The Incubus System Chapter 1028. The Holy Chamber I

The Incubus System Chapter 1028. The Holy Chamber I

It felt like another waiting game for me, but this time it was different. Much better. Mia sat beside me. The tension that had coiled in my chest before had eased. My mind wasn’t racing anymore, and I wasn’t constantly second-guessing myself. It helped to have her with me. But, I had to stay in my disguise, which meant no affectionate gestures. I couldn’t exactly risk looking suspicious if a servant or another staff member happened to walk in and catch us.

It would’ve been more than a little awkward. Still, Mia was right here, and the temptation to be closer to her lingered in my thoughts. But this wasn’t the time. It wasn’t safe, and I knew better than to let my guard down just yet.

Thankfully, the waiting game didn’t drag on too long this time. Only about ten minutes passed before a knock came at the door, and I immediately shot up from the couch. My instincts kicked in—if it wasn’t Zalira, I needed to keep up the charade.

Mia followed suit, sitting up straighter and saying in her usual calm tone, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and to my relief, it was Zalira who stepped in, alone. No Elros. No servants trailing behind her. Just her, though I could tell her eyes were scanning the room with suspicion.

Her gaze landed on me first, and I saw the flicker of confusion in her eyes. She didn’t recognize me, not in this form. Her brow furrowed slightly before she turned to Mia with a look that demanded answers.

“Where is he?” Zalira asked, her voice carrying a slight edge, the authority of a queen who wasn’t used to having her time wasted.

Mia exchanged a quick glance with me before standing up. She gestured in my direction, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. “He’s right here.”

Zalira blinked, her confusion deepening for a moment as she looked back at me. Her eyes narrowed as she studied my face, still not piecing it together. “You…?” she asked, her tone uncertain.

I cleared my throat and gave her a slight bow, trying to stay in character for a second longer. “It’s me, Zalira,” I said in my usual voice, though it was odd coming from someone else’s face. “I’m in disguise, obviously.”

Zalira’s eyes widened for a split second before a small, exasperated sigh escaped her lips. “Of course you are,” she muttered, shaking her head slightly as if to clear the confusion. “Should’ve known.”

I grinned sheepishly, stepping forward. “Didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention. Figured it was safer this way.”

Zalira’s eyes flicked over me again, her expression softening slightly, but I could still see the hint of unease behind her calm facade. “I suppose it makes sense,” she muttered, clearly still processing my disguise, but not wasting any more time on it. There were bigger matters at hand.

“Follow me,” she instructed, her tone authoritative. Without waiting for a response, she turned sharply on her heel and began walking toward the door.

Mia gave me a quick, reassuring glance before she fell into step beside her sister.

I followed behind and made sure to keep my head down, adopting the mannerisms of a lowly servant. The guards outside immediately straightened when they saw Zalira, their eyes scanning us, but no one raised any questions. Even though Elros wasn’t always by her side, the royal protocol dictated that she was never truly alone. There were always guards, always eyes watching. It made the palace feel even more stifling.

We walked down the long, labyrinthine corridors, the guards keeping their distance but always present, marching just behind Zalira and Mia. Since I was in disguise, I stayed at the back, keeping a few steps behind everyone, just as a real servant would. My head was bowed, my eyes flicking up only occasionally to get my bearings.

The palace was massive, sprawling in a way that made it easy to lose track. Every corridor felt like a new maze, each turn revealing more grand halls, intricate tapestries, and tall, looming columns. It was beautiful, sure, but also dizzying. The more we walked, the more I felt like I was navigating some kind of enormous puzzle. It reminded me of the towers in the demon world, but this place was different. This place spoke about history and tradition, unlike the palace in the demon world.

The further we walked, the heavier the air became. At first, I wasn’t sure what was causing it, but then it hit me. It was Puriel’s angelic power. The closer we got to her, the more I could feel it pressing down on me. It was subtle at first, like walking uphill, but soon, I felt my steps growing heavier.

Zalira seemed unaffected, walking with her usual grace, though Mia shot me a concerned glance as she noticed the slight change in my posture. I kept my head down, not wanting to draw any attention, but I could feel the strain of Puriel’s power pressing into me. It wasn’t painful, but it was unmistakable. I guess she was really a high angel despite her childish nature.

Finally, Zalira stopped in front of an imposing set of doors, the intricate carvings on the wood depicting scenes of serpents entwined with symbols of light and power. She raised a hand and waved it dismissively toward the guards.

“Wait here,” she said, her voice cold and commanding.

The guards immediately bowed, stepping back to take their positions outside the chamber.

Zalira turned to me, her eyes locking onto mine. “Except you,” she added, pointing directly at me. Her voice was firm, her gaze unyielding. “Follow me.”

I bowed low, keeping up the act of a loyal servant.

The guards moved quickly to open the large doors. As they creaked open, I could feel the pulse of Puriel’s power intensify. It was almost like standing at the edge of a great storm, at least for me. But it seemed it didn’t affect the others.