The Kingmaker System

The needles of the clock had been going unceasingly while the ones beneath were enjoying themselves. But among that crowd some moved with purpose.

There was a fountain of wine and towers of cakes, it was a lavish celebration to say in any sense and while everyone were happily indulging themselves, the hearts of some were strained like the tense strings.

Ocean’s Plan A people and Plan C people were already moving in the positions given to them while Ocean had snuck out of the ballroom. He had already confirmed the ones who were stationed out of the ballroom were in their positions. It had started snowing in the evening but with the wind blowing, it was only a matter of time before the snow would start coming down harder.

Ocean had the invisiblility spell on as he snuck into the kitchen to look for the person Miri had told him about.

Inside he couldn’t sense or see any traces of such hostile energy but the lack of it was even more suspicious. The quest was still hanging over his head and he knew that he was forced to be in a position to wait until the enemy made the first move.

Well, it wasn’t like he couldn’t wait. He was a patient person when it came to his plans. He returned to the ballroom, everything that he had prepared was in their positions so, they were prepared for the enemy.

Ocean while making his way past the crowd gave a subtle nod to Damon who met his eye and nodded back.

The ticking of the needles above was slowly approaching midnight.

"Everyone!" Augustine who looked tipsy already clinked his glass gathering people’s attentions.

Some who were conscious looked at him and some who had been intoxicated were being escorted to the resting rooms.

"This year had brought a lot of significant changes in the lives of the people of not only Denril but also Sestia and others. The war that we had been fighting for over a decade had come to an end in this year because of the wisdom and courage of the new generation. I’d like to applaud for the great feat that they had achieved!"

The entire ballroom cheered and Ocean’s eyes drifted over to those heroes.

"I am mournful and proud of those who sacrificed themselves in these years to protect this kingdom and served the crown with loyalty. Although, the families have been rewarded but I understand no amount of money could bring them back. But, their names will be written in the history as the brave warriors who served their land!"

Another round of cheers went by and Ocean couldn’t help but sigh. He couldn’t expect such words from Roger unless he too would be intoxicated but with Augustine it seemed like this man would appreciate others’ efforts and see their dedication for what it was. Ocean could see that Denril was blessed with a good ruler.

"Now that this chaotic year draws to an end, I’d like to toast for everyone who had come this far. Everyone who endured and held on, everyone who fought and spilled thir blood on the battlefield, everyone who made this day possible and everyone who had hoped that such a day would come when we would stand here and celebrate together!"

The deafening cheers ran across the ballroom and Ocean smiled too, he didn’t let his guard down by the touching words of King Augustine but he was moved.

The needles of the clock slowly approached twelve, and Augustine grinned reaching out to his son. Arian at once went to his side and Augustine threw his arm around his son’s shoulders.

"I’m also proud of my son," Augustine said, "It had broken my heart to send him to the battlefield but I was sure that my son wouldn’t be defeated."

The crowd cheered for their Crown Prince and Arian tried to ask his father to stop.

"Still, I am satisfied to see that he has also reached maturity and is old enough to take my place."

There was silence for a moment as if everyone were somehow slapped back to sobriety.

Augustine laughed, "Even though I may seem tipsy but I’m speaking this with complete sobriety that my son shall be crowned the King of Denril in the next six months!"

The needles of the clock hit twelve just as the crowd sank to their knees before the announcement. Arian seemed taken aback but the shock over his father’s words was quickly blown away as he heard the sound of a deafening explosion going above them.

On instinct, he grabbed his father and jumped away, behind them the huge clock that was hanging right above them moments ago came crashing down.

The people screamed and ran back in shock but that was just the beginning. The series of explosions blew all over the ballroom and Ocean couldn’t help but feel angry. The explosions were happening through the mana stones that were used to light up the place. So, detecting them would be close to impossible. Still, it was the allowed chaos.

"Guards, get into positions!" The Knight commander shouted and the armored knights rushed in.

"Protect His Majesty the King and Crown Prince!"

Augustine seemed disoriented while Arian gripped the hilt of his sword while looking around cautiously as the wall of knights gathered around them.

Arian’s eyes grew sharp as he saw a man dressed as a server stand up from behind a fallen table and rush towards him. The silver glinted in the light as the explosion went off behind him and he screamed loudly aiming for the King.

Arian moved with lightning speed before the knights could even react and his sword sliced through the man’s chest taking him down in a split second.

Ocean didn’t need to shout for his people to move accordingly as they all fell into their roles.

The explosions lasted for a whole minute until the entire ballroom was plunged into darkness leaving only the sounds of the panicked and scared people.

Ocean heard the sound of the whimpers and sniffles coming from everywhere around him.

The darkness was pressing down on others but Ocean’s Dragon senses allowed him to see in that pitch black darkness.

"Is everyone all right?" He heard Arian’s shout.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Some are injured but everything is under control."

"Hurry and get the lights!" Augustine shouted.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" A knight ran off but before he could the lights started flickering back on.

The trail of mana wove throughout the hall and Ocean saw Marquis Fairisles who used his mana to put the mana stones back in work. Not all of them had exploded so some managed to create the dim lighting over the huge room.

The place was in a sorry state with the pillars and the decorative stuff fallen over, the windows were shattered and the people were injured and shaken.

"Wh-Who had dared to do this?!" Augustine thundered while Arian held his hand.

"It’s fine, everything is all right now." One of the knights said and a couple of knights dragged over and threw two people in front of Augustine.

One of them was a man served as a guard and other was a woman dressed as a maid.

The two were on their knees before Augustine.

"You two!" Augustine grimaced, all of the prior tipsiness long gone.

"Who are you? And on whose orders did you dare to do such a thing?!" Augustine demanded.

"Answer, His Majesty, right this instant!" One of the knights slammed the butt of his spear into the back of the man.

The woman who was sitting quietly suddenly shot up in action and aimed to attack Augustine but the knights held her back.

"You, you don’t think that the war has just ended after all this! Denril will fall! Denril will fall!" She shouted.

Ocean watched it with a detached cold look, while Eric and Davian walked up beside him.

"Master," Eric whispered and Ocean gestured for him to stay put.

"How dare you!" The knights slammed her down on the ground and held her there and she growled and cackled like a madwoman.

"You’re a fool! You may have been saved now but you shall die." The woman announced.

The man who had been silent for a while suddenly looked up in the direction of Ocean and Eric. Ocean’s expression didn’t change as the man suddenly pushed past the knights and ran straight for them.

"Protect His Highness!" The knights shouted rushing for the man.

"Your Highness, My Liege! Protect me, please!" The man shouted reaching out to Eric.

Ocean pushed Eric behind him and swung his hand shoving the man back. He couldn’t possibly let them touch Eric.

"Your Highness! Please! You said that nothing will happen to me and my wife! But look, they’re hurting us! Please we did everything you told us to do!"

The whispers ran through the gathered crowd and even Augustine frowned while Arian’s face held a cold expression.

"What do you mean?" Augustine demanded.

The man turned and ran to Augustine, the knights grabbed him before he could get too close and he fell on his knees, crying.

"I-I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. But His Highness Eric had ordered us to assassinate you and Crown Prince Arian tonight!" He shouted.

The audience gasped loudly and Ocean remained impassive as he let the man run his mouth.

"We-We wouldn’t have agreed to this but... But our son... Our little son is held captive by Marquis Ocean’s men right now that’s why we had to!"

More gasps and neither Ocean, nor Eric showed any sign of nervousness or anxiety.

Augustine whipped his head to the two men, eyes glaring and face red with fury.

"Prince Eric! Marquis Ryujin! What’s the meaning of this?!" He demanded.

Damon stepped ahead, "Your Majesty, we can’t possibly believe the words of these assassins, Marquis Ocean and all the Princes here are reputed men. It must be a plan to jeopardize the peace and sow the seeds of distrust between the two kingdoms again."

The woman laughed, "Reputed men?! This one?"

She glared at Ocean as if he had killed her pet or something.

"Everyone in Sestia had known that they wouldn’t be any good! Especially that outsider who came out of nowhere and suddenly is gaining so much power. Prince Eric is just his pawn!"

Ocean watched her with the look that he would give a big crawling before him and then he looked at Augustine who seemed like he was getting swayed.

"Be quiet, you don’t have any evidence to prove your allegations!" Damon shouted at her.

"That’s because this man is a cold blooded murderer!" The man pointed at Ocean and then at Eric, "And Prince Eric wants the throne for himself even if it means killing his family!"

"What nonsense!" Arian grimaced but Augustine’s expression was all Ocean could fixate over.

Ocean looked once at the man who was still on his knees bawling before he stepped ahead placing his hand over his heart.

"Your Majesty, everything that this man said is a lie. His Highness Eric and I or any of my people are not and have never been involved in any of such conspiracies." Ocean spoke calmly.

"Then why is he taking your names?"

"Yes, and aren’t you a bit too relaxed even after such big accusations?"

Some people from the crowd shouted at Eric and Ocean.

"Anxious are those who have something to be guilty of," Ocean announced, "Both I and His Highness are relaxed because we are innocent."

The eyes then turned to the man who waited even louder along with the woman.

"You sly snake! You’d even lie on your deathbed!" The woman shouted at Ocean.

"That’s right, you’re the cold blooded man who rules over the Underworld! You think anyone would believe your words here!" The man shouted.

Eric frowned a bit while everyone else gasped. The ones on Ocean’s side were anxious but they knew he had foreseen this.

"Underworld?" Augustine frowned. "Marquis Ocean, explain yourself right now!"

Ocean sank to his knee at once with his head down. His blood furiously resisted it and Arian stepped ahead watching Augustine slowly slipping past his anger.

"Your Majesty, we can’t possibly trust these vermin." Arian said, "Everyone here knows that Ocean Ryujin is a man of honor who had been uplifting the commoners and providing for them. It’s obvious that some people who are enemies of Prince Eric and Marquis Ryujin are framing them."

"It’s the truth!" The man shouted.

"This man is the worst criminal!" The woman added.

Ocean didn’t say anything and Arian scowled at them. Augustine looked at his son wondering whom to believe and how to resolve this. The celebration that he had been looking forward to had gone down the drain so badly and he was really pissed.

Among the chaos, a man stepped ahead.

"I have a way of resolving this matter, Your Majesty."