The Scum Emperor's Redemption System

"What nonsense are you spouting now, Alvator?"

The voice, seething with fury, cut through the still air, forcing the cat to snap its head forward in response. Alvator, however, remained unshaken. His composure was a shield, and it had to be. There was no room for weakness here.

Before him loomed a swirling mass of black mist, vaguely humanoid in shape yet insubstantial—its form dissipated into the ether as if it were made of shadow and dust, fragile as a memory on the verge of being forgotten.

It was a being of some kind, though its true nature was difficult to grasp.

"I'm merely fulfilling my duty, sire," Alvator replied evenly, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.

The dark entity's voice hissed, its presence growing more oppressive. "You swore an oath to serve the Empire, not to lecture the Emperor on plunging it into anarchy."

"Anarchy? It's not anar—" Alvator opened his mouth to retort, but the words died on his tongue as a cold, suffocating pressure clamped around his throat, a force unseen but undeniable.

"I've grown weary of your mediocrity," the entity growled, its voice like stone grinding against itself. "Continue like this, and your soul will find no rest."

With that ominous decree, the being dissolved into nothingness, a faint ripple of malice left in its wake. Alvator staggered, the breath knocked out of him as he tumbled back from the edge of the balcony.

Pathetic, he thought, his paws trembling against the cold marble floor. He hadn't asked for this, hadn't volunteered for a fate stitched with razor wire, but here he was—shouldering burdens that far exceeded the devil's bargain he had made. Power, after all, demanded its dues.

Yet, a flicker of realization sparked within him. If he still held even a fragment of dominion over Argider, he could wield it. Perhaps subtly at first, bending the threads of fate to suit his will. He clenched his fists, the weight of his role pressing heavily upon him.

Guide? No, he was done being confined to that narrow title. If the game was rigged, then it was time he rewrote the rules.

****

Argider stood on the training grounds, sword in hand, her movements hesitant and stiff. Her arm—broken and deeply wounded—remained bound in a sling, rendering her right side useless. She gripped the sword clumsily in her left hand, a pale shadow of her former self.

"What's troubling you?" Uzak's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. The Imperial Knight's brow furrowed as he observed her. He'd never seen Argider so subdued, her usual fiery determination replaced by uncertainty. He had assumed her recent dedication to the emperor's duties signaled triumph, but now he wondered if it was something else entirely.

"I've never been much of a fighter," she admitted, her voice low. "And now the only side I could fight with is gone." She gestured to her right arm, bound tightly against her chest.

"That doesn't mean you can't fight," Uzak said firmly.

Argider scoffed. "Says the knight with two arms."

Uzak raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Hey! You stood your ground to protect your mother, even knowing it would cost you. That's more than some knights with all their limbs would dare." Enjoy new chapters from empire

His words struck her, sharp and undeniable. Uzak had a way of finding the truth buried beneath layers of doubt, of cutting through her self-pity with disarming honesty. It wasn't flattery; it felt real. He always treated her as an equal, like he understood what she needed before she even knew it herself.

She tightened her grip on the wooden sword and let out a soft chuckle. "Why are you always right, dear friend?"

"Because someone has to be," he said with a grin. Then, with an almost casual air, he added, "Take your time. I've got somewhere to be."

"Where?"

"Just… some particular things," he said vaguely, already striding away.

Argider watched as he left, his pace brisk and deliberate. It wasn't the first time she'd noticed Uzak in a hurry like this. She had always assumed it was some guard duty or imperial task, but today was a quiet day—no pressing emergencies, no chaos requiring his attention.

For a moment, she considered calling after him, pressing him for answers. But instead, she followed him discreetly, making sure to make as much distance as possible. She really wanted to trust the man because Uzak had always been at her side, in every distress. But there was that nagging intuition.

Pillars and shadows became her allies as she ducked and darted, evading Uzak's occasional glances. He seemed unaware of her presence, his stride purposeful and his focus locked ahead.

They wove through the outside hallways, past courtyards and gardens, until the path led somewhere unfamiliar. Beyond the manicured grounds lay a forest, and at its edge, a solitary tower guarded by a single knight.

Argider hesitated, crouching behind the thick stone wall that marked the boundary of the estate.

From here, she could only watch as Uzak approached the guarded path, exchanged a brief word with the knight, and disappeared into the shadows of the trees, heading toward the tower.

She crept closer, her instincts screaming for caution. Just as she neared the tree line, she froze.

A figure stood ahead—blonde hair catching the faint light. Esmeralda.

Her wife.

Argider's breath hitched. It made sense, in a way. Esmeralda had once introduced Uzak into her service, a gift she had claimed was born of loyalty.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

But why meet here, away from the palace, away from prying eyes?

Circling wide, Argider pressed herself against a tree, straining to hear their voices. The faint murmur of their conversation drifted toward her.

"Your Majesty," Uzak's voice carried a sharp edge, softened only by the forest's quiet. "Have you no further need of me, after all?"

Argider frowned. Your Majesty? Her heart lurched, confusion mingling with dread.

Esmeralda's response was low but firm. "I told you not to get attached."

"I became the Emperor's Knight to gain her trust for you," Uzak said, his tone quieter now, "so she wouldn't suspect anything."

Argider felt the ground shift beneath her. Another betrayal. Her chest tightened, her thoughts racing. But strangely, anger didn't come. Instead, a bitter calm settled over her because she, herself, wasn't loyal

She did one final press against the tree, listening still, though her breath came faster now.

"You and I were never meant to last," Esmeralda said, her voice as cool as steel. "It was nice while it lasted, though. Especially in bed."

Argider's hand shot to her mouth, stifling a gasp. The meaning behind those words hit her like a blade to the gut.

Esmeralda and Uzak. In bed?!

Her head spun. For all her failings, for all her broken promises, this was the last betrayal she'd expected.

Uzak wasn't just Esmeralda's knight.

He was her dog. In bed.