Before leaving Alanna’s house, Liv noticed a gown hidden in the slightly ajar wardrobe — the one Tess had given her.
Alanna must have refrained from mentioning it because Tess was present.
When they returned to the consulate that evening, Julia was already awake.
Dressed in pale pajamas, she sat casually on the edge of the lobby sofa, her long, bare legs resting against the upholstery.
She was reading a book.
Noticing Liv and Tess’s return, she adjusted her posture slightly and offered a greeting.
“You’re back quite late. And you, Tess — it’s not safe at night. What if Liv ran into danger?”
Tess retorted sharply.
“Give it a rest, Julia. She is at her safest when she is with me.”
Julia shook her head and set her book aside.
“I won’t bicker with you. Shall we continue our ‘Throne of the Void’ meeting today?”
At the mention of this, Liv excitedly took a seat on the sofa and announced the start of their second session.
“We had dinner at Alanna’s house today. She agreed to help us build a bridge to meet Andronio.”
Julia nodded.
“My father always thinks Andronio is an outdated, frustrated man. His thinking is entirely wrong. Andronio’s book even influenced the legislation regarding the maximum detention period for minor criminal cases.”
“Bauer always thinks she is the greatest opposition leader. But in my view, Andronio is the one with true influence outside the government.”
Liv continued, “Exactly. Andronio’s influence isn’t even limited to the courts and the Council. He carries weight among the citizens as well. His students take his academic language and popularize it for propaganda. Usually in cafes or taverns.”
Julia continued her analysis with a look of caution.
“That makes things difficult. If Andronio dares to rally with the sans-culottes, it will be very disadvantageous for us.”
Tess could clearly see that Liv and Julia were not on the same page.
However, she didn’t want to point it out.
After all, Julia was such an arrogant young lady; Liv needed to see her true colors for herself.
Liv continued her analysis.
“Andronio is a precious thinker of Landingset. It is precisely because of his status as Deputy Chief that he can continue to write safely. Julia, I ask you, please convince Lord Domenico to protect Andronio.”
Julia hesitated for a moment.
She knew that the main reason Andronio could write those heterodox books without being arrested was his status.
But besides that, there was another, more important reason.
“Liv, there is something you don’t know. Andronio was once the Governor’s student. Governor Carlos started in academia, writing On the Law of the Sea and The Law of Capture, which established his academic status. He was then scouted and promoted directly from the Rector of Landingset Academy to a member of the Council of Ten. One of his prize pupils was Andronio.”
Back when Liv was a student at the suburban academy, she had never heard Andronio mention such things.
Even when Andronio was dead drunk and cursing the Governor’s Mansion, he never brought up his relationship with the Governor.
‘So that’s how it is.’
Realizing this, Liv felt mostly at ease.
As long as the Governor remained, Domenico would never move against Andronio.
If the Governor retired, she would go with Julia to convince Domenico.
Julia was not worried about Andronio’s safety at all, but she was worried about something else.
“The Governor has proposed early retirement more than once. That is what worries me most.”
“According to procedure, if he retires early, the Council must either call for an early general election or have the Governor designate an Acting Governor. If the Council agrees, the entire staff of the Governor’s Mansion and the Council of Ten remains to form a caretaker government until the next general election.”
“Usually, the latter is rarely chosen. But the Governor is set to retire in only a few months. He might designate an Acting Governor under pressure from the Council of Ten rather than calling an early election. Well, to be honest, it would be under pressure from my father.”
“He is very worried about the budget proposals being threatened. He insists that a caretaker government must persist until this year’s budget enters the final settlement and the new budget proposal is drafted.”
The Governor was finally reaching his limit, having repeatedly brought up his resignation in internal meetings.
“If — and I mean if — the Governor really resigns, who would he and the Council of Ten designate as the Acting Governor?”
“Marino Faliero.”
Both Liv and Tess knew that name.
He opposed radical pro-elven policies but was generally an ally of Domenico; he had even provided testimony against Bauer earlier today.
Tess, who had been silent, finally joined in at the right moment.
“So your father picks a weak yes-man to manipulate from behind the scenes for the next six months? But has he considered that unlike Governor Carlos, Marino has no prestige? He can’t control the situation at all. You can’t just assume that once Bauer is defeated, the entire government and opposition will suddenly be your father’s people.”
Liv also expressed her doubts.
“She’s right. Besides, grain prices seem to be rising, and the people are dissatisfied. With the sans-culottes restless, choosing a caretaker government to stall until next year is simply too risky.”
Seeing that the two elves were no fools, Julia felt she had to voice her final concern.
“If there is an early election, all the candidates will try to be the pro-elf faction. Do you understand what I mean, Liv? It’s only when the budget audit happens next year that we will see who truly supports or opposes things.”
Liv was somewhat confused.
“If that’s the case, won’t everyone naturally think your father, or those he supports, are the most enthusiastic pro-elf faction?”
Julia shook her head.
“No. My father is a pragmatic man after all. If someone shouts slogans about waiving all tariffs for the Elven Kingdom, forming a military alliance, escorting elven merchant ships, or even sharing the Southern Archipelago with them… who do you think the Council members, who are scared out of their wits by the Bauer case, will vote for?”
“The most terrifying part is, could my father even accuse such a person of being a traitor, siding with the elves, or taking elven bribes?”
Liv finally understood Julia’s concern, and in turn, she became deeply worried herself.
“But as Tess said, can Marino really stabilize the situation?”
“He can’t, but he is already the most obedient person my father can confirm. Otherwise, who else? Luca has even less prestige. Emilia is ultimately the Governor’s confidant, not my father’s. I can’t exactly do it myself, can I? — Liv, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to tease you, but Marino really is the best candidate.”
“He has been serving as the Chief of the Governor’s Mansion Budget Committee. He is an expert in financial actuarial science. The capital ships were only able to proceed, albeit stumbling along, because of the cost list he created despite the budget shortage. He is a financial talent.”
The three of them spoke in unison.
“Let’s hope he can hold on a bit longer.”