The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Comfort (1: NSFW)
“Let’s see…”

Argider peered cautiously down the winding corridors of the imperial palace, her heart pounding louder than a court bard’s drum.

No Esmeralda in sight.

She exhaled a dramatic sigh of relief.

Another successful escape!

If she bumped into the Empress now, there’d be no end to the lectures, especially after… well, the incident.

For two whole days, Argider had managed to dodge Esmeralda’s wrath, knowing full well the storm that awaited her after taking on thirteen new wives.

Thirteen!

In her defense, it wasn’t exactly her idea. The system, yes, that cursed, meddling, matchmaking system… had decided her fate for her.

But could she explain that to Esmeralda?

No. Instead, she was left to carry the guilt… and occasionally flinch whenever she heard of this news.

Then, she tiptoeid like a thief in her own palace and finally reached the sanctuary of her bedchamber.

She slipped inside, collapsing onto the plush bed with all the grace of a toppled statue.

“I’m so tired…” she groaned to the empty room, arms splayed like a tragic heroine in a bard’s ballad. “Dealing with wives shouldn’t be this hard, right?”

Of course, if she was being honest, it wouldn’t be this hard if she weren’t such an absolute disaster of a human being.

Impregnating all those women? A minor detail.

But oh no, now the world had decided to curse her with karmic justice.

Surely there were worse emperors out there, like the one who roasted priests and burned cities for fun. Compared to them, Argider was practically a saint!

Right?

The bed didn’t answer. But then again, it rarely did.

[Loading…]

[Installed]

Ding!

— [Rewards #1: Magic Bestowal Level Increase]

— [New Magic Bestowal Level: Level Ten]

…

…

— [Congrats!]

— [You Have Reached Level 5 And Therefore, Reached The Rank of ‘Apprentice of Gifts’]

— [It Signifies Your Understanding Of Its Basic Powers And May Proceed To Experiment]

…

…

— [Reward #2: +1000EXP in People’s Perception]

— [New People’s Perception Level: Level Eleven]

…

…

— [Reward #3: +1000 EXP For Emperor Level]

— [New Emperor Level: Level Eight]

She didn’t have the energy to care about much of anything right now. Faeralys barely crossed her path these days, Isolde was somewhere within the tribe—probably busy with her own things, and Callista? That connection had faded into something almost unrecognizable.

It was exhausting, trying to balance so many relationships.

No wonder some empires capped the number of wives at four.

Maybe those arranged political marriages weren’t as heartless as they sounded, more about keeping the peace than keeping romance alive.

Technically, her marriages were still arranged, but the system demanded emotional connection.

She turned to the window and sighed.

Then, a knock broke the silence.

At this hour? Argider frowned, staring at the door. Her first instinct was to ignore it, but curiosity, and a shred of politeness, got the better of her.

“Come in,” she said, hoping it wasn’t Esmeralda. She wasn’t sure she could deal with her tonight.

The door creaked open, and there stood Callista, her grey hair catching the ight.

“Argider,” she said softly, her voice carrying an almost musical warmth.

The Emperor straightened, caught off guard.

They hadn’t really talked in a while.

Whenever they tried, it usually spiraled into something more physical.

Not that it wasn’t comforting in its own way, but it didn’t answer the questions Argider had been quietly holding onto about Callista’s intentions.

“Callista?” Argider managed, smoothing her tunic awkwardly as the other woman closed the door and crossed the room.

Callista sat at the edge of the bed, her movements calm but deliberate.

“I heard you’re taking in more wives…”

“Not because I want to,” she replied, a faint edge of frustration in her voice.

Callista tilted her head, studying her. The woman in front of her was different.

There was a quiet change in Argider now, layered with the kind of responsibility Callista hadn’t expected from someone she’d once known to avoid commitments like the plague.

— [Affection Points Gain +10]

Affection points? Now? She stared at Callista, trying to figure out what just happened, but there was no time to question it.

Callista leaned closer, her voice soft but teasing. “You’ve changed, you know.”

Before Argider could answer, Callista’s lips pressed against hers, catching her entirely off guard.

The kiss started gentle, almost testing, but quickly deepened into something bolder.

Callista’s hands found their way to Argider’s face, one cupping her cheek while the other slid into her hair, her fingers tangling in the soft strands. She tilted Argider’s head slightly, deepening the kiss, her movements confident but not forceful.

Her lips trailed away from Argider’s mouth, planting kisses along her jawline, each one slower and more deliberate than the last.

She shivered when she heard Argider’s breath stopping, their body shaking and warm, especially when her lips brushed the sensitive spot beneath their ear and letting it linger there for a moment before moving to her neck.

“C-Callista?…”

When Callista finally pulled back, her forehead rested against Argider’s.

“Let me do what I can best again…”

Her lips returned to hers, more insistent this time, as if she was trying to communicate something words couldn’t quite convey.

Argider responded in kind, her arms wrapping fully around Callista, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. She didn’t want to admit it, but these moments between them were what she treasured and made her marry this courtesan. Love was certainly there in their touch, or atleast, feels like there was indeed love. A gentle, comforting one.

Their movements grew more frantic, hands exploring, lips crashing together with a desperate kind of fervor that neither had felt in a long time.

Breakng their kiss apart, she paused for a moment, her breath warm against Argider’s skin. Then, kissed her there, firm and unhurried, before dragging her lips up to the side of the Emperor’s neck.

Her tongue flicked out briefly, teasing, before she sucked gently, leaving a mark that would linger long after the night ended.

“Be still, my good girl,” Callista whispered teasingly before her lips claimed Argider’s once again, this time with a fierce, undeniable hunger that left no room for argument.