The Kingmaker System

By the time the sun began to disappear beyond the horizon, the relief efforts at the town had finally begun winding down.

The workers slowly packed away their tools while the volunteers organized the remaining supplies and made sure everything that needed to be covered was secured for the night. The families staying in the temporary shelters were provided with their evening meals before the camp gradually settled into a quieter rhythm.

Eric stood near one of the tents, speaking with several of the volunteers as they went over the work that had been completed that day and what still needed to be done in the morning.

Alys had already finished saying goodbye to the children, though she had needed considerably more time than expected after several of them had insisted on showing her their toys and telling her stories before she could leave.

Silas had been even harder to extract from the children’s tent.

Eventually, the four of them made their way toward Baron Oberon’s mansion, which had been prepared for their stay. Since they were expected to begin work at the same site early the following morning, returning to the royal palace at this hour would have been pointless.

The mansion was considerably quieter than it had been earlier that day.

Dinner had already been prepared by the household staff, and the four of them sat together around the dining table.

For the first few minutes, there was little conversation. Everyone was exhausted from the day’s work.

Alys occasionally glanced toward Eric and Carlos.

His injured leg had been bandaged earlier, and although he had continued working afterward, she had noticed the slight limp he had been trying to hide.

Eventually, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Carlos, how is your foot?"

Carlos looked up from his plate, surprised she even asked. This was probably the first time she had talked to him on her own. When he first met her personally at Ryujin mansion he had been dreading a conversation with her. She would no doubt hate him and his mother for making her life hell which was why, he made it a point to avoid her at all costs. But here she was now, asking of his injury, even if it was only meant as a formality.

"It’s fine." He spoke.

Alys stared at him for a moment.

"You were limping."

"It doesn’t hurt that much."

Alys hummed quietly, she didn’t say anything else instead, she simply returned to her dinner.

Carlos looked at her for a moment, almost as though he had expected her to continue questioning him, when she didn’t, he lowered his gaze back to his plate.

The room fell quiet again.

Baron Oberon glanced at the royal children and then recalled the words that Ocean had told him just that afternoon.

It was quite a shock to see Ocean in a new form, if he could even call that but it was refreshing and healing in its own sense.

That afternoon, all the three Underworld Lords had been summoned to Ryujin mansion because Ocean returned and he needed to have a meeting. There were too many important things that had accumulated within a short span of time and they had to organize everything so as to not mess anything up ranging from establishing Eric as the Crown Prince to reinstate Alys as the First Princess, there was also a wedding coming up and if that wasn’t enough then the Crown Prince of Denril, Arian who had recieved the news of the siege had sent a message that he was on his way there for the Spring Ball.

Baron Oberon or rather Lord Devil met up with the other two Lords, Lord Snake and Lord Hawk at the parlor of Ryujin mansion. They were served some tea and refreshments before they were asked to make their way to the library- the usual meeting venue.

The doors opened and the trio expected to see their handsome, masked aqua haired Master but what met their sight almost made them freeze in their places.

The room had five people in total, two of them were Dark Elves, three adult men and a one young man

They recognized the four but the Dark Elves’ presence was confusing.

"Where’s Master?" Lord Hawk asked Kai who was standing beside Lyall.

Remi cleared his throat before he stepped aside and the conference table came into view. There was someone sitting at the head of the table.

If the sight of the Dark Elves was shocking, this confused them even more.

At the head of the table sat a child who looked like they could be of age 5 or 6. Their aqua hair seemed to glow in the sunlight that streamed in from the window nearby, they wore a slightly oversized outfit, it was hard to know if it was a girl or a boy with how adorable they looked.

"What..." Lord Hawk’s words trailed off.

Lord Snake aka Zach covered his mouth as his eyes glistened as he almost shouted, "Oh my God! Master adopted another baby!"

"How... adorable." Lord Hawk spoke.

It was probably only Lord Devil who didn’t reach to the same conclusion as the former two.

"I don’t think Master adopted another child," he spoke.

Zach gasped at that, "Oh Lord! Did he finally birth one then?! Who’s the mother?! Why weren’t we informed?!"

Kai sighed while Remi resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"That’s Master." He said breaking the suspense and Zach’s expectations.

"What?!" Zach shouted while Lord Hawk’s eyes widened.

"As I thought." Oberon mumbled.

The child turned their head, their large doe-like pure blue eyes falling on the three.

"Wow, is that really you, Master?" Zach asked as he approached Ocean or rather the child Ocean.

"You’re drooling, Lord Snake." Lord Hawk spoke clearing his throat.

"Have a seat."

"Even his voice is adorable!" Zach groaned clutching his heart as he doubled over.

The child narrowed his eyes before he sighed placing his hand on the table while tilting his head giving the trio a stoic look.

"Have a seat, we have a meeting." He spoke with a little sternness in his voice.

The three wordlessly sat down staring at Ocean’s new form, taking in the round, chubby cheeks with rosy flush, the large glimmering blue eyes, small button nose, plum pink lips and the long aqua hair that rested over his small shoulders.

The two Dark Elves, a young man and a middle-aged woman stood at some distance behind him but their presence was quite intense.

"How are you feeling now, Master? Have you not recovered yet?" Oberon asked.

Ocean’s eyes fell on the man and Zach also leaned ahead.

"H-How... Why are you in this form though?"

Ocean’s expression stayed neutral as he spoke, "I haven’t completely recovered so, I’ll stay in this form for a while."

The three felt the sense of worry.

"But, how could you manage work looking like this?" Lord Hawk asked.

"Yes, what if someone kidnaps you because you’re so cute!?!" Zach slammed his fist on the table.

Ocean sighed, "Can you people move from my appearance to the subject at hand?"

The duo reluctantly closed their mouths and Oberon placed his hands over the table.

"Shall I start then?" He asked.

Ocean gave him a nod and Oberon went on with his reports about the territories that were under repair and everything that he had prepared.

"The Mage’s Tower will take care of the repairing of the Gate so, let them be. But keep an eye on whoever approaches that area and if there’s anyone suspicious..."

The way the child’s eyes sharpened it was enough to know that beyond the heart-melting face was indeed the man who was capable of turning the tides of the kingdom.

"Won’t you ask about the Princes and Princess?" Zach asked.

Ocean glanced at Zach and then at Oberon.

"They have reached the place you chose, and I have placed people there to make sure that they are safe and also to get a report on their movements."

It was obvious that most of it all was solely for Carlos, Ocean’s strong emphasis was on the safety and surveillance of the second Prince. He was possessed but there was no telling on what he would do or what could happen to him. For all they knew he would turn into a demon like his mother had.

"Any news about Colette?" Ocean asked.

"Nothing much, apart from that she has been staying in her room and not meeting with anyone." Lord Hawk said.

"Sounds eerily similar to what the Golden Serpent was doing before she started getting involved with the Dark Forces." Zach muttered.

"How’s Keira?" Ocean asked and Zach straightened up.

"She’s fine, her injuries are taking time to heal because of the poison from her wounds, I think you should take a look, Master."

Ocean nodded, "I’ll drop by some time this week."

Their meeting continued without any of them asking about the two Dark Elves that have been standing like statues behind Ocean.

"So, is there anything else that you’d like to ask or add?" Ocean asked meeting each of their eyes.

The trio exchanged glances before Zach leaned forth.

"Master... Who are those two?" He gestured at the Dark Elves.

"My new attendants." Ocean answered.

It wasn’t surprising since they had seen Ocean bring back people as souvenirs from whereever he went but Dark Elves that were staying in Ryujin mansion instead of sending them away was a little unsettling. They knew Ocean had group of Elves and Dwarves living somewhere within the kingdom and he protected their secrecy and freedom fiercely so, having two of them here was confusing.

"Are you planning on keeping them here?" Lord Hawk asked, "Considering that there will be more and more people trying to get in contact with you, wouldn’t it be hard for them?"

Ocean hummed, tilting his head glancing at the two who straightened up instantly. They didn’t seem to understand the human language but they were aware that the topic had turned to them.

"... I still have to think about them." Ocean spoke.

After the final thing was done the trio bowed to Ocean, giving one final look to the Dark Elves before they started walking out.

Baron Oberon had almost walked out of the doors after Zach and Lord Hawk when he heard Ocean’s voice behind him.

"Baron?"

He turned and looked at Ocean who was looking at him.

"About Carlos," he started, "I need you to stay away from him if possible."

Oberon frowned a little but then he understood the underlying message there and bowed once again.

"I understand, Master."