The Kingmaker System-Chapter 150 - 149. Stifling Responsibilities (1)

Grandfather and Silas knew who I was talking about, they might have known better than to worry about Eric and Rune with him also being in the same place.

"You have really prepared for every possibility that could take place in the battlefield." Silas said and I looked at him.

"I won’t be sending them to the war without preparing for their safe return."

"What about the other work?" Grandfather asked, "I’m sure you’re not relying on the war to end at its own pace. The Queen must have planned something for all three of them that’s why they are on frontlines."

I nodded, "I know, that’s why I’ve decided that Eric will come out victorious and also as the Hero of the kingdom."

"How?"

I smiled as I leaned back in my seat tapping my finger on the desk as I looked at the two men.

"Don’t worry, the war won’t last for longer than..." I calculated the amount of work that would go in behind the scenes before I said, "Three or four years."

"Three or four years?!" Silas gasped.

I nodded, "Your work of Magic Gate will also be done by next year so, I’ll make use of it as well."

"The King will keep an eye on those who keep using the Gate," Silas said and I rolled my eyes placed the teleportation device that he made for me on the desk.

"You can connect this with the Gate of Mordino, right?" I asked and Silas looked at the device once before he looked back at me and released a deep sigh.

"You’re..." He was about to say something before he closed his mouth back and shook his head before picking up the teleportation device from the desk.

"What about me?" Grandfather asked making me smile.

"Just keep the facade of being against it for now, the Queen shouldn’t know what we’ve planned."

"The plan should go smoothly with all the preparations already made." I sighed as I relaxed in the chair.

"I still wonder what would happen if you participate in the war, Reina." Silas said.

I looked at him without saying anything for a while before I smiled, "The war would end within a day if I stepped in the battlefield, Uncle."

"Might as well do that." Silas sighed and I shook my head.

"This war should not end with meaningless massacre, Uncle. Denril isn’t the kind of enemy that needs to be completely annihilated so, this war could become a stepping stone for Eric."

"You’re only doing this for Eric, huh."

"No, I’m doing this so that we could live peacefully as well." I said.

"I don’t need to say what our current monarchs could do to fulfill their greed, so, wouldn’t it be better to just replace them with a better person? I’m just doing what’s the best for our future." I smiled making Silas stare at me.

"Nobody would choose the option that you did, Reina."

"I would." Grandfather piped in making Silas give him an unnerved look while I chuckled.

"Anyways, tomorrow all of them will be dispatched and then, we might not be able to see them for a long time so, I’ll go and play with my brother for a while." I announced as I stood up from the chair and removed my sapphire earstud reverting back to my original self.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Uncle, Grandfather."

For the rest of the day, Rune, I and Dad were together talking and trying to do things that would make us momentarily forget the fact that Rune wouldn’t be here from tomorrow.

We played a few games and talked about random things keeping aside the work and serious things and simply laughing at light-hearted things.

Strangely enough, apart from all the other days when I was busy with work today seemed to have passed by in a flash. I didn’t even realise when it was dinner time.

The dining hall was engulfed with thick air that made it hard for anyone to breath or speak. It was as if the seriousness of the passing time had made the hall hold its breath to the point that it was restricting others from speaking as well.

"We’re going to come back, you know?" Eric spoke up shattering the tense air making everyone look at him.

"Pardon?"

"Everyone looks so... burdened that I couldn’t help it, all of us are going to return safely as what Master Ocean said so, don’t... make faces that say that we might not return."

Eric seemed tensed himself but I guess he wasn’t the kind to not confront a situation like this.

"That’s right," Rune also joined in.

"Master Ocean has meticulously planned everything for us and we know with him being on our side, it’s impossible for us to lose. So, let’s not have such sombre air between us and enjoy the dinner."

"We’ll be gone for a while but we will be back soon." Eric added.

I couldn’t help but feel the weight on my shoulders hearing Rune’s words. Being in the position as mine wasn’t easy when you had so many people placing their lives in your hands.

If it weren’t for my planning skills then I might have already kicked the bucket.

[Defender of Divine Glory says they made the right choice by selecting you ]

[Goddess of Wisdom says she was the one who selected you so, you could thank her.]

"Why would I thank you? You’re basically making me do your manual labor."

[Goddess of Wisdom corrects your work to be a Great Hero’s journey.]

"I’m not a hero."

[Defender of Divine Glory says with time you will be known as the Hero.]

"I’d prefer being called a Dragon or Strategist, thank you."

The word itself demanded a lot of things from the person in its role, making ridiculously huge decisions, unwilling sacrifices, going to the lengths just to prove yourself, doing stuff that no normal person would ever agree to do and finally, die for the sake of those who wouldn’t even give a damn of your legacy.

I couldn’t fall asleep at night even after having supposedly sorted everything out and having a talk with all the adults and reassuring them that everything would be fine. I guess I failed to reassure myself.

I sighed and decided to just go outside for some fresh air. The corridors were dead silent and dark making me feel as if I was walking down the path where I was always alone again.

The thought of losing someone close to me again just made the dark memories of my past life resurface. It had been months since I was living as Reina and I had accepted it as my own self at some point but the scars from the past weren’t that easy to erase. I could still recall most of the details while the others continued to fade with the passing time.

It was hard enough to see people leaving me and dying in the past but now that I’d grown attached to other people again my nerves were frayed with the growing worry.

I stopped in front of a large window and looked out at the barely visible moon. I had no idea as of what I would do if my plan failed and anything were to happen to my family.

I might grind the palace and the so-called monarchs of this place to dust. I could feel the light humming in my blood, it was as if even my mana was agreeing with my thoughts. It was a little slow but I had accepted myself as a part of this world, as a Dragon and as the daughter of Duke Arthur Aurelius and sister of Rune Aurelius.

"Damn you, system." I mumbled.

If it weren’t for me being here then I wouldn’t be overshadowed by this same kind of fear and paranoia of being left alone again. If only I’d had died like a normal person then, I wouldn’t be swept away in such a game.

[Goddess of Wisdom asks you to not be so tensed.]

"I can’t help it."

[Defender of Divine Glory says it’s fine to worry but you should also trust your own plans.]

"I’m not a God," I corrected, "My plans could fail."

[Giver of Gifts says your plans will succeed.]

"Another hunch?" I spoke as I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

[Goddess of Wisdom says that so far Giver of Gifts’ hunches have turned into reality so, you might as well call it a premonition.]

"I still haven’t gotten any premonition on my side though," I said.

"You can’t blame me for being paranoid about this whole situation. I know it goes against what I’ve been doing but..." I shook my head as I kept recalling the memories that slowly made my chest feel tight.

The scene of my father leaving house, my sister running away saying she’d had enough of us and my mother’s dead body swinging by the ceiling fan.

I clutched my chest feeling the tears jump to the corners of my eyes. I realised it quicker than I expected, I was having a panic attack. I hadn’t had one ever since I had transmigrated into this new world but I guess I still wasn’t over them.

[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to get a hold of yourself.]

[Goddess of Wisdom curses lightly as she asks you to not get swept away by the painful memories.]

[Giver of Gifts is preparing to open a portal to bring you in different dimension.]

[Goddess of Wisdom scolds Giver of Gifts for trying to break the rule.]

I couldn’t focus on the screens that flashed in front of my eyes as I squeezed my eyes shut watching the purple flashes behind my eyes.

I clenched my teeth and forced myself to breath through my nose and exhale through my mouth. I felt the shaky breaths come and go before I continued doing so for a few more times before I felt the tightness slowly relaxing and I could breathe again.

[Goddess of Wisdom sighs a breath of relief.]

[Giver of Gifts sighs a breath of relief.]

[Defender of Divine Glory sighs a breath of relief.]

I guess, staying alone for years and dealing with these panic attacks on my own had made me a bit more stronger.

"Tragedies do teach us a few lessons, huh." I mumbled feeling the bitter aftertaste at the back of my tongue.

I had been through a few setbacks but I guess, all I could do at this point was looking ahead and keep moving forward. I had responsibilities after all and the journey was still quite long.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I recalled the lines from my favorite poem from my past life.

"And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep."