'Um.'

Akamir's eyes fluttered as he felt a hand gently rubbing his face.

He slowly opened his eyes as he found Inara by his side.

She smiled softly. "Good morning."

Akamir blinked twice as he looked around only to find himself in Inara's room.

'Urgh, right…last night.'

He let out a sigh as he dragged his body to lean on the bed's side.

"Good morning."

Inara handed him a glass of water.

"I fainted, didn't I?" she said, sitting down beside him. "It's embarrassing to think about."

Akamir didn't say anything as he took the glass from her.

His throat felt dry, like he hadn't spoken in days.

"Miss mermaid couldn't keep up," Akamir replied, placing the glass down.

Inara pouted softly. "Not a nice thing to say."

He let out a weak chuckle, then winced as a small throb pulsed through his head.

'I should have slept a little bit more.'

Inara stood and walked to the small table.

Akamir immediately noticed the marks on her naked body as she didn't try to hide them.

She took the towel before she looked at him. "Wanna take a bath together?"

Akamir sighed. "Sure."

Inara smirked at his answer and tossed the towel over her shoulder.

"Great. I already filled the tub."

Akamir pushed himself up, still a little sluggish.

His body ached, but it wasn't unbearable—more like the exhaustion after a long battle.

The kind that sank deep into your bones but came with no regrets.

He followed her into the bathing area, a small side room filled with warm steam and the faint scent of herbal oils.

Inara smiled as she grabbed his hand. "Let's go."

---

Akamir remained in the bath with her for almost two hours.

When they came out, they had dinner together before they once again were left alone.

"Are you going back now?" Inara asked, as Akamir looked out at the sky.

It was already close to ten and he had things to do.

"Yeah," Akamir said, looking at her. "I will…be going out soon."

"Hmm." She gave him a soft nod. "I will hold a funeral for Father today."

Akamir frowned. "Then I will stay—."

"It's fine, don't worry," she replied, leaning in as she gave him a quick kiss. "I can handle this much."

Akamir rubbed his temples as he looked at her.

Her silver hair was still damp, sticking to her face while her crimson eyes looked clearer than yesterday.

'Man, her way of coping with sadness is something else.'

Akamir sighed as he caressed her face gently. "Are you alright?"

Inara blinked then smiled. "I am fine. Thank you for worrying about me."

Akamir didn't respond right away.

He just stared at her for a moment, watching the way her eyes avoided his.

"You don't need to pretend in front of me," he said softly.

Inara chuckled. "I'm not pretending."

She leaned back against the couch, hugging her knees.

"It just… hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe after the funeral it will." Her voice was light, but there was a slight tremble at the end.

Akamir sat down beside her, resting his arms on his knees.

"You're stronger than most people I've met," he said. "But you don't have to be strong every second."

Inara stayed quiet, her gaze fixed on the floor.

The silence stretched for a while before she finally spoke again. "I know."

"By the way," she said, changing the topic. "Do you remember that girl, the apostle of goddess Morana?"

Akamir blinked, caught off guard. "…Yeah?"

"Of course you do," she replied, pouting slightly. "And here I was wondering if you would say no."

Akamir frowned slightly. "Why do you ask?"

"That girl is desperately trying to contact me," Inara replied, looking at him. "Should I talk with her?"

Akamir remained silent for a while before he nodded. "You should do it."

Inara narrowed her eyes. "What if she asks for something absurd?" she replied. "Like you."

Akamir didn't reply for a while before he sighed. "She isn't that stupid," he replied, standing up. "Anyway, I will be going now."

"Do I need to arrange a carriage—?"

"No," Akamir replied with a soft smile. "I can manage that."

Inara smiled back as she waved at him. "See you soon."

Akamir nodded. "I will."

He moved out of the room before arriving at the hallway.

Nayomi floated closer to him as she remained upside-down.

"Must be nice," she said with a smile. "Having a mistress."

Akamir wasn't in the mood for her jokes.

He glared at her. "Can you stop doing that?"

Nayomi blinked innocently. "What?"

"Spying on me," she replied. "Why would you watch when I was having sex with someone else?"

"What else am I supposed to do?" she replied simply. "It's not like I can just go away."

Akamir frowned but didn't say anything else.

When he arrived in a quiet place, Akamir summoned his crown as he opened a portal.

---

[Vyavan Dukedom.]

Akamir blinked as he found himself back in his bedroom.

'Urgh.'

A sudden headache made him swallow a groan as he sat down on the bed.

He leaned back on the bed as he let out a sigh.

'Right, the penalty.'

Even though it had lowered down considerably, Akamir still had his body paralyzed for five minutes.

It always happened when he traveled long distance.

The penalty for short distance is almost negligible.

Akamir let out a sigh as the door of his room opened up.

Surprise flashed past his eyes as he looked at the girl who walked inside. "Mika?"

The judge of apathy bowed deeply in front of him. "My Lord."

Akamir frowned. "How come you are here?"

"I had some news to deliver," she replied, looking at him. "Should I do it now or are you going to hold a meeting with the other sins?"

Akamir remained silent for a while as he looked at the woman.

He let out a sigh as he gestured her. "Please, tell me here."

Mika stepped closer and knelt in front of him.

"The church is ready to make a move."

Akamir's interest immediately spiked up as he leaned forward. "Tell me everything."

"We got information from Elore," she said, 'looking' at him. "Pope Elon has already made his plans to start a tournament."

Akamir frowned. "But there was a lot of time before it could happen, right?"

Mika gave a slight nod.

"Yes, but something's changed," she replied. "They plan to start the tournament in less than six weeks."

Akamir remained silent as he stared at the woman for a while. "For what reason?"

The tournament was a part of selection to find the most suitable husband for Zaina.

From what Akamir knew it was all but an elaborate plan of Pope Elon.

He was going to use the entire tournament as a way to let his grandson marry Zaina.

'But why would he start it earlier than needed?'

Unless…

Akamir's expression turned grim as he looked at Mika. "Is there outside interference?"

"It's as you say, my Lord," she nodded in agreement. "Elore told us that the people from the other side of the world are interested in Zaina."

Akamir's fingers drummed against his knee.

Mika remained kneeling, her expression calm and unreadable as always. "It is not yet clear who they sent or what their intentions are."

"It's already clear enough, Mika," Akamir replied, getting a grip on his body. "Anyway, what happened after that?"

"Pope Elon is in a desperate situation," she replied softly. "So, in order to not get them involved, he is changing the time of the tournament."

Akamir gave her a soft nod. "…I see."

But Akamir was sure this type of cheap trick won't work on them.

'I mean, they are more fucking advanced than the Pope here.'

Akamir really wondered if they have internet there as well or not.

He sighed as he got up from his seat, walking out of the room.

Mika followed right behind him.

"You said they're from the other side of the world," Akamir said, eyes fixed ahead. "What do we know about them?"

"Very little, my Lord," Mika replied. "Elore could only gather fragments. The group is secretive, protected by high-level concealment magic."

Akamir rubbed the back of his neck as he looked out of the window.

'I should do something about all this.'

He stretched his body as he thought of ways he needed to change his plans now.

'For starters, I need to find more about those people.'

Akamir was really interested in those from the other side.

The more he knew about them, the more he grew curious.

He wanted to see what their world looks like.

And to do that, Akamir had to find a way to get there.

'The port of Aure Kingdom will surely come in handy for that.'

Akamir thought as he once again thought of thinking more about prioritising their conquering.

'I need their royal family in my hand as soon as possible.'

Akamir already had an outline for how to do that.

'But first, I need to take care of the elves.'

He grunted as he looked back at Mika.

"Get ready," he said. "You are coming with me."