Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 191

Chapter 191: • Whispers Over Wine
Selene, at the far end of the table, let out a delighted giggle, her golden eyes twinkling with amusement as she leaned forward, a smear of honey still on her fork. “Oh my, what do we have here?” she asked, her voice rich with playful curiosity. She tilted her head, her silver-black hair catching the light as she grinned at her son. “A priestess, you say? My, my, Arkanos, you do keep things interesting.”

Illena, seated to Arkanos’s right, blinked in confusion, her silver-green hair falling over one shoulder as she set down her fork. Her yellow eyes darted between Sephira and Arkanos, a faint furrow creasing her brow. “What are you talking about?” she asked. “What priestess?”

Sephira’s smile remained serene, though a flicker of amusement danced in her green eyes as she waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing of importance, my Empress,” she said smoothly, her voice light but laced with a subtle challenge. “Just my curiosity about the emperor’s future plans, is all.” She leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed but her gaze flicking briefly to Arkanos, as if daring him to elaborate.

Arkanos, now recovered from his coughing fit, leveled a calm but pointed look at Sephira, his emerald eyes narrowing slightly. He gently rocked Vael, who had settled back into a doze, and cleared his throat. “Sephira’s curiosity is… noted,” he said dryly, his voice regaining its commanding edge. “We’ll discuss names later. As for other matters, they’re hardly dinner conversation.” His tone carried a subtle warning, though the faint smirk tugging at his lips suggested he wasn’t entirely displeased by her boldness.

Kaela, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow. Her eyes flicked to Sephira, then to Arkanos, but she said nothing, her fingers tightening briefly around her goblet as she took a measured sip. Her silence spoke volumes—a quiet acknowledgment of the undercurrents rippling through the table.

Selene, still chuckling, popped another piece of pancake into her mouth, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, I do love a good mystery,” she said, winking at Sephira. “You’ll have to tell me more later, dear. I’m far too old to be left out of the fun.”

Illena’s confusion lingered, her gaze shifting to Arkanos as she searched his face for answers. But before she could press further, Arkanos’s expression shifted, his eyes growing distant as a thought struck him.

‘That reminds me…’

Just then, a translucent system window materialized at the edge of his vision, its faint green glow visible only to him.

〘 Quest Update: Legacy of the Holy Empire 〙

〘 Time Remaining: Approximately 3 months for quest completion 〙

〘 Reminder: Secure alliances, marry Isode Threshia, and pull Excalibur to claim the title of Holy Emperor. Failure will result in the fall of the Holy Empire and Isode’s capture by the Angels of Ruin. 〙

Arkanos’s grip on Vael tightened slightly, his jaw clenching as the weight of the quest settled over him. The mention of Isode—the very priestess Sephira had teased about—stirred a flicker of calculation in his mind. His eyes flicked briefly to Sephira, who was watching him with a knowing smile, as if she sensed the shift in his thoughts.

‘She’s sharper than she lets on,’ he thought, dismissing the system window with a subtle mental command. ‘But I’ll deal with that later.’

For now, he turned his attention back to Vael, bouncing the boy gently to elicit another sleepy giggle. “Enough intrigue for one night,” he said, his voice firm but warm, addressing the table as a whole. “Let’s enjoy this meal—and this moment—while it lasts.”

Selene raised her goblet with a grin. “To family and secrets!” she declared, earning a soft laugh from Illena and a playful eye-roll from Sephira. Kaela’s lips twitched into a faint smile, and the hall settled back into its warm, flickering glow, the unspoken tensions simmering beneath the surface as the night wore on.

…

…

The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine and dew as it swept across the balcony of Emperor Arkanos’s private chambers. The vast expanse of the Bloodbane Empire stretched out below, its capital city a glittering tapestry of torchlight and starlight, framed by the distant silhouette of jagged mountains.

The sky was a deep indigo, studded with stars that burned like distant beacons, and a crescent moon hung low, casting a silvery glow over the stone balustrade where Arkanos stood. He leaned against the railing, his emerald eyes distant, his long black coat billowing slightly in the breeze. His silver hair, streaked with faint traces of midnight, caught the moonlight, and his sharp features were softened by the quiet of the night. In his mind, the weight of the system’s latest notification lingered like a shadow:

〘 Quest Update: Legacy of the Holy Empire 〙

〘 Time Remaining: Approximately 3 months for quest completion 〙

〘 Reminder: Secure alliances, marry Isode Threshia, and pull Excalibur to claim the title of Holy Emperor. Failure will result in the fall of the Holy Empire and Isode’s capture by the Angels of Ruin. 〙

He exhaled slowly, his breath faintly visible in the cool air, his fingers tightening around the goblet of wine he’d brought from the dining hall.

Three months—who knew time could fly so fast? he thought, his mind racing with calculations.

‘The war with the Akerians is imminent—three days until we strike. Their airships, firearms, and powder caches demand my focus. But this quest…’

His gaze drifted to the horizon, where the faint outline of the Ashen Mountains rose in shadow.

‘The Holy Empire of Threshia lies beyond. If I’m to claim Excalibur and secure Isode, I may need to split my forces.’

He sipped his wine, the rich, tart flavor grounding him as he considered his options.

‘Ivan can lead the western assault on Heraldran. Abaddon will handle the river basin. Sylvana and Utilia can manage their regions. But Threshia…’

His thoughts turned to Isode, the Head Priestess’s delighted expression and her beautiful violet eyes.

‘It won’t look good if I change my plans after we’ve had a strategy meeting… I might have to treat this as a solo quest.’

His jaw clenched, the weight of his dual responsibilities—emperor and player in this game-like world—pressing down on him.

‘The Angels of Ruin… what could they want with her?’

A sudden knock at the chamber door snapped him from his thoughts. He turned, his emerald eyes narrowing as he called out, “Come in.” His voice was steady, though he expected Sephira’s playful smirk—her earlier promise to “visit later” still fresh in his mind. He braced himself for her teasing about Isode, already preparing a measured response to deflect her curiosity.

The heavy oak door creaked open, but instead of Sephira’s vibrant presence, Kaela stepped in. Her sapphire gown flowed like liquid night, its clean lines accentuating her graceful figure. Her bright blue eyes met his with a quiet intensity. She carried herself with serene composure, though her clasped hands betrayed a hint of nervousness.

“My emperor,” Kaela said softly, her voice calm but deliberate. “I… wished to speak with you, if you’ll allow it.”

Arkanos raised an eyebrow, surprised but intrigued. Kaela was the least assertive of his wives, but there was a certain earthiness and tenderness to her that made her all the more lovable. “Of course, Kaela.”

She nodded and stepped onto the balcony with measured grace, her gown whispering against the stone floor. Arkanos turned back to the railing, his gaze flicking to the city below as she approached. “What brings you here?” he asked, his tone neutral but curious, his mind still half-occupied with strategies and quests.

Kaela hesitated, her blue eyes scanning the horizon before settling on him. “I… wanted to speak privately,” she said, her voice steady but soft. “About the empire. About… us.” She paused, her fingers tightening briefly before she relaxed them. “May we walk? The gardens might be a better place for this.”

Arkanos studied her for a moment, his emerald eyes searching her face for clues. Her request was unusual, but her calm demeanor suggested sincerity rather than manipulation. He nodded, setting his goblet on the balustrade. “Very well. Lead the way.”

…

…

They descended from the chambers in silence, the castle’s torchlit corridors casting long shadows as they moved. Servants bowed and stepped aside, their whispers fading as Arkanos and Kaela passed. The castle gardens lay just beyond a set of arched doors—a sprawling oasis of manicured hedges, glowing moonflowers, and winding paths. The air was cooler here, thick with the scent of earth and blooms, and the faint trickle of a fountain echoed in the distance.

Kaela led him toward the greenhouse, a delicate structure of glass and iron filled with vibrant blue lilies that shimmered under the moonlight streaming through the panes. The lilies, rare and enchanted, glowed faintly, their petals casting a soft azure hue across the stone path. Kaela paused at the greenhouse entrance, her hand resting lightly on the iron frame as she turned to face him.

“Remember how we always found this place calming?” she said, her blue eyes softening as she glanced at the lilies. “It’s quiet. A place to think.” She stepped inside, and Arkanos followed, his boots clicking softly against the stone floor. The greenhouse was warm, the air humid and fragrant, and the lilies seemed to pulse with small but noticeable magic, their glow intensifying as Kaela passed.