The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Paradox (1)
“Then what?” Elira asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Argider paused.

Should she really explain? How could she?

After all, how could she even put into words that she’d been cursed to live in a state where she was dominated by her wives? Or that, until she redeemed herself, she’d lost her manhood completely?

It was ridiculous.

Here she was, still trying to get used to her new body, still not sure if she considered herself truly a woman.

The whole situation was, frankly, a confusing mess. Sometimes it stressed her out so much, she could barely keep it together.

“It’s a curse…” she admitted quietly.

“So you got cursed to be pregnant?” Elira asked, brows furrowed in disbelief.

“No…” Argider averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing. “I’ll get pregnant from my wives…”

There was an awkward silence, one that stretched on a little too long.

The words she just spoke must’ve sounded absolutely absurd to Elira, like something straight out of a bizarre comedy. She felt foolish.

Why her?

Why her out of everyone?

Sure, Esmeralda was a woman, but she was just as corrupted as Argider herself! What was the deal with that? How did she end up in this mess?

Elira stared at her for a moment, her lips twitching. Argider saw it. The faint glint of amusement in her eyes, the way her hand lifted just slightly to cover her mouth. “I-I’m sorry, Your Imperial Majesty…” Elira stammered, clearly trying not to burst into laughter. “H-hmm… I’ll think about what I can do for you…”

Argider just slumped into the cushions, feeling completely awkward and out of place.

What had she just confessed to? She hadn’t even fully wrapped her mind around it.

But before she could spiral further into embarrassment, Elira regained her composure and stood up. “Alright, I have an idea.” She gave a little nod to Kian, who was quietly playing nearby. “Kian, sweetie, can you run to the supply room and grab some herbs for me? I need chamomile, ginger root, and a few others. We’ll make sure the Emperor here is feeling her best.”

Kian blinked at the mention of his name, his tiny face lighting up with excitement as he scampered off, chattering to himself about finding the herbs.

Elira turned back to Argider, a soft, reassuring smile on her face. “You know, Your Majesty, being pregnant is not an easy thing. Especially with everything you’re going through.” She kneeled down beside Argider, her hands gently brushing aside a strand of hair from her face. “But I’ll help you. You need rest, and you need to take care of yourself, okay?”

The sincerity in Elira’s tone was warm, almost maternal.

“The herbs Kian is getting will help with nausea and fatigue, but you also need to eat small meals often, keep hydrated, and get enough sleep. I know it’s strange for you, but trust me, you’ll feel better if you follow these steps. I’ll be here with you every step of the way.”

As she spoke, Elira’s presence was almost comforting, her gentleness making Argider feel less like a freak of nature and more like someone who wasn’t completely alone in this strange new reality.

She felt a sense of calm settle over her, a relief she hadn’t realized she’d been craving.

“I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of,” Elira added with a wink, her tone light but sincere. “After all, it’s my duty to make sure the Emperor stays in one piece, right?”

I think my mommy issues just got triggered.

She could feel Elira’s soft fingers trailing gently over her arms, a touch that made her stiffen at first, unsure of its intent. Was this supposed to be intimate? Was Elira flirting with her? Or was it just her being overly nurturing? Whatever it was, it worked.

It calmed her down in a way she hadn’t felt in ages, soothing the storm of emotions in her heart.

“D-Don’t tell anyone about this,” Argider stammered, feeling a rush of heat creep into her cheeks. “I’m embarrassed…”

“Alright,” she said, her voice gentle. “It stays between us.”

Before Argider could dwell too much on the vulnerability of that moment, the sound of hurried little footsteps echoed down the hall.

Kian burst into the room, arms overflowing with bundles of herbs and a proud grin plastered on his face. “I got everything!” he chirped, dropping the supplies onto the nearest table with an audible thump.

“Good job, sweetheart,” Elira praised, ruffling the boy’s hair before turning back to the herbs. She moved quickly but skillfully, sorting the bundles with the ease of someone who’d done this a thousand times. “Alright, Your Majesty, let’s get you taken care of.”

A faint aroma of chamomile and ginger began to fill the room as Elira crushed and mixed the ingredients. She then brewed a small concoction, pouring it into a cup and handing it over to Argider with a knowing smile.

“Drink this. It’ll help with the nausea,” Elira said, sitting beside her on the bed.

As Argider sipped cautiously, the warm liquid seemed to ease the queasiness that had been annoying her. She hadn’t even realized how tense she’d been until her muscles started to relax.

Elira didn’t stop there.

She gently guided Argider to lie down, propping her up with soft pillows and wrapping a warm blanket over her.

As she worked, she hummed a soft tune under her breath, a melody so soothing it felt like a lullaby. Her hands moved with tender precision, brushing hair from Argider’s face and adjusting the blanket just right.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she blurted out, the words escaping before she could stop them.

“Because you need someone to be,” she said simply, her voice laced with both kindness and resolve. “You’re carrying so much on your shoulders, Your Majesty. Let someone take care of you for once.”

For a moment, there was silence between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Kian, unaware of the charged atmosphere, climbed onto the edge of the bed, proudly declaring, “I helped too!” His interruption brought a laugh from both women.