The Incubus System Chapter 994. Meeting The Queen

The Incubus System Chapter 994. Meeting The Queen

Knock Knock Knock

A sudden knocking sound interrupted the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts. Both Mia and I glanced at the door, our conversation halted midstream.

“Come in,” Mia called, her voice steady.

The door opened with a soft creak, and a servant stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “The queen has summoned you both. She requests your presence in her private chambers,” he announced, his tone deferential.

Mia nodded. “Thank you. We’ll be there shortly,” she replied, her voice calm and composed.

The servant exited, closing the door behind him. I felt a wave of nervous anticipation wash over me. Mia and I stood up, ready to face what was undoubtedly a crucial moment in our mission. Almost instinctively, I began tidying up my clothes, smoothing out any wrinkles and adjusting the lapels of my suit. It was a small, almost subconscious gesture, but it reminded me of how I used to prepare for job interviews back in my human life—before everything changed, before the rat demons had killed me.

‘Old habits die hard,’ I mused, half-smiling at the thought. The nervousness I felt now was eerily similar to what I had experienced before that interview. The only difference was the stakes. Back then, I was nervous because I wanted to land a job, to secure my place in the mundane world of human existence. Now, I was nervous because I was about to meet a queen privately, someone with the power to shape the outcome of our mission, and perhaps, the fate of an entire kingdom.

‘I wonder why I didn’t feel this nervous when I first met Lord Damon?’ I thought, a fleeting sense of irony crossing my mind. But then, as I reflected, the answer became clear. Meeting Lord Damon hadn’t been a scheduled or anticipated event; it had been a moment of sheer terror. He had appeared without warning, in the middle of my battle with that incubus. There had been no time for nervousness, only the raw, primal fear of facing the demon king himself, the ruler of the dark dimension. That was a different kind of meeting altogether, one where survival instinct took precedence over any other emotion.

Mia noticed my fidgeting and gave me a reassuring smile. “You’ll be fine, Damian. Just be yourself,” she said, her voice soothing. “Zalira may be a queen, but she’s also my sister. She’s fair, even if she’s strict.”

I nodded, appreciating her attempt to calm my nerves. “Yeah, I know. It’s just… this is different. I’m used to dealing with royal demons, not human royalty. The dynamics are… more delicate.”

“True,” Mia agreed, as we made our way toward the door. “But remember, you’ve faced worse. This is just another challenge.”

We stepped out of the room and into the corridor, the servant was waiting for us, ready to lead the way. The hallways of the palace were quiet, the echoes of our footsteps the only sound as we walked. The ornate decorations lining the corridor blurred into a tapestry of colors and textures as I focused on what I should say to the queen.

'I hope that Elros guy isn’t there,' I thought, though I knew it was wishful thinking. As her main bodyguard, there was no way he would leave Zalira alone, especially in a private meeting like this.

I also couldn’t shake the feeling that there would be some kind of protocol before we were allowed to enter the queen’s chambers. After all, this was a royal audience, and security would be paramount. They would likely check us for any potential threats, and make sure we weren’t carrying anything dangerous. My mind raced through possible scenarios, preparing myself for whatever might come.

Once we reached the door to the queen’s private chambers, I noticed the two guards stationed there. Their presence was imposing, each of them exuding the calm, lethal energy of top demon hunters. They weren’t just ordinary guards; these were elite warriors, skilled in the art of killing both demons and human intruders. Their gazes were sharp, their stances unwavering.

Above the door, I spotted a sophisticated demon alarm, the advanced type. It wasn’t just standard security like for the usual buildings. The technology didn’t seem to come from Emma’s father’s company, which was surprising. It appeared to be developed by the Serpent Kingdom itself.

The servant who had escorted us stopped in front of the door and gestured for us to enter. I hesitated for a split second, half-expecting the guards to move, to step forward and search me. After all, they didn’t know who I truly was; to them, I could be just another human, potentially an intruder or a criminal with harmful intentions toward the queen. But to my surprise, they remained still, their eyes forward, showing no inclination to check us over.

I stole a glance at Mia, who gave me a reassuring nod. She knew the process, so I decided to follow her lead. Perhaps it was her presence, her status, that granted us this unchallenged passage. Or maybe the Serpent Kingdom’s security was so confident in their technology and protocols that they didn’t see the need for manual checks. Either way, it put me slightly on edge, though I kept my composure.

We stepped closer and entered the room without any problem. The demon alarm didn’t detect me, as always, since I had hidden my demonic aura.

Inside, the chamber was vastly different from Mia’s room. At the far end, massive curtains framed an open view, allowing us to see the queen inside. The room was filled with luxurious furnishings and ornate carpets.

The air was fragrant with the scent of rare flowers, and the gentle hum of quiet conversation and soft music created an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. Queen Zalira lay on a chaise longue, her posture casual yet commanding. Several maids attended to her, massaging her shoulders and feet or tail to be precise, ensuring her comfort.