Incubus system

Dream walking

Guards took Krul away as healers rushed to check on Arthur. He waved them off, standing tall despite feeling tired.

[Your Honor, great job! From nobody to hero in one day. The crowd loves it.]

The nobles were now talking about Arthur with interest instead of dismissing him.

Several lords who never paid attention to him before were now looking at him thoughtfully. Most interesting was Lady Valentina Blackrose, who got up from her seat and came toward him.

"Prince Arthur," she purred in a smooth voice. Up close, she was striking—sharp cheekbones, cunning green eyes, and a sly little smile. "How intriguing to find out you've been keeping such... skills."

[Emotional Reading]

[Lady Valentina Blackrose: Interest 75%, Suspicion 60%, Lust 45%]

"Lady Blackrose," Arthur bowed slightly. "I'm as surprised as anyone."

She laughed, a controlled musical sound. "Somehow I doubt that." "Perhaps we should discuss this unexpected development. House Blackrose values those who exceed expectations."

Arthur was about to respond when a shadow fell over them. Gareth had arrived, his impressive figure drawing the crowd's attention. Unlike Arthur's slim build, Gareth was broad-shouldered and muscular, naturally commanding. He looked furious.

"Brother," Gareth said sharply. "It seems I've missed quite a show."

[Emotional Reading]

[Prince Gareth: Suspicion 85%, Anger 70%, Fear 25%]

"Just making sure the Lionheart line continues," Arthur replied smoothly. "Someone seems rather eager to thin our ranks."

They locked eyes, with obvious tension.

Arthur figured this was likely the first time he'd ever stood up to his big brother.

"Too bad I wasn't here to keep you safe," Gareth said with a smile that didn't quite match his eyes.

"Though it appears you've developed new... talents."

"We all have our hidden depths," Arthur replied.

Valentina watched their exchange with obvious interest. "The tournament becomes more interesting by the hour," she remarked.

King Roderick's voice cut through the tension as he addressed everyone. "The attempt on Prince Arthur's life is a serious matter that will be thoroughly investigated." He stood straighter, showing his royal authority. "Let it be known that any attack on the royal family is treason, punishable by death."

He turned to Arthur, looking at him with new assessment. "Prince Arthur has shown unexpected skill today. The Tournament of Succession continues in two days with the Trial of Arcane Mastery."

Arthur's stomach dropped. Magic. His weakest area. Without his incubus abilities, he'd be helpless in a magic contest—and he couldn't exactly drain people's energy through sex in public.

[System Alert: Magic Trial in 2 Days]

[Recommended: Replenish Energy for Magic Enhancement]

As the crowd broke up, the king approached his sons. "Arthur," he said, his voice gruff but lacking its usual disappointment, "report to Lord Castellan for extra security. Gareth, come with me to question this assassin."

Gareth nodded, giving Arthur one last suspicious look before following their father.

Valentina stayed behind, her perfume—spicy flowers and something darker—teasing Arthur's enhanced senses.

"You should be careful, Prince Arthur," she murmured. "Suddenly becoming interesting makes you both valuable and dangerous." Her fingers traced a pattern on his arm. "Come to the east courtyard at midnight if you wish to discuss potential... alliances."

She left with a knowing smile, leaving Arthur wondering if she was offering partnership, information, or something more intimate.

[Lady Valentina: Potential Harvest Target]

[Recommendation: Restore Energy before Magic Trial]

Arthur returned to his rooms as evening fell, thinking about everything that had happened. Servants bowed deeper than usual, guards stood straighter, and even passing nobles acknowledged him with evaluating glances. One show of skill had transformed him from a forgettable spare heir to a player in the game.

His body ached from the combat, even with his enhanced abilities. He sat in a chair as a servant poured wine and left, leaving him alone with his thoughts—and the system.

[Energy: 45/100]

[Status: Fatigued from Combat Mode use]

[Notification: Dream Walking ability ready for testing]

Arthur sipped his wine, thinking about what to do next. The Trial of Arcane Mastery was just two days away, and in his current state, he'd be destroyed. He needed more power.

"Tell me more about Dream Walking," he murmured.

[Dream Walking allows you to enter another's dreams while they sleep. You can extract information, plant suggestions, or engage in ahem intimate activities that build connection without physical presence.

Cost: 20 Energy. Range: Within 20 meters of sleeping target. Duration:

30 minutes.]

Arthur considered his options. He needed to test this ability before meeting Valentina at midnight—the duchess was clearly dangerous, possibly an ally, but not someone to approach unprepared.

A gentle knock interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he called.

Lily appeared with fresh towels, eyes downcast but blushing. "Your bath is ready, my prince."

[Maid Lily: Loyalty 95%, Lust 90%]

[Optimal Dream Walking Target: Familiar, Loyal, Nearby]

"Thank you, Lily." Arthur studied her, noticing how she trembled slightly under his gaze. "You'll be going to bed soon?"

"Yes, my prince. My room is just down the hall." Her eyes briefly met his before dropping again. "I... I am always at your service."

The invitation was clear, but Arthur had different plans. "Good night then, Lily."

After bathing and changing into night clothes, Arthur lay on his bed, waiting. The palace grew quiet as midnight approached. He had about an hour before meeting Valentina—enough time to test Dream Walking.

[Initiate Dream Walking: Target Maid Lily? Cost: 20 Energy]

"Yes," Arthur whispered.

The room blurred around him. A sensation like falling backward through honey enveloped him, his consciousness stretching before snapping into a new reality—Lily's dreamscape.

[Dream Walking Initiated]

[Energy: 25/100]

[Duration: 30 minutes]

Arthur found himself in a simplified version of his chambers, colors more vivid, proportions slightly wrong. Dream-Lily was making his bed, humming softly. Unlike reality, her uniform was more revealing, the bodice lower, the skirt higher—a manifestation of her self-image in this private fantasy.

"Lily," he called softly.

She turned, eyes widening. "My prince! You're... you're in my dream." Unlike the shy servant in real life, dream-Lily seemed less inhibited, moving toward him with open desire.

"I am. And I can control what happens here." To demonstrate, Arthur changed the setting with a thought, transforming his chambers into a luxurious bath house with steaming pools.

Dream-Lily gasped in delight. "How are you doing this?"

"Magic," Arthur replied, moving closer. "I need information, Lily. In exchange, I can make this dream everything you desire."

Her eyes darkened with lust. "Anything, my prince."

"Tell me what you know about the assassination attempt. Have you heard whispers among the servants?"

Dream-Lily's expression shifted, her subconscious bringing forth information her waking mind might have hidden. "Lord Ironwood's man was speaking with one of Krul's companions last week.

They exchanged money in the stables." She bit her lip. "And Prince Gareth... he was meeting secretly with Ironwood yesterday. I brought them wine. They stopped talking when I entered."

Arthur absorbed this, unsurprised but now more certain. His own brother was likely behind the attempt. "What about Lady Valentina? What do servants say about her?"

"She knows everyone's secrets," dream-Lily whispered, moving closer. "They say she practices blood magic, that she can see through the eyes of her ravens. The king asks her advice, though not openly." Her hands reached for his chest. "She's taken many lovers, but none last. Some disappear entirely."

Valuable information, freely given from Lily's subconscious observations. Arthur rewarded her by letting the dream progress as she wanted—a passionate encounter that left dream-Lily gasping in pleasure but took no additional energy from him, as this was merely a dream.

As his time neared its end, Arthur planted a subtle suggestion: "If anyone asks about me, about any changes you've noticed, you'll feel confused and remember nothing unusual."

Dream-Lily nodded dreamily. "Nothing unusual about my prince..."

[Dream Walking Complete]

[Information Gathered: Assassination Plot Connection, Valentina Intelligence]

[Suggestion Planted: Memory Confusion]

[Energy: 25/100]

[Warning: Energy Reserves Low]

Arthur gasped as he returned to his body, feeling light-headed but excited. Dream Walking was powerful—he could gather intelligence, plant ideas, and build loyalty, all without physically exhausting himself.

He glanced at the window. Midnight approached. Lady Valentina awaited.