The Kingmaker System

Rune stepped down onto the balcony of his room, the crisp night air carrying the faint scent of wet earth. The stars above were scattered like flecks of crystal dust, twinkling softly against the velvet sky. I trailed behind him, my steps light as I followed him inside his room. The space felt serene, yet the weight of Rune’s thoughts hung heavily in the air.

I flopped onto the plush couch, sinking into its cushions while Rune chose the armchair nearby. His fingers tapped restlessly against the chair’s wooden armrest, betraying the tension he tried to mask. Ever since the arrangement for his engagement to Celestia had been set in motion, the anxiety simmering in him had been unmistakable.

I leaned forward, searching for his eyes. The shadows of doubt were etched clearly into his features.

"Brother, are you still worried?" I asked softly, my voice a gentle nudge.

He exhaled a long, weary sigh. "How can I not be worried, Reina?"

I rested my chin on my palm, considering his unease. "Think about it from her perspective, Brother," I began, my tone even and thoughtful. "She hasn’t met you, and Sestia has been a hostile nation to Denril for a while now. It’s natural that she’d be scared—being married off to a complete stranger, not knowing if this is just a political ploy or if there’s any sincerity behind it. Don’t you think it’s daunting for her?"

Rune’s gaze fell to the floor, his brows knitted. Another sigh slipped past his lips. "But what if the Duchess deems me unworthy of marrying her daughter tomorrow?"

I tilted my head, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "That’s up to you, Brother. Do you want me to help you?"

His eyes lifted to meet mine, thoughtful and conflicted. For a moment, he seemed to consider it before shaking his head firmly.

"You’ve done more than enough until now, Reina. I need to face this on my own."

I couldn’t help but smile proudly at his resolve, reaching over to pat his shoulder twice. "That’s my brother!"