The Kingmaker System
Chapter 344 - 343. Edging Towards The Dawn (2)

Chapter 344: 343. Edging Towards The Dawn (2)

I returned to the Lockwood mansion and stepped inside my room at the same time that the sunrays touched the floor and I stretched. Nox flew over and sat down on the pillow making himself comfortable.

The negotiations went smoothly and now I had to wait for tomorrow when the actual thing was going to happen.

I had asked Augustine to keep our conversation a secret, especially the part of the world’s doom. He had vowed on his name that wouldn’t let anyone else know about it.

I watched as Nox closed his eyes and fell asleep, I thought of catching a short nap but I knew I couldn’t fall asleep. I was way too fired up for tomorrow’s conclusion that my sleep would keep evading me.

Just as I was contemplating over what to do there was a knock on the door and I changed my appearance, my hair grew shorter with the jet black hue and my eyes became as red as the mana stone studded on my ear.

I opened the door and faced the two maids who were there one with a basin of water and other with a towel.

They greeted me with smiles and I freshened up before changing my clothes.

"Her Grace has requested you to join them for breakfast, My Lord." The maids bowed and I looked at Nox who was stirring away.

"Nox," I called and the owl ruffled his feathers and the maids looked at him curiously before he flapped his large feathers and flew over to me.

The maids gasped as they noticed just how large he was and I brushed my fingers over his feathers.

"He’s my pet, I would like some meal to be prepared for him as well, please." I told the maids.

"Y-Yes, My Lord."

Nox whooted and I placed him down on the table.

"Wait for me here," I told him before I stepped out of the room.

Lyall was standing right out, he turned to me as I appeared.

"Good morning, Master." He bowed politely and I patted his shoulder.

"Good morning, Lyall. Come let’s go for breakfast." I said and he nodded

The maids led the way till the dining hall and Lyall and I entered to find Angelina already there, none of the men or kids were around so, I just walked ahead and greeted her.

"Good morning, Lady Lockwood." I said and she smiled.

"Good morning, Lord Ace."

The twiddling of thumbs, darting eyes and shifting of weight from one foot to other was enough to tell me that she wanted to say something.

"Is there something that’s bothering you, My Lady?" I asked and she met my gaze.

She gave me a hesitant nod before she looked at the closed doors of the dining hall and then asked.

"How is he?" Her voice was merely a whisper but the anguish in her eyes added a lot of weight to her question.

"He’s starting to gather himself there... He’s even engaged to a girl."

Her eyes widened at that and she stepped closer, "Is he happy?"

"I couldn’t say that he is... after all, you all are yet to resolve everything between you."

Angelina lowered her eyes, her fingers clenching tighter before she looked at me.

"Will you also carry a message that I give you to him?" She asked and I smiled.

"Why not, My Lady?"

Her face brightened up at that and she opened her mouth to say something but the doors opened in that instant and Count Lewinstein along with Alan, and Gareth walked in. The kids also trailed behind them with the maids.

"Lord Ace, you’re early." Gareth commented and I smiled.

"Yes, I woke up quite early." I said.

We greeted each other before we sat down for our breakfast. The air was thick with remnants of last night’s tension, I was purposely being ignorant as I ate my breakfast without giving a glance at the exchanged looks among the Lewinstein men.

"Lord Ace," Count started and I looked at him.

"Yes, Count?" I looked at him.

He and Alan exchanged a glance before he spoke up.

"Next month... we are holding a ball at Lewinstein mansion..." I nodded prompting him to continue.

"I have decided to hand over my title to Alan so..." He licked his lips and then finally spoke it, "I was hoping it you could extend the invitation to... Asher and tell him that we would... be looking forward to his and of course, your and Mirielle’s presence there."

The progress was quite fast and I could see that Alan was trying his best to conceal his guilty expression behind his neutral face mask.

"I will surely give him the message." I told them with a smile making the Count relax his tensed shoulders.

Even Alan released a low sigh and Angelina smiled..

"So, we will get to see our second Uncle during the ball?" Elle asked.

"Yes," Angelina answered with a smile.

"I’m so eager to see him." Lucius grinned.

The tension from earlier fizzled out on its own and I looked at Gareth who watched his family with a relieved smile before looking at me and giving a quiet nod of acknowledgement. I returned his nod and heard a yelp outside the dining hall doors and turned, Lyall grew tensed but I sighed as I noticed who it was.

The doors opened and the black bird flew in making Angelina yelp and grab her daughter along with Lucius while Gareth quickly got to his feet and the guards also were ready with the weapons.

"It’s fine, please don’t be scared." I said as I stretched my arms and Nox lowered himself before perching up over my arm.

Lyall also sighed as Nox whooted comfortably while ignoring the chaos that he momentarily created.

"Is this your bird, Lord Ace?" Gareth asked and I nodded.

"Yes, I told him to stay in the room but he followed along." I said nudging his feathers making him whoot again.

"I apologise for the commotion," I said and the people settled in and we finished our breakfast soon after.

I took Nox out and Lyall walked beside me, I could feel the two presences following me. Lyall also noticed them pretty quickly and I turned and walked towards the garden.

I was supposed to leave in afternoon before it was time for lunch so, I had some time to spend here.

I sat down at the gazebo and saw the two presences trying their best to stay hidden from my sight in the bushes. Lyall looked at me as if to ask what we should do with the kids and I chuckled.

"Young Master Lucius and Young Miss Elle, are you playing hide and seek?" I hollered making them flinch and get out of their hiding spots.

"We... weren’t." Lucius admitted and I gestured for them to come closer.

The two walked up to me, their eyes occassionally going to Nox who was perched up on my shoulder watching them back with his electric blue eyes.

"It’s a black owl!" Lucius stared at Nox.

"Yes, and his name is Nox." I said as I brought arm up and he hopped over my forearm and I brought him close to the kids.

They stared at him with wide, sparkling eyes.

"It’s so beautiful... I’ve never seen any bird so black before." Elle said and reached out to touch him.

"Please refrain from touching it, Young Miss." Lyall quickly spoke up but Elle was already touching Nox’s smooth feathers.

Lyall and I were surprised as Nox remained still and didn’t resist her touch. Elle looked at me with slight frown over her face as she pulled her hand back.

"I’m sorry... I touched him without your permission." She said and I smiled.

"It’s fine, he only said that because Nox doesn’t like being touched by anyone. You must be really special if he is letting you do that." I said and Lucius looked at his sister and then at me.

"Um... Can I touch him too?" Lucius asked.

"Go ahead," I said and Lucius hesitantly reached out and touched Nox btt again, Nox didn’t show any hostility.

Lucius’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Nox and then at his sister with a grin.

"Nox is so beautiful and gentle!" Elle beamed and Nox flapped his wings before he soared in the air and circled above the kids.

"He is happy." I told them and the kids grew even more happy.

"Nox, come over here and sit on my hand!" Elle shouted as she put forth her small arm.

"Wait, he’s too large to sit on your arm, Elle. Nox, sit on my arm, here!" Lucius said as he put his arm ahead and I smiled as I watched them playing with Nox.

"It’s quite surprising to see Nox playing with someone other than you or Young Master Kai, Master. He wouldn’t even go to any of the servants except for when they feed him." Lyall said.

"Nox recognises my mana, Lyall. Whoever have my mana or share the similar essence as me he will be comfortable with them. Kai has my essence, my father and family are also connected to me and my essence. Just like these kids who absorbed my mana when they were about to be birthed."

Nox was extremely sensitive to mana and especially mine which was why he usually picked on the mana traces even before I could.

I watched as the kids played with Nox before I saw Angelina walking towards us. She watched her kids tenderly before she turned her gaze on me.

She walked over and sat on the white chair in front of me.

"I hope your stay at Lockwood was comfortable, Lord Ace." She started and I smiled.

"It was thanks to you and His Grace, My Lady." I responded and she smiled before she looked once more at the kids.

"It seems like I and my family owe a lot to you and Lady Mirielle." She said.

"I don’t know if she told you about it or not but... The reason why I’m alive is because of Lady Mirielle. If she hadn’t healed me back then then I..." She shook her head and wiped the tears that formed at the corners of her eyes before she looked at me.

"And when my children were in danger you appeared. You and Lady Mirielle had been helping my family ever since you came into our lives. I’ll forever be indebted for whatever you did for my family." She said and a couple of tear drops slid down her cheeks.

"Please don’t shed tears, My Lady. What I and Mirielle did was our duty back then. You don’t owe us anything." I spoke softly and she wiped her tears with the kerchief that she had.

She sniffled and cried for a couple more minutes before she presented me with the two envelopes that she had with her.

"Here,"

One of them had Mirielle’s name on it and the second one had Asher’s name. I smiled before I put the letters into my best pocket and she looked at her kids once again before she stood up and walked away.