The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

Chapter 110 Coward

Neron and Lanisya sat tangled in writhing vines, silenced by Elira's chloro magic. Their muffled protests sounded like distant squeaks, and the sheer absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on Argider. The room felt heavy with awkward tension. Traitors, secret half-siblings, sons she didn't even know she had, and a palace falling apart—it was like fate had decided to hurl every plot twist possible at her all at once.

"Maybe I should just resign," Argider muttered under her breath, leaning against the balcony railing.

Meanwhile, below, the palace guards were in full reprimand mode. Inspection teams roamed the corridors, barking orders at servants and scrutinizing everything from potted plants to decorative armor.

"Hey! You!" one guard shouted, pointing at a bewildered maid carrying a tray of tea. "Where were you during the commotion?"

The maid blinked. "I-I was in the kitchens, sir, making the tea... for you."

The guard hesitated. "...Oh. Well, uh, carry on then. But don't let it happen again!"

Another pair of guards interrogated a gardener trimming hedges near the palace entrance.

"Suspicious activity?" the guard demanded.

The gardener raised an eyebrow. "I've been trimming this same bush for an hour."

"Well, don't let your guard down! Intruders could be hiding anywhere."

"...In a hedge?"

Argider, from her vantage point above, groaned. "These are the people protecting my palace?"

Elira smirked, leaning against the doorway. "Your palace is a joke."

"Thanks for the reminder," Argider deadpanned.

The palace itself was a sprawling maze, segmented into wings for the empress and consorts. While some parts gleamed with opulence, others—the less favored consort quarters—were barely better than storage rooms. The imbalance mirrored Argider's rule, messy and chaotic.

Her gaze turned to Elira, now freed from her earlier bindings. "So, you're not worried I'll lock you up?" Argider asked.

Elira crossed her arms. "Should I be?"

Argider squinted. "Half-sister of Esmeralda, huh? Explain."

Elira's face hardened. "I am."

"And... what did my father-in-law do?" Argider pressed, the memory of Elira's internal world still fresh in her mind.

Elira's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You're so innocent, aren't you? Clueless about what the Sceptre Council's been doing right under your nose."

"What do you mean?"

Elira stepped closer, finger jabbing Argider's chest. "Your Empire—your rule—is built on tyranny."

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Argider defended.

"Exactly. You didn't do anything," Elira snapped. "That's the problem. While you've been busy floundering and—well, you can't do that anymore, can you?" Her gaze flicked downward with a knowing smirk.

Argider flushed. "L-Look, just get to the point..."

"You two," Argider said, narrowing her eyes at the duo, "don't make things worse."

Neron shot her a glare, his voice hoarse. "Are you sure about working with her?"

Elira glanced at him, then back at Argider. Her voice was steady. "Yeah. She's different. She's always been notorious for defying the council."

Argider let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of her head. "Haha... Notorious sounds... right, I guess. Good at making enemies, apparently."

The tension began to ease, but Argider's eyes fell to Kian, who was clutching Elira's hand tightly. His small, worried face tugged at something inside her—something new and fiercely protective.

She knelt down, meeting his gaze, her tone soft. "I'll protect your mama, okay?"

Kian's wide eyes flickered with uncertainty before he nodded, clutching Elira's hand tighter.

For now, the fragile peace held, but Argider couldn't help but wonder how long it would last.

"Thank you..." Elira muttered, her voice softer than Argider had ever heard it.

Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in Argider's head, startling her.

— [QUEST COMPLETED: Establish a connection with Kian]

— [Personality Trait: Oppenness ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Extraversion ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Agreeableness ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Neuroticism ▪︎ -5 EXP!]

...

— [Connection Points +20]

— [Loyal Points +10]

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[Processing...]

Ding!

— [New Familial Status: Kian Quenvale]

— [Connection ▪︎ 20]

— [Trust ▪︎ 10]

— [Understanding ▪︎ 0]

— [Emotion▪︎ 100]