The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

After the dizzying whirlwind of the day, Argider found herself standing outside Elira's chambers in the eastern palace, one hand on the doorframe and the other cradling her stomach. She felt nauseous—not just physically but emotionally too. She rapped on the door lightly, feeling ridiculous for seeking out someone who had only recently been an adversary.

When Elira opened the door, her expression was a mix of confusion and mild amusement. "What on earth are you doing here at this hour? And... why do you look like you've just lost a battle?"

"I feel like I've lost several," Argider muttered, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. She wobbled slightly, and Elira instinctively grabbed her arm, guiding her to a nearby chaise.

"I'm starting to think you're addicted to dramatic entrances," Elira quipped, fetching a small vial from a nearby shelf. "Or maybe you're just bad at being pregnant."

"I don't need your commentary," Argider grumbled, resting her head in her hands. "I feel sick, and my back hurts. And my stomach feels weird. I didn't sign up for this."

"You didn't sign up for ruling an empire, either, but here you are," Elira said with a smirk, popping the cork off the vial and holding it under Argider's nose. "Breathe this in."

Argider did as instructed, coughing as the sharp herbal scent hit her senses. "What is that? Poison?"

"Peppermint and ginger oil, you dramatic fool. It'll help with the nausea." Elira rolled her eyes, pulling a stool closer and examining Argider's pale face. "Honestly, how are you this bad at being pregnant? Millions of women do this every day."

"Well, millions of women don't have assassins, scheming nobles, and... whatever Callista is, to deal with," Argider shot back.

Elira laughed, shaking her head. "Fair enough. But you're a week pregnant and already acting like you've conquered the ninth circle of hell."

Argider groaned. "I can't even sleep properly. I'm either too hot or too cold. And my feet... they feel swollen, but they're not."

"Welcome to womanhood," Elira said, smirking. "You're just getting started."

The teasing tone grated on Argider's nerves, but she was too exhausted to argue. As Elira busied herself mixing something in a mortar, Argider let her thoughts drift. Being a woman was harder than she'd ever imagined. She thought about the consorts, her mother, even the servants who worked tirelessly in the palace. Each of them had their own burdens to bear, and here she was, struggling after a single week of pregnancy.

"It's harder than it looks, isn't it?" Elira's voice broke through her thoughts.

"What is?"

"Being a woman," Elira said simply, setting down the mortar and looking at Argider. Her usual smirk was replaced with a softer expression. "Especially in a position like yours. People expect you to be strong, unshakable. But they don't realize how much it takes out of you." Continue reading stories on empire

Argider nodded slowly. "I've always admired women, you know. My mother, the consorts... Even you, though I hate to admit it. You make it look so easy."

Elira raised an eyebrow. "Easy? You think raising a son in a palace full of vipers is easy?"

"I didn't mean it like that," Argider said quickly. "I just... I didn't realize how much strength it takes. Until now."

Elira's expression softened further, and she pulled up a chair, sitting close to Argider. "You'll be fine," she said, her voice gentler now. "It's scary, yes. And childbirth? Terrifying. But you're stronger than you think."

Argider looked up at her, her eyes wide with vulnerability. "How do you do it? How do you stay strong?"

Elira smiled faintly. "You don't. Not all the time, anyway. You take it one day at a time. And you lean on the people who care about you."

The sincerity in her tone caught Argider off guard. She felt a lump in her throat and quickly looked away, not wanting to cry in front of Elira. But the other woman noticed and reached out, placing a hand on Argider's shoulder.

"You're not alone in this, you know," Elira said softly. "And as much as I love teasing you, I'll help you. Whatever you need."

Argider looked back at her, a small, grateful smile breaking through her exhaustion. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Elira said, her smirk returning as she stood. "You're still an emotional wreck, and I have a feeling you're going to be a nightmare patient."

She walked over to a cabinet, pulling out a small jar of ointment and a cloth. "Now, take off your shoes and sit back. I'll help with those 'swollen' feet of yours."

Argider hesitated but complied, wincing as Elira knelt and began massaging her feet with the ointment. "This is... oddly intimate."

"Don't get any ideas," Elira said dryly. "I'm only doing this because I feel bad for your unborn child. If you're this dramatic now, imagine what they'll have to deal with."

Argider laughed, the sound light and genuine for the first time that evening. "You're terrible."

"And yet you keep coming back," Elira shot back, a playful glint in her eye.

As the night wore on, the teasing continued, but so did the care.

Elira prepared a calming tea, adjusted Argider's posture to relieve the tension in her back, and even placed a warm compress on her stomach. Despite the constant jabs, there was an undeniable tenderness in her actions, a quiet reassurance that Argider hadn't expected but desperately needed.

By the time Elira helped her settle into a comfortable position on the chaise, Argider felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in days. She looked up at Elira, her expression soft.

"Thank you," she said again, this time with more sincerity.

Elira rolled her eyes but smiled. "Don't mention it. Now, get some rest before you start complaining again."

Argider's eyes snapped open as Elira turned to leave. Panic bubbled up in her chest, raw and sudden. She reached out, her voice unsteady and urgent.

"Wait! Don't go yet!"

Elira froze, her hand on the doorknob. She turned slowly, raising an eyebrow, her expression a mix of confusion and mild annoyance. "What now? Did I forget to tuck you in?"

"I'm serious," Argider said, sitting up. Her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together. "I... I don't want to be alone right now."

Elira's teasing demeanor faltered, her gaze softening. "Argider..."

"I'm scared," Argider admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down at her lap, unable to meet Elira's eyes. "I'm anxious. I'm exhausted. And I don't even know why I feel this way. Everything just feels... so heavy."

Elira sighed, stepping away from the door. She crossed her arms, her usual air of confidence replaced with uncertainty. "You're not exactly making it easy for me to leave."

"Please," Argider said, her voice cracking. She looked up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I just need someone to be here. Just for a little while."

Elira hesitated, clearly battling with herself. She wasn't the type to coddle anyone, let alone someone she had only recently reconciled with. But there was something in Argider's expression—so vulnerable, so raw—that made her chest tighten.

"Fine," Elira muttered, walking back toward the chaise. "But if you tell anyone about this, I'll deny it."

Argider managed a weak smile, shifting slightly to make room. "Thank you."

Elira sat down beside her, awkwardly at first. She looked like she wanted to say something snarky, but instead, she sighed and leaned back, her posture relaxing. "What do you need, exactly? Do I pat your head or something?"

Argider shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "No. Just... this is enough."

But it wasn't. Not quite.

A few moments of silence passed, the room filled only with the faint crackle of a nearby hearth. Argider shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Elira. "Could you... maybe..."

Elira raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out."

"Could you hold me?" Argider's cheeks flushed as the words tumbled out. "Just for a moment. I think I just need... I don't know. I'm sorry. This is embarrassing—"

"Stop apologizing," Elira interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended. She exhaled, shaking her head. "Fine. Come here."

Argider hesitated, then scooted closer. Elira wrapped an arm around her shoulders, stiffly at first, like she wasn't sure what she was doing. But as Argider leaned into her, the tension in Elira's body eased.

"There," Elira said softly. "Happy?"

Argider nodded, her face buried against Elira's shoulder. For the first time that day, the weight on her chest felt a little lighter.

"Don't get used to this," Elira muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Argider smiled faintly. "I won't. But thank you."

Elira shifted slightly, her fingers brushing Argider's arm in an almost absent-minded gesture. "You're like a clingy cat," she murmured, though there was a faint softness to her tone.

Argider chuckled weakly. "I guess I am."

Elira sighed, leaning her head back against the chaise. "Just don't start purring, or I'm leaving."

And in the quiet warmth of the moment, neither of them pulled away.