Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win
Chapter 108: Order [1]

Chapter 108: Order [1]

[Three days later.]

"...."

Akamir looked at the beautiful royal palace that loomed over him.

There was no awe on his face as he had seen much greater and better things in his life.

Yet....

This place looked tempting to him.

’It’s a royal palace that makes it worth otherwise Nayomi’s palace is much better.’

He thought, taking in a deep breath as he glanced back at the departing carriage.

The knight at the front door had asked him to walk from here.

....By the order of the king.

’Is he trying to provoke me?’

Akamir wondered silently as he began to walk.

The place was as he remembered it when Asher’s brother Morris was killed.

Beautiful yet empty of happiness.

Akamir walked past the main gate as he reached the garden.

The invitation he got from the king was a simple dinner that he was supposed to have with him.

’I don’t like how much power he has over me.’

Akamir thought, rubbing the back of his neck.

Though a previous king, Akamir still had the pride of one.

He may have tried to suppress it but it was clear he didn’t like to be a subject.

"Be careful," Nayomi said, floating beside him. "It might be a trap."

"Yeah..." Akamir mumbled softly. "I can see that."

He was aware that Aldric wouldn’t call for him without any reason when there was nothing between them.

But he still had no idea why he was called.

Akamir quickly walked past the courtyard as he found himself in front of a group of maids waiting in front of the gate.

The oldest of them bowed. "Your Majesty is expecting you."

Akamir nodded in response as she began leading him inside.

It wasn’t long before she brought him to a room with one long table.

King Aldric was sitting at the head of the table while three more occupied other seats.

One of them was Asher’s father, Darvin.

Akamir was equally surprised to see him as Darvin was seeing him.

The other one was Prince Lucien and the third was a middle-aged man whom he hadn’t seen before.

King Aldric looked at Akamir and smiled.

"Ah, the lad is here," he said. "Come take a seat."

Akamir looked at the man who looked nothing like a king.

His bloated body lay half-naked in front of them as he wore nothing but a robe.

It was honestly a shameful appearance but it didn’t seem like he cared.

Akamir took the seat, opposite to his father who was glaring at him.

"You could have told me," Darvin tried not to show anger in his voice. "That the king invited you—"

"Come on, Darvin," Aldric said, his voice filled with mockery. "He is a young man who can take his own decisions, aren’t you?"

Akamir looked at the king who had a grin on his face.

He didn’t say a thing and Aldric didn’t seem to care.

"Get us some more wine!" His voice echoed within the place.

A butler quickly walked forward and poured wine in King Aldric’s glass.

Two more came forward and did so for the rest of them.

Akamir grabbed the glass of wine as he observed the middle-aged man.

With the way he carried himself, it was clear he wasn’t ordinary.

His body type and the way he sat screamed he was a trained fighter.

’He is stronger than Darvin,’ Akamir judged looking at him. ’Perhaps on par with Aldric himself.’

"Asher, right?" the man said, his voice deep. "I have heard about the boy the Princess took a fancy upon."

Aldric and Lucien’s faces immediately turned bitter at his words.

"Though, I must say," he continued taking a sip of his wine. "You aren’t as the rumors say."

"And what do they say?" Akamir asked, looking at him. "Sir—?"

"It’s Duke Balkri of Marson," he corrected him. "They say, you look prettier than women, sly as a fox and like to rape girls."

Akamir’s lips twitched at the last one. ’Who the fuck started the last one?’

"But you know what fascinated me the most?" Balkri continued with a smile. "That you killed your own brother to snatch his soon-to-be bride."

Akamir didn’t react right away. He just stared at Duke Balkri.

"Those are some false accusations," Akamir said, calmly. "I did no such thing."

"How can we be so sure?" Lucien chimed in, glaring at him. "You could have—"

"I could start a rumour about the Prince liking getting railed by an orc and half the kingdom will listen about it by next week."

Akamir said, his blood red eyes staring at him.

"Tell me, would that make you look like getting defiled by an orc?"

"Hahahahaha."

The king was the one to laugh, the hardest of them all.

He ignored how red Lucien’s face was and Balkri didn’t hide his disappointment in him.

"Where did you pick him, Darvin?" Aldric spoke, his voice booming in the room. "Such a fine lad he is!"

Darvin frowned in annoyance but replied nonetheless. "I didn’t find him, I birthed—"

"Ah, don’t try to fool me," the king scoffed, raising his glass for another glass of wine.

"He looks nothing like you," he then chuckled softly. "You sure someone else didn’t do the deed?"

Akamir looked at the king in confusion.

’What is he trying to do?’

It’s obvious he is provoking Darvin but why? He wasn’t sure.

Needless to say, Darvin was furious when he heard it.

Darvin’s face turned stone-cold, his fingers tightening around the stem of his wine glass.

For a moment, it looked like he would slam it down or throw it across the room—but he didn’t.

He simply took a long sip, jaw clenched tight.

"I suggest you watch your words, Your Majesty," he said quietly, though his voice carried weight.

King Aldric grinned like a child poking at a caged animal.

"Oh, come now, Darvin. Don’t take offense. I’m just speaking what everyone else is already thinking."

"You’re crossing a line."

Aldric leaned back in his chair, robe slipping dangerously off one shoulder. "There are no lines in my palace."

"....."

Darvin just stared at him, like he was about to attack and with the way his hand twitched, Akamir could tell he was barely holding back.

Akamir leaned back on his chair as Aldric laughed to his own again.

"Darvin," he rasped, his voice a little weird due to wine. "What a stupid name, who even named you?"

"...."

Darvin clenched his jaw, refusing to reply to him.

"You invited me here to mock me?" Darvin asked, his voice low but steady.

Aldric waved his hand lazily. "No, no. You just happened to be a convenient target tonight."

Then he glanced at Akamir. "But he... he’s the one I’m really interested in."

Akamir didn’t flinch. He met the king’s gaze head-on.

"I figured as much," he said.

"Good." Aldric chuckled. "I have a question, boy."

Akamir tilted his head. "What?"

"Who was the first?" he asked, "the first to die by your hands?"

Darvin frowned as he interrupted. "Asher hasn’t killed anyon—"

"Who are you fooling, Darvin?" Aldric asked, chuckling softly. "I know when I see a killer."

He looked straight in Akamir’s eyes. "This boy has killed thousands."

Darvin frowned. "No—"

"Tell me, boy," Aldric interrupted him. "Who was it."

Akamir looked at the king. "A boy... Thirteen, perhaps younger," he said. "I was the same age."

"Hm. How did you do it?"

"A sword through his heart," Akamir replied slowly. "He begged for his life. I wasn’t allowed to spare him."

Aldric chuckled loudly while Darvin turned silent.

"Lucky to die easily," he said, staring at the ceiling. "....I remember mine like it was yesterday."

He sat lazily as he began to narrate.

"My horse took an arrow on its leg so I was forced to walk on the battlefield."

His voice grew distant as he stared with a hollow look.

"That’s when I met him in the middle. The highborn idiot thought he could end the rebellion by killing me."

Aldric took another sip of his wine as his voice snapped.

"God, I was strong back then," he growled, crushing the metal glass with his hand.

"I knocked him down, breaking his every rib in the process."

The crushed wine goblet slipped from Aldric’s hand and clattered onto the floor.

His voice came low and sharp now, like the blade of a rusted sword.

"I stood over him, watching him gasp like a dying dog. He tried to crawl away. I didn’t let him."

Akamir said nothing. Neither did Darvin, nor Balkri, nor Lucien.

"He cried," Aldric went on, eyes still fixed on nothing. "Begged me to spare him for our family’s sake."

He looked around the table now, his smile wide, unhinged.

"I slit his throat with a broken dagger, felt the warmth spray on my face. That’s when I knew. I was meant to be king."

Akamir finally parted his lips. "Who was it?"

Aldric smiled like he was waiting for the question.

"My father," he replied, his voice brimming with happiness. "The previous incel king who refused to acknowledge me."

"...."

Akamir said nothing as he glanced at Lucien who was staring at Aldric.

There was a silence between them that was broken by Aldric’s laugh.

"Why the serious faces?" he said, gloating. "Alright. Bring us some food!"

The maids and butlers were quick to follow his orders as they brought the food.

The food was what Akamir had expected... fancy.

There was so much that was given to them separately.

"Akamir."

Nayomi’s voice echoed from behind him.

"The food is poisoned."