The Incubus System Chapter 1023. Very Demure

The Incubus System Chapter 1023. Very Demure

Zalira’s eyes flicked between Mia and me, her lips pressed into a thin line. She looked like she wanted to argue, to push back, but after a long, tense moment, she sighed. I could see the reluctance etched on her face. Finally, she spoke.

"Fine. I agree," she said, her voice firm but tinged with unease. "But I need time to turn off the barrier. It’s not as simple as flipping a switch. I’ll have to do it fast, and as discreetly as possible. If anyone finds out…"

She trailed off. The kingdom’s stability was fragile. The mere hint that the queen was tampering with something as significant as the barrier could cause unrest, spark rumors, and embolden her political opponents. They would jump on any opportunity to undermine her authority, and something like this? It would be a gift to them.

"I understand," I said, nodding solemnly. "I’ll stand by near the palace. When the barrier is down, I’ll use my teleportation skill to get inside. No one will notice."

Zalira narrowed her eyes slightly, still wary, but she nodded in agreement. "Alright. That should work. But you have to be quick, Damian. Once the barrier’s down, I won’t be able to keep it off for long without drawing attention. And if anyone even suspects what we’re doing…"

"I get it," I interrupted gently. "We’ll keep it quiet. I’m not looking to start a war, Zalira."

She studied me for a moment longer, then glanced at Mia. "One hour. Give me one hour to take care of it. Once you get in, we’ll meet in Mia’s room."

Mia smiled, relief clear on her face. "Alright. I’ll make sure everything’s ready."

Zalira raised an eyebrow. "Everything?"

Mia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I’ll prepare a staff uniform for Damian. He’ll need to blend in if he’s going to move freely with us."

Zalira’s lips twitched into the faintest of smiles before she nodded. "Good idea. We can’t afford to draw attention."

With the plan set, Mia and I excused ourselves and left Zalira’s chamber. The door closed behind us. The moment we stepped out into the hallway, Elros was there. He gave me an unamused look, his lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. He didn’t say anything, but his expression spoke volumes. He didn’t trust me, and he wasn’t shy about showing it.

I couldn’t really blame him. From his perspective, I was an outsider, and Zalira was spending too much time with me. But even if I understood his frustration, it didn’t mean I had to like him.

I offered him a polite smile, my voice casual as I greeted him. " Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Sunblade."

He gave me a stiff nod, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It’s fine, Mr. Lucio." He didn’t need to say anything more for me to know what was going through his head. He thought I was a threat, and he wasn’t entirely wrong. But I wasn’t here to cause trouble—at least not the kind he imagined.

Still, I had enough on my plate. I wasn’t interested in turning Elros into another Nathan. I’d had enough of dealing with jealous men who thought they could control everything. So I kept my smile in place, gave him a nod, and moved on.

We walked in silence for a while, Mia’s footsteps light beside me. The grand hallway stretched before us. A sigh escaped my lips, though I tried to keep it quiet. It wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot. But at least the negotiation was done. At least I’d managed to bring Zalira to our side. That, in itself, was a victory, even if it felt temporary.

With this, the plan to free Puriel and take over the demon hunter association was just a matter of time. Well, taking over the association would take more time, probably more than I wanted to admit. They were deeply entrenched, and they wouldn’t fall easily. But freeing Puriel? That could happen soon, maybe even quicker than I originally thought. I had one hour, and then we would be moving forward.

I mulled over the challenges that remained. The first problem was obvious, Zalira’s fear of what would happen to her kingdom’s economy. The serpent kingdom had thrived for centuries by siphoning power from Puriel. That power had become their main commodity, their lifeblood. Without it, the entire system might collapse. Zalira had every reason to be afraid of that. I could practically feel her anxiety when she talked about it.

But the second fear was trickier, and more personal. Zalira was terrified that once Puriel was freed, she would seek revenge. After all, the serpent kingdom had been using her power to create the holy vaccine, the very thing that made demon hunters what they were. They’d siphoned her strength, kept her imprisoned, and turned it into a weapon against demons like me. If Puriel decided to unleash her wrath, the serpent kingdom would likely be her first target.

As long as I could solve those two problems, things should go smoothly. Well, us. Me and Puriel. This wasn’t something I could do alone. I needed her consent for this—needed her to understand that there was a path forward that didn’t end in bloodshed or destruction.

‘I’m a thoughtful demon, am I?’ I thought ironically.

Yeah, very thoughtful, very mindful, very demure.

I glanced over at Mia, who had been quiet during our walk. Her face was also set in a thoughtful expression, as if she were running through the same calculations I was.

“Don’t be too tense,” I said softly, my voice breaking through the silence.

Mia looked up at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions—worry, hope, uncertainty. I could tell she was feeling the gravity of the decisions we’d already made. But I needed her calm. I needed her to be steady. “Just follow the path. We’ve already made it halfway,” I added.

Mia nodded in reply.