The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

— [Congratulations! You Have Passed The Cognitive Trial!]

— [You Are Now In Stage Two]

— [You Have Gained The Following Rewards!]

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[Installed]

Ding!

— [Rewards #1: +1000EXP Magic Bestowal]

— [New Magic Bestowal Level: Level Ten]...

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— [Reward #2: +1000EXP in People's Perception]

— [New People's Perception Level: Level Twelve]

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— [Reward #3: +1000 EXP For Emperor Level]

— [New Emperor Level: Level Eight]

— [Reward #4: +150EXP in Loyalty of the People

— [New Loyalty of the People Level: Level Three]

All the trials were finally over. Argider groaned, her body sinking deeper into the mattress. Exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. She rubbed her temples, trying to will the throbbing headache away, but then she noticed something—or rather, someone—sitting beside her.

Red hair. Red eyes.

"Faeralys?!" she shrieked, bolting upright as if lightning had struck her. Panic surged through her veins. "H-Hi!"

The red-haired girl frowned, crossing her arms. "What's with the screaming? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Argider's mind raced. Wait. Didn't she just get accused of a litany of crimes? So why wasn't she rotting in some dungeon? Why did everything seem… normal? Peaceful, even?

"What are you looking at me like that for?" Faeralys asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

"Eek! Nothing!" Argider's laugh was awkward and forced. She scratched the back of her neck, trying to think of something to say. "So... I'm not in trouble?"

"In trouble? For what?" Faeralys tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. "That we fought off some kind of intruder together? You're fine."

"But isn't there anything else? Like… accusations?"

"Accusations? Why? What did you do?" Faeralys leaned in, her crimson eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Argider blinked, her stomach flipping nervously. Only one possibility came to mind: their memories had been erased. She glanced at her hand, and there it was—the faint outline of the hourglass mark. It had faded, now barely visible, but it still tethered her to that enigmatic Timekeeper.

Her shoulders sagged. She couldn't care less about that now; she was just tired. Bone-tired.

"By the way…" Faeralys's voice broke her thoughts. She sounded hesitant, uncharacteristically soft. "Why did you give me magic?"

Argider blinked at the question. "I… I don't know? Because I trust you?"

Faeralys stared at her, visibly taken aback. "You do?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I mean, obviously, I was reluctant at first," Argider admitted, her voice trailing off. "I had to choose between you and Uz—"

She stopped mid-sentence, her heart clenching. Uzak. Right. He was gone now. How long had it been? Had she ever even truly known him? She'd considered him her best friend, and now… now there was only an aching void where his presence used to be.

Her fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away furiously. Not here. Not in front of Faeralys.

But then she felt a hand, warm, soft. envelop her own. She looked up to find Faeralys staring at her, her expression gentle, almost tender.

"D-Don't look at me like that!" Faeralys snapped, her cheeks tinged pink. "It's just payment, you know! Payment!"

Argider smiled faintly. She knew better. Beneath that fiery exterior, Faeralys was a deeply caring soul, even if she refused to admit it.

Without a second thought, Argider wrapped her arms around Faeralys's waist, pulling her into an embrace. She buried her face in Faeralys's neck, inhaling her faint floral scent. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice muffled. Explore more stories with empire

Faeralys shivered. The sensation of Argider's nose and breath brushing against her neck sent an unintentional jolt of ticklish warmth down her spine. "W-What do you mean 'thank you'? I should be the one thanking you…" she stammered, trying to sound indignant.

But then, as quickly as the moment began, Faeralys pushed Argider away. The abruptness startled Argider, who blinked in confusion.

Faeralys turned her face away, her hand clutching her chest. Her heart was fluttering, betraying her usual stoic demeanor, and she hated it. It wasn't that she disliked Argider, far from it. But she couldn't allow herself to feel this way. She couldn't afford to.

"Faeralys? What's wrong?" Argider asked softly, concern lacing her voice.

"Look…" Faeralys hesitated, her voice wavering. "I don't want to do anything… intimate with you, okay?"

Argider's eyes widened in hurt. "But why?"

"Everything about this, about us, makes me uncomfortable," Faeralys admitted, her tone sharp but fragile. "I don't want to be just another woman in your collection, Argider. I'm not some trophy."

Her words hit Argider like a slap. She hadn't thought about it that way. "Then… do you want to leave the harem?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Did she? Yes. Absolutely, yes. The palace life suffocated her, drained her. She was nothing more than a tool here, a vessel for expectations she never wanted to bear. But… what would become of her family if she left?

"I… I don't know, okay?" she finally answered, her voice trembling. "I want to leave, but I'm just a girl. I can't really do much…"

Argider's hand reached out, gently brushing against Faeralys's arm. "Then you don't have to love me. We can still do our duties as wife and wife."

Faeralys let out a bitter laugh. "That's out of the question. You're a woman now…"

"But I can still try loving you," Argider said earnestly, her voice breaking slightly.

Faeralys's gaze softened, but her defenses remained. "Do you even know what love is?"

Argider opened her mouth, then closed it. She didn't know. Not really. Love was slow, deliberate - so people said. But her life had only been chaos, filled with fleeting connections and shallow alliances. Was there even room for love in a world like hers?

"No," she admitted, her voice heavy with shame.

"That's what I thought." Faeralys's tone was gentle but firm. "If you wanted to try loving me, why now?"

"Because…" Argider hesitated. "I don't think I would've been able to love at all before."

"I don't know, Argider," she said finally, her voice cracking. "I'm scared."

Before Faeralys could respond, Argider leaned in, their faces mere inches apart. Faeralys froze, her breath caught in her throat.

Argider hesitated, giving Faeralys a chance to pull away.

But Faeralys didn't move.

Slowly, reluctantly, she closed her eyes, allowing Argider to press a soft, tentative kiss to her lips. It was warm, delicate, and filled with unspoken promises.

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