Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 81: Date a Live [1]

[The next day.]

’What a weird place for a date.’

Akamir thought, fixing his clothes as he walked on a mildly crowded street.

’..I was expecting something fancy from her.’

The small town near the capital had a quiet charm to it, just busy enough not to feel abandoned, just quiet enough to be comforting.

Cobblestone paths curved between houses, and the distant sound of the river hummed in the place.

Akamir walked to the spot where they were supposed to meet.

Nayomi floated close by as she looked at him.

Akamir noticed her gaze. "Something wrong?"

"I am still wondering...," she whispered softly. "Are you going to help Inara or not?"

Akamir didn’t respond for a while.

"I don’t know," he finally said. "I don’t see a reason to do so."

"People do a lot of stupid things when they are in love."

Akamir gave her a look. "I am not in love."

"Yet."

He chuckled softly. "It’s not that easy to make me fall in love."

Akamir was only in his early twenties when he died in his old world.

Even though young, he was far more mature for his age.

Living the life of a king wasn’t easy, and the constant war he was waging never helped.

Akamir kept his guard up, and because of it, he never fell in love.

No one could make him fall in love.

Akamir had heard being in love is a wonderful feeling.

’And I want to experience it once before dying.’

Finally, his steps slowed as he reached the centre of the town.

A lady stood there already, wearing a graceful sky-blue frock with a pink ribbon around her waist.

’For a princess, she really dresses like an innocent little girl.’

Inara, who wore a disguise as well, quickly noticed him and walked closer.

She smiled. "You look great."

They both wore simple clothes that blended into the crowd.

Akamir was in a loose shirt and coat and baggy pants.

Still, there was something about the way he carried himself that caught attention.

Even in disguise, he stood out.

He smiled. "You look beautiful as well."

Inara moved to his side and began to walk. "How do you like this place?"

"This place isn’t bad," Akamir said as they passed a bakery. "Doesn’t look like the type of town a princess would sneak off to."

Inara glanced at him with a faint smile. "That’s why I liked it. No one here looks twice. My maid used to bring me here when I was younger."

"Maid, huh?" he said, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. "Must’ve trusted her a lot."

"I did," she replied. "Until she tried to kill me."

Akamir blinked. "What?"

"She drugged my tea," Inara said, her voice steady. "Said it was for my nerves. I passed out, and she tried to smother me with a pillow."

"...That’s one hell of a maid."

Inara gave a quiet laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Turns out she’d been bribed. My older brother didn’t want me around anymore."

’Would she be glad if I told her that I technically killed him?’

Akamir thought against it.

’Still, now I know why she doesn’t mourn his brother’s death.’

Akamir didn’t press for more.

He just kept walking beside her, waiting until she changed the subject.

"Come on," she said, veering off the path. "There’s a forest trail here. I want to show you something."

Akamir nodded, but not before a jab. "Are you going to drug me?"

"Why should I?"

"I don’t know," he shrugged. "Maybe to have your way with me?"

Inara’s lips twitched. "You sure have weird fetishes."

"What?"

"What?"

"Hey, I was joking," Akamir clarified, glaring at her. "I don’t have fetishes for a beautiful woman to have her way with me."

"...You are being oddly specific now."

"Am I?" He tilted his head. "Anyway, I don’t have such fetishes."

"....Sure," she replied, though with a long pause. "Come on, follow me."

’What is wrong with her?’

He followed her without question.

The trees were tall and old, the branches filtered the light into soft green shadows.

The ground was scattered with leaves and small wildflowers, and for a while, they walked in silence.

After a few minutes, Inara stopped near a riverbank where the trees opened up to a view of the river along with a beach.

There was a small wooden bench, worn but still sturdy.

"This was my favorite spot," she said, walking over and sitting down. "When the maid brought me here, I used to sneak away and sit here alone."

Akamir sat beside her, letting the silence stretch for a bit. "Nice view."

"It’s more than that," she said. "It’s quiet. Peaceful. And I didn’t have to pretend when I was here."

"Pretend to be a perfect princess?"

"Pretend that everyone loves me," she whispered softly. "But in reality, they all want me to fall from grace." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Akamir nodded softly. "I get that."

"You do?"

He shrugged. "I’m not royalty or anything. But sometimes, pretending to be fine around everyone else gets old."

She looked at him. "So you’re not always fine?"

"Not even close."

Inara smiled again, this time more genuine. "Good. I was worried I’d be on a date with someone who had his whole life figured out."

He gave her a side glance. "Wait, are you into failure men or what?"

"You didn’t know?" she said, feigning surprise. "Wow. You’re slow."

Akamir leaned back against the bench. "I will pretend I didn’t hear that."

"It’s a joke."

"Sure, princess."

"No," she said. "I actually like spending time with you. You’re quiet when I need you to be, and honest when it matters."

"...I guess that’s better than being called charming."

"You’re not charming," she said flatly.

"Thanks."

"..."

"....."

She leaned slightly against his arm. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he said, resting his gaze on the river.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The breeze rustled the leaves above them, and the water flowed quietly below.

"Will you laugh if I show you something really weird?" she whispered softly. "Like really weird."

"...Well, that’s an odd thing to ask," Akamir mumbled. "But, I can promise that I won’t laugh."

Inara didn’t say anything right away.

Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, her gaze locked on the river like it might give her the courage to speak.

She stood up instead.

Inara turned her back on the river as she stood in front of him.

"Please, don’t do anything rash," she said once again, looking at him. "Just stay still."

She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

A whisper escaped her lips that Akamir didn’t quite understand.

It was like she wasn’t talking with a human.

A sudden rush echoed from throughout the forest.

Akamir instinctively took a defensive stance but still didn’t move.

Finally, they revealed themselves.

’What?’

Akamir frowned in confusion as he slowly looked at Inara.

...She stood at the centre, and hundreds of small animals flocked around her.

The animals didn’t charge or panic.

They just... gathered.

Rabbits with twitching ears.

Foxes with soft amber eyes.

Squirrels climbing the nearby trees.

Birds fluttering in to perch on low branches and even on Inara’s shoulders.

A few deer stood at the edge of the tree line, watching her quietly.

Akamir blinked slowly.

"Alright," he muttered. "That’s... definitely weird."