A Glimmer of Hope

Iordera found herself increasingly convinced of Hecate’s inherent goodness.

Not only did she readily cooperate with Iordera’s tasks and permit her occasional idleness, but she also frequently divulged snippets of insider information.

Above all, Hecate remained serene and unobtrusive during meals, a beautifully tranquil maiden whose very presence was a comforting sight.

As Iordera cleared her plate, she remarked, “Hecate, there isn’t much on our agenda today, is there? The City Lord is scheduled to deliver a city-wide address shortly, and I thought I might go listen.”

“No problem at all,” Hecate replied with a soft, accommodating smile. “You should go.”

‘See? She truly is a good person.’

Junen Plaza, while not excessively distant, primarily drew attendees from the immediate vicinity, given the city’s crippled public transportation system.

Despite the somewhat scattered nature of the crowd, their numbers were far from negligible; at least a thousand souls had gathered across the expansive plaza.

A grand platform occupied the plaza’s heart, where the City Lord and his retinue stood poised.

From her vantage point, Iordera was too far to discern their features clearly, though she could vaguely make out a man with a resolute countenance, exuding an aura of formidable righteousness.

Beside the City Lord stood a swordsman clad in white, his posture erect and his bearing remarkably distinguished.

Once the plaza had filled to a sufficient degree, City Lord Martin advanced to the front of the platform, producing a megaphone.

“Esteemed citizens,” he boomed, “I am Martin Sword-Picker, the City Lord of Junenfort.”

His voice, rich and resonant, matched his imposing appearance, imbued with an air of profound integrity.

“For the past six months,” he declared, “Junenfort has been plagued by lawless individuals with malicious intent. They have disrupted the city’s peace, inflicted harm indiscriminately, and perpetrated innumerable atrocities. To this very day, I have been unable to completely eradicate this problem, and for that, I bear full responsibility.”

Standing on the platform, he bowed deeply to the assembled crowd.

A murmur rippled through the plaza, yet not a single voice rose in accusation.

Instead, several individuals called out, their voices ringing with conviction: “City Lord, you have done more than enough! It’s simply that they are too numerous, too cunning!”

“Indeed, City Lord, there’s no need for self-reproach.”

Iordera, too, nodded subtly in agreement.

Truly, he had undertaken every necessary measure, and even those beyond his immediate grasp, he was striving to address.

Martin was, without question, an exceptional city administrator.

After a thoughtful pause, Martin lifted his head, resuming, “However, I implore you all to rest easy. I vow to restore order to Junenfort. At present, I possess thorough preparations and a comprehensive plan. We require but one more week, and then our lives, as they once were, shall return to us!”

“Hooray!”

“If the City Lord states it thus, then a solution must surely be at hand!”

“Excellent! I knew it; the City Lord will undoubtedly resolve this.”

Faces around them brightened with relief, and a chorus of praise rose for the man on the platform.

“Furthermore, I must extend my profound gratitude to the two prominent families of our Junenfort,” he announced, gesturing towards the VIP seating area below the stage. “I thank them for their magnanimous contributions to this crucial plan.”

‘The two great families, then—the city’s two wealthiest noble houses.’

Iordera rose onto her tiptoes, straining to peer at the VIP seating area below the platform.

Two families occupied the seats there, though their expressions appeared rather grim.

“Those fat cats, those leeches,” a person nearby muttered, “It’s only this once they’ve acted with any decency.”

“Exactly! They’ve never done a good deed in their lives before this.”

“Given the urgency of the current crisis, if they hadn’t shown some sense, the City Lord would have been forced to intervene.”

“Hmph, it’s fortunate they recognized the gravity of the situation.”

“Citizens!”

City Lord Martin suddenly amplified his voice, his robust tones reverberating across the entire plaza: “Those lawless elements know their end is nigh! Whatever schemes they may be hatching within the city, they shall all dissolve into nothingness within a week.”

“Therefore, in these final remaining days, they are bound to descend into a last, desperate frenzy. But I implore you, do not fear; this is merely their dying struggle. As long as we persevere, in one week’s time, everything will conclude.”

“The rail cars will resume their routes, the shops on the streets will reopen their doors. Endure these final few days, and all will return to its former normalcy!”

The surrounding populace grew fervent, their eyes wide and more inflamed than Iordera’s own.

“Rest assured, City Lord, we can persevere!”

“No problem at all!”

“Let them rage! We’ll fight these sons of bitches to the bitter end!”

As the crowd around her swelled with fervent enthusiasm, Iordera subtly drew her head back, then quietly slipped away.

Still, with such a conscientious City Lord at the helm, and the united populace of Junenfort standing as one, this crisis ought to reach a satisfactory resolution.

She proceeded to a gift shop and purchased a pencil, the most extravagant one available, costing a full silver coin, intending to present it to Sir Olcott tomorrow.

As for her duties today, they had simply melted away.

Save for a brief exchange during breakfast, Hecate had remained largely silent throughout the day.

Moreover, it had been Iordera herself who initiated their morning conversation.

Iordera’s life had settled into a steady rhythm; the witch Hecate was engaged in self-reflection during her incarceration; City Lord Martin was diligently devising solutions; and the people of Junenfort were collectively confronting their arduous circumstances.

Undeniably, a bright future awaited them all.

That evening, having collected her earnings and returned home, Iordera found Nina presenting her with a letter during dinner.

“My Lady,” Nina announced, “This arrived for you.”

“For me?” Iordera questioned, accepting the envelope with a hint of bewilderment.

In this unfamiliar world, where she knew but a handful of souls, who could possibly have sent her a letter?

Glancing down, she recognized the sender: Uncle Andrew.

[Little one, how have these past couple of days treated you? I heard from the landlord that you frequently practice boxing in the evenings. I hope you’re taking it easy and not pushing yourself too hard.]

[We’re currently rushing to complete our work. Did you happen to hear the City Lord’s speech today? We are, in fact, the team responsible for that very project. While I can’t divulge the specific details, trust me when I say, it’s something truly remarkable.]

[There’s also a favor I’d like to ask of you. Do you recall me mentioning that when we arrived in Junenfort this time, it wasn’t just my friends and I, but also a few younger folks from our town? In the past few days, however, they’ve vanished without a trace, and I have no idea where they’ve gone.]

[I was hoping you might be able to help me make some inquiries. Of course, there’s no need to strain yourself; just a casual ask would suffice. Should you find them, please tell them not to linger in Junenfort any longer, but to return home.]

As the letter was unfolded, two gold coins tumbled from the envelope.

[Give one coin to them, for their journey home, and the other is your fee for this task.]

[—Andrew.]

Nina, her curiosity piqued, leaned closer. “My Lady, what did he want?”

“Nothing significant,” Iordera replied, tucking the two gold coins safely away. “He merely requested a small favor, a trivial matter.”

Given that it was Uncle Andrew’s request, she resolved to make a diligent effort in her inquiries, though Iordera harbored no great expectations.

After all, these individuals had vanished within Junenfort itself, and the city, in these recent times, had been nothing short of tumultuous.

“It’s time for bed,” Iordera told the two maids. “In another week, we should be preparing to depart.”

According to City Lord Martin, Andrew and his team’s project would reach completion in one week’s time.

Once everyone returned, they would gather once more for a celebratory drink.

Come to think of it, Hecate had been quite enigmatic earlier, hinting at the city’s intricate complexities, clearly attempting to persuade them to extend their stay.

As the white-haired loli contemplated this while washing up, she gazed into the mirror, her ruby eyes seemingly reflecting a glimmer of newfound wisdom.

‘Fortunately, I possess sharp intelligence and my own discerning judgment!’