Chapter 42

With lingering regret, Shaterian arrived at the Grievance Counseling Office and couldn’t help but marvel.

Not only had the wall that Eched had destroyed been turned into a door, but the entire office had been completely revamped.

She recalled once again how simple the purpose of the Grievance Counseling Office was.

The ever-busy Imperial Family needed a place to vent their frustrations and relieve stress.

Although it was in its current state, there was a time when the office was bustling with visitors.

That was when the previous head of the office, Masetike, the first commoner to hold an administrative position, was in charge.

Even the nobles, who had initially expressed subtle dissatisfaction with his status, became ardent fans after experiencing his dazzling counseling skills just once.

‘He seemed like someone who had lived three lifetimes. I’m sorry for everything, Masetike. But I’ve finally restored the true essence of the Grievance Counseling Office!’

Until now, the office had been like sweet red bean buns without red bean paste, sausage bread without sausage, or fish-shaped bread without fish filling.

‘Not that this was achieved through my efforts.’

Still, as long as the results were good, that was all that mattered.

Shaterian nodded approvingly as she looked at the spotless walls and the newly renovated office.

“Here are the documents you requested while you were resting, Chief.”

“Oh, as expected of you, Pell. You’ve organized them so neatly.”

Shaterian’s expression was one of satisfaction. However, Pell was still full of concerns.

“But are you really going to bring this up in the meeting?”

“Of course. Why would I prepare it if I wasn’t going to?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Still, he couldn’t make sense of what went on in her mind.

As he watched her cheerfully open the drawer of her new desk, Pell scratched the back of his head.

‘She’s simpler than expected. Maybe she’s preparing in advance for when she becomes a commoner.’

He couldn’t understand why someone would want to give up a status that others could only dream of.

Unaware that he had stumbled upon the correct answer, Pell shrugged and handed over another document.

“And here are the counseling requests that came in while you were resting.”

“……What?”

There were three of them. Shaterian accepted them with a bewildered expression.

“One is someone recommended by Sir Bruf, another by the Earl of LePell, and the last came on their own.”

“Now that the office is established, work is piling up?”

Shaterian chuckled, wondering if she should thank Eched for this.

“Why does everything pile up all at once…”

Suddenly, there was a mountain of tasks to do. She couldn’t just leave them unattended.

“Let’s prepare for the meeting first. We need to make it so airtight that no one can say a word.”

“Understood.”

***

The Grand Assembly, held once a month.

As they reviewed today’s agenda, one noble sneered mockingly.

“The Imperial Welfare Department? Who proposed such a useless agenda?”

“Look at this. The main project is welfare for commoners. The funding comes from donations and taxes… Taxes to help commoners? Have they gone mad?”

“Indeed. Why should we use our money to help commoners?”

“What a waste of paper.”

Laughter filled the meeting room. Someone even threw the paper into the air, saying it was only fit to be used as kindling. It fluttered down and landed right at Shaterian’s feet as she entered the hall.

“Gasp…! Lady…!”

“Hmm…”

Shaterian bent down to pick up the paper and dusted it off with a loud pat. Her gaze swept over the room, chilling the atmosphere.

“It’s me.”

“Pardon…?”

“I said it’s me. I’m the one who proposed this agenda.”

‘Gasp!’

“…….”

After the initial shock, silence followed. The quiet was broken by the secretary announcing the Emperor’s arrival.

Though Shaterian’s icy gaze disappeared, her presence did not.

‘We’re doomed.’

The nobles who had openly mocked the proposal stifled their tears. They were grown adults and couldn’t cry in a public setting.

In this harsh society of rigid hierarchies, where personal circumstances were irrelevant, the meeting began.

“First, we’ll hear the regular reports.”

A series of tedious reports followed. Occasionally, loud voices were raised as they picked apart each other’s arguments, seeking benefits for their respective departments, agreeing and disagreeing.

Time passed, and finally…

“Next is the agenda to establish the Imperial Welfare Department. Shaterian Melis, Chief of the Counseling Office, please speak.”

All eyes turned to Shaterian. Despite the attention, she rose leisurely from her seat and extended her arm.

“First.”

Knights who had been waiting distributed thick bundles of documents.

Proposal for the Establishment of the Imperial Welfare Department

Everyone received it, their expressions puzzled.

“Follow along as you listen.”

Her confident steps echoed as she walked to the center of the hall.

After a brief nod of acknowledgment, her clear voice filled the room.

“Frankly, you must find this hard to understand. Why would someone like Shaterian Melis propose a department for commoners?”

“…….”

“I recently witnessed the reality of illegal auctions firsthand. At those auctions, I saw numerous people confined in iron cages. Children, youths, the elderly, women, men—people of all ages and genders. What they had in common was that they were powerless, ordinary commoners. Meanwhile, the spectators at the auctions were so-called nobles with wealth and power.”

Her green eyes swept over the room, devoid of any sympathy or pity. She was merely stating facts.

“I’m not here to propose anything grand.”

‘I despise anything complicated or bothersome.’

“Nor am I seeking a revolution.”

As her three years of seclusion had shown, Shaterian’s life goal was a simple one.

“I’m merely proposing this welfare department to minimize the injustices faced by commoners.”

Since abolishing the hierarchical system was impossible, this seemed like the best solution.

“As outlined in the proposal you’ve been given, the Welfare Department’s main focus will be on welfare, that is, ensuring the stability of commoners’ lives. Initially, it will be funded by donations and taxes. Once the department is stable, we plan to generate revenue through projects aimed at commoners. Of course, the initial tax funds will come from the national treasury, taken from fines imposed in cases involving commoners, thus preventing…”

Any suspicion that Shaterian might be using this as a way to line her own pockets was quelled by the transparent financial plan.

Setting aside the trust in the notoriously strict Duchess Melis and the famously upright Duke Astrea, the meticulousness of the first page of the document alone was enough to leave everyone speechless.

Moreover, the department wasn’t solely beneficial to commoners. Nobles could reduce their taxes the more they donated, a mutually beneficial policy.

It was an innovative system designed with the distant future in mind.

But, as always, there were those who opposed it.

“So, Lady Shaterian, are you saying we should fatten others’ bellies with money from our own pockets?”

“You’ve hit the nail on the head. One point for you.”

“…….”

Even as she clapped, the noble who had shouted in anger was left flustered.

‘What just happened…?’

He felt as if he had been tricked, yet he had been praised…

“Donations are entirely voluntary for individuals and families. Please proceed as you see fit.”

However, the donation records would be made public to the citizens of the empire, and reputations would shift accordingly. That was none of Shaterian’s concern.

“Lady, doesn’t this diminish the dignity of the nobility?”

“Then donate generously.”

“Everyone has their circumstances. It’s not always possible to give large donations.”

“Indeed, indeed.” 

The nobles nodded in agreement with the rebuttal.

Shaterian stared directly at the noble.

“I understand you have a daughter who recently debuted in society.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then her maintenance costs must amount to at least 150 gold coins per month?”

“…….”

“What about you, Earl? I hear you enjoy rare jewels and recently purchased a super diamond at an auction for over 400 gold coins.”

“W-what does that have to do with this?!”

Thud. The room fell silent as Shaterian stomped her foot.

“The monthly operating cost of an orphanage housing ten children is a mere 30 gold coins. With that, they can eat, sleep, and even receive an education in abundance.”

“What could commoners possibly achieve by learning…”

Sharp glares silenced the noble who had spoken out of turn. He broke into a cold sweat and avoided their eyes.

“Thirty gold coins are an insignificant amount for anyone here. Look at your brooches. Selling just one of them could feed 100 children for a year and provide them with a warm place to live.”

As her hand cut through the air, Shaterian continued speaking calmly.

“And yet, you find it too much to spare. Or perhaps ‘wasteful’ is the better word.”

‘Chief, please…’

Pell swallowed hard, silently pleading for her to stop.

“To oppose this policy over such a trivial amount. People call me a villainess. I truly wonder what defines a villainess.”

Her statement concluded, Shaterian returned to her seat.

It felt as if a storm had swept through. Amidst it all, Shaterian stood tall, her presence shining brightly.

“Let us proceed with the vote.”

121 votes in favor.

23 votes against.

Thus, the Imperial Welfare Department was born.