At Hadrien's words, Matilda instinctively wanted to frown, but the motion only flickered through her mind before being concealed beneath her calm expression.
"The city is still steeped in tension, but order in the factories and markets has begun to gradually recover," she said casually as she came to Hadrien's side. "With the royal family's intervention, the merchants trying to profiteer from the chaos and the nobles attempting to transfer their assets were dealt with early. Food, cloth, and medicine are no longer in short supply... More than half the credit for that goes to you."
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures to make certain people behave themselves," Hadrien said with a faint smile. "The pursuit of profit is human nature, but some people's instincts have gotten far too out of control. By the way, sister, I heard the Protectorate Knight Order confronted the National 11th Legion. Has that been resolved?"
"We identified a group of commanders and soldiers in the 11th Legion affected by Mental Corruption, along with a small number who had become mentally agitated due to shallow faith. They were the source of the confrontation—they've all been sent for treatment," Matilda said. "As for the others... once Grand Duke Ferdinand appeared, the situation quickly calmed down."
"Duke Ferdinand..." Hadrien wore a thoughtful expression. "He is the most respected among the nobles who hold military power. The Protectorate Knight Order under his command is absolutely loyal to the royal family and entirely cut off from the War God Cult. With him stepping forward, he is more effective than a hundred generals."
Matilda nodded lightly. "As long as the military remains effectively controlled, the military nobles stay loyal, and the faith contamination in several core legions is removed in time, the situation will soon ease up. And we have