Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 138: Queen of Krivos [2]

[Royal Palace, Capital City.]

[Lucien’s POV.]

In the beautiful hallway, the sound of his boots echoed as Lucien walked toward the king’s chamber.

The guards who once stood upright at every corner now shifted nervously as he passed, their eyes avoiding his.

With the king nearly dead, they knew he was practically their new king now.

They knew better than to look him in the eye now.

He stopped by the large window at the bend of the corridor and peered out.

Below him, the courtyard brimmed with life of soldiers.

His army had taken formation hours ago—tight ranks, polished armor, banners flying high.

Elite units lined both the central courtyard and the palace’s outer gates.

Veterans of the campaign.

Generals that once kneeled before Aldirc now answered to him.

Knights that swore loyalty to the royal bloodline had quietly changed their allegiance.

Lucien watched them without emotion.

’Finally, they’re mine.’

The border was vulnerable.

The Aure kingdom flank was practically open, but he didn’t care.

’Let the kingdom bleed a little, I am doing it for the betterment of my people.’

He pushed open the heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor and entered the dimly lit room.

The scent of perfume failed to mask the stench of sickness inside.

A few candles flickered weakly on the shelves.

The large bed at the center of the room looked like a coffin with drapes.

And inside it, the king and his father, lay sunk into pillows, barely breathing.

King Aldirc’s once broad frame had become a shell of his past.

His hair had turned fully white, his lips dry and cracked.

But his eyes still opened as Lucien approached.

"Still not dead?" Lucien muttered under his breath, pulling a chair beside the bed and sitting down like he owned the place.

Which he firmly believes, soon, he would.

"You’ve grown cruel..." the king rasped.

Lucien smiled faintly. "And you’ve grown useless."

He leaned back, arms crossed, gaze steady on the dying man.

"I thought I’d drop by. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow. Ceremony and all. You know, the one where you name me king?"

The king didn’t respond. His chest moved slowly, like even breathing had become a task.

"Honestly, it should’ve happened years ago." Lucien clicked his tongue. "You waited too long, Father. Dragged your feet hoping he would come back."

He narrowed his eyes as he remembered his elder brother whom he killed with the help of Asher.

"My perfect elder brother, the one who died like a bitch."

Lucien stopped, gazing at his father’s reaction.

A flicker of something in the king’s eyes. Maybe guilt or maybe recognition.

Lucien leaned in slightly.

"I’ll say this... at least he didn’t beg."

King Aldirc’s voice came again, barely above a whisper. "Did you... poison me?"

Lucien’s smile vanished.

He stared at his father for a long moment, then laughed bitterly. "You know the answer already. Why bother asking?"

The king looked at him with eyes that didn’t seem to recognize his own son.

Lucien’s voice hardened, as he stared up at the ceiling.

"You should’ve handed it to me from the beginning. But no. You kept praising him. Grooming him like some golden fucking heir. And what was I?"

He stood now, pacing slowly. The words wouldn’t stop.

"I was the one who cleaned up his failures. I was the one who did the things he was too pure to touch. I watched your stupid council pretend I didn’t exist while I held this kingdom together from the shadows."

Did he actually do that?

No.

Lucien just believed that it was him who kept the kingdom in place.

He lived in his own delusional world but he only did one thing.

....He sold his kingdom to the elves.

He stopped at the foot of the bed, glaring down. "You made me a bastard in my own home."

Silence followed after that as the king didn’t say anything.

He simply looked at him, his face pale and eyes blank.

Lucien breathed out and forced himself to calm down.

His tone dropped into something quieter and colder.

"Tomorrow, I’ll take the crown. Officially. Everyone will watch it happen. Even the ones who hate me will bow."

He began to smile again, slow and venomous.

"And after that... I’ll start building something better than anything you ever made. A kingdom that doesn’t kneel to rotting traditions. A kingdom without soft rulers who die in their beds."

He stepped closer to the bedside and leaned down.

"Your generals will serve me. Your council will serve me. And your concubines?" He chuckled. "They’ll serve me too."

The king closed his eyes.

Lucien watched his expression for a moment, expecting anger, shame, fear. But all he saw was... pity.

"You’ve lost yourself..." the king said faintly. "I don’t know when... but somewhere, I lost you."

Lucien’s smug face faded for a brief second.

Then he straightened up.

"You never had me to begin with."

He turned on his heel without another word, walking out of the room before he did something more dramatic.

He didn’t need to as the old man would be dead within a day.

’I will kill him myself with my very own hands.’

The hall was quiet as he stepped out.

The guards at the door straightened quickly, saluting with stiff arms.

He ignored them and walked past.

Just around the next corner, a figure was waiting for him—tall, lean, and sharp-eyed. ƒreewebɳovel.com

His hair was tied in a braid, and eyes of deep obsidian colour.

Caldron grinned as he looked at him.

"You took your time," he said.

Lucien shrugged. "He was rambling."

The elf tilted his head. "And? Any problems?"

"None. He’ll announce me tomorrow and then drop dead." Lucien grinned. "Perfect ending."

He studied him in silence for a second. "And the army?"

"They’re in place," Lucien replied. "Just like we planned. The palace is locked down. Even if someone tries something, they won’t get through."

Lucien started walking again, the elf falling in step beside him.

His mind was still playing back the look in Aldirc’s eyes.

Pity.

What a joke.

He didn’t need his father’s pity. He didn’t need his love. He didn’t need anything but that crown.

Tomorrow, he would get it.

And after that, the real work would begin.

But.....

Just then he suddenly stopped as he looked back at him.

"Where is Inara?" Lucien asked, looking at the elf.

"She has been missing for a while." He replied, "you humans are full of incompetence, can’t even catch a girl."

Lucien felt his anger spike as he heard the elf.

"And what about you?" He asked, turning fully at him. "Why the fuck is Asher still alive even after taking the poison?"

"That... I don’t know." Caldron replied, shaking his head. "He must have a special physique or something."

Lucien clicked his tongue as he felt annoyance bubbling inside him.

"It doesn’t matter." He grumbled. "I will humiliate him before taking his life."

Lucien had a grudge against the new Duke for quite some time.

Had it not been for the restriction on him, Lucien would try to kill him a million times.

"I would have him as my slave." He said aloud, his lips curling up. "He will live until my wedding with Zaina."

Lucien hadn’t forgotten about the baron’s daughter whom he fell in love with.

He planned to marry her as soon as he became the king.

’No matter how strong-willed she is, that girl can’t say no to a king.’

"Ah, right." Lucien said, turning around. "Send the best of Aldirc’s concubines to my room tonight."

Caldron looked at him with utter disgust but nodded nonetheless.

Elves, being the creatures of nature, only ever fall in love once.

They despise those who have more than one girl in their heart.

His only job was to protect Lucien, not to interfere with his personal life.

"And find fucking Inara!!" Lucien snapped, taking in deep breaths. "She can still be sold to Aure kingdom!"

Caldron nodded once as he glanced out of the window only to freeze in place.

"What are you staring...."

Lucien’s annoyed voice slowly died down as he looked out as well.

With the sun dipping low on the horizon, an army marched towards them.

Leading the army was none other than Princess Inara.

For a moment, Lucien didn’t move.

"...That bitch," he muttered.

From the distance, he couldn’t see her face clearly, but her posture was unmistakable.

"Where the fuck was our intelligence!?" he snapped. "You said she was missing."

"She was...." Caldron whispered, unsure about that.

What could have happened with their intelligence?

Lucien didn’t have time to explore the possibilities.

"Alarm everyone!!" Lucien ordered to the nearby soldiers. "Don’t let that bitch inside no matter what!!"

Until this point, Lucien hadn’t understood one thing.

He was fighting a war he had already lost.

---

[On the other side of the palace.]

"Hmm...."

Akamir stood tall as he stared at the army stationed on the outside of the palace.

Hidden beneath the leaves of a large tree, he kept himself hidden.

The army was strong.

Though not as strong as the one at the forefront, it was still a strong one.

Nayomi floated closely as she stared at them from his side.

She glanced at the young man who calmly looked at the army.

"Can you handle them?" She asked. "I mean, I know you are strong but it’s still an army."

Akamir didn’t say anything as he stood up on the tree branch.

He stretched his body, smiling softly. "Who do you think I am?"

Nayomi blinked innocently then smiled. "A foolish boy?"

"Nah." Akamir said as he stepped forward.

His body falling down alerted the army.

"It’s King Akamir."

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