The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

[On-Going Editing]

The palace gardens were unusually quiet, the scent of blooming flowers hanging heavily in the air. Argider sat on a stone bench, nervously tapping her fingers against her knee. She was awaiting Mira, who had agreed—albeit reluctantly—to give her a lesson on deciphering human intentions.

"She's probably going to eviscerate me with her intellect again," Argider muttered under her breath.

Before she could dwell on her impending doom, Mira appeared, striding purposefully toward her with her usual stoic grace. Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and she carried a small notebook in one hand.

"You're late," Mira stated, her tone neutral.

Argider grinned sheepishly. "Technically, I was early. I've been sitting here for ten minutes. You're just later than me."

Mira arched a single brow. "A creative interpretation of time management, I see."

"Hey, I'm trying!" Argider said, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. "So, how do we start? Is there a secret handshake for reading people's minds, or do I just stare into their souls until they spill their darkest secrets?"

Mira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be a long session."

"The first step in deciphering human intentions," Mira began, pacing in front of Argider, "is observation. People often reveal their thoughts through body language, tone, and subtle facial expressions."

"Got it," Argider said, nodding. "So, like, if someone's frowning, they're probably mad, right?"

"Not necessarily," Mira corrected. "A frown could indicate confusion, concentration, or even discomfort. Context is key."

Argider leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Okay, then let's practice. What am I thinking right now?"

Mira gave her an unimpressed look. "You're either bored, hungry, or trying to distract me with frivolous questions."

Argider's jaw dropped. "How did you—?!"

"You're not exactly a mystery, Argider," Mira said, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Determined to prove her worth, Argider insisted on putting her newfound observational skills to the test. She spotted a palace servant walking by, carrying a plate of roasted chicken.

"Watch and learn," Argider whispered to Mira, her tone brimming with confidence.

The servant froze under Argider's intense stare. "Your Majesty?"

"Hmm," Argider mused, circling the poor man like a predator sizing up its prey. "You're tense. Shoulders stiff. That means... you're hiding something!"

The servant's eyes widened in panic. "I-I'm not hiding anything, Your Majesty! I swear!"

Mira crossed her arms, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Argider pointed dramatically at the chicken. "Aha! You're sneaking a bite before delivering that to the kitchen, aren't you?"

The servant blinked, then shook his head vigorously. "No, Your Majesty! I wouldn't dare!"

Mira finally stepped in, her voice calm and measured. "Argider, the man is nervous because you're accosting him. Not because he's guilty of anything."

"Oh," Argider said, deflating. "I guess that makes sense."

The servant hurried away, leaving Argider to rub the back of her neck sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I need more practice."

"Next," Mira said, "you need to pay attention to emotional cues. People often try to mask their feelings, but small slips can reveal their true emotions."

Argider nodded. "Got it. Like when someone says 'I'm fine,' but they're obviously not?"

"Precisely," Mira said. "Now, let's try a hypothetical scenario."

Mira adopted a neutral expression and said, "I'm not angry."

Argider squinted at her. "But you're totally angry, right? Your voice went up a notch at the end there."

"Not bad," Mira admitted. "But remember, this is just one example. Emotional cues vary from person to person."

"Alright, let me try," Argider said, clearing her throat. She plastered a wide, obviously fake smile on her face. "I'm completely confident in my ability to rule an empire."

Mira's lips twitched, betraying a hint of amusement. "That was... painfully transparent."

"Hey, I'm learning!" Argider protested.

Mira pulled out her notebook and handed it to Argider. "I've compiled a list of common emotional cues and their possible meanings. Study this."

Argider flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing. "This is a lot. Do people really think this much about how they act?"

"Some do," Mira said. "Others act purely on instinct. The challenge is determining which category someone falls into."

"Great," Argider muttered, slumping back against the bench. "So now I have to be a mind reader and a detective."

Mira regarded her with a rare flicker of sympathy. "It takes time. No one becomes adept at this overnight."

Argider sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I end up with wrinkles from all this thinking, I'm blaming you."

As the lesson continued, Argider found herself becoming more distracted by Mira's presence. There was something about the scholar's calm demeanor that was oddly captivating.

"Argider," Mira said, snapping her fingers. "Focus."

"Right, sorry," Argider said, shaking her head. "What were you saying?"

"I was explaining the importance of understanding someone's baseline behavior," Mira said. "For example, your tendency to daydream and avoid responsibility."

"Hey!" Argider protested. "That's not fair!"

"It's also true," Mira said, her expression unchanging.

Argider crossed her arms, pouting. "You're mean."

"And you're dramatic," Mira countered.

Their bickering was interrupted by a gust of wind, which sent Mira's notebook flying out of her hands. Argider lunged for it, but in her haste, she tripped over her own feet and crashed into Mira.

They both tumbled to the ground, Mira landing beneath Argider in an uncharacteristically undignified heap.

There was a moment of stunned silence as they stared at each other, their faces inches apart.

"You're heavy," Mira deadpanned.

Argider scrambled to her feet, her face bright red. "Sorry! I didn't mean to—uh—yeah."

Mira stood, brushing herself off. "Perhaps we should end today's lesson before you injure yourself further."

"Good idea," Argider said, avoiding Mira's gaze.

Mira led Argider to a quieter section of the gardens, away from the bustling palace staff. She pointed to a group of courtiers chatting under a gazebo. "Your task is simple: observe them and tell me what you deduce about their intentions."

Argider squinted at the group, leaning against a tree for cover. "Alright. Let's see... The guy in the red coat is obviously flirting with the woman in the green dress. Look at the way he's leaning in!"

Mira hummed noncommittally. "And the woman's reaction?"

Argider frowned. "She's... smiling, but it doesn't reach her eyes. So, maybe she's not into it?"

"Good," Mira said, nodding. "Now, what about the older man?"

Argider shifted her focus. The older man was standing slightly apart, his arms crossed and his gaze flickering between the other two. "He looks annoyed. Maybe he doesn't like Red Coat guy?"

Mira tilted her head. "Not bad. But you missed something."

"What?" Argider asked, leaning closer.

Mira pointed subtly. "His fingers. He's tapping them against his arm in a specific rhythm. That suggests impatience, not annoyance. He's waiting for something."

Argider blinked, impressed. "How do you even notice stuff like that? Are you part machine?"

Mira ignored the comment. "Let's move closer. I want you to interact with them and confirm your observations."

Argider approached the group, Mira trailing behind at a safe distance. She plastered on her most charming smile. "Good morning, everyone! Lovely day, isn't it?"

The courtiers turned to her, startled by the sudden intrusion. Red Coat straightened, his flirtatious smile faltering. "Your Majesty! We didn't see you there."

"Clearly," Argider said, her tone light. "What are we discussing?"

The woman in green tensed, her smile becoming even more strained. "Just the upcoming ball, Your Majesty."

"Ah, balls. Always so much... dancing," Argider said, trying to sound casual. She glanced at the older man. "And you? What's on your mind?"

The man hesitated, his fingers still tapping against his arm. "Nothing of importance, Your Majesty."

Argider frowned. Mira had been right—he was impatient about something. But what?

"Well, don't let me interrupt," Argider said, stepping back. "Enjoy your day!"

She retreated to Mira's side, whispering, "Okay, you were totally right. He's waiting for something. But what?"

"That's for you to figure out," Mira said. "Intentions are only half the puzzle. Motivation is the rest."

Argider groaned. "This is harder than I thought."

Later that day, Mira led Argider back to the library for a more theoretical lesson. They settled into a secluded corner, surrounded by towering shelves of ancient tomes.

Mira handed Argider a book titled The Art of Perception. "This will help you understand the nuances of human behavior."

Argider flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing. "This looks... dense."

"It's essential reading," Mira said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Argider sighed, propping her chin on her hand. "Why do I feel like you're enjoying this?"

"I enjoy efficiency," Mira said simply.

Argider smirked. "Sure, that's all it is."

For the next hour, Mira quizzed Argider on various scenarios from the book. Argider's answers ranged from insightful to hilariously off-base, leaving Mira alternating between mild exasperation and reluctant amusement.

At one point, Mira asked, "If someone avoids eye contact during a conversation, what might that indicate?"

"They're hiding something," Argider said confidently.

"Not necessarily," Mira said. "It could also indicate shyness or discomfort."

Argider groaned, slumping against the table. "Why is this so complicated?"

"Because humans are complicated," Mira said, her tone softening. "But with practice, you'll improve."

Argider looked up at her, a lopsided smile on her face. "You're actually pretty encouraging when you're not scolding me."

Mira blinked, her expression momentarily unreadable. "Don't get used to it."