kids and they walked over and stood clinging to me as they looked at her.

"I’d picked them from Izkar,"

"What?!"

"Izkar?! You mean..." She gasped.

"Yes, from Frosthail. They were enslaved there so, I brought them here and since then they’re living as my family."

She stared at the kids with wide eyes and then at Kent who stood with me.

"This is Kent, he was the right hand man of the Leader of Izkar, but after I took over the city, he came here with me to take care of these kids." I gestured at the kids placing my hands on their heads.

"As of now, I’m their father, mother, guardian, everything so, I felt a little provoked when you showed signs of dislike towards them." I fixed Sir Adler with a sharp glare making him flinch.

"I-I never said I disliked them," Sir Adler said.

Lady Dahlia brought her hand up, "I-I don’t dislike them too... It’s just I don’t know how to interact with... them."

I chuckled, "They will do it themselves, if you reach out once, Your Grace. I’ve taught them well."

I heard a sound of someone clearing their throat and I chuckled.

"Right, Kent and I have taught them well." I corrected.

Lady Dahlia stared at the kids who stared back.

"Master... will they live here like those big brothers?" One of the kids asked.

"No, I’ve brought them here to introduce with you all and for some lunch. I hope you have it ready."

"Yes!"

"Everything is ready!"

The kids then looked at Grand Duchess and Sir Adler with wide, anticipating eyes. It was almost endearing as how they never once doubted a person that I brought here, they accepted them and jelled well with them without any problems.

"Just one step is enough, Your Grace." I encouraged.

"You won’t regret it, Your Grace." Roan prompted as he stepped ahead towards me.

Lady Dahlia hesitantly took one step ahead and then next before she was walking towards us with Sir Adler in tow.

"Welcome, big sister and big brother!" The kids cheered making Lady Dahlia gasp and I chuckled as Rowan took a hold of Sir Adler making him yelp.

"They are really nice kids. You’ll love it here." I assured before I gestured for us to go inside the manor.

"So, what’s for lunch?" I asked the kids.

"Beef stew, potato salad,"

"I made garlic bread!"

"And-And I made lots of soup!"

"We have jelly for dessert!"

The kids excitedly listed out the things that they had made and I could see Grand Duchess observing the kids. Sylvia had held her finger while we entered the Eldarf manor.

We had lunch with the kids and the Grand Duchess was shocked to know that the kids were responsible for the household chores and cooking in their manor. After lunch, the kids were eager to have a spar with the two guests since I told them Lady Dahlia was one of the Heroes of the North and Sir Adler was the Vice Captain of Seraph Knights.

"It’s fine to go all out with them, Your Grace. These kids take their spars seriously." I warned her before she stepped ahead after changing into the training clothes.

"But, they’re still kids," she said and I chuckled.

"I know, that’s why, they won’t show any mercy."

Sir Adler pulled out his sword giving me a cautious glance and I nodded as the two moved ahead.

I, Kent and Roan observed the spar between the kids and our guests which only lasted for a few minutes before Grand Duchess realised that the kids weren’t only cute but also ruthless.

The two returned after facing a defeat and looked even more impressed by my kids.

We returned to the Ryujin mansion in the evening despite the kids clinging to us to make us stay.

"They’re really loveable children." Lady Dahlia smiled as if recalling her fun time.

"I know,"

"Those kids are so much skilled at such young age, my knights need more training." Sir Adler mused.

"They’re trained by my best knights, and they usually spar with quite strong fighters. It’s a record that up till now except for me, they haven’t lost to anyone." I boasted with a triumphant smile making Sir Adler stare at me.

"I’d love to visit again and hopefully, even introduce Alarice and Davian to those kids. I’d like to see the spar between them and my husband." I could see the light in Lady Dahlia’s eyes which made me smile.

The tension of the past few days must be lifted by this new encounter, now, all I could hope for was the next step of this game that was going on behind the scenes to go just the way I want.