The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: The Cleansing Begins (1)
Argider strolled through the palace gardens with Sylva, the sun casting a warm glow over the fragrant blossoms. Despite the serene setting, her thoughts were far from peaceful. The events with the butler earlier still lingered in her mind, a nagging reminder of how vulnerable she was—especially now, with her condition. Sylva walked beside her, her children running ahead to chase butterflies.

“Thank you for earlier,” Argider finally said, breaking the silence. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. You might’ve saved more than just me today.”

Sylva smiled warmly. “It’s what anyone would’ve done.” She glanced at Argider, her expression thoughtful. “But, Your Majesty, I can’t help but notice… You’ve been running yourself ragged trying to handle everything on your own. You’re the emperor—well, empress now. You don’t have to bear every burden yourself.”

Argider sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I know, but who else can I trust? The truth about people is so hard to discern. Even the butler—someone I thought I could rely on—turned out to be dangerous.”

Sylva tilted her head, considering. “Then why don’t you get a lady-in-waiting?”

Argider blinked. “A lady-in-waiting? You mean like a glorified tea-fetcher?”

Sylva chuckled. “Not exactly. Think of her as a confidant. Someone to help with your daily needs and keep an eye on things. Traditionally, it’d be a lord-in-waiting, but since you’re a woman now…” She shrugged with a sly grin.

Argider crossed her arms. “And where am I supposed to find someone trustworthy enough for that? Should I pluck a name out of a hat?”

Sylva stopped walking and turned to her, her gaze steady. “Start by surrounding yourself with servants you trust. It’s no secret that some of the palace staff have been vanishing lately. Maybe it’s time to cleanse the palace—find new people, loyal people.”

Before Argider could respond, a translucent screen materialized in front of her, startling her so much she nearly tripped.

[System Notification: Quest Received]

[Objective: Replace all servants and recruit new, loyal staff.]

[Reward: Increased security and peace of mind.]

[Optional: Find a trustworthy lady-in-waiting for bonus rewards.]

Argider stared at the notification, her jaw slack. “Is this really the time, system? A palace cleanse? Do you think I have nothing better to do?!”

Sylva raised an eyebrow. “Talking to yourself again, Your Majesty?”

Argider waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing! Just a… never mind. You’re right. I need to deal with the staff situation. But where do I even begin?”

Sylva smiled, her children now returning to her side. “Start small. Talk to your head servants. Make it personal.”

Days later, Argider found herself seated in the staff hall, flanked by the head servants: Head Chef Brimley, stern and portly; Housekeeper Idella, a no-nonsense woman with a sharp tongue; and Gardener Greer, a lanky man with dirt perpetually under his nails. They had gathered to interview potential recruits, and to her horror, Argider was expected to participate.

“Is this really necessary?” Argider groaned, slumping in her chair.

Idella adjusted her spectacles, shooting her a sharp look. “Of course it is. You wanted trustworthy people, didn’t you? Now, sit up straight and act like an emperor.”

“I’m an empress now,” Argider muttered under her breath.

The first applicant walked in—a wiry young man with shifty eyes. He bowed deeply, his movements exaggerated.

Brimley cleared his throat. “State your name and your skills.”

“Name’s Joff. I’m good with… everything.”

“Everything?” Argider raised an eyebrow. “Can you juggle flaming swords while reciting poetry?”

Joff hesitated, his confidence faltering. “Well, uh, not that.”

Brimley leaned forward, his massive hands clasped. “Can you at least cook?”

Joff grinned nervously. “Define… cook.”

Argider buried her face in her hands. “Next!”

The next applicant was a woman with a beaming smile. “My name is Pippa! I’m great with children and can sew like a dream.”

Idella nodded approvingly. “And your past experience?”

“I worked for a merchant family. I also, uh… accidentally burned down their kitchen once. But that was years ago!”

Argider blinked. “Accidentally? Did the kitchen offend you?”

Pippa chuckled nervously. “No, no! It was a misunderstanding with some oil and… a candle.”

Gardener Greer scratched his chin. “Can you promise not to burn this kitchen down?”

Pippa nodded earnestly. “Absolutely! I’ve learned so much since then.”

Argider exchanged a glance with Brimley. “Let’s keep her on the ‘maybe’ list,” she whispered.

The next applicant was a burly man who introduced himself as Gorvin.

“I’m a blacksmith,” he rumbled.

Argider tilted her head. “Why do we need a blacksmith in the palace?”

Gorvin crossed his arms. “Every palace needs a good blacksmith. What happens if your gates need repair? Or your swords go dull?”

Brimley leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. “Do you have any experience with palace work?”

Gorvin shrugged. “No, but I can carry heavy stuff.”

“Noted. Next!”

By the time they reached the end of the day, Argider was exhausted. The applicants had ranged from the bizarre to the mildly competent, with a few promising candidates sprinkled in. As she leaned back in her chair, Idella handed her a list of names.

“Well, Your Majesty, we’ve narrowed it down to a manageable number. Any final thoughts?”

Argider groaned. “Only that this was the most stressful ‘personal touch’ I’ve ever given anything.”

Brimley chuckled. “Welcome to palace management.”

Argider sighed, glancing at the system notification that popped up again:

[Progress: 50% Complete.]

“Fifty percent? What is this, a never-ending side quest?” she muttered, dragging herself to her feet.

The soft hum of the palace gardens was a soothing balm for Argider’s frayed nerves. She strolled along the outer paths, needing a moment of quiet after the chaos of interviewing new staff. But as she rounded a corner, a muffled voice caught her attention.

“No, no, no,” the voice whispered. “What if I get beheaded? No, I can’t… I mean, what if she hates me?”

Argider stopped, eyebrows raised, and peered around the corner. Huddled by a hedge was a petite young woman with wild ginger hair, sprinkled freckles, and enormous green eyes. She seemed to be in the throes of an internal crisis, pacing in tiny circles and clutching her hands to her chest.

“Who are you?” Argider asked, tilting her head.

The girl froze mid-step, her face draining of color. Her wide eyes darted to Argider, then to the emperor’s intricate robes, and back again. She let out a piercing shriek.

“Y-Your Majesty?!” she stammered, scrambling to her feet so fast she almost tripped over herself. She dropped into a deep bow, her movements clumsy and frantic. “Forgive me, Your Majesty! Forgive me for—oh no, for being like this!” She bowed again, then again, each dip deeper than the last.

Argider blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. “Uh… you’re forgiven?”

“Truly?” The girl peeked up at her, hope glimmering in her eyes, before she seemed to remember herself and hastily resumed bowing. “Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you so much! I—”

Before she could finish, Argider winced, clutching her stomach. A sudden wave of nausea rolled over her, leaving her groaning. She leaned against the hedge for support, muttering, “Not now, not now…”

The girl stopped mid-bow, her expression shifting from panic to sharp focus. She stepped closer, her nervousness momentarily forgotten. “Your Majesty… are you feeling unwell?”

Argider glanced at her, surprised. “What? No, I’m—ugh—fine.”

“You’re not fine,” the girl said firmly, her timid demeanor replaced by a surprising confidence. She reached out, steadying Argider by the elbow. “Your breathing’s uneven, and you look pale. It could be dehydration, or maybe something you ate…”

Argider stared at her, baffled. “Are you a healer or something?”

“No, but I grew up helping my grandmother with remedies,” the girl explained, gently guiding Argider to sit on a nearby bench. “And I’ve seen that look before. You’re… pregnant, aren’t you?”

Argider’s jaw dropped. “How did you—?!”

The girl smiled softly, her green eyes bright. “It’s just a hunch. You’re holding your stomach, and that groan was very familiar. My sister had the same symptoms when she was expecting.”

Before Argider could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted them. The head servants appeared, their expressions a mix of concern and alarm.

“Your Majesty!” Idella exclaimed, rushing forward. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Argider muttered, waving them off. “It’s nothing serious. Just… the usual.”

Brimley frowned. “The usual? Your Majesty, this isn’t the time to—”

Argider cut him off with a raised hand, then pointed at the ginger-haired girl. “Take her. Test her.”

The girl’s mouth fell open. “W-What? Test me? What do you mean?”

Idella adjusted her spectacles, eyeing the girl critically. “Test her for what, Your Majesty?”

Argider leaned back against the bench, her exhaustion showing. “See if she’s got what it takes to be useful here. She seems perceptive, and I need people like that.”

The girl’s cheeks flushed, and she bowed deeply again. “Th-thank you, Your Majesty! I won’t let you down!”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Argider muttered under her breath, her lips twitching into a faint smile as she watched the girl scurry after the head servants. She had a feeling this one would keep things interesting.