The Kingmaker System
Chapter 307 - 306. Back Home (4)

Chapter 307: 306. Back Home (4)

"Now that you two have been acquainted, I’ll give you a tour of Oasis. I hope you’ll like it."

I looked at Kai who looked at me quizzically.

"His Grace is here to see my town and establishments so, we’ll be out in town. Would you like to come along?" I asked.

His expression morphed into that of anxiety and I got my answer.

"It’s fine," I smiled and then turned my head to see Lyall and Mrs Jones who were at a distance walk up to me.

"Where have you been?" I asked looking at the two.

"His Grace told me that he would like to look around himself." Lyall answered, Dad nodded in agreement and then I looked at Mrs Jones.

"I went to bring a snack for Young Master." She said as she showed me the cookies wrapped in handkerchief and I sighed.

"I know he’s cute but don’t give him too much snacks, they’re not good for his teeth." I said and she smiled.

"I’ll keep that in mind, Master."

I nodded and then looked at Dad and Lyall.

"Let’s go, shall we?" I gestured for them to move before I looked back at Kai.

"We’ll be back till evening, eat your meal properly and don’t eat too many sweets, all right?" I smiled at him while ruffling his hair and he reached out and pinched the edge of my sleeve in his fingers looking at me with his doe eyes shining.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

He then looked at Dad and Lyall and I crouched to his eye level.

"I’m not abandoning you here, if you’re thinking that." I spoke making him flinch.

I smiled softly as I cupped the side of his face with my palm, "I just have some work to take care of, once that’s done, I’ll sit and talk with you properly about the things that happen here."

He kept looking at me with the expression of a lost puppy and I sighed before I turned slightly looking at Dad who was eyeing us curiously.

"You see that man?" I asked and Kai tilted his head to look at my Dad.

I leaned in to Kai’s ear as I whispered, "He’s my father."

Kai gasped loudly and flinched as his eyes widened before he looked at Dad again and I held Kai’s hand.

"I need to give some of my time to everyone so, will you be all right for some time? I’ll be back soon and besides, you won’t be alone. All these people here as all yours as much as they’re mine so, if you need anything then you can be free to talk to them as well. Mrs Jones, Lyall and everyone here is strong and likes you. This is your home, Kai, your own home so, don’t be scared to open up in front of them, do you get it?"

Kai stared at me, I could see various emotions swirling in his beautiful doe eyes before he let go of my sleeve.

"I’ll be back soon," I said and he nodded.

I ruffled his hair again before I stood back up and turned to face Dad and Lyall.

Lyall joined Dad and me as we set off on our tour of Oasis. We boarded a carriage bound for the town, the gentle sway of the vehicle making for a peaceful ride.

Dad, who had been observing Lyall closely, finally turned to me.

"You seem to be really close to that child," he remarked.

I nodded. "He... is like me."

Dad’s brows furrowed slightly, but he waited for me to continue.

"He’s a half-Dragon," I explained. "And he’s suffered a lot at the hands of greedy people. I had to take him away from there if I wanted to keep him alive. He needs me—at least until he learns to harness his power."

Dad remained silent for a moment before murmuring, "He almost seems like your son."

Then, as if realizing how absurd the idea sounded, he frowned.

I chuckled. "I know it sounds strange, considering my age, but... he fits the image of Ocean’s successor—or even family."

Dad studied me for a long moment before shifting his gaze to Lyall, who sat straight-backed and composed beside us. His quiet presence filled the carriage.

"He knows, Dad," I said.

Dad turned back to me with a start. "What?"

"He knows I’m Reina," I clarified. "A lot of people in Ryujin Mansion do."

"You—You’ve told them?!" Dad gasped.

I crossed my arms at my chest, meeting his startled gaze. "They needed to know."

Dad turned to Lyall, who remained silent, his expression unreadable. The boy had long since come to terms with the truth of my identity—unlike my father, who was still struggling to process it.

The rest of the carriage ride continued in silence, tension lingering in the air.

When we arrived at Oasis, we stepped out of the carriage, and Lyall instinctively positioned himself behind us—ever watchful, ever cautious.

I walked beside Dad, leading him through the town’s lively streets. Shops and establishments were open, their owners calling out to passersby. The scent of freshly baked bread, roasted nuts, and dried herbs mixed in the air. The townspeople bustled about, tending to their daily tasks, and some paused to greet me warmly.

Dad took it all in, his expression shifting from disbelief to something softer.

As we moved forward, I knew that this tour would open his eyes—not just to Oasis, but to the life I had built and the people who relied on me.

As we walked through the bustling streets, people greeted me warmly, their smiles genuine and their voices filled with affection. Some even handed me small gifts—freshly baked bread, pouches of fragrant herbs, and trinkets wrapped in delicate cloth.

Dad watched the entire interaction with awe, his eyes flickering between the townspeople and me. He seemed especially taken aback by the way they inquired about my well-being, offering me warm bread if I was hungry or water if I was thirsty.

"All of them seem to know you," he finally commented.

"Yes," I replied, nodding slightly. "I visit this place often to make sure everything is running smoothly. Everyone here has been helped by me in one way or another."

At that, his gaze softened, admiration flickering in his eyes.

I led him to the Oasis Foundation’s administrative office, where I gave him a brief tour of its various departments. He listened with rapt attention, occasionally asking questions, which I answered patiently.

Afterward, we made our way to the hospital, one of the busiest places in the kingdom due to the free medical care it provided. People from all over came seeking treatment, and the halls were always filled with patients and healers rushing about.

As we stepped into the Emergency Room, I spotted Doc Black, who was tending to a familiar-looking girl lying on a bed, her leg encased in a cast.

"What’s wrong, Viny?" I asked, recognizing her deep purple hair immediately.

At the sound of my voice, she grinned. "Master!"

Before I could react, a pair of arms wrapped around mine, startling me—and Dad, who visibly flinched beside me.

"Where have you been, Master? Did you not miss us?" Gina, Viny’s identical twin, pouted up at me.

"Get off of him, Gina! You’re not allowed to hog Master like that!" Viny whined.

"It’s your fault for being a clumsy head and landing in bed," Gina retorted, sticking out her tongue.

"Why you—"

Viny almost pushed herself up, but Doc Black placed a firm hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

"Stay down," he ordered.

Viny groaned in frustration. I sighed, gently prying Gina’s arms off me, all while Dad looked like he was about to step in and pull me away himself.

"She tripped and fell," Doc Black explained. "It’s a fracture. She’ll need time to recover."

"It hurts, Master," Viny pouted dramatically. "Can you kiss the pain away?"

Dad coughed. Doc Black rolled his eyes.

"No way!" Gina latched onto my arm again, making me sigh.

"All right," I relented.

"R—Lord Ocean!" Dad squeaked, horrified.

Ignoring him, I freed myself from Gina’s grasp and leaned toward Viny. She eagerly puckered her lips—only to receive a kiss on her forehead instead.

"You weren’t supposed to kiss there!" she whined.

I chuckled, stepping back.

"Be lucky you even got kissed!" Gina snorted.

Shaking my head, I turned to Doc Black. "Do you have a moment?"

We stepped outside the Emergency Room, leaving the two twins behind. I gestured toward Dad, who was still glancing warily at the girls.

"This is Duke Arthur Aurelius," I introduced him, then turned toward Doc Black. "And this is Doc Black, the esteemed doctor who runs this hospital."

Dad nodded in approval. "That’s good to hear."

Doc Black gave him a once-over before turning his attention back to me. "I heard you brought more people from your trip, Master."

"Yes, four dwarves and my successor," I confirmed.

He raised a brow. "You’ve made it a habit, haven’t you?"

I tilted my head. "What?"

"Most people bring back souvenirs from their travels. You, on the other hand, bring back people as souvenirs."

I laughed. "I suppose you could put it that way."

With that, I gave a final nod to the twins and turned back to my father. "I just wanted to introduce you to Doc and show you the hospital. Now that that’s done, we’ll take our leave."

Doc bowed slightly in farewell.

As we stepped outside, Dad hesitated before speaking again.

"D-Do most people here throw themselves at you like that?" he asked, clearly shaken by the twins’ behavior.

I smiled. "Most of them."

His face paled.

I shook my head. "It’s just those two. They’re playful. Other than them, it’s mostly children."

"Children?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Kids from the school and Eldarf."

"What’s Eldarf?" Dad asked curiously.

I smiled. "We’re headed there now. You’ll see."