Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 93: Edevane Family [3]

"They want Zaina to lose her purity."

Akamir’s expression turned serious.

"What?"

Akamir sat up straighter in his seat, his fingers curling slightly against the armrest.

"What did you just say?" he asked, his voice low.

Edwarld didn’t look away.

"The church," he repeated calmly, "wants Zaina to become ineligible for a marriage."

"....."

Akamir leaned back on his chair as he stared dead into his eyes.

’Why would the church do that?’

He wondered as he was already aware of the plans of Pope Elon.

’....Unless it isn’t the Pope.’

He rubbed his chin as he looked at Edwarld. "Do you know why they want that?"

He shook his head in defeat.

"They choose to remain quiet about it," he replied silently. "No matter how much I asked."

"..."

Akamir tapped his fingers on the table, thinking deeply about it.

"Do you know who wants this?"

Edwarld looked at him.

"It was a messenger of Pope Elon, who wants me to break the engagement," he replied. "I don’t know about the other."

"It’s most probably Bishop Rayan."

Nayomi chimed in as she looked at him.

"He was the one who wanted Zaina to lose her status in the novel."

’Go on.’

Akamir urged her to continue with his eyes.

"Bishop Rayan stands opposite of Pope Elon and is the next candidate for the Pope’s position."

She floated to stand just beside him, her eyes on Edwarld.

"Rayan most likely is aware of Pope Elon’s plan and that’s why he wants Zaina to lose her virginity."

Her voice drifted as Edwarld looked at Akamir who was silent for a while.

’And once she isn’t pure, Elon can’t get her married and Zaina will remain a neutral asset.’

Akamir came to the conclusion as he rubbed his chin.

His thoughts swirled like a storm behind his calm eyes.

’A bishop can’t openly defy a Pope. But if he takes away Elon’s best card before it’s played, then Elon’s plans will fall apart.’

Akamir had to admit, he was doing a great job at stunning the Pope’s plans.

But...

’I don’t like how they are treating Zaina like a pawn.’

Their working makes him wonder if they even care about their goddess or not.

Finally, his gaze focused on Edwarld again.

"And why are you telling me this?" he asked, tilting his head. "Surely it’s not for no reason."

Edwarld drew in a deep breath as he placed his hand on the table.

"In both the conditions one thing was common," he said, staring dead into his eyes. "They want the engagement to break."

Akamir raised his brow. "And?"

"And I wanted your opinion," he replied, staring dead into his eyes. "What do you want?"

Akamir lazily looked at him. "You made a deal with my father, why my opinion now?"

"Because Duke Darvin won’t allow the engagement to break even if the church pressures him," he said, a tension clear in his voice. "Zaina is his backup plan after all."

Those words piqued Akamir’s interest. "What do you mean?"

"Duke Darvin plans to use Zaina to capture the throne if things go out of his hand," he replied as he slowly stood up from his seat.

"She is his last resort."

The more Akamir heard, the more confused he became. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"How would she—."

"She can."

Edwarld said, shifting his eyes towards the window.

"After all, she is the illegitimate daughter of King Aldric."

"..."

Akamir took a moment to register his words.

His face remained calm but his eyes gave him away.

"....What?"

"You heard me," Edwarld whispered, glancing back at him.

"...My wife cheated on me."

Silence fell over the room like a heavy curtain.

Akamir stared at Edwarld, unblinking.

His head slowly moved towards Nayomi who gave him a nod.

’What the fuck?’

"...My wife cheated on me," Edwarld said again, more to himself this time, like the words were still new and bitter on his tongue.

Akamir leaned back slowly in his chair, arms crossed.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"Soon after my son was born," Edwarld replied, turning his eyes to the floor. "She confessed Zaina wasn’t my child herself."

Akamir let out a slow breath through his nose. "And Zaina...?"

"She doesn’t know," Edwarld said, his voice tight. "As far as she’s concerned, I’m her father."

Akamir was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, "Does King Aldric know?"

Edwarld gave a short nod. "He does. But he won’t acknowledge her publicly."

"....You seem awfully calm," Akamir said, looking at him. "Why so?"

Akamir was aware of a male’s nature.

Most look at their wife as their possession and they hated it when someone else touched them.

’Cheating on a man is like hitting them where it hurts the most.’

"...Why does it matter now?" The words came out like frozen ice. "She died for her sin."

Akamir stared dead into his eyes. "You didn’t—."

"Yes, I killed her," Edwarld replied. "With my own hand."

Akamir looked away from the psychopath as he thought of something else.

’...So that’s why Darvin’s keeping her close,’ he thought. ’If the royal line weakens, if war breaks out... having a hidden heir might give him the leverage he needs.’

Everything made sense to him now.

Why Darvin engaged him with Zaina and why he was hell-bent on keeping the engagement.

’...He was thinking far ahead.’

Akamir let out a sigh as he stood up and walked towards Edwarld.

Akamir stood taller as he looked at him. "Why tell me all this?"

"Because I see a capable man in you," he replied, looking at him. "One who can make his own decision."

Akamir chuckled, understanding his motives. "So you want me to break the engagement?"

"I have taken the money from Duke Darvin," he replied softly. "I have given my word but you haven’t."

Akamir smiled as he walked towards the seat where Edwarld once sat.

"The church must be paying you a hefty sum," he said, grazing his hand on the seat. "Isn’t it?"

"A million gold coins for breaking the engagement," he replied, staring at him. "Two if she loses her purity."

Akamir smiled as he slowly sat down on Edwarld’s seat.

He leaned back comfortably, staring into his eyes.

"I will pay you double the amount," he said, his voice echoing in the room. "Work for me."

Edwarld stared down at him. "You are bluffing."

The air around him changed as soon as those words escaped his lips.

Akamir shifted on his seat, his presence changed, worthy of a king.

The way he presented himself made Edwarld’s legs wobble.

"I will ask once again," Akamir said, staring dead in his eyes. "Will you work for me or not?"

Edwarld gulped down a lump of fear down his throat.

The silence stretched between them.

He slowly got back to his senses as he asked.

"W-what do you want?"

---

After half an hour of talk with him, Akamir walked out of the room.

Edwarld remained seated on the guest chair with both his hands grabbing his head.

"What did I do?"

He whispered to himself, feeling a wave of panic creeping under his skin.

’Why did I feel this much fear from a child?’

His hands trembled.

Edwarld stared at the door Akamir had just walked out from, the echo of the young man’s voice still ringing in his ears.

"Will you work for me or not?"

It wasn’t a question.

It was a command, a demand that he couldn’t refuse.

Edwarld leaned back in the chair, feeling the weight of the conversation settle like iron chains on his shoulders.

Akamir had offered him more than money.

He’d offered him a choice.

But why did it feel like he’d walked into something far more dangerous than anything the church or Duke Darvin could ever create?

He wiped the sweat off his forehead, breathing hard.

His heart hadn’t stopped racing since the moment Akamir took that seat, as if simply sitting there had shifted the balance of the entire room.

No.

The entire kingdom.

"Why did I feel so afraid?"

It wasn’t just fear of power.

It was fear of vision.

He could see the boy controlling everyone and everything in the future.

...He was sure of it.

Edwarld rubbed his temples and let out a tired breath.

He had killed his wife with his own hands.

He had lived with that decision. Justified it even.

Now he was betraying Duke Darvin, a man powerful enough to crush entire families.

And yet...

That boy made all of them feel like puppets.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

Images of Zaina flashed through his mind.

She didn’t know.

She had no idea the lies surrounding her name.

That the man she called father had once raised a knife with trembling hands and took a life out of hatred and pride.

She didn’t know she was the daughter of a king.

And maybe... that was for the best.

"Gods help me," he muttered. "I’ve thrown her into a pit of wolves."

He couldn’t protect her anymore.

Not from the church.

Not from Darvin.

And certainly not from Akamir.

Edwarld stood up slowly.

His legs felt weak, like they were made of paper.

He walked toward the window and looked out at the mountain range.

Now....

They don’t belong to him or the kingdom.

....They belonged to Akamir.

Edwarld had sold something that was the property of the kingdom.

’He’s not just a Duke’s son,’ Edwarld thought.

’He’s something else entirely.’

Edwarld thought long and hard if he should bow in front of him or not.

But....

Never did he notice a mimicker hiding in his shadow.

Ready to take his place.

The moment he chose to betray him.

His fate was sealed.

He was Akamir’s pawn now, whether he liked it or not.