The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

Chapter 87 To Survive (2)

over the months, meloris grew accustomed to the palace's gilded chaos. it was no different from the slums she had clawed her way out of - just dressed in silk and gold.

venomous women whispered behind perfumed fans, perverted men schemed in the shadows, and greed dripped from every polished smile.

the only difference was wealth, but even the rich, she discovered, were ravenous.

hungry for power, for favor, for survival.

and so, meloris played the game.

she had seduced lord takresh with the precision of a blade, her beauty and wit dismantling his defenses piece by piece.

through whispers and glances, she ensnared others too, women of influence, maids who held secrets, soldiers who followed orders without question.

with each victory, her presence grew, and with it, the empress's disdain.

now, nine months later, she was on the brink of childbirth.

the once-quiet chamber was alive with noise.

a midwife barked hurried instructions, her hands slick with blood as she worked between meloris's trembling thighs.

the sheets beneath meloris were soaked red, clinging to her skin like the remnants of a battlefield.

sweat poured down her temples, plastering her hair to her face.

her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one trembling with pain and fury.

"argghh!" she clutched the bedposts, nails digging into the wood as another wave of agony tore through her body.

"push, my lady!" the midwife urged, her voice drowned out by meloris's guttural cries.

meloris's eyes burned, unfocused, as the room swirled around her.

the air was heavy with the coppery scent of blood and the stale sweetness of lavender, meant to calm but failing miserably.

her body convulsed with effort, her teeth gritted as she bared the pain like a warrior on the battlefield.

another scream tore from her lips, and the midwife cried out, "i see the head! one more push!"

she froze, her body tense.

"stop."

but she didn't. she moved faster, almost breaking into a run.

a hand reached for her, and she twisted, narrowly avoiding his grasp.

the sound of steel being drawn rang out, but she didn't stop.

argider whimpered softly in her arms, and the guard's shout echoed behind her as he gave chase.

the exit loomed ahead, a sliver of moonlight cutting through the darkness.

she pushed forward, her legs burning with every step.

the passage was there, just within reach. with a final burst of strength, meloris darted through the narrow doorway, the cries of pursuit fading as she disappeared into the night.

the cold air hit her like a slap, but she didn't falter.

outside, the chill of the night wrapped around meloris as she stumbled down the dirt path, her legs trembling with exhaustion.

suddenly, a creaking sound broke the silence, and meloris's head snapped up.

a wooden merchant carriage, weighed down with crates of fruit, rolled into view.

at the reins sat a lone figure cloaked in darkness, their face obscured by a hood.

"over here," the figure whispered, their voice low and urgent.

her heart leapt with suspicion, but there was no time to hesitate.

the knight, clearly one of takresh's men, leapt down from the carriage and motioned for her to hurry.

he yanked open the back, revealing crates of oranges, apples, and bundles of cloth. "get in. now."

meloris clambered up, careful not to jostle argider, and slipped into the cramped space.

the knight grabbed a thick blanket, musty and heavy, and draped it over her and the baby, burying them together with the fruits.

"you stay still," he hissed, his tone brooking no argument. "don't move, no matter what you hear."