When he dared to gaze upon his reflection or rather her reflection, she was met with the fragility that now covered her features. Gone were the resplendent hair, the perfectly chiseled jaw, and the proud nose that once matched her previous masculinity. In its place, delicacy replaced her former grace, the cold surface of the water reflecting her new reality as she stood on the riverside.
She tilted her head around, eyes focused on her dollish face. While she admired herself, there was an impulse that overtook her hands, and she quickly unfastened her robes to catch a glimpse of the area between her thighs.
As expected, it was no longer there.
'This must be a dream.' She attempted to convince herself, inhaling to relieve the mounting agitation that scrunched her expression. A woman had no place on the throne, if not but to stand on the side and become a dutiful vessel. Except the throne was the least of her worries.
To sit on it and to rule was already secured as the last offspring of the late emperor. But if she had truly lost it, she would have to replace her wives for… husbands. "Lords, have mercy, " she gagged at the possibility, pressing a hand to her lips as bile rose in her throat.
It did not help that the cold breeze that wafted towards her distance gave her a stark and uncomfortable awareness of the weight loss in her most intimate area, her thoughts a jumble of unease and disappointment.
She may have become a woman, but she was a man through and through. It was etched on her very being, her soul, that not even a ridiculous divine intervention could drift her away from running towards a sea of fair maidens.
Beep! Her thoughts were cut off as the air was pierced by a series of sharp, incessant sounds. It was unexpected, causing her to jolt in surprise.
She spun around frantically, seeking the persistent sounds that grew aggravating.
"Where's that sound coming from?..." Her voice quivered with growing irritation until her eyes fell on a blue dot that materialized in front of her. It was an imperceptible, transparent anomaly, which suddenly inflated into a large, smooth, semi-translucent sheet.
She instantly recoiled from the unexpected expansion.
"What's happening?!"
— [Welcome to the Redemption System]
— [The Redemption System has been ordained by an anonymous entity of preservation who oversees the Empire of Valtirium. He, who does not meddle with the mortal realm, has foreseen a great conflict between the political powers that will lead to its internal demise.]
— [You have been chosen after careful foretelling as the remaining hope, thus one was resurrected. In light of your propensity for heedless and riotous behavior, you have been compelled to enter into the system of redemption. To rein in your licentiousness, your form has been altered, refashioned unto the likeness of a woman, that it may serve as a means of restraining one's propensities.]
"What?…" Argider's voice trembled in suppressed anger, pointing a finger at the magical hologram in a berated manner. "How am I going to handle this empire as a woman?! Without it, my wives are unable to produce heirs to maintain the line!" Though, in truth, she had little care for the well-being of her throne.
The years she suffered from other people's quest for power left her with the view that the throne was an illusion of glory that spurred bloody wars. It was more of the limiting opportunities of being a woman - most especially by the act of bedding another woman. The scorching ardor she felt was intolerable, the anguish of such transformation making her susceptible to unwanted vulnerabilities.
She loosened herself, almost forgetting that this Redemption System was not a person after straining her voice in frustration. "J…Just continue..." She inhales, rubbing her temple, her head tweaking.
The hologram responded to the command.
— [Loading…]
— [Entering User Summary…]
— [Successful]
[Rank]
Title ▪︎ Emperor
Level ▪︎ 0
[Reputation]
Public Perception ▪︎ 0
Loyalty of People ▪︎ 0
[Skills]
Unknown
[Talents]
Unknown
[Relationships]
Wives
- Esmeralda Morrigan ▪︎ - 3
- Isolde Carpelan ▪︎ -1
- Faeralys Merovia ▪︎ -1
- Callista ▪︎ 0
"Level zero... public perception zero... loyalty of people zero... skills unknown… talents unknown…" She muttered each word while cupping her chin. Zero itself was already a paradox, a number that existed yet didn't. But what baffled her, even more, was the notion of receiving negative numbers—it seemed to signify that her defiant attempts had achieved nothing but further setbacks, each one secretly a stinging blow to her already faltering resolve.
— [New Notification]
— [Mission: Return to the Palace before noon.]
— [Punishment: A civil war will occur if not done within the time limit.]
"A-A civil war?..." Sweat trickled down her head.
It was as if the pieces of a perplexing puzzle were finally falling as Argider grasped the implications of her murder. She had been slain in the late hours of the night and was now stranded on the river bed some distance from the capital, outside the fortified walls. This revelation could only lead to one conclusion.
The aristocratic houses were hatching a scheme to ignite a conflict and usurp the throne.
— [New Notification]
— [Condition: It must not be known that you are the emperor]
— [Time Remaining: 5 Hours, 33 minutes, 4 Seconds]
"M...Mother..."
She ran and traversed through the trees, the sunlight above her the only guide. She did not understand why. Her heart felt grim the moment she was born in this empire as a bastard.
There was no hint of comfort or respite in this desolate terrain either. The landscape had no soft grass to carpet the ground, each step like a prick of needle with a cool and crisp temperature.
When she found and trekked down the cobblestone street, her feet bare against the cold, hard stones, a sense of trepidation filled her mind. When the guards guarding the gate came into view, she caught a glimpse of a procession of carriages, each marked by traders, merchants, and lords.
Quickly, she sought refuge behind a nearby tree, her heart pounding as she cautiously peeked out, eager to observe yet careful not to be noticed.
"To the side. Now!"
"Don't waste our time, peasant!"
She could hear the aggression from the knight guards as echoes. As the peasants nearby were roughly pushed aside, some falling to the ground with a thump, others were jostled about. The impatient ones, oblivious to the unfolding situation, continued their conversations, indifferent to the cries. The air was thick with chaos as the carriages plowed through the streets.
She had truly forgotten that ever since the massacre of her family, there had been a huge security where everyone alike was inspected. She felt lost.
To circumvent the guards, stealth was imperative. As she observed her surroundings, she took note of the rivers encircling the Capital walls.
Unfortunately, she didn't know how to swim.
Amidst her inspection, she noticed high above each of the people's heads that snagged her attention. "What...what on earth is that?" After straining her sight, she recognized the same magical projections floating overhead, indicating their level of preference for Argider. She cautiously inched closer to get a better look.
— [Judgment of the Emperor ▪︎ 0]
"Zero…"
"...Zero.."
"..Z-Zero?..."
All of them were zero.
Everything was truly against her at this moment that she gritted her teeth.
She knew she had to find a moment to collect her thoughts, and so she went to a nearby river for respite. It was a wide stretch of water, connecting to the encompassing waters that encircled the capital. The river's gentle current was a stark contrast to the turmoil within her mind.
Lost in contemplation, she removed her robe, revealing her form to the air. But as her gaze drifted to the right, she noticed a girl with a short stature standing there, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Eek!" The girl stumbled, losing her balance and falling flat on her rear. A sharp cry of surprise escaped her lips, her face turning red in embarrassment.
The sight sent an embarrassed, yet marvelous shiver down the short girl's spine, tendrils of suppressed desire wrapped around their sensibility that left their mouth dry.
Argider stared at her, clueless. She still had no sense of dignity expected from a woman, after all.
The girl tried to deny it urgently, their mind now thrumming alive with self-conscious rage. Suddenly, the dagger hidden in their thighs felt heavier, and made no haste but to swiftly pull it out and stand.
"W-Who are you?!" She scrutinized the woman, her focus shifting towards the shadows that crept up the flushed skin of Argider's smooth thigh, up her knee, and her sad excuse of a robe that dared to be ripped apart. She gulped.
After a few moments, Argider suppressed a startled gasp.
This small girl standing before her had dark hair, a rich shade of black, elegantly contrasted with golden eyes that could cut like a wolf's. The sharpness in her gaze left no doubt in Argider.
It was her. Faeralys Merovia —daughter of the infamous Duke of the North, renowned for her temper.
And Argider's third wife.
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
[Loading...]
[Processing...]
Ding!
— [Affection ▪︎ -1]
— [Loyalty▪︎ 0]
— [Emotion▪︎ 50]
"Shit!" she cursed, her hands defensively shielding her face. At that moment, being seen almost naked was the least of her concerns—it was her face.
"I am Faeralys Merovia, daughter of Duke Barystin, the Golden Liege. I demand to know whom am I speaking to? How could a woman like yourself be in the woods and be wearing such…." Faeralys pursed her lips in a straight line, pausing before she could say the word 'provocative.'
She did not want to admit she was gawking.
"C-Can you not point that d-dagger at me…" Argider pleaded with a tremulous voice.
"You look vaguely familiar..."
"I-I don't know you at all!"
"No, no... You look like some bastard I know," She cocked her head to the side with a glare.
Argider trembled. "I. I seriously don't know what you're talking about..."
"If you were that man, I would've slit your throat."
Ouch.
As Faeralys examined the luxurious robe, its fine, silky material and impeccable cleanliness made her pause. "This garment is of no common piece," she observed aloud, her gaze returning to Argider. "With that pretty face of yours... Are you one of the high lords' whores?"
"Y-You….!" She was about to pounce on Faeralys. Now that Argider became a woman, it wouldn't be a sin to hit one, wouldn't it?
But she suddenly froze, her mind racing to find a possible way out of this dire situation. A thought, an idea, flickered through her mind. If executed correctly... Perhaps it could be her saving grace, a path that led away from death at the hands of her third wife.
She coughed, shifting to a pitiful demeanor despite the humiliation, her feet having little strength to continue. "I. I admit I am," The best she could do was smile awkwardly, tears threatening to wash down.
Acting was never their strong suit.
She tried to appear frail: any hint of her earlier echoes of fury now a plea. "He chased me relentlessly and... I, uh... ended up here!"
Her smile widened awkwardly as she took a step closer, her hands clasped together in front of her third wife. "Please... won't you come to my rescue? I'm begging you... I need to come back to the capital..."
She could only hope that the girl was a fool.