Chapter 15: Dillema
Argider's frustration reached a boiling point. She slammed her hands onto the table, the sound echoing through the room. The weight of the situation, the betrayal, the imminent fight - it all felt overwhelming. She wanted to seek comfort, to be held by someone, but even that was denied to her.
"You want me to end the life of an innocent child?! This is madness! I will not become a child killer," The very thought of harming a child, let alone an unborn baby, went against every fiber of Argider's being
"It is your duty, your grace," Brovian spoke rather nonchalantly.
"And please, enlighten me, how do you expect me to regain my wife by ending the life of her own child? Should I simply tear it from her womb and defile her lifeless body? Is that what you're suggesting?!"
"You are heir to empire, your grace. An entire empire! You have a realm to rule, territories to govern. We've shed blood in the empire's service. Yet, why can you not do what must be done?"
Denzelle stepped up, a sly smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Worry not, my lords," he announced, confidence in his voice. "I will be there to guarantee that Argider fulfills his duties—or rather, her role."
Everyone seemed intent on puppeting Argider, manipulating her every move. It was infuriating, and if given the choice between a baby and a traitor, she would choose the latter. Argider's frustration flared, her eyes fixing on Denzelle with a steely glare. She was sick of being treated as a pawn in someone else's game.
Out of nowhere, a subtle shift in the air nearby caught her attention. A soft, almost imperceptible shimmering seemed to ripple in the space beside her, and suddenly, Alvator materialized out of thin air. Argider stiffled a yelp, quickly trying to regain her composure, recognizing him in his feline form.
Alvator's fur was a rich, midnight black, and his eyes gleamed with a subtle intelligence. His sleek form seemed to blend seamlessly into the shadows, invisible to anyone but Argider.
"What are you doing here?" Asked the girl in her head, hoping the cat would pick it up.
"It's better to bide your time and play along for now," he advised her. "You don't know what Denzelle might be planning. When the opportune moment arrives, you can strike back. You can kill him."
Argider turned her gaze to Denzelle, studying him intently for a brief moment before lowering her eyes. "What if I'm not capable of taking a life, even if it's necessary?"
"Then we will see once the moment comes. The moment when you have to make a choice."
As Argider looked upon the faces assembled around the table, the absence of one particular individual became starkly apparent. A puzzled frown creased her forehead as she noticed the conspicuous lack of Duke Gander.
"Where is Duke Gander?"
"He rushed out," replied Osman. "His grace was disappointed by this sudden revelation. This revelation of you turning into a woman."
"For what specific reason?"
"Well, first and foremost, you didn't give his daughter a child. The empress. Yet, you were so eager in giving countless women outside your marriage a child instead. And now... you're a woman yourself. Tell me, Argider. Why is it so easy for you to create countless illegitimate children, but not produce a single heir?"
"To end my father's dynasty" were the words she wanted to say that almost slipped past her lips. She longed to tell them the unfiltered truth, to lay bare her true intentions. But she held her tongue, an ugly laugh wanting to release from her throat.
Instead, she replied with a vague and dismissive statement, "Well, a man has his needs, I suppose."
"You!" Osmo gritted his teeth, standing up in anger. "And look where has that got you now! An empress who has no heir to produce, your second wife getting impregnated by some tribe leader and taking over, your third wife who's doing whatever she does, and a fourth wife who's nothing but a bad influence on you."
The other council members exchanged startled glances, clearly taken aback by her response. Argider, aware of their reaction yet unapologetic, simply rolled her eyes, finding it somewhat ironic that they would be shocked by her words when they had so bluntly suggested the killing of a child.
— [Personality Trait: Agreeableness ▪︎- 10 EXP!]
— [Level Two Agreeableness Descended Back To Level One!]
— [Warning: All of the Sceptre Council's favor dropped to negative one!]
— [Loading…]
— [Entering User Summary…]
— [Successful]
[Rank]
Title ▪︎ Emperor
Level ▪︎ -1
[Reputation]
Public Perception ▪︎ -1
Loyalty of People ▪︎ -1
[Skills]
Empath
Empathic Inundation
[Talents]
Unknown
[Relationships]
Wives
- Esmeralda Morrigan ▪︎ - 3
- Isolde Carpelan ▪︎ -1
- Faeralys Merovia ▪︎ -1
- Callista ▪︎ -1
— [New Notification!]
— [Warning: At risk of increased rebellion!]
"You're beyond saving, for Pete's sake!" Alvator exclaimed, shaking his head in incredulity.
Argider was foolish, undeniably so, and the weight of it bore down on her like a heavy yoke. She cursed at herself, her heart abnormally shocked.
"Well, t-that was the past me!" she blurted out hastily. "I'm not a man anymore, so I'll...I'll get back Isolde. And...and I apologize..."
All of the council members gaped at her, their surprise only growing at Argider's impromptu apology. This was a rare sight, as it was the first they had seen of her even attempting to utter the words "I'm sorry." Osmo, still clearly skeptical and seething with anger, slowly sunk back into his seat, his eyes never leaving her.
"And how will you do that? How can we trust you?"
"U-Um..." she stammered, words caught in her throat, then she found an excuse as her eyes lit up. "I'll hire a personal tutor!"
"A war is soon to come, yet you're still unprepared. The world doesn't fight for you."
Argider sighed, the veins in her head feeling like they're about to pop. "I... I'll try my best within such a short period of time."
Once the council meeting ended, she immediately emerged away from the suffocating room. The sun was starting to set, bathing the palace in a warm, golden hue. As she walked through the hallways, Alvator, in his feline form, pounced up beside her.
"Why do you never learn your lesson, girl?!" the cat scolded, his tail twitching irritably.
"I wonder too..." she muttered in agreement, her shoulders slumped down as she stared at the horizon beyond the window.
Lost in her thoughts, she collided against someone, her balance thrown off and her footing wobbly as she tried to keep herself upright. "Ah!"
But just as she was about to stumble, she felt a hand quickly reach out from behind her, catching her back and steadying her.
"H-Hey!" she started to protest, but her voice died in her throat as she locked eyes with the person in front of her.
"So it is true that you've become a woman... I don't know whether to be mad or amused," a crisp, feminine voice cut through the air, its smooth and sharp tone sending a shiver down Argider's spine. Those emerald eyes, deep and captivating like a pair of polished gems, met hers, and an inscrutable smirk played at the corners of her mouth.
They reached out, cupping Argider's chin and forcing her to lift her gaze. With a slight incline of her own head, she looked down at Argider, her height overshadowing Argider's frame.
"How does it feel, Argider?" the woman continued, trying to mock the man who's now a girl. "Should I be the head of household now, seeing as I'm taller?"
[Loading...]
[Processing...]
Ding!
— [Affection ▪︎ -3]
— [Loyalty▪︎ -3]
— [Emotion▪︎ 0]
"E-Esmeralda..." she said with a shaky, nervous smile. "My wife...my dearest empress..."
"Oh, please. Spare me the foolishness, Argider," she scowled. "It's time you give me attention, don't you think?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Celipse
Celipse Want to chat with me? Discord link: https://discord.gg/gDTEeqrBKf
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone