Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 171: Meeting the Empress [3]

[Empress Sephrina’s House]

The world tree has a lot more functions than providing the elves with shelter.

It has a unique flow of mana and usage of the environment.

Because of the world tree, the elves have a slightly warm climate akin to the spring weather throughout the year.

Yet...

Akamir couldn’t help but feel abnormally cold as he sat on the sofa in the main hall.

His eyes were still closed as he was looking around the place with his spirit eyes.

’Why the hell is she so quiet?’

He couldn’t help but think as he ’looked’ at the empress sitting in front of him.

She was now fully dressed, with a mask covering her face.

Akamir could vaguely feel spirit energy from the mask.

’Is it to suppress her curse?’

He thought as the empress of the elves read the letter by her father again and again.

Despite half an hour having passed, she hasn’t said anything nor replied to anything he had asked.

With a sigh, she leaned back on the sofa, her body fully covered with a layer of blackish coat.

"You said, you were his student, right?" Sephrina asked, finally ready to talk. "May I know your name?"

"It’s Asher Leon Vyavan." Akamir replied, his voice soft. "But your father used to call me Akamir."

"...Asher." Sephrina mumbled, trying to remember the name. "Why do I think I have heard about you before?"

"You may know me as the Royal Consort." Akamir said with an awkward expression. "I am the fiancé of Queen Inara of Krivos Kingdom."

"...."

There was a silence that lingered between them.

The empress gave him a look that was close to disgust.

"Despite being engaged, you are walking in when someone was bathing," she said, not hiding her disappointment. "Do you even have any shame?"

"...."

Akamir**’s** lips twitched as he stopped himself from making a rude comment.

"What are you thinking?" Nayomi asked, floating beside him. "I can tell by your face."

’..I mean, come on... She is flat as cardboard.’

Akamir thought as he ’looked’ at her again with his spirit eyes.

Empress Sephrina, even though in her forties, is still single.

And because of this, her body was still genderless with any features.

There was nothing to see in her.

’I bet she doesn’t even have a vagina.’

Akamir thought, though he kept a straight face in front of her.

Had she not been born as a female, body structure and voice, she might have been mistaken as a young boy.

’No, she kinda is a young boy....’

Akamir had a lot of questions about her body, but he kept it all to himself.

"Anyway." Sephrina said, unaware of his thoughts. "Is this what you came for?"

"Ah, partially yes—"

"I have received your letter," she said, standing up from her seat. "If that’s all there is, then you can go."

She began to walk away, but not before looking back at him. "I will not hold any charges for breaking into my house—"

"I asked your Royal Advisor for a meeting," Akamir said, cutting in her words. "He was the one who refused it."

"...Then he must have a reason," she replied, though her voice was unsure. "Anyway, you can go."

"I don’t think so," Akamir replied, standing up. "There is something else you need to know—"

"I don’t have time for this—"

"The elves are going to die." Akamir cut in her words again. "If you don’t do anything, then your race will end."

Sephrina stopped mid-step.

Her fingers curled slightly, hidden under the long sleeves of her black robe.

"...What did you just say?" she asked without turning around.

"I said your people are going to die," Akamir repeated calmly. "And if you don’t act, you’ll be the last empress to ever rule them."

The silence that followed was so sharp it almost hurt.

Nayomi shifted awkwardly beside him, floating a bit lower. Even she didn’t dare make a joke.

Slowly, Sephrina turned around.

"You’re threatening me?"

"No," Akamir replied. "I’m warning you. There’s a difference."

Sephrina studied him for a moment, then returned to her seat, folding her arms over her small chest. "Talk."

Akamir sat back down, his hands resting on his knees. "Have you heard about the great ones?"

The empress looked confused. "Those in the legends?"

"They are not merely a legend, my lady," Akamir replied, shifting his tone to be more polite.

"There is a Great One named Kros who has recently died... and was washed over to a town of elves."

Sephrina’s brow furrowed beneath her mask.

"Kros...? That name sounds familiar."

"It should," Akamir said. "He was one of the lesser Great Ones, but powerful enough to shift the balance of nature just by existing."

’I made that up but it should be something like that.’

He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

"The elves... They changed because of him."

Sephrina leaned forward slightly. "What do you mean ’changed’?"

"I mean exactly that. Their bodies couldn’t handle it. Some of them mutated." He paused again, his voice quiet. "But they all are cursed nonetheless."

Sephrina’s hands slowly tightened around the edge of her sleeves.

"That’s impossible. Elves are not that easily corrupted."

"Not usually," Akamir said. "But this is different."

A faint pulse of spirit energy rippled off her mask, and for a second, Akamir felt the sharp edge of her growing anger.

"You’re telling me there’s a godlike corpse rotting in elven lands," she said, "and my own people are falling to it?"

"Not just falling," he said quietly. "They’re becoming something else."

For a moment, Sephrina didn’t say anything.

She simply stared at him through her mask. Then, at last, she leaned back.

"...Where exactly did this happen?"

"Malik," Akamir replied, his voice soft. "It’s a small town close to the river joining the ocean."

Sephrina was silent again, but this time, it was a thoughtful silence.

"How do I not know about this?" she asked, looking at him.

Akamir drew in a deep breath as he looked at her.

"The next thing that I am going to say might hurt you, but please listen carefully."

Sephrina strengthened her back as she looked at him. "Speak."

"When I was there, your soldiers had already been stationed there."

Akamir explained, his voice soft.

"The one in charge was the second son of the Faelor family... the same family as Lewin."

The mana around the elf began to boil, representing her anger. "What are you trying to say?"

"I suspect that Sir Lewin already knew about the curse," he said, his voice deep. "He might be the one behind the death—"

Before he could even say anything, a sword was placed on his neck.

Akamir’s pupils shrank as he saw Sephrina standing in front of him.

’I didn’t even notice her move from her place.’

He thought, his expression turning serious.

"Do you even know whom you are trying to blame?" she asked, her voice low. "Do you even know who Sir Lewin is?"

Akamir didn’t flinch.

The cold edge of the blade pressed gently against his throat, but his expression didn’t change.

"I do," he said calmly. "That’s why I’m saying this to you and not to anyone else."

Sephrina’s grip on the sword tightened.

"I served under Sir Lewin when I was a child," she said, her voice trembling beneath its quiet fury.

"He trained our armies. He protected our borders. He raised my father like his own. He is the most respected elder of the Elven Council. You do not get to accuse him lightly."

"I’m not accusing him lightly," Akamir replied. "That’s why I said I suspect. Not confirm."

He looked directly at the space where her eyes would be behind the mask. "Think about it... only he has the power to do such a thing."

"I want to behead you right now," she said, her voice cold. "You are pushing my limits."

Akamir didn’t say anything as he ’looked’ at her.

She removed the sword from his neck as she ordered, "Get out of here before I kill you."

She didn’t even wait for him to reply as she walked away from him.

Akamir let out a sigh as he was left alone with the fairy who was floating around.

"Please don’t blame her for this," Lili said, sitting on his head. "Sir Lewin has always been like a father to her."

Akamir didn’t say anything as he rubbed his neck that was bleeding.

"I see," he mumbled, standing up. "Well, I guess that’s it for me."

Lili looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I did what I had to," Akamir replied, finally opening his eyes. "Not my fault that she doesn’t believe me."

Lili didn’t say anything as he began to walk out of the house.

But he stopped as he looked at the fairy curiously.

"By the way..." he began, while making her face him. "Have you ever been to the spirit world?"

Lili blinked in confusion. "No, I was born and raised here."

Akamir smiled as new ideas began to form in his head. "I have someone you would love to meet."

Lili blinked innocently. "Who?"

"Your queen."