The Kingmaker System
Chapter 184 - 183. Maybe, Maybe Not

Chapter 184: 183. Maybe, Maybe Not

I waited till Doc was finished with his work before I entered Zach’s ward. He almost jumped out of his bed as soon as he saw me but Doc kept him down.

His left arm was in a cast while his abdomen was heavily bandaged with the thick scent of medicines and herbs wafting in the air.

"Don’t get so excited," I smiled as I walked up and took a seat on the chair.

I crossed my legs one over other while I crossed my arms at my chest as I looked at Zach’s over all condition and then at Doc.

"How are his injuries?" I asked.

"The gash on his side is quite deep it will take around two weeks to heal but he’d be fine enough to move within a week, as for his arm then it will take some time since the bone was broken and the wound is also serious. So, his arm will take around two months to heal completely, until then, no strenuous exercise at any cost." He spoke the last part while giving Zach a stern look while I hummed.

"It’s good enough, he can rest here." I said making Zach look at me.

"I don’t want to be a burden by staying here, I’ll move back to Syndrill as soon as I can move."

"All right, that’s your choice but until you can handle the long distance travelling you must listen to Doc."

Zach nodded and that and Doc left the ward making me face Zach who stared at me intently.

"What happened at the trial?"

I sighed and ran my hand through my face making him lean towards me.

"Did it not go as you planned?"

"It went... better than I expected." I smirked making Zach almost collapse with relief.

"Why’d you make that face then?" He pointed at his finger at me with an exasperated glare.

"What face? I was just teasing you a bit." I chuckled enjoying his expression.

Zach sighed as he sat in his place properly, "And Lord Oberon?"

"He was announced to be innocent and released respectfully... Peter will be decapitated within a fortnight at Leiden’s town square."

I observed Zach’s expression as it turned darker, I could only assume what thoughts would be playing in his mind right now. He might still find it hard to believe that the stepbrother he had followed for all these years was a murderer of their father and who also didn’t hesitate in trying to kill him. Zach’s injuries were serious but the pain must be more than what was visible on the surface.

He might even be trying to think about going to see Peter and I could take him if he really wanted to since I also had some work with Peter.

There might even be some sliver of hope in Zach’s mind that Peter might regret what he did, but it was all for naught now. Everything was done and all that remained was watching the final act after I gained the answers which I wanted.

"What about those who were siding with him?"

"Stripped off of their titles and reduced to be commoners." I answered.

"Only that much?"

"They surrendered and were ready to face the consequences of their actions, even I was expecting exile or something but they got off with a lenient sentence." I shrugged my shoulders.

Zach seemed visibly relaxed as he leaned his head back against the headrest.

"All the matters is the real culprit will be facing his punishment now."

"Do you have any last words for him?" I asked.

"What?"

"Peter, I mean."

"What kind of last words?"

"Anything," I said, "like, how’s the prison life suiting you? Or how does it feel to be so close to death now? Or this is what you get for betraying others. Something along the lines?"

Zach frowned a little before he released a deep breath, "I don’t know... I didn’t expect him to stoop so low... I just... want to know how he was thinking when he was poisoning our father. Our father always prioritised him and his mother over mine..."

"My mother died of illness because his mother never let the doctors visit our place... I never had any bitter feelings because after that father brought me to their house and even though my stepmother wasn’t happy about it, nor she, neither Peter ever did anything that would put me to any harm. They would just ignore me and leave me to my own devices."

His eyes seemed to be staring in the space as he continued speaking.

"I thought that it was good enough, father was paying for my studies and everything so, I was fortunate enough to be brought up like his son. He taught me about the work at Syndrill and while Peter was taking his successor lessons I was dealing with the underworld business. We had our own roles decided but..."

He shook his head and tenderly touched his left arm.

"Did you learn the skill of assassination while you were starting to work at Syndrill?" I asked.

"Yes,"

"What about dancing? Did you learn it from your mother?" I asked making him turn to look at me with a surprised gaze.

"What?"

"Your body is quite lithe and seems flexible, it’s more like the body of a dancer than an assassin. And since your mother was a dancer I assumed you might have learned from her." I said and he chuckled.

"Yes, she taught me. She was around till I was ten and she had drilled the basics into me. Even after she passed away, I kept practicing because that was the only thing that was left that could remind me of her."

I observed the solemn look in his eyes as his platinum blonde hair fell on the side of his chocolate skin before I smiled, "She must have been really beautiful,"

Zach tilted his head to a side, "She was, did you know her perhaps?"

I laughed, "No, I didn’t, but looking at you it’s quite obvious."

"Are you saying I’m good-looking?"

"I won’t deny that," I smiled making a small smile grace his features.

"You’re not bad yourself," Zach said, "if you were a girl I would have courted you."

I laughed at that, "Well, you never know. This isn’t my real form anyways."

"What?!" Zach gasped.

"I’m an assassin too, Zach. And my forte isn’t only my planning, it’s my disguises as well."

"Wait, what’s your real form?" He asked as I stood up.

I smirked at him, "I haven’t even shown my real form to my closest aide yet, Zach. Besides, you won’t believe what you see when I shed my disguise."

Zach looked at me with an eager and inquisitive gaze, "Are you really a woman behind that disguise?"

"Maybe... Maybe not."

"Hey now, don’t be like that."

I chuckled, "Get some rest and recover well, Zach. You still have your city to look after, I’ll only manage it for one month."

"You’ll look after it?"

"I doubt Doc will let you do anything while you’re in this state." I said as I gestured at his arm.

Zach sighed and I shook my head, "Don’t worry, I won’t usurp your city, I will be your proxy just as I was for Lord Devil for the last few days."

"Will you take over the special show at Scarlet Kiss as well?" He asked and I gave him a look.

"A special show?"

"Yes, it’s my special show every weekend. There’s always a huge crowd for that. I can see that you wouldn’t do as good as me but someone wealthy can give you some extra for a good show. And who knows, you might even find your best night partner there."

I narrowed my eyes before I reached out and poked into his side making him curse out loudly and a string of profanities left his lips.

"Ow... I was just jesting."

I shook my head, "I’ll take my leave for now, take it easy here."

I walked up to the door but then I stopped and I turned as Zach asked.

"Are you going to see him?"

"Yes, there’s something that I need to ask him."

"Then..." He licked his lips, "Ask him if he feels guilty for... murdering our father."

"Will you forgive him if he feels guilty?"

"No, but... I’ll feel a bit... less hatred for him."

I turned fully as I looked at him, "Hatred is never less or more, Zach. Hatred is an extreme emotion in itself so, decide whether you are asking it to look for a reason to forgive him or whether you want to know if he is regretful for destroying everything."

Zach stared at me as I turned on my heel and left his ward.

It would take him some time before he could come to an agreement with his feelings and thoughts.

Taking care of Syndrill and Herot at the same time was hectic, I already had less manpower to deal with the administrative tasks but with the increasing work the pile of paperwork was also increasing.

A week had passed by after the trial and I hadn’t yet got the permission to go see Peter. Lord Clive said that he would arrange it for me so, I had left that matter to him while I was busy with my own work.

After checking on the reports and everything else at Oasis I returned to Ryujin mansion to find two letters waiting for me.

Roan handed me the envelopes while Remi stood by with an anticipating expression. These envelopes didn’t have any insignia on the seal it were having the simple mark of leaves from different trees.

I opened the envelopes and plucked out the letters reading with the mixture of feelings going through me, I was relieved but I was also worried that these letters had finally reached me.

One of the letters was the pending report from the elite team that I had sent. It was dated for a few days ago but I guess because of some issue it couldn’t reach me.

"It’s the report," I spoke up making Roan and Remi sigh.

"They seem fine from what’s written here," I added.

"Didn’t I tell you your monster team is way more capable?" Roan said with a grin.

"I’m glad that Mr Lyall, Mrs Jones and everyone else is fine." Remi sighed with a relieved smile.

I read the whole report which mentioned the landscape and the place they were at along with the fact that they still didn’t get to encounter the enemy team for whom they were on the field. The report ended with Lyall mentioning that he and Enora were going to spread out their search to cover more land and have more chances at finding about their enemy.

That report seemed good enough but what I didn’t expect was the second report. It was holding a grim news which made my blood run cold.