The Incubus System Chapter 1077. Not An Almighty Queen III

The Incubus System Chapter 1077. Not An Almighty Queen III

“You don’t have to be perfect with me,” I said, my voice low but steady as I met her gaze. “Because I’m not perfect either. You don’t need to be a queen when you’re with me—just be yourself. That’s more than enough.”

Zalira’s eyes softened, her regal posture relaxing as if my words had lifted some invisible weight off her shoulders.

The sword in my hand vanished in a swirl of dark energy, disappearing back into its ethereal resting place.

“Being a queen or not doesn’t matter to me,” I added with a faint smile. “I mean, I’m not exactly human myself, so... none of that royal protocol stuff really applies to me.”

Zalira blinked at me, then let out a soft, unexpected laugh. It wasn’t her usual sharp, guarded chuckle—it was warm, almost shy, and it caught me off guard. Before I could say anything, she stepped forward and hugged me again. Her arms wrapped around me with a kind of tentative warmth, like she was afraid I might pull away.

“I guess that’s what makes me feel comfortable,” she said, her voice muffled slightly against my chest. “The fact that I’ve found someone stronger, more powerful than me. Someone I can actually… trust.”

I paused. I understood what she meant. Being strong, being in control all the time—it wasn’t just a responsibility for people like Zalira and me. It was a survival mechanism. When you’re powerful, enemies and dangers don’t just go away. They grow. And every mistake, every moment of weakness, could mean disaster.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I get that. Being the strongest in the room isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her gaze steady but still holding a flicker of vulnerability. “You do?”

I nodded. “When you’ve got a target on your back, there’s no chance to rest. You can’t let your guard down, not even for a second. One wrong move, and everything you’ve built could fall apart.”

She didn’t say anything, but the way her grip on me tightened slightly told me I’d hit the mark. I hesitated, my mind wandering to the holy power she’d mentioned earlier. Maybe that was part of it, too. Maybe she felt the holy energy in me and found some kind of solace in it, like a balance to the chaos we both carried.

Either way, I was glad this was something good for her. She wasn’t acting high and mighty like before, wasn’t trying to push me away or put me in my place. Instead, she seemed… real. Open in a way I hadn’t expected.

I glanced around the room, letting the moment settle. “Oh, right. Where’s Mia?” I asked, changing the subject slightly.

Zalira let go of me and stepped back, her tail curling lazily around her feet as she answered. “She went to visit our cousins. The ones who hosted the party yesterday.”

“Is that some kind of tradition of yours?” I guessed, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded, her expression softening as she spoke about her sister. “Yes. They have a small gathering after the party is over.”

“And you don’t visit them?” I asked, tilting my head.

Zalira smirked, the hint of her usual confidence creeping back into her expression. “I’m the queen,” she said simply. “They should come to me.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Fair point. Why bother traveling when they can just bring the festival to you, right?”

“Exactly,” she said, lifting her chin slightly in that regal way she had. But the teasing gleam in her eyes softened the edge, making it clear she wasn’t entirely serious.

For a moment, the playful banter settled into a comfortable silence, and I flicked my gaze back to her. Her tail swayed lazily behind her as she studied me, her expression thoughtful but calm.

“So,” I said after a beat, tilting my head. “Since it’s just the two of us here… does that mean?” My words trailed off deliberately, leaving the question hanging as I gave her a dry smile that carried just enough to let her catch my meaning. ‘Is that mean you want sex from me?’

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she narrowed her eyes at me. “No,” she said firmly, her tone more flustered than strict. “It’s late, Damian. I need to rest.”

“Late?” I echoed, frowning slightly. I glanced at the ornate clock mounted on the far wall and realized she was right—it was past midnight. My internal clock was still scrambled from the time gap, and I’d completely lost track of how late it had gotten.

Zalira sighed softly, her usual composed demeanor slipping back into place. “I have a court to attend in the morning, and I can’t afford to be late. So…” Her voice trailed off, but the message was clear. She couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—entertain whatever suggestion I might’ve been hinting at.

I returned my gaze to her, watching the way her crimson eyes darted away from mine as if avoiding some unspoken question. “So,” I said slowly, my tone more curious now. “What do you want?”

Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she lowered her head slightly, her fingers rubbing her arm in a nervous gesture I hadn’t seen from her before. She was hesitating, her usual confidence faltering as she struggled to find the words.

“I…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… want you to pamper me.”

I blinked, frozen for a second as her words registered. “Huh?” The sound escaped me before I could stop it, the confusion written all over my face.

Her blush deepened, and she glanced up at me briefly before looking away again. “I… I said I want you to pamper me.”

The room fell into a stunned silence, and I could almost hear the gears in my brain grinding to catch up. “Pamper you?” I repeated dumbly, my Ethan-like side slipping out without a filter.

“Yes,” she said quickly, her voice sharper now as if trying to mask her embarrassment. “You heard me the first time. Do I really need to repeat myself again?”

“No, no,” I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “I heard you. I’m just… processing.”

She huffed, crossing her arms as her tail coiled slightly around her feet. “Is it really that strange?”