Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win

[The Next Day]

[Akamir's POV]

The wind in the closed dungeon behind the royal palace was negligible.

No light covered the area inside as it was the place to keep the most dangerous beings of the kingdom.

The sun was barely up as its light gently shone all around.

Akamir stretched his body as he walked towards the dungeon.

His hand rubbed the back of his neck as he let out a tired sigh.

Nayomi who was floating beside him smiled at him.

"Last night was wild wasn't it?"

Akamir groaned as he glanced at the woman. "Were you watching?"

Nayomi shrugged. "I can't be too far away from you remember?" She flipped her hair. "And it's not like I like to see you pleasure other women."

"Then why do you watch it?" Akamir asked with a sigh.

"Like I said." She said looking at him. "I don't have a choice."

"….Yeah, whatever." Akamir replied, his voice soft. "….I didn't expect Inara to have such…kinks."

Nayomi didn't reply as her eyes remained on him.

"…It was unexpected." She finally said.

Akamir nodded his head as he mumbled. "It was good that Sephrina fell asleep after the first time."

Nayomi looked at him and smiled. "Are you going to sleep with them together now?"

"No." Akamir shook his head. "…It's better to keep them away from each other and I don't want them to team up against me."

Nayomi gave him a regretful look as she spoke.

"So, no threeso—."

"Can you stop talking about my sex life?" Akamir asked, his voice annoyed. "It's not nice."

Nayomi grumbled, unconvinced. "…Fine."

"Thank you."

Akamir moved towards the dungeon as he didn't bother with her.

Two soldiers guarded the place but they didn't stop as Akamir walked inside.

The place inside was damp and humid as Akamir kept on walking downstairs.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the dim light of the place.

Just after a few minutes of walking he reached the prison.

Inside it there was a princess who was sitting on the ground.

Her ember eyes glared at him as he stood outside the bars.

Akamir smiled gently. "Been a while, lady Sylari."

Sylari lifted her head slowly, chains clinking at her wrists.

Her hair, usually immaculate, now clung messily to her face.

Even in this damp and foul place, her posture held an unbending pride.

"…Akamir." Her voice was cold, steady despite the exhaustion in her features. "So she finally sent you."

Akamir tilted his head, folding his hands behind his back as if he were greeting an old friend.

"No one sent me," he said lightly. "I came on my own."

Her ember eyes narrowed, burning against the gloom. "Then you must want something."

He chuckled softly. "Always straight to the point."

The faintest flicker of irritation crossed her face, though she hid it quickly.

"What do you want?" she repeated.

Akamir leaned closer to the bars, lowering his voice. "Be my slave."

The words slipped out of him blunt and half-joking, but the dungeon swallowed the sound and left it sharp.

Sylari's jaw tightened.

For a long moment she said nothing—only the chains at her wrists whispered as she flexed her fingers.

"Your slave?" she repeated, voice low. "You think breaking me into a pet will change anything, Vyavan?"

Akamir shrugged, amusement and steel mixed. "Not a pet. An asset. You have reach, you have lithe hands, you know the court of Aure."

Akamir came to the conclusion after a long time of thinking.

He was going to take over both the main royal family and the rebellion.

It may sound like a far-fetched decision but Akamir had completely planned it.

He was going to use the Aure kingdom's internal conflict as a way to hide his involvement.

This way he would have enough time to be prepared.

'…Dealing with those on the other side of the world won't be easy.'

Akamir was aware how things will go if he fought them right now.

He needed time more than anything and he was also thinking about Inara here as well.

'….Inara will become a main target of Zagroths if she won the war and upset their whole plans.'

That's why Akamir came to the point.

Sylari studied him carefully, her ember eyes sharp despite the grime on her face.

"You talk as if you've already won," she said, voice even. "But if the Zagroths have their hooks in Aure, do you really think you can cut them out without bleeding yourself dry?"

Akamir smirked faintly, leaning one hand on the cold iron bars. "I don't need to bleed, that's why I need you."

Sylari tilted her head, chains rattling as she shifted her posture. "And you expect me to help you? Do you think I'll play the pawn for your game?"

He gave a small chuckle. "Not a pawn. A queen who thinks she's cornered but still has moves left."

His voice lowered. "I'm offering you more than chains. You can sit here and rot, or you can walk out and decide where you want the knife to land."

Nayomi floated behind him, crossing her legs midair, her voice sly. "She doesn't trust you."

"And if I agree? What do I get?"

"A longer life to live?" Akamir said, tilting his head. "Is that not enough."

She quieted down as her gaze lowered, away from him.

Akamir kept on staring at her waiting for her answer.

If she refused, he was going to use a mimicker to take her place.

It might be more risky but it's better than nothing.

She finally looked up. "Fine." She mumbled. "What do I need to do?"

Akamir smiled. "Sweet." He said. "Get ready, we are going back to Aure kingdom."

---

Akamir left the princess alone as he moved back to the royal palace.

His body was still a bit sore but he was energetic.

A maid quickly found him as soon as he entered the place.

She bowed gently. "Lady Inara has called you for breakfast." She said. "Please follow me."

Akamir nodded silently as he followed behind her.

She led him to a different room where Inara was already sitting on the main chair.

She smiled when she saw Akamir. "Come here." She said. "We haven't had breakfast together in a while."

Akamir nodded but his gaze was on someone else.

Sephrina was also sitting at the table along with the Queen.

But….the empress of Elves was busy hiding her face.

'…Is she embarrassed?'

Akamir thought as he walked close to Inara.

The woman was acting like last night never happened.

"Sit," she said warmly, her tone carrying affection.

Though the tone always made it hard to tell whether she was treating him as her equal or her possession.

Akamir sat down beside her, his eyes flickering once more toward Sephrina.

The elf empress sat straight-backed, shoulders tense, but her head remained low, golden hair veiling her expression.

She picked slowly at a piece of bread, almost mechanically, as though chewing kept her from speaking.

'She really is embarrassed,' Akamir thought, lips twitching.

He almost wanted to tease her, but with Inara sitting right there, it wasn't worth the trouble.

Inara picked up a piece of cake and placed it close to his mouth. "Say ah."

Akamir opened his mouth as he let her feed him.

"I plan to visit the Aure Kingdom soon." Akamir informed her.

Inara stopped just for a second before she continued to feed him. "Why?"

"To get more information about them." He said and Inara understood him.

"About that family huh?" She mumbled nodding her head slightly. "Fine but come back soon."

At that time Sephrina who was listening to the conversation couldn't help but chime in.

"When are you coming to elven kingdom again?" She asked, her eyes hopeful. "….I am still waiting—."

"He will come soon, lady Sephrina." Inara cut her off with a smile. "Keeping that aside didn't you come to make a deal with us?"

Sephrina's golden eyes flickered at Inara's words.

For a moment she looked like she wanted to argue, but her lips pressed together tightly instead.

'…Wow, something really did happen between them.'

He reached for his cup, sipping slowly, then finally spoke. "The deal you are making, I will help—."

"It's fine." Inara said grabbing his cup. "We ladies will deal with it."

She sipped the same cup, her voice soft. "Empress Sephrina is my idol." She smiled. "I will have a fair deal with her."

Akamir highly doubted her but as long as she doesn't scam her…it will be okay.

Akamir looked at Sephrina and smiled. "I will visit the elves soon." He said. "I hope we can spend some good time together."

Sephrina's lips bloomed in a beautiful smile that even captivated everyone in the place.

"I will be waiting for your arrival." She replied sweetly.

Akamir let out a soft cough as he stood up. "I will get ready for my trip."

Inara and Sephrina said together. "See you soon."

Akamir left the place leaving the maids bewildered.