Alaric chose Audrey not only because they were friends, giving Miss Justice of the Tarot Club a chance, but also out of curiosity.
He wanted to see just how far Audrey's sense of justice could take her.
Audrey looked up, stunned, her lips moving soundlessly. Her mind was a whirlwind... images of her parents and brother clashed with the gaunt faces of factory workers and the shocking documents she'd seen.
Her heart felt torn in two. One half screamed, "Audrey, you can't betray your parents!" while the other insisted, "This is justice, Audrey. You can't ignore the suffering, or at least, you shouldn't stop it."
The conflict pained her deeply.
She didn't doubt Lucifer and his allies could achieve their goal. As a Tarot Club member, she knew of Lucifer's extraordinary abilities and that Mr. Fool was allied with the Evernight Goddess.
After a long pause, Audrey asked, her voice hoarse and lacking its usual lightness, "Will they die?"
"I'm not bloodthirsty. Those who haven't committed crimes worthy of death will, at most, have their property confiscated and undergo labor reform. For someone like you, who's never committed a crime and is merely born noble, you'll likely be released after reeducation, with no charges. We might even allow people like you to retain some wealth... not much, just enough to live as ordinary citizens," Alaric replied candidly.
He'd long decided how to handle the old nobility. Killing them all wasn't feasible... not every noble was guilty. Their wealth might be tainted, but that alone didn't warrant death.
A person's birth should never be their crime.
Of course, for nobles who deserved death, Alaric wouldn't hesitate.
"…My family too?" Audrey asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Yes, we treat everyone equally in this regard. That's what true reform demands," Alaric said, nodding without concealment.
If Audrey were from a minor noble family and made significant contributions to the revolution, Alaric could consider granting her family leniency... not as a favor to her, but as a reward for a fighter.
But the Hall family was too prominent. For such a major noble house, there was no room for exceptions... at least their wealth would be confiscated.
"It sounds like I'm getting the short end of the stick. I betray my class and get nothing," Audrey said with a bitter smile, tinged with self-mockery.
"You'd gain the right to participate in governance. It's harsh, but for the old nobility, I won't allow them to become centers of power again for at least three generations. However, those who actively join the revolution, even nobles, will receive special exemptions. It's a reward for betraying your class," Alaric said, smiling.
The gap between people was vast... those who betrayed their class for reform shouldn't be treated the same as indulgent nobles, despite sharing the same origins.
Audrey froze, her eyes lowering. She tugged at the corner of her mouth. "That doesn't sound too bad…"
After speaking, she fell silent for a long time before looking up at Alaric. "Can I have some time to think?"
"Of course. You have until the operation begins tomorrow," Alaric said, nodding.
…
"It seems you've made your decision."
In the Hall household, Alaric glanced at the unconscious Earl and Countess Hall on the sofa, then turned his gaze to Audrey, sitting quietly opposite them.
Audrey didn't respond immediately. She stared at her parents' faces, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow. In a near-whisper, she said, "I'm in so much pain. I don't want to betray my parents or my friends. But I know our lives are built on the deaths and suffering of so many others. If we don't change this, countless more will die… Why? Why does it have to be like this? Why is the world so cruel?"
"Because the world is sick," Alaric said softly.
Audrey's body trembled. She suddenly composed herself, looking up at him. "Will you heal it?"
"We're already healing it," Alaric said firmly.
Audrey fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Except for those who deserve it, no one else will die, right?"
"Of course."
"And the innocent can at least live as ordinary people, yes?"
"Yes, and in the new era, ordinary people will live far better than now. As long as they work, they'll earn fair wages, never starve or freeze, have ample rest, and possess everything an ordinary person should have."
Audrey began to cry, like a lost girl. Through her tears, she said, "I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm sorry, forgive me, Father, Mother… It's okay if you don't."
At her final words, she stopped crying. She wiped her tears with her sleeve... an act she'd never have done before, as it clashed with noble etiquette.
But she did it anyway, because from today, she was no longer a noble.
After drying her tears, Audrey produced a stack of densely written papers, the ink fresh with numerous corrections. It was clear the writer had been conflicted, writing names only to cross them out.
But as the writing progressed, the hesitation visibly faded. The person who wrote those names had grown resolute, their determination strengthening.
Miss Justice Audrey handed the papers to Alaric, saying, "This is a list of Loen's nobles... all the ones I know. I'm acquainted with many of them and can take you to them…"
She had chosen justice.
Just as she had unhesitatingly chosen "Justice" as her Tarot Club codename years ago, back when she was naive and unaware of its weight. Now, knowing the burden of justice, she made the same choice despite her pain and conflict.
She couldn't turn a blind eye to the suffering.
"…You made the right choice, Miss Justice," Alaric said, giving her a deep look and a genuine, non-formal smile as he took the list from her hands.
***
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