There Is No Lie In This World Chapter 53: The Table Without Two

The Council Room was just as I rembered it.

Dark stone, high ceilings, and no windows. Just a central candlelit chandelier, casting flickering shadows on every surface.

The atmosphere in the room had the sa weight as the last ti I visited, or perhaps even heavier - in the aftermath of Vale and Zhen’s revolt, but sohow I felt better equipped to bear it.

I stepped into the chamber with Luc just behind . Cain and Abe waited outside the door.

Inside, nine council chairs awaited - only seven now filled. Two remained untouched, as if Vale and Zhen might return at any mont and resu their seats.

They would not.

"Miss Roen," said Councilor Han, the eldest among them. His voice was slow but steady, deepened by decades of rule and quiet caution. "You are welco."

He gestured toward my seat left empty at the head of the table.

I was no longer wearing the ceremonial robes that the likes of Cassian paraded around in. This ti, I chose a soft gray suit that fit well but did not intimidate. I wasn’t here to declare power.

And more importantly, I wasn’t here to let myself be a symbol for anyone.

Councilor Han stood. "Before this body reconvenes in full function, let us acknowledge the silence that rests upon these walls. Two of our own have been... removed. Let their nas be absent from roll, but not from consequence."

He looked around the table. Most nodded.

Luc remained standing next to . Hands behind her back, unreadable.

Not that anybody would have dared to read what Luc may have had in her mind.

Councilor Mae, seated on my right, broke the pause. "Miss Roen. Senior Council seats cannot be left empty, and we are in an unprecedented situation now where the serving councilors have... disappeared... without having a successor in place."

"I suppose that’s sothing we can discuss."

A few raised their eyebrows, but Councilor Han nodded in agreent.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Councilor XXX asked, a genuine curiosity in his face.

"I would like to consult the wisdom of the Councilors."

Sothing inside had changed since the events in the Hall of Order.

I was still the sa old Lin, unsure, unexperienced, and unwise.

But sohow, I was less afraid to ask.

A rustle moved through the room - not of protest, but of intrigue. They had expected either uncertainty of an inexperienced Lin Roen, or authority that ca with being a Roen. Instead, I gave them an invitation.

Councilor Diran, younger and sharper in tone, leaned forward. "So have wondered - when we can start to see leadership and guidance from you."

I recoiled inside.

Reality hit.

Just being nice and open minded wasn’t exactly enough here in my position.

One thing at a ti, I would have liked to think, but I held far too great responsibility.

"May I, Miss Roen?"

Luc asked , as if she read my mind.

There was no sha in relying on Luc now, in a mont like this.

I gave her a nod and she spoke.

"Miss Lin Roen respects the Senior Council and trusts you to uphold your duties and responsibilities."

Councilor Diran didn’t seem impressed by Luc’s round about way of saying I wasn’t ready to be a ’real’ leader at this table.

"As such, I have also decided to trust you."

The air shifted in the room as Luc eyed the empty seats of Vale and Zhen when she spoke these words.

The ssage was clear, and the weight of being forgiven was heavier on their shoulders than any bla and punishnt would have been.

Councilor Han rose from his seat and deeply bowed - not to Luc, but to .

"We thank you for your faith. We will fulfill our duties."

The rest of the council rose and repeated.

"Then let us begin with our first order of restoration," said Councilor Mae after all were seated again. "Does anybody have recomndations for two new Senior Councilors?"

"I’d like to carry on as we are," I blurted out. To my surprise.

Now all eyes were on .

Trust.

I couldn’t play and win against people here by playing gas that I did not understand.

But I felt that - although I was aware I was possibly being extrely naive - I couldn’t earn their trust without showing my trust in them first.

"No new mbers. No unknowns... just us, first. Let us try together."

The eyes around the table blinked. First in confusion, then in contemplation, and finally, nods of approval.

"Each Councilor shall take on more responsibility, then, Miss Roen," Councilor Nakamore confird.

"Yes, please do. Thank you."

"And... who gets to do decide which Councilor gets what new responsibilities?", Councilor Diran was still sowhat skeptical.

Those were practical concerns. Concerns that I wasn’t equipped to provide solutions for now.

"And not only that, we need a vision. Definite targets, goals, performance asurent standards, progress monitoring - I’m sorry, I really do appreciate the ’trust’, but there is a real work to be done here," the Councilor continued, but his tone was more of a genuine concern than a challenge.

"How about-" an idea was forming in my mind.

"Blind evaluation?" Councilor Mae was curious.

"I... thought- everyone could make a proposal with no na... and we could evaluate them each on its own rit."

I felt embarrassed saying this. It sounded great when I first thought of it but once the words ca out of my mouth it felt naive, as though I were suggesting rules for a school project.

"A wise idea, Miss Roen," to my surprise, Councilor Han supported .

"I suppose... that’s fair," even Councilor Diran agreed.

"And we can decide on the proposal by anonymous voting," Councilor Nakamore chid in.

"And repeat the process to assign the roles," Councilor Mae elaborated.

"I... suppose it’s OK- then?"

All the councilors tapped the table once with their fist. It was an unanimous approval of my first ’proposal’ to the Senior Council.