Chapter 20

The first thing I did in the morning was to visit the Imperial library. I want to learn what is a succubus. Looking back at our conversation, I was curious and worried that she suddenly disappeared.

"A Succubus?" I asked in wonder. The word seemed familiar, but I am not sure where I have heard of it. I am still in awe looking at her. I can't help myself to appreciate the beauty in front of me.

"Are you familiar with my being?" she asked while she leaned closer to me. She was batting her eyes at me cutely while showing her seductive smile.

"I am always attracted to you." As she slowly touches my cheeks with her soft hands.

"Your light is the source of my life." Her eyes are overshadowed with compassion. I gasped at how she intensely looks at me.

"Your presence brings lighten my darkened heart. What should I do without you? I almost lost myself when you were gone." What is it? It is as if she was confessing. I closed my eyes as I leaned on her touch. Her words make my heart happy.

"I don't understand. What do you want from me Aria? Why were you always appear in my dreams? Why I am feeling this way towards you?" I opened my eyes to look at her with conflicted eyes.

She opened her mouth as if to answer, but closed it immediately. She let go of my face and looked around the corner. Her posture became stiff and I could feel an immense aura she was emitting, making me hard to breathe.

"Father," she mumbled with greeted teeth. She fiercely looked at the corner.

"A-aria?" I called at her, gasping for air. The pressure is I feel is making me suffocated. She glared at me as she heard her name, but the moment she saw me gasping for her, the pressure was instantly gone and looked at me with a worried face.

"I, I apologize." Her face looked conflicted before she disappeared in front of me.

I could not sleep a wink last night and keep thinking about what happened. I waited for her the next day, however, only a letter coming from the Marquess Lavigne house arrived, apologizing that lady got sick and cannot perform her duty as my lady in waiting. I already anticipate the possibility, yet I could not avoid the feeling of disappointment.

And so I decided to be here in the library today.

"You may roam around and look for your desired book. You can leave me alone." I told my ladies in waiting.

"Yes, Your Majesty." They all bowed their heads and waited for me to walk first before they go on their own way. The Imperial is the most secure place in the palace. No one can enter it with the permission coming from me. It is the place where only the Imperial members can enter. Even the ladies in waiting are only allowed in a limited area only. The books collected were coming from the different parts of the Empire. The oldest records and even the sacred ones are secured inside this library.

I went to the restricted area where books about magical creatures are located. In the past, legends about different creatures were believed to have existed like dragons, phoenixes, and supernatural beings like angels and demons. As time passed, their appearance was slowly depleting and interaction with human beings became less. Magical and supernatural creatures soon became a legend with a scarcity of pieces of hard evidence to believe nowadays. Even my existence has been questioned, yet mostly believed that I am a Saintess, the Heiress, and savior of the Empire.

I searched on the shelves without asking for assistance from the Librarian. I knew the place very well. When I was a child, my life was surrounded by books, and every day, I always came here to read a book or two.

I finally found the book I was looking for. It was a thick black old book with a faded title Supernaturals: Myths and Beliefs.

I looked at the old pages and slowly and carefully flip each page. Dwarfs, Witches, Centaurs, and many creatures with illustrations were the first I saw. I was amazed at how many of these creatures were recorded. When I was about at the middle, I finally found what I am searching for. The Succubus. I looked at the illustration and I almost clicked my tongue. It brings no justice as to how they describe the appearance of the succubus. I slowly ready the content and returned the book after thinking deeply about it.

The ladies in waiting are already waiting for me when I arrived at the entrance. I was walking in daze processing the information I've read. How unfortunate that I cannot ask it directly to her. I guess I have to wait for the moment that she will tell me. I want to hear her reasoning.

What's more, is I feel odd myself. I should be afraid after I read the information about her kind, yet what I am feeling now is curiosity and at the same time, enraged as to the part was Succubus is known as deceitful being. And what am I feeling towards her? That fact alone is one thing I should not ignore.

As I was calming my nerve, I saw a familiar figure coming my way.

"Greetings to the Yin and Yang of the Empire, Your Highness, the Empress." Even the sound of the voice is the same. I looked at the person in front of me. If I am not mistaken, this person in front of me is Duke Ray, son of the former Emperor and my husband.

"Greetings Duke. Are you here for your sister?" I casually asked. I heard from Sarah, their mother the Duke doesn't like the palace for an unknown reason, that is why he chooses to be the retainer of the Dukedom instead of choosing to be the Prince and the second in a line with the crown.

"Yes, Your Majesty. My apologies for her misbehavior the moment she was with you. I heard that she was being rude in front of Your Majesty." He bowed down again his head as he said those words. His voice was very formal. His looks and built are like his father except for the hair. It was Sarah's.

"The Princess was not being rude at me, so don't worry bout it," I answered.

"I am glad to hear it, Your Highness." He answered shortly. He looks so frigid and I don't think he feels comfortable with my presence. I dismissed him and passed his way without looking back. My heart almost skipped a bit for a while because I thought it was Van, but it seemed like his son did not have his personality.

I was still thinking about Aria even after I arrived at my office.