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In the end, Haven didn't change rooms. When I said I would move elsewhere, he insisted that I, the empress, should stay in the best place available.
Even though I didn't fully understand my feelings, I decided to think about how to persuade someone who felt the same as me.
I watched Verdi and Haven pack, then heard the people's representative of Stendel had arrived.
As I went downstairs to the council chamber, I found three terrified people kneeling. One of them was a face I recognized from the welcoming crowd, who happened to be at the very front.
I spoke gently to ease their minds, "Don't be afraid. I just called you here to ask some questions."
The three of them simultaneously heaved a sigh of relief and nodded in unison.
"I heard there had been hardships due to Gripton's exploitation. How are the residents coping?"
The eldest among the people's representatives replied cautiously, "We are managing to pull through, thanks to the Commander distributing food."
