“Take your seats.”
The murmurers took their seats.
When Sepia sat at the head of the table, Baron Elon, the general manager, and Gurkus, the deputy manager, joined them on his left.
Each workhouse had a chief who managed supplies, facilities, and personnel.
Those gathered today were the heads of the capital workhouse and representatives of the eight workhouse directors.
The meeting began.
The once quiet conference room was filled with arguments again.
“Our area is more urgent.”
“No. This workhouse doesn’t even have water to distribute tomorrow!”
“Don’t you know that we have the most poor people?”
All the workhouse directors were complaining about the lack of supplies.
It seemed like they were competing to see who was lacking the most, but in reality, they were all trying to protect their own areas.
“Lower your voices!”
With a thud, Elon slammed the table and stood up.
Everyone kept their mouths shut at Elon’s stop, but they all looked dissatisfied.
However, Sepia knew very well that such reactions were not due to personal greed but anxiety and impatience.
“There is no area that is less important or not important to me. So calm down.”
“...I'm sorry.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
The poorhouse directors, who regained their senses at her words, bowed their heads.
All of the beasts present here were personally selected by Sepia.
They had been Sepia’s hands and feet since the beginning of the project, and she knew very well that they were not acting this way because they were bad-natured.
Sepia confirmed that the room was cleaned up and asked,
“How many supplies are left?”
“...If we save money overall, I think we can last about two weeks more.”
Elon answered.
The conference room became solemn at the expected reality.
There were too many poor people living in the poorhouse, and this winter was extremely cold.
Then, the deputy director brought news from beyond the capital.
“They say the Bandian poorhouse in the north is full. They say the deer tribes of the Pahf Forest are coming to the capital.”
Some of the beastmen lived outside the territory, forming tribes of the same species.
The lives of those who did not receive support from the territory were bound to be harsh. Those who could not find shelter there were gathering in the capital, but it was impossible to accept new members due to the lack of supplies.
“We should reject them in advance.”
“That’s right. We should at least save the existing members.”
The poorhouse directors tried to persuade the Empress.
However, the deputy director and deer beastman, Gurkus, was not included in the group.
“They must be worried about the other deer beastmen.”
Sepia could not help but be deeply troubled. The tribes were also imperial citizens.
The poorhouses beyond the capital had already exceeded their capacity, and their support was about to be cut off due to budget depletion.
In fact, no poorhouse could take responsibility for them.
Sepia, lost in thought, fell silent.
The gloomy atmosphere seemed to be turning gloomy.
Bang.
The eyes of those gathered at the suddenly opened door were drawn there.
“Your Majesty!”
A girl with long brown hair in pigtails ran towards Sepia.
She was so excited to see her that her rabbit ears perked up on top of her head.
“Ayla.”
Sepia hugged the child.
Ayla, a rabbit-like creature, was the child Sepia had met when she first set up the orphanage, and she had been supporting her for three years.
The child who had been nothing but skin and bones when they first met was now smiling brightly with her cheeks flushed with flesh.
Elon, who was flustered, jumped up from his seat.
“Ayla, you can’t come in here!”
“It’s okay. She’s a child.”
Sepia stopped him.
Next to Revence Workhouse, there was a commoner’s school that Sepia had established.
She gathered children who needed to learn, taught them imperial language and arithmetic, and also took care of the children while their parents went out to work.
Sepia arranged for children who lived in orphanages far from the school to be transferred to Revence Workhouse when they reached a certain age so that they could attend school while receiving the necessary accommodation.
Ayla, who had been watching the other adults, realized that she had been given permission and hugged Sepia tightly.
“I missed you, Your Majesty!”
“Yes. I missed you too. Are you doing well at school?”
“Yes! My teacher and my friends are all so great. I want to go every day!”
Ayla was a genius who stood out even among the other children.
Sepia heard that she was good at math and has recently shown talent in swordsmanship.
‘She might become a great person when she grows up.’
Sepia was planning to recommend talented children who graduated from school and enroll them in the Imperial Academy.
“I’ve been doing well. How has Your Majesty the Empress been?”
“I’ve been doing well, too.”
Sepia said, patting Ayla on the head.
She was a child who loved school and learning very much.
‘...I’m sorry. Maybe we should stop school.’
In fact, they had to stop school operations as soon as tomorrow.
It was impossible to run a school when people might freeze to death.
“Ayla, can you step out for a moment? I have something to talk to the adults.”
“Yes. I will. I’m sorry for coming in without permission... Can we meet again?”
Ayla wiggled her fingers.
She was a very smart child, but she was also quick-witted for her age.
'Shee must have come in suddenly because she was afraid that she wouldn't see me.'
The murmurers took their seats.
When Sepia sat at the head of the table, Baron Elon, the general manager, and Gurkus, the deputy manager, joined them on his left.
Each workhouse had a chief who managed supplies, facilities, and personnel.
Those gathered today were the heads of the capital workhouse and representatives of the eight workhouse directors.
The meeting began.
The once quiet conference room was filled with arguments again.
“Our area is more urgent.”
“No. This workhouse doesn’t even have water to distribute tomorrow!”
“Don’t you know that we have the most poor people?”
All the workhouse directors were complaining about the lack of supplies.
It seemed like they were competing to see who was lacking the most, but in reality, they were all trying to protect their own areas.
“Lower your voices!”
With a thud, Elon slammed the table and stood up.
Everyone kept their mouths shut at Elon’s stop, but they all looked dissatisfied.
However, Sepia knew very well that such reactions were not due to personal greed but anxiety and impatience.
“There is no area that is less important or not important to me. So calm down.”
“...I'm sorry.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
The poorhouse directors, who regained their senses at her words, bowed their heads.
All of the beasts present here were personally selected by Sepia.
They had been Sepia’s hands and feet since the beginning of the project, and she knew very well that they were not acting this way because they were bad-natured.
Sepia confirmed that the room was cleaned up and asked,
“How many supplies are left?”
“...If we save money overall, I think we can last about two weeks more.”
Elon answered.
The conference room became solemn at the expected reality.
There were too many poor people living in the poorhouse, and this winter was extremely cold.
Then, the deputy director brought news from beyond the capital.
“They say the Bandian poorhouse in the north is full. They say the deer tribes of the Pahf Forest are coming to the capital.”
Some of the beastmen lived outside the territory, forming tribes of the same species.
The lives of those who did not receive support from the territory were bound to be harsh. Those who could not find shelter there were gathering in the capital, but it was impossible to accept new members due to the lack of supplies.
“We should reject them in advance.”
“That’s right. We should at least save the existing members.”
The poorhouse directors tried to persuade the Empress.
However, the deputy director and deer beastman, Gurkus, was not included in the group.
“They must be worried about the other deer beastmen.”
Sepia could not help but be deeply troubled. The tribes were also imperial citizens.
The poorhouses beyond the capital had already exceeded their capacity, and their support was about to be cut off due to budget depletion.
In fact, no poorhouse could take responsibility for them.
Sepia, lost in thought, fell silent.
The gloomy atmosphere seemed to be turning gloomy.
Bang.
The eyes of those gathered at the suddenly opened door were drawn there.
“Your Majesty!”
A girl with long brown hair in pigtails ran towards Sepia.
She was so excited to see her that her rabbit ears perked up on top of her head.
“Ayla.”
Sepia hugged the child.
Ayla, a rabbit-like creature, was the child Sepia had met when she first set up the orphanage, and she had been supporting her for three years.
The child who had been nothing but skin and bones when they first met was now smiling brightly with her cheeks flushed with flesh.
Elon, who was flustered, jumped up from his seat.
“Ayla, you can’t come in here!”
“It’s okay. She’s a child.”
Sepia stopped him.
Next to Revence Workhouse, there was a commoner’s school that Sepia had established.
She gathered children who needed to learn, taught them imperial language and arithmetic, and also took care of the children while their parents went out to work.
Sepia arranged for children who lived in orphanages far from the school to be transferred to Revence Workhouse when they reached a certain age so that they could attend school while receiving the necessary accommodation.
Ayla, who had been watching the other adults, realized that she had been given permission and hugged Sepia tightly.
“I missed you, Your Majesty!”
“Yes. I missed you too. Are you doing well at school?”
“Yes! My teacher and my friends are all so great. I want to go every day!”
Ayla was a genius who stood out even among the other children.
Sepia heard that she was good at math and has recently shown talent in swordsmanship.
‘She might become a great person when she grows up.’
Sepia was planning to recommend talented children who graduated from school and enroll them in the Imperial Academy.
“I’ve been doing well. How has Your Majesty the Empress been?”
“I’ve been doing well, too.”
Sepia said, patting Ayla on the head.
She was a child who loved school and learning very much.
‘...I’m sorry. Maybe we should stop school.’
In fact, they had to stop school operations as soon as tomorrow.
It was impossible to run a school when people might freeze to death.
“Ayla, can you step out for a moment? I have something to talk to the adults.”
“Yes. I will. I’m sorry for coming in without permission... Can we meet again?”
Ayla wiggled her fingers.
She was a very smart child, but she was also quick-witted for her age.
'Shee must have come in suddenly because she was afraid that she wouldn't see me.'
It was natural for her to not hold back at her age.
Still, Sepia felt sorry for her because she didn't push her, which was admirable and heartbreaking.
"Of course. I'll meet you before I go back. I brought you your favorite cookies."
"Really? I'll go out now. I can wait as long as I want!"
Ayla, who had left Sepia's embrace, opened the door.
Outside the conference room, there were many people of Ayla's age, their eyes sparkling.
"You guys, you shouldn't be eavesdropping on adults talking!"
"I'm sorry!"
The children who had been pressed against the door scattered at Elon's shout.
Even so, the smiles on the children's faces did not disappear, and Elon wasn't truly angry.
She could tell the atmosphere of the poorhouse just by looking at the children who didn't seem to be afraid of Elon.
The door closed. The meeting resumed.
Sepia looked over the settlement with complicated eyes.
It was difficult to procure the supplies that had to be consumed every day, let alone the school.
Sepia spoke with difficulty.
“Let’s leave the supplies going to the orphanage as is. Instead, let’s reduce the number of meals distributed at the workhouse.”
From restricting meals to considering the circumstances of each district, the supplies had to be distributed.
The process of separating and selecting the poorest among them was fraught with many worries and difficulties.
Sepia felt ashamed of herself while silently processing the many documents.
‘This will be resolved if I go to Demios.’
The Emperor had promised that he would withdraw the order if she fulfilled her duties as Empress.
It had been over a week since then.
Sepia hesitated hundreds, thousands of times during that time.
Today, after witnessing the scene, she had to make a decision. Her mouth was dry.
Sepia felt her throat tightening as she felt her breath catch.
“... Then the remaining supplies...”
Kuung-!
Before she could finish speaking.
Everyone looked bewildered at the loud noise coming from outside the workhouse.
“What is that?”
While the poorhouse directors were flustered, the vibrations continued.
Sepia asked at the noise that sounded like something heavy had been put down.
“Are there any additional supplies scheduled to arrive today?”
“No. I checked the stock in the morning...”
Even Elon seemed unaware of the source of the loud noise.
The vibrations that continued to be heard were unusual.
Sepia got up from her seat.
“Let’s go out.”
Elon and Gurkus followed Sepia.
In front of the poorhouse where they went, dozens of wagons were unloading their cargo. They were all wagons from the Dolon Group operated by Elon.
The wooden boxes contained water, blankets, dry food, firewood, medicine, and other supplies used by the poorhouse.
“Didn’t you say there were no additional supplies?”
“Yes. And we can’t bring in that much...”
Even Elon, the owner of the group, looked confused.
Above all, the people unloading the cargo were all knights carrying swords.
‘...Could it be that they were sent by Demios? That can't be.'
It was a confusing time.
Sepia's eyes met with a familiar face among the knights unloading their luggage.
It was Groer, the commander of the punitive force.
“Hello, Your Majesty!”
Kuung.
Groer called out, setting down a large bundle of firewood on the ground.
The other knights also stopped what they were doing and bowed to Sepia.
They looked strangely familiar, but they were all people she had met at the victory ceremony.
“Why are you all here..”
Sepia was starting to panic. She saw someone talking to Richard, the head of Dolon’s brigade, between the wagons.
Sepia turned her head and met his eyes.
“...Roxanne.”
Why was he here?
Still, Sepia felt sorry for her because she didn't push her, which was admirable and heartbreaking.
"Of course. I'll meet you before I go back. I brought you your favorite cookies."
"Really? I'll go out now. I can wait as long as I want!"
Ayla, who had left Sepia's embrace, opened the door.
Outside the conference room, there were many people of Ayla's age, their eyes sparkling.
"You guys, you shouldn't be eavesdropping on adults talking!"
"I'm sorry!"
The children who had been pressed against the door scattered at Elon's shout.
Even so, the smiles on the children's faces did not disappear, and Elon wasn't truly angry.
She could tell the atmosphere of the poorhouse just by looking at the children who didn't seem to be afraid of Elon.
The door closed. The meeting resumed.
Sepia looked over the settlement with complicated eyes.
It was difficult to procure the supplies that had to be consumed every day, let alone the school.
Sepia spoke with difficulty.
“Let’s leave the supplies going to the orphanage as is. Instead, let’s reduce the number of meals distributed at the workhouse.”
From restricting meals to considering the circumstances of each district, the supplies had to be distributed.
The process of separating and selecting the poorest among them was fraught with many worries and difficulties.
Sepia felt ashamed of herself while silently processing the many documents.
‘This will be resolved if I go to Demios.’
The Emperor had promised that he would withdraw the order if she fulfilled her duties as Empress.
It had been over a week since then.
Sepia hesitated hundreds, thousands of times during that time.
Today, after witnessing the scene, she had to make a decision. Her mouth was dry.
Sepia felt her throat tightening as she felt her breath catch.
“... Then the remaining supplies...”
Kuung-!
Before she could finish speaking.
Everyone looked bewildered at the loud noise coming from outside the workhouse.
“What is that?”
While the poorhouse directors were flustered, the vibrations continued.
Sepia asked at the noise that sounded like something heavy had been put down.
“Are there any additional supplies scheduled to arrive today?”
“No. I checked the stock in the morning...”
Even Elon seemed unaware of the source of the loud noise.
The vibrations that continued to be heard were unusual.
Sepia got up from her seat.
“Let’s go out.”
Elon and Gurkus followed Sepia.
In front of the poorhouse where they went, dozens of wagons were unloading their cargo. They were all wagons from the Dolon Group operated by Elon.
The wooden boxes contained water, blankets, dry food, firewood, medicine, and other supplies used by the poorhouse.
“Didn’t you say there were no additional supplies?”
“Yes. And we can’t bring in that much...”
Even Elon, the owner of the group, looked confused.
Above all, the people unloading the cargo were all knights carrying swords.
‘...Could it be that they were sent by Demios? That can't be.'
It was a confusing time.
Sepia's eyes met with a familiar face among the knights unloading their luggage.
It was Groer, the commander of the punitive force.
“Hello, Your Majesty!”
Kuung.
Groer called out, setting down a large bundle of firewood on the ground.
The other knights also stopped what they were doing and bowed to Sepia.
They looked strangely familiar, but they were all people she had met at the victory ceremony.
“Why are you all here..”
Sepia was starting to panic. She saw someone talking to Richard, the head of Dolon’s brigade, between the wagons.
Sepia turned her head and met his eyes.
“...Roxanne.”
Why was he here?
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