The Incubus System Chapter 1078. Not An Almighty Queen IV

The Incubus System Chapter 1078. Not An Almighty Queen IV

“Well, yeah,” I said honestly, scratching the back of my neck. “This is the first time I’ve heard a request like that… from a queen. It’s not exactly what I was expecting.”

Zalira’s face flushed a deeper shade of red, and she quickly covered her face with her hands, her tail flicking in what I could only describe as mortified frustration. “Don’t make it sound worse than it already is!” she muttered, her voice muffled behind her fingers.

I held up my hands, trying to defuse the situation. “Whoa, hold on! I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… shocked, okay? That’s all.”

Her hands lowered slightly, just enough for me to see her crimson eyes glaring at me. “Shocked? You think I wasn’t shocked by this too?” she said, her tone sharp but wavering. “Do you think I just wake up everyday wanting to… to be pampered? This isn’t exactly something I’ve ever asked for before. At least not from a queen.”

That threw me off. Her usual confidence was slipping through the cracks, and her words carried a mix of vulnerability and frustration that I hadn’t expected. I softened my tone, trying to match the shift in her demeanor. “Alright,” I said carefully. “So why now? Why me?”

She hesitated, her tail coiling tighter around her feet as if she were trying to ground herself. “Because…” she started, her voice quieter now. “Because I can’t ask anyone else. Not Elros.”

“Not even Elros?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded, her gaze flicking away from mine. “Yes. He’s loyal, and I trust him, but… our relationship is professional. If I asked him for something like this, it would create confusion. I can’t afford that—not with him, not with anyone else in my kingdom.”

I nodded slowly, starting to understand where she was coming from. “But with me, it’s different?”

“Yes,” she said, meeting my gaze again. Her blush was getting clearer. “We’re already… connected. Bound by a contract. You’re not just someone I rule over, and you’re not tied to the same expectations as everyone else in my life. I thought… I thought maybe, just once, I could let myself feel that. To not be the queen, but just… Zalira.”

My mind flashed back to our first encounter, when she’d acted so high and mighty, demanding I strip off my clothes and trying to assert her dominance. But now? Now she was standing before me, vulnerable and open, asking for something so simple yet so profound.

It was a contrast. The queen who had once looked down on me was now looking to me for comfort. For reassurance. And somehow, her request felt more intimate than anything else we’d shared so far.

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. My confusion must’ve shown on my face because she quickly added, “I know it sounds ridiculous. Even I think it’s ridiculous. But… I want this. I need this. Just for a little while.”

I blinked, stunned into silence. Her words hung heavy in the air, and I couldn’t help but compare her to Lord Damon. The parallels were striking—both of them powerful rulers who carried immense responsibilities, both of them hiding their vulnerabilities behind layers of strength and pride. ‘Are all royals born like this?’ I wondered.

Finally, I let out a slow breath, nodding. “Alright,” I said, my voice steady but warm. “If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

Her eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. “You will?” she asked, her voice softer now, almost hesitant.

“Yeah,” I said with a small smile. “But first, you’re going to have to tell me what ‘pampering’ means to you. Are we talking brushing your tail? Foot massages? Feeding you grapes?”

Her cheeks flushed again, and she looked away, clearly flustered. “No need to go that far,” she muttered, her voice softer than before. “I just… I just need some cuddling.”

That caught me off guard. “Cuddling?” I repeated, blinking.

“Yes,” she said quickly, like she was trying to get it out before she lost her nerve. “We did everything too fast last time, and… Mia was there. I don’t want her to see me like that.”

I raised an eyebrow, the surprise evident in my voice. “Even Mia has never seen you like this?”

Zalira hesitated, her tail curling slightly around her feet. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she nodded. “Yes. She’s my sister, but she still sees me as the queen. As her older sister. I have to be a role model for her.”

I leaned back slightly, letting her words sink in. It made sense—Mia looked up to Zalira, probably idolizing her. To see her older sister in a vulnerable or intimate moment might shatter that image. But still, hearing Zalira admit it felt… heavier than I expected.

“You’ve never let your guard down with her?” I asked, my tone softer now.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Not like this. I can’t afford to. She relies on me. The whole kingdom does. If I’m anything less than perfect, what does that say about me as a queen? As a sister?”

I exhaled slowly, folding my arms as I processed her words. “That’s a lot to carry. Even for someone as strong as you.”

She glanced at me, her expression conflicted. “I know. But it’s my duty. It’s what I’ve always done.”

“And you’re tired of it,” I said gently, meeting her gaze.

Her lips parted as if to argue, but she stopped herself. Instead, she nodded, the faintest flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m tired.”

For a moment, the room was quiet. I stepped closer, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and uncertain.

“You don’t have to be the queen right now,” I said softly. “Not with me. Just be Zalira.”

Her tail uncoiled slightly, the tension in her posture easing as she let out a small, shaky breath. “And you’re okay with that?” she asked, her voice almost hesitant.

I smiled, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “More than okay. Come on,” I said, gesturing toward the nearby couch. “Let’s do this your way.”

She blinked, her eyes darting to the couch and then back to me. “Just like that?”

“Just like that,” I said with a grin. “No judgment, no expectations. Just… cuddling.”

For the first time, a genuine smile spread across her face, softening her features in a way I hadn’t seen before. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice filled with a mix of relief and gratitude.