765
The carriage rolled slowly along the road, and Audrey's gaze unconsciously drifted back to the window.
Over the past two days, Earl Hall seemed to have finally realized that his daughter had been staying home for a long time. He had made an exception and allowed her to go out and resume handling some of the funds' affairs.
To Audrey, this action was a signal to MI9.
But Audrey was also concerned about the funds, so naturally, she would not refuse.
Her delight at her father's leniency was entirely genuine.
Many pedestrians stood by the roadside, staring at the horses pulling the carriage, their eyes almost glowing green. The lucky ones who had managed to collect food crossed the streets furtively, hurrying toward their homes.
Squads of police in black-and-white checked uniforms patrolled the streets, revolvers at their waists and short batons in hand, deterring anyone tempted to take a risk.
"Lately, none of us have dared go out alone..." Annie, the lady's maid beside Audrey, muttered quietly.
Audrey nodded gently without replying.
Although Loen's upper echelons and military showed no signs of anything unusual, and were even actively using the "emperor's assassination" to attack other countries internationally, the circumstances of ordinary people and some of the middle class had not improved. His Holiness Pope Gade II was indeed an exalted Blessed and an outstanding religious leader, but he had clearly been away from the earth for too long to understand his people's real demands and needs.
His political sensitivity clearly did not extend to governing a country. The Church, which had long possessed vast businesses, lands, and wealth, did not really understand how to manage them either. Yet they would not entrust the Church's businesses to secular nobles skilled in commerce. They could only bundle relief supplies with