While Rei headed toward the Star Guild with Lilia, and while the Shadows moved to gather information, in one of the cloud-covered cities, a coachman waited quietly for the person who had sent word that she was returning.
He carefully watched the crowd, searching among them. It did not take him long to spot her. The moment he noticed the green hair, he raised his hand. Lila noticed him immediately and quickly made her way to the carriage.
"Has... ahem... has my father returned?"
"Yes, my lady. Your father arrived an hour ago."
The coachman smiled at Lila's polite tone, helped her into the carriage, then, after receiving her order, drove back toward the mansion. Through the window, Lila stared absentmindedly at the streets. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she let out a quiet sigh. The coachman noticed, glanced at the crowds and the worry written across their faces, then continued driving without comment.
The carriage soon arrived at the mansion. Lila's father was already waiting for her, with rows of servants standing behind him. There seemed to be more servants than the mansion actually needed. He hurried forward and opened the carriage door before the coachman could, and the coachman seemed quite accustomed to it.
"My dear, I didn't expect you to return so soon. Did something happen?"
"Not really."
Lila stepped down and explained the situation.
"Since the ministry I've been assigned to requires a complete foundation from the ground up, I urgently need a working team. But because I'm unfamiliar with the details of the capital, I decided to return and begin here."
"A good decision. But is that the only problem? You don't seem to be in a very good mood."
Claude looked around before continuing.
"Let's go inside first, then tell me what happened."
"Nothing happened at the palace."
Lila said so, but Claude did not seem convinced. They walked together, and after a brief sigh, she continued,
"I noticed that the city's population has doubled since the last time I was here. I know the Night of the Moon is approaching, and that the villagers must take shelter inside the cities, but at this rate the city won't be able to accommodate many more people. What will happen to those who can't get inside?"
"So that's what's bothering you? You never used to concern yourself with that."
"Well... the question just suddenly came to mind."
Claude smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. There are underground shelters, and the cities are capable of housing more people. Besides, don't underestimate them. Everyone knows what they're supposed to do during the Years of the Red Moon."
After thinking for a moment, he continued,
"As for why the villagers are arriving so quickly, it's because they've learned that the Emperor has reduced the taxes. Every city that implemented the decree is facing the same situation."
"So you..."
Lila did not finish her question, but Claude smiled and nodded. In a calm, steady, warm voice, he said,
"How could I oppose the reforms when my own daughter has become the Minister of Health?"
"What's this? I feel like I'm about to be taken advantage of!"
"Of course."
"Then can I take advantage of you too?"
"Well... I'm not so sure about that."
He smiled.
"So, little one, what do you need? How can I help?"
"I need employees. Lots of them. I also need assistants. The Emperor handed me the ministry's system and ordered me to build it. As for the budget... let's begin with what we already have to speed things up, then send the bills to the palace for reimbursement."
"An administrative system? Is it different from what was announced during the meeting?"
"I didn't bring the file with me, but let's discuss it in detail."
"Very well."
From that point onward, their conversation revolved around Lila's state of mind and her plans until they reached the study. Claude asked several questions and even tested her ability to handle the situation and how she intended to deal with it. He also pointed out several matters she should pay attention to.
Their conversation paused briefly when a maid entered carrying tea. Claude thanked her and asked her to leave before continuing the discussion with Lila on a deeper level.
Back in the capital, beneath an overcast night sky and cold winds, another carriage came to a stop before the palace.
A middle-aged man stepped out, visibly nervous.
He stood staring at the brightly illuminated palace, swallowed nervously, wiped the sweat from his hand, then followed a maid toward Morgana's office.
The walk was long, but they soon arrived. The maid knocked softly and received permission to open the door.
Inside were three desks arranged close together.
Morgana sat at the center behind a pile of documents.
To her right sat the blonde-haired woman who bore a striking resemblance to the Duke of the East, along with his first wife and daughter, Kadita.
To her left sat the red-haired second wife, Odette, who had changed her stance and decided to cooperate with Morgana in order to preserve her position.
At the sound of the knock, the three women stopped working and watched the visitor enter. His nervousness was written plainly across his face.
He barely raised his head, giving only a brief glance before bowing quickly.
"I have beheld the Moon of the Empire."
Morgana nodded and gestured toward him.
"Luther, Representative of the People. I've been expecting you. Please, have a seat."
"Yes, Your Grace."
With a calm expression, Morgana picked up a golden file from beside her desk and walked over to the sofa. Luther waited until she had taken her seat before sitting down himself. He did not speak first.
"Have you heard about the restructuring of the system?"
He had. In fact, there was hardly anyone who had not. The news had spread even among the merchants outside the palace, let alone those who had been waiting outside the meeting hall.
After he nodded, Morgana continued,
"As for the People's Parliament, it will also be restructured. Based on His Majesty's evaluation of you, it has been decided that you will become its Supreme Supervisor. Do you have any objections?"
Luther answered, his voice carrying a tremor different from mere nervousness.
"I am at Your Grace's service whenever you command."
"I'm not the one in charge of your department. You will belong to the First Pillar. However, I will need your cooperation to transfer many of the Parliament's former authorities to the Pillar of Spirit, so I will guide you for the time being."
She handed him the golden file.
His eyes fell upon the title.
[The People's Balance System]
He did not open it. This was not the time for that.
Morgana continued,
"Once your authority has been transferred to the Pillar of Spirit, your duty—and that of the Parliament—will be limited to receiving complaints from both the people and the nobles against the administration, filtering those complaints, and providing swift solutions to ensure public stability and prevent popular uprisings."
She coughed lightly before adding,
"Under normal circumstances, reports are submitted to the Prime Minister. However, in cases of major corruption that may implicate the Prime Minister himself, you have the authority to report directly to the Emperor. That is the level of authority your department will hold under the new system."
"Isn't His Majesty the Emperor also the Prime Minister?"
The confusion on Luther's face was obvious.
"For now, yes. But a Prime Minister will be appointed later. The Parliament's authority will remain below the Prime Minister but above the ministers. That is where the People's Balance System comes in."
Luther hesitated before opening the file.
Noticing the late hour, Morgana said,
"It's getting late. Review the system first. Your room has already been prepared, and we'll continue our discussion tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Your Grace."
She dismissed him with a gesture.
Luther stood, bowed, and left. Outside the office, the maid who had escorted him there was already waiting.
"This way, Sir Luther."
He nodded, fully aware that remaining in the palace was an order rather than a choice. Still, he voiced no objection. He opened the file and followed the maid with slow, measured steps.
After Luther left the office, Morgana coughed again.
This time, it was not an ordinary cough.
She froze halfway through her movement, her fingers still resting on the sofa, when a sharp prickling sensation bloomed behind her eyes.
It wasn't pain.
It was pressure.
As though something were pushing from within.
"Are you alright?"
Kadita asked.
Morgana waved a trembling hand to indicate that she was fine and stood up.
One step.
Then—
Sound disappeared.
The wind had not stopped.
It simply no longer existed.
The papers on the desks did not move, yet they were not completely still either.
The air became heavier, denser, as though it were slowly filling with something unseen.
Even the colors around her seemed to fade.
Her eyes widened.
She was still gripping the sofa when everything changed...
without anything actually moving.
—
A different office.
A different light.
A different atmosphere.
Ray sat before seven letters.
He looked weaker... exhausted... closer to the dead than the living.
His face was stern, his features carved from silence itself.
Suddenly he moved and raised his eyes.
He looked directly at her.
Then at Rei, who was standing beside her.
His lips moved.
Words formed.
She saw them take shape...
but no sound reached her.
There was no echo.
Then his gaze shifted behind her.
Her heart froze.
She wanted to turn around.
She couldn't.
Not because her body was paralyzed—
but because there was no "behind."
She tried again—
Then—
The vision dissolved.
The colors returned.
—
Sound rushed back all at once.
Air slammed violently into her lungs until it almost hurt.
She collapsed onto her knees.
The world had returned...
yet it felt heavier than before.
Sweat trickled down her temple.
Her throat had gone dry, as though she had not had a drop of water in days.
She tried to swallow.
There was nothing to swallow.
Something inside her chest felt hollow.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't pain.
It was emptiness.
"Your Grace!"
This time it was Odette.
It took Morgana two full seconds to realize the voice was directed at her.
She focused inward instead, slowly examining herself.
There, deep inside...
Her mana reservoir—
was empty.
She raised a trembling hand to signal Kadita not to summon anyone.
Then she struggled to steady her breathing.
Several minutes passed like hours before she finally exhaled, feeling noticeably better.
Even the exhaustion had vanished.
"I'm fine.
Just mana instability."
Kadita and Odette looked at Morgana.
It was obvious that it was not just mana instability.
Neither of them questioned her.
They were not close enough to worry about one another.
If she said she was fine, then she was fine.
Still, their curiosity only deepened as they watched Morgana sink into thought, distracted after returning to her desk.
----------------------------------
End of Chapter
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[Side Information: Transport Arrays]
Transport Arrays are classified into three main categories according to their range and capacity.
[Short-Range Arrays:] Used for rapid travel between cities. They are economical and consume relatively little energy. These arrays are divided into three different tiers, but all share strict limitations: they are designed exclusively for transporting people (over the age of ten), and no luggage or physical items may be transported through them.
[Medium-Range Arrays:] Used for travel between different kingdoms. They exist in multiple models and variants to accommodate the varying distances between kingdoms.
[Long-Range Arrays:] An extremely rare type with very limited use, reserved exclusively for travel between distant continents due to their complexity and enormous cost.
[Note:] After the Astra Empire lost its monopoly over short- and medium-range Transport Arrays, mages from other kingdoms developed multiple new versions.