At last, Argider began her Decorum classes with Phirya, dragging Faeralys along after every sword practice. The entire palace buzzed with the news, the servants practically waltzing around, whispering about the Emperor's sudden transformation. "Is that…our Emperor? Taking etiquette lessons? With her wife?" they murmured, barely containing their smirks.
Rumors, swift as a tempest, reached the Empress. Esmeralda's perfectly arched eyebrow twitched as she listened to the gossip about Argider and Faeralys—dancing together, of all things! The whispers gnawed at her, and she muttered through gritted teeth, "Tch, I'll handle this."
Casting a piercing gaze at her entourage of highborn ladies, she snapped her fan shut with a dramatic flourish. "Ladies, we have a mission."
As one, they replied, "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty!" Her inner circle—a league of haughty high-society "mean girls"—fanned out, plotting her every word as gospel. Those who crossed Esmeralda quickly found themselves the stars of vicious gossip.
Meanwhile, Argider was back in the training yard with Uzak. But today, Argider was different. Off-kilter. Lost in thought. Uzak smirked, seeing his chance, and swept Argider's feet out from under her, sending her sprawling on the ground.
"Ouch!" Argider yelped, rubbing her backside as she glared up at Uzak. "Was that necessary?"
Uzak grinned, offering a hand. "Maybe if you stopped floating on cloud nine with your wife, you'd see me coming."
A light flush crept up Argider's cheeks. "What are you talking about?"
Chuckling, Uzak ruffled Argider's hair, his voice teasing. "Admit it, you've finally committed, haven't you?"
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
— [MAJOR TASKED FINISHED SUCCESSFULLY!]
— [Your Level As Emperor Has Reached Level One!]
— [The Public's Perception And Loyalty Of People Rose Up To Level One!]
— [All Of Your Personalty Traits: Openness, Conscientiousnes, Extraversion, Agreeableness, And Neuroticism Have Reached Level Three Instant As Reward Based On Your Performance!]
Argider's eyes widened.
To her surprise, word of her new demeanor was spreading through the land. The people were thrilled—talking of how she'd "settled down" and given up her wild escapades for duty.
She'd barely realized the impact, having just enjoyed spending time with Faeralys.
Turning to Uzak, Argider's face showed genuine confusion. "Wait—why is this such a big deal?"
With a knowing smirk, Uzak replied, "Oh, it's not just about the romance. The people might see you as a proper Emperor. No more endless affairs—just a ruler who honors their duties…by actually loving their spouse!"
She hesitated, but eventually shrugged. "Well, I suppose it is my duty to love my wives…"
For the first time, Argider felt a unique satisfaction—a warmth that filled her chest more deeply than any drink.
It wasn't just Faeralys; it was this newfound connection, the approval from her people, the surprise of finding happiness in simply being, well, domestic.
Who knew that the grandest pleasure in life could be something so…ordinary?
The day had been a whirlwind and time passed fast. By the time Argider made it to her room, she felt like a damp rag, wrung out and weary.
Sure, today had been strangely bright, but an unsettling weight clung to her all the same, like a shadow that refused to lift.
She glanced at her reflection, barely recognizing the noble-turned-Emperor staring back. She was slowly becoming one of them now—a member of the council, the Sceptre. Yet, somehow, she despised it all, including herself.
She absently opened her system interface. Her personality and physical levels had inched up, barely noticeable, like trying to fill a bottomless well one cup at a time.
How long would it be, she wondered, until she lost control altogether, spiraling down like a star that burned too bright and fizzled out?
Rain tapped softly against the window, a cold comfort in the lonely night. Argider let herself sink into its rhythm, finding a strange solace in the chill.
But her peace shattered as someone knocked—loudly—at the door. She jumped. Who dared disturb her so late?
She swung the door open, expecting one of the usual palace faces. Instead, a knight stood there, serious and unsmiling. "Urgent, Your Imperial Majesty." He handed her a sealed envelope.
With a sigh, she took it and broke the seal. Her eyes scanned the words—and the letter slipped from her fingers as the reality hit. A jolt of horror crossed her face.
"?!"
Argider moved swiftly down the palace hallways, her footsteps echoing in the quiet night. It was already really late. Perhaps everyone was sleeping already, and it only served to her crawling anxiety.
She headed towards the area where the Imperial Knights resided, their private quarters integrated into the bottom part of the palace.
When she found Uzak's room, she wasted no second to burst it open.
"Uzak!"
He jolted awake, groaning and rubbing his eyes. But when he saw her face, all sleep left him. He'd never seen Argider like this—haunted, broken.
"Your Imperial Majesty? What happened?" He stepped closer, concern etched on his face.
"My...my mother!" Her voice cracked, and tears escaped her eyes. "She's been taken hostage by the Peliotus Tribe! They threatened to kill her, Uzak! I need you to rally the knights—send the army!"
Seeing her despair, he placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbing her back, his own heart pounding. The Empress Dowager, kidnapped? By the Peliotus Tribe of all people—the kind who'd spill blood as easily as they'd spill wine.
"C-calm down," he said, his voice both gentle and urgent. "Tell me everything. Why would they take her?"
Argider's voice wavered as she replied. "The letter said she'd gone to negotiate with them...to fix things. To fix my mess. She was trying to bring back Isolde, too. It's my fault, isn't it? All of it?"
"Argider! Focus! What matters is saving her," Uzak insisted, his voice resolute. "And it's you who's going to do it!"
"But I'm still weak, Uzak! I can't do anything—I've always been too weak!"
"Then look at what you've done these past few days!" Uzak shouted back. "You've changed, and you know it. You were given a second chance for a reason. You can do this."
His words washed over her like a distant memory, one she barely recognized. Uzak's presence, warm and unyielding, was the anchor she hadn't realized she'd needed.
She closed her eyes, her breathing shaky. Was it really possible? Could she still save something after all she'd broken?
Yet even as she stood there, doubts clinging to her like shadows, she understood: the mess she'd made, the mistakes she'd run from, had all come back to haunt her.
And maybe, if she couldn't find the strength within herself, she'd never escape her own ghosts.