CHAPTER 53: THE TABLE WITHOUT TWO

The Council Room was just as I remembered 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 same weight as the last time I visited, or perhaps even heavier - in the aftermath of Vale and Zhen’s revolt, but somehow I felt better equipped to bear it.

I stepped into the chamber with Luc just behind me. 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 moment and resume 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 welcome."

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 me around in. This time, 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 names be absent from roll, but not from consequence."

He looked around the table. Most nodded.

Luc remained standing next to me. 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 something we can discuss."

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

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

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

Something inside me had changed since the events in the Hall of Order.

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

But somehow, 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 came with being a Roen. Instead, I gave them an invitation.

Councilor Diran, younger and sharper in tone, leaned forward. "Some 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 time, I would have liked to think, but I held far too great responsibility.

"May I, Miss Roen?"

Luc asked me, as if she read my mind.

There was no shame in relying on Luc now, in a moment 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 message was clear, and the weight of being forgiven was heavier on their shoulders than any blame and punishment would have been.

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

"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 recommendations 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 me.

Trust.

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

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

"No new members. 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 confirmed.

"Yes, please do. Thank you."

"And... who gets to do decide which Councilor gets what new responsibilities?", Councilor Diran was still somewhat 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 measurement 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 name... and we could evaluate them each on its own merit."

I felt embarrassed saying this. It sounded great when I first thought of it but once the words came 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 me.

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

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