Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 149: Talk with Zia.

[Late Night—Vyavan Estate.]

[Capital City.]

"I am home."

Akamir walked inside his house, his tired voice echoed within the place.

"Welcome home."

A voice echoed from the inside as a maid quickly rushed towards him.

Akamir smiled as he saw Zia, who quickly helped him.

"How was your day?" Zia asked, smiling brightly. "Royal Consort."

Akamir cringed at the title. "Just call me young master."

"Ay, ay, Consort." she said with a grin, walking ahead toward the kitchen.

He groaned but didn’t argue.

Collapsing onto the couch, Akamir leaned his head back and let out a long breath.

The last two days haven’t been really good for him.

’Argh, my back fucking hurts.’

He thought, rubbing his sore back.

’Having a fucking mermaid as a partner isn’t a good idea.’

Akamir sighed, staring at Nayomi, who looked where Zia was.

"What now?" Akamir asked, looking at her.

"Aren’t you going to ask about the necklace?" she said, looking back at him.

"Ah, right."

Back when he met with Duke Darvin, he was told that Zia had the necklace.

The one which he wore since he was a child.

’I should ask her about it.’

Akamir waited for a while for her to return.

Zia returned a few minutes later with a warm bowl of stew and a cup of tea.

She set them down in front of him before taking a seat on the nearby armrest.

"Eat," she said. "You look like you haven’t had a bite since sunrise."

"I haven’t," he muttered, lifting the spoon.

Zia watched him quietly for a moment.

Then she asked, more gently, "There was a message from the Main House."

Akamir didn’t answer right away.

He took another spoonful, then set the bowl down and leaned back again.

"What did they say?" he asked, looking at her.

"Steward Veres is asking for your presence," she replied, her voice low. "There are a lot of things to do after Duke Darvin is gone."

Akamir let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples.

’I should have seen this coming.’

Being the next Duke of the Vyavan family, he was definitely needed there.

A dukedom can’t be run without a duke and he was well aware of it.

But...

’I don’t want to spend my time in a fucking office.’

That’s the only reason he supported Inara instead of taking the throne himself.

Akamir was well aware how hard it was to rule a place and he would be damned to do it again.

"You don’t want to?" Zia said, noticing the annoyance in his face.

"...Yeah." he replied, shaking his head.

Zia thought for a moment before she suggested:

"Why don’t you make a proxy duke then?" she said, "someone you can trust with the job."

Akamir narrowed his eyes at her. "Should I make you?"

"Nope." she replied instantly. "I would rather be your maid."

Akamir sighed as he nodded his head thoughtfully.

’A proxy, huh?’

Akamir thought as he remembered someone.

’Mira.... She would be perfect.’

Akamir already made up his mind to give this role to the Judge of Apathy.

...Even though she was already drowning in paperwork.

"I will suggest someone good," he said, taking the bowl again. "Tell Steward Veres to not worry."

Zia gave a short nod and stood up. "I’ll send word first thing in the morning."

Akamir muttered a quiet thanks before taking another bite of stew.

The warmth of the food spread through him slowly, easing some of the tightness in his shoulders.

Zia hovered nearby for a moment, then sat back down again.

She looked like she was debating something.

"What is it?" Akamir asked, catching her expression.

Zia hesitated, then reached into the pocket of her apron.

"I was going to wait," she said, "but... you should probably have this back now."

She handed him something small, wrapped in a soft cloth.

Akamir unwrapped it slowly.

Inside was a simple silver chain, and hanging from it—the necklace. His necklace.

The one he talked about with Duke Darvin.

He stared at it in silence, without speaking anything.

"Where did you get this?" he asked finally.

Zia leaned back slightly. "You gave it to me when we were kids. You said you didn’t want to lose it while playing outside."

Akamir blinked. "That long ago?"

She nodded. "I’ve kept it safe ever since."

Akamir didn’t say anything as he slowly reached out for it.

Nayomi floated closer, looking at the necklace. "That’s an Artifact."

"Hmm?" Akamir blinked twice, taking the necklace.

Just as she said, the moment he touched it, a new message appeared in his status screen.

Akamir opened it without a second thought.

=====

Name: Phoenix’s Womb.

• Can store one of the picture within it.

• Can summon a phoenix for protection. (1/3)

• Can heal the wearer from near-death wounds. (1/3)

=====

Akamir blinked, surprised at the uses of the thing.

Akamir leaned back on the couch, still staring at the glowing message hovering before him.

"Phoenix’s Womb," he muttered under his breath. "What kind of name is that?"

"Whoever made it wasn’t subtle," Nayomi said, circling lazily above him. "But it’s a good defense Artifact."

He glanced at Zia, who stood there without a word.

’How did she not notice the Artifact?’

He wondered, before he wore the necklace once again.

"It’s already used once, isn’t it?" Nayomi said. "Artifacts like this... they stay asleep until the right moment."

Akamir nodded as he looked at Zia once again.

"There is one more thing that I wanted you to know," he said, "I will be going away for a while."

Zia blinked. "Where?"

"To the Elven Kingdom," Akamir said, standing up. "I need to help someone..."

Zia stared at him, confused. "Help someone? Who?"

Akamir didn’t answer right away.

He let out a sigh before replying. "It’s important, I can’t say."

Zia looked at him then sighed. "And when are you going to return?"

"I have no idea," Akamir replied, shaking his head. "I will be coming back and forth though."

Zia blinked, not understanding his words.

Though, Akamir could really do it.

With the help of the Crown, he can travel to the Elven Kingdom and come back here in one day.

’I would need to talk with Inara as well.’

Akamir sighed as he turned around. "I will be in my room now."

"Have a good night, young master."

Akamir waved at her as he moved back to his room.

When he arrived, he quickly jumped on his bed.

"Urgh."

A groan escaped his lips as he felt a stinging pain on his collarbone.

"Akamir," Nayomi said, floating beside him. "Are you not going to check what picture is inside it?"

Akamir blinked and touched his necklace. "Oh, right."

He willed for it to show the picture.

The necklace flickered.

Then...

A 3D image appeared around him.

"....What?"

Akamir mumbled, looking around.

Because...

It was the map of the world he was in.

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