The Kingmaker System
Chapter 169 - 168. Bigger Game (4)

Chapter 169: 168. Bigger Game (4)

After dinner, I was in my study looking at the letters which I had asked Kate to put on my desk in morning.

There were five envelopes, four of them were for me and the last one was addressed to Her Grace Dahlia.

It was from His Grace Alarice, I put that letter aside and looked at the ones that were for me.

Fairisles seal, anonymous seal, Lord Hawke’s seal and Lord Devil’s seal.

I picked up the anonymous sealed envelope first and plucked out the letter reading its contents before sighed.

It was the concise report about the war from the frontlines. Everything was just as usual, the occasional battles took place but Eric and Rune were able to handle the situation well. There were casualties but up till now nothing was gone out of hands.

Drac was also holding up well along with the other kids whom I had trained. Everything seemed to be going at a steady pace except for the report that I was supposed to receive from Lyall’s team.

I placed the letter down and wondered if they were fine. The last letter that I had received from them was last month, I had instructed them to send me a monthly report if there wasn’t any emergency but now a month had passed by and there was no word from them.

"I hope they’re safe." I mumbled and then looked at the other letters.

Grandfather reported to me about the meeting that happened this month at the Royal court. The possibility that I had imagined was coming true, the Queen would now start moving faster.

I stared at the last sentence that Grandfather had written for me.

"Move with caution, it’s a sensitive case. You don’t want to lose a pawn with good potential."

"You don’t need to remind me, Grandfather. I’ve already done my work."

I read the other two letters as well, Lord Hawke had also said the similiar things as Grandfather had told me and I moved on to Lord Devil’s letter which made me frown.

I would have to wait regardless, I couldn’t move at an unnecessary time and create disturbance for my own plan.

I ran a hand through my hair and couldn’t help but look at Lord Devil’s letter before I sighed and grabbed the letter that had arrived for Lady Dahlia and walked over towards her chambers.

I was not supposed to be go to a lady’s room so late but since it was her husband’s letter I couldn’t not deliver it. It might be something urgent. Well, not that I couldn’t have know if there was an emergency in Frosthail.

I stopped in front of the door of her room and knocked twice, I heard some shuffling before the door swung open inside and she stood in front of me dressed in a nighgown and a robe.

"Master Ocean?"

"Please excuse my rudeness for coming so late, Your Grace but, I had to deliver this that’s why I came now." I presented the letter that was addressed to her.

She took the letter and her eyebrows jumped, she met her gaze again.

"Thank you for bringing it to me, Master Ocean." She smiled.

It was rare to see her in such a causal state but I guess even she had her human side.

"Then, I’ll take my leave now. Good night, Your Grace."

"Good night, Master Ocean."

She closed the door and I took only three steps before I saw Adler and Roan standing near the doorway of Adler’s room.

"What are you two doing?" I asked and noticed the scent of wine wafting from their side.

"Uh... Talking." Roan said.

"Were you drinking?" I asked as I walked up to them.

"Yes," Adler answered.

"You can join us,"

"He doesn’t drink," Roan said waving his hand.

"That’s true but, it seems like you guys have become quite close," I said making the two exchange a glance.

"Well, I have no one here with whom I could enjoy some good wine so, when he asked I joined in." Roan said making me smile.

Well, most of the people here were either women or busy men, other than that there were underage kids and even Remi was still young so, he couldn’t drink leaving Roan alone.

"I’m glad you finally have a friend to drink with so, I won’t disturb you two just don’t do create any trouble." I said.

"Are you busy?" Adler asked making me tilt my head.

"No,"

"Then, you can join us, you don’t have to drink." Adler said and I looked at Roan.

"I don’t mind." He shrugged his shoulders.

I decided to join them for a while and entered the room. The two had six bottles of wines and two glasses on the table and chairs arranged for their drinking party.

I looked at Roan who avoided my gaze as he had brought so many bottles of wine. I didn’t drink but I hadn’t stopped others from doing that and there was a room in the cellar where there was wine stored.

I took a seat adjacent to the two men who poured themselves wine and then looked at me.

"We didn’t get to talk properly before," I prompted looking at Adler and his eyes found mine.

"Yes," he said, "You seem to be quite different here."

I smiled, "How different?"

"You seemed more carefree and laid back when we were at Frosthail but now... you seem like you’re a completely different person. One can see the carefree streak but it isn’t like how I had seen it, you are showing that you are easy-going but, you are still controlling everything."

I tilted my head to the side as he said that observing his facial expressions.

"I didn’t know you were at Frosthail." Roan said.

"I was there for some work last year after that I came to Mordino."

"How are everyone?" I asked Adler, "I didn’t see Sir Stephan or the usual batch."

"They are back in Frosthail, we weren’t expecting things to be like this over here that’s why we brought only a few knights." Sir Adler said.

"How about Frosthail?" Roan asked, "You said that the attacks there are random so, isn’t it a hassle?"

"It is, but we have quite fast horses and also some teams which are on standby for such situations."

"Well, you guys seemed more sophisticated and flashy."

"Flashy?"

"Yeah, I’ve seen all kinda of teams now, his team would be the epitome of sophistication and secrecy, your team is classy and flashy and my bandits were crude and foolish." Roan spoke and I could see his cheeks flushing and his tone slurring.

"Your bandits?"

"Yes... I had quite a bunch and even some priests..." Roan said making Adler look at me.

"You seem like you have gathered people from all over." Adler pointed out.

"They’re pretty good kids."

"But, I don’t see Lyall. Isn’t he like your shadow? How come I haven’t seen him in all these days?" He asked and I hummed.

"Lyall is... out for a vacation."

Roan snorted, "Vacation? That man?"

Adler raised his brows as he sipped his wine looking at me.

I sighed, "All right... He’s out on a mission."

Adler tilted his head slightly seeming curious and asked, "May I ask where?"

"No, you may not."

Adler sighed and finished his glass before placing it down. He seemed a little nervous as he sat there brushing his hands together and scarcely meeting my eyes making me wonder what he was thinking.

Just as I was about to ask him he grabbed the bottle of wine that still had half of it left and pressed it to his mouth starting to gulp it down.

"Oi, why are you drinking like that? Save some for me!" Roan shouted.

"You have three more bottles to finish, Roan." I spoke making him grin.

Adler placed the empty bottle down and released a hiccup making me look at him.

"I... wanted to say this to you quite sooner but..." He started and then licked his lips before he rose to his feet.

I stared at him as he staggered over to my side and then kneeled making my eyebrows jump.

"Sir Adler, what-"

"I... wish to express my heartfelt gratitude... You... saved not only Frosthail but also protected our Lord and Lady whom we... had lost hopes to see... It couldn’t have been anyone but you..." I stared at his bowed head and sighed.

"I don’t know what you were thinking or planning at that time... but, you gave Frosthail a new life and it’s thanks to you that we are once again standing proudly. I... all of us had thought that His Grace and Her Grace were gone and we had to protect Frosthail and Young Master Davian on our own but... we never in our wildest dreams did imagine that we would get news that they were alive and..." His words were tripping over as he was completely drunk now.

"Young Master... arranged for the funerals and we got the news that the King... had been hiding the news about His Grace and Her Grace being the captives in Mordino... We didn’t waste any time after that and... charged straight towards Mordino."

"But then again, you were the one who defeated the tyrant and brought peace to Mordino as well as to our territory. So... thank you, Master Ocean."

I kept looking at Sir Alder who was still kneeling with his head down and placed my hand on his shoulder.

"I accept your gratitude, Sir Adler," I said making him meet my gaze.

"But, I’m not as great as you think. I... did all that because of my own selfish reason."

[Giver of Gifts says saving the world can’t be called a selfish reason.]

[Defender of Divine Glory corrects it to be a heroic act.]

[Goddess of Wisdom asks you to not degrade your motive as a selfish reason.]

Adler’s lips curled up and I was taken aback as he beamed at me making me chuckle. So, this guy knew how to smile.

"Thank you, Master Ocean."