Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 56: Runes [3]

Bam!

"Can’t you see, blind idiot!?"

The food in Zaina’s hand fell on the floor as the girl in front of her slapped it away.

’Huh?’

Zaina guiltily looked down at her feet where the food had all been spilled on the ground.

’What did I do?’

She wondered, her mind taking too much time to register the event.

Zaina remembered minding her own business and trying to find an empty seat.

Then, a girl bumped into her on purpose.

Zaina glared at the smug girl in front of her.

The cafeteria seemed to hush around her, the laughter and whispers growing louder only in Zaina’s ears.

Her heart throbbed as she felt her senses harden.

She knew this game.

She’d seen it play out before, in other noble houses.

Things were always the same.

Just a new face trying to trample on her.

’Let’s calm down.’

Zaina thought, taking in deep breaths.

Even though she was angry, she didn’t want to cause a scene.

Her family sat just barely above commoners in the noble hierarchy.

If she got expelled over something stupid like this...

...only an arranged marriage would await her.

’I don’t want that.’

Not with a boy she knew was in love with someone else.

"Cat got your tongue?" the girl mocked, stepping closer, crowding her space. "Or did you leave your brain in the trash can?"

A few students behind her chuckled, watching like it was some lunchtime entertainment.

’Calm down.’

Zaina clenched her jaw.

She could feel the weight of stares pressing down on her shoulders, waiting to see if she’d crack or crumble.

No.

She bent down calmly, picking up her overturned bowl and broken tray piece by piece.

"You really are pathetic," the girl sneered, turning to walk away—

Thud.

A foot landed hard on the girl’s outstretched leg, tripping her mid-turn.

She stumbled forward, crashing into the table beside her, knocking over someone else’s drink.

Gasps rippled through the room.

Zaina stood up slowly, looking at her.

"I guess I’m not the blind one after all," she said softly.

The girl’s head snapped around, hair clinging to her now-wet face.

Her eyes blazed with embarrassment and fury.

"You—!" she began.

’I have done it now.’

Zaina sighed as she began to walk away from that girl.

She didn’t want to escalate things, but there was only so much a person could take.

"Stop you stupid—!"

In a burst of rage, the girl hurled a glass of juice at Zaina.

Caught off guard, she froze in place as the glass rushed at her.

—Kill her.

A voice echoed in her mind.

—KILL HER.

’NO!’

Zaina shut her eyes as she braced herself for impact.

Bam!

Yet the glass never came to her.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the girl standing in shock.

She slowly followed her gaze.

Finding the glass of juice lying close to a boy with wheat-blonde hair.

Juice dripped down his shirt.

Zaina half opened her mouth.

’Asher?’

---

’Haaah.’

Akamir let out a tired sigh, his back soaked in sticky juice.

"You are soaking wet buddy." Viros said, holding back his laughter. "Want me to discharge that ener—"

"Shut up."

Akamir groaned. He stood slowly, the chair behind him scraping against the floor.

The girl who had thrown the cup seemed to realize the gravity of her mistake far too late.

"I—I didn’t mean to hit you!" she stammered, her voice cracking. "It was for her—!"

Akamir ignored her words as he walked closer until he stood in front of her.

"Do you want to get expelled?" Akamir asked tilting his head.

"W-what?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Wait, you can’t just expel me." She said, trying to act confident. "My father is a prince Lucien’s personal knight—"

"My fiancée is the vice headmistress." Akamir cut in her words.

"Do you think it’s hard for me to get someone like you expelled?"

The girl swallowed hard.

Even though her father was in a good place within the royal family servants, he wasn’t above the princess.

If Akamir really did ask her then there was nothing she could do.

"Uh, Sir...Asher—"

"I will give you one warning." Akamir said, smiling gently. "If I see you bully anyone again then..."

He didn’t finish his words but just smiled brightly.

The girl nodded absentmindedly.

Akamir turned around as he looked at Zaina who guiltily stood there.

He didn’t say anything but moved back to his seat.

"That was cool." Viros said, looking at him. "Using your other fiancée to save another one."

Akamir looked at him with surprise. "How do you know she is my fiancée?"

"Baron Erwald said it in front of everyone." Luca said, eating his food. "You think it’s not a news by now?"

Akamir just nodded, thinking it was a valid point.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling as he wiped some of the juice off his shirt with a napkin.

"By the way, I don’t understand something." Akamir mumbled looking at them.

"Even though it’s commonly known that she is my fiancée then why is she getting bullied?"

Luca stopped eating as he looked at him. "You really don’t know, huh?"

Akamir frowned. "Know what?"

"Your family is declining." Viros explained unlike his usual goofy self. "After your elder brother’s death, things have changed."

Akamir grew even more interested. "How so?"

"For starters, your family has lost half of its nobles who worked under you." He said, drinking his juice.

"They have sworn alliance to other dukes completely abandoning your family."

"If you don’t know, every duke has to give an astronomical amount of tax which they collected from the nobles below them."

Luca said, finishing his food as he leaned back.

"Where do you think is that tax will come from now on?"

"From our own pocket." Akamir mumbled rubbing his chin. "And sooner or later we will be left with nothing."

Viros chuckled as he stood up. "Now you understand why no one is taking you seriously."

Akamir just nodded finishing his food as well.

’Having Inara as my fiancée doesn’t help much.’

With her sudden declaration of love for him, she has already lost all her reputation.

’And her support.’

It wouldn’t be surprising if she isn’t taken seriously as well.

’Well looks like we’re screwed.’

Akamir thought, standing up and brushing off his shirt.

Just as he turned around, he immediately halted.

Zaina stood there blocking his path, her hands crumpling her own skirt.

"Something I can help you with?" Akamir asked, tilting his head.

"W-why?" She stammered looking at him. "Why did you help me?"

Akamir let out a sigh as he rubbed his temples.

"I didn’t want to help you." He mumbled. "I did it ’cause she threw juice at me."

"......"

Zaina turned silent staring at him.

Akamir began to walk past her as she refused to budge.

But he halted as he heard a tiny whisper.

"...Thank you." Zaina mumbled, walking away.

Akamir just sighed.

He placed the tray on the platform and cleaned his hands.

With nothing else to do, he began to walk back to Velyrian’s office.

"Why did you do that?" Nayomi asked, floating closer to him. "Why did you save her?"

"I just said—"

"You used telekinesis to make the glass hit you." She cut in his words. "Don’t try to fool me."

"..."

Akamir remained silent as he rubbed his temples.

Honestly, he himself was not sure why he helped her.

’Perhaps, it’s guilt conscience?’

Even though it wasn’t him who raped her Akamir still felt a sense of uneasiness around her.

Maybe that’s why he stepped in.

"It was Lucien who sent that girl to bully Zaina." Nayomi said, looking at him.

"By making others torment her and become a hero later on by saving her at his birthday party."

"I figured that much." Akamir grumbled. "Wait, his birthday?"

"Yeah." She said. "It should be soon."

Akamir sighed.

’Another pain to deal with.’

Akamir was already aware of the things that Lucien planned for his birthday.

And it wasn’t good for him in any way.

’I need to be ready for it.’

"Hey, Akamir."

Nayomi said, floating in front of him.

"I have something to say."

Akamir tilted his head. "I am listening."

"I have something on my mind that I want to try."

She said, looking into his eyes.

"But for that...we need to go back to the spirit world."