blueteamnovel Chapter 72 The Heaviness Of It All (1)
Chapter 72 The Heaviness Of It All (1)
— [congratulations! you have passed the moral trial!]
— [you are now in stage two]
— [you have gained the following rewards!]
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[loading...]
[installed]
ding!
— [rewards #1: empath level increase]
— [empathic level two: by touching an object or place, argider might feel residual emotional imprints left by past events or people. for instance, holding a forgotten heirloom might reveal its sentimental significance or help her uncover hidden truths.]
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— [reward #2: +1000exp in people's perception]
— [new people's perception level: level ten]
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— [reward #3: +500 exp for emperor level]
— [new emperor level: level seven]
"i just got married yesterday," she muttered to herself, dragging a hand down her face. "i deserve a break. one day. that's all i wanted."
one of the council members, who had been watching the spectacle from the corner of the room with thinly veiled amusement, coughed delicately. "your majesty, you must address this matter with dignity. these women and their children are here for protection."
"right..." argider's voice cracked.
another child let out a shriek, toppling over after running with their sibling.
argider groaned. for the first time in her life, she wasn't sure she could handle more "bedding activities" if she were to marry them all.
could a woman's body even survive this much attention?
"alright, alright!" she snapped, throwing her hands up. "everyone, calm down. i'll... i'll figure something out. just... no one touch anything, okay? and keep the children from licking the throne."
— [forced quest trial activated: psychosocial development]
— [description: develop intimacy with each of the women & create trust, especially with their children]
— [time duration: four days]
another trial? seriously? argider's head thudded against the back of her chair as if the weight of the day, no, the week, had physically slammed her down. she cast a weary glance out the tall windows. night had fallen, and—wait—two days? she rubbed her eyes, willing away the absurdity of it all. how was she supposed to develop intimacy in such a ridiculous timeframe?
"thirteen women?" she hissed under her breath. "how is this even legal?" she stood, pacing with the energy of a storm barely contained. "two days to bond with thirteen people? what kind of cruel game is this? maybe they mean friendship. please let it mean friendship." she stopped mid-step, catching sight of her reflection in a polished silver tray. "and as a woman? emotional finesse is not exactly in my repertoire!"
the women stood before her, a quiet mass of tension and uncertainty. some clutched children close—babies, toddlers, even twins. others wrung their hands, stealing nervous glances at the emperor. argider felt their expectations like a storm cloud hovering overhead, and her heart clenched with guilt.
"alright," she said, plastering on a brittle smile. "here's what's going to happen. you'll all be sent to the concubines' quarters—temporarily!"
a wave of alarm rippled through the group, as if she'd declared them all sentenced to exile. wide eyes, muffled gasps, and shifting feet made it clear they were less than thrilled with the suggestion.
"wait!" she interjected, raising her hands in surrender. "let me finish! you're not becoming concubines. none of you. ever. period."
relief flooded their faces, some visibly sagging under the release of tension. argider understood their fear all too well. the title of "concubine" stripped women of autonomy, reducing them to pawns for heirs or fleeting indulgences. and gods, if that was the expectation, she wasn't even biologically equipped anymore.
one by one, attendants guided the women and children from the chamber. a few offered murmured thanks, while others avoided her gaze, clearly unsure of what their future held. the heavy doors closed at last, leaving argider alone in the cavernous room.
she collapsed back into her throne, staring blankly at the intricate carvings on the ceiling. "what a circus," she muttered. her hand drifted to the fine embroidery of her gown, idly tracing the patterns as if the delicate threads might untangle her own mess. my sins have finally caught up with me.