“So,” Hughes continued, his sharp gaze scanning the group, “you’re the ones who’ve been keeping this city afloat while we… took our sweet time getting here.”


    Richard faltered, unsure how to respond. Hughes had just insulted himself—a noble—and Richard didn’t know whether to agree or stay silent. “Ser, that’s…” he began awkwardly but trailed off.


    Hughes raised a hand, waving off the discomfort. “Don’t worry about it,” he said smoothly. “There’s a reason for our delay, and there’s a reason why Her Highness summoned you here—and why she isn’t present at the moment.”


    Hearing this, the group perked up, their curiosity piqued.


    “We traveled through several towns on the way here,” Hughes explained, “gathering food supplies and having them enchanted to prevent spoilage. We also purchased carriages to transport the sheer amount of food we brought. It was… a lot of work.”


    Hope flickered briefly in their eyes, but it was quickly extinguished by doubt. What good were supplies if they weren’t shared with the people? No noble they’d ever known would distribute food without demanding something in return.


    Hughes, seemingly aware of their skepticism, continued. “The problem now is this: we don’t know where everyone in the city lives or how many people there are. That’s why you’ve been summoned—particularly you, Miss Sarah.”


    Sarah Bob, an illegitimate noblewoman who had been disowned and exiled to Jola, straightened up. Ever since the previous nobles abandoned the city, she had taken it upon herself to document the population, recording names and household numbers to fairly distribute the fish caught by Richard and his crew.


    “Yes, Ser,” Sarah said cautiously, “I do have a list of everyone’s names and the number of family members in each household.”


    Hughes smiled approvingly. “I know. That’s why you’re here. When we spoke with some of the townsfolk, they mentioned your records. Excellent initiative, Miss Sarah.”


    He then addressed the group as a whole. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll use that list to distribute cooked food three times a day. Meals will be provided at the abandoned noble estates, divided into designated groups to ensure fairness. This way, everyone gets their fill, and we can prevent cheating or double claims.”


    The room fell silent as the words sank in. For a moment, it felt like a dream. Free food? Distributed fairly? No noble they had ever known would propose such a thing.


    Richard stammered, “This… this is…”


    “Ser, I-I’ll fetch the list right away!” Sarah exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes as she thought of the hungry children finally having enough to eat.


    Hughes waved her gratitude aside. “You shouldn’t thank me. It was Her Highness who ordered this. It’s also our responsibility as stewards of the empire.”


    The mention of Ravenna left the group momentarily stunned. The stories they had heard about her painted a vastly different picture. Could the rumors have been wrong?


    Hughes turned to Jessica next. “Miss Jessica, we brought cotton from Willow Town during our journey here. Her Highness has requested that you and some volunteers sew clothes for the townsfolk. We’ve heard the nights here are bitterly cold.”


    Jessica’s eyes widened in disbelief. Free clothes? She quickly nodded. “Yes, of course, Ser. I’ll get started immediately!”


    Hughes then handed Nille a parchment. “Mister Nille, this is for you. Her Highness asked me to give you these designs.”If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Nille unfolded the parchment, his hands trembling. On it were three intricate designs, accompanied by detailed instructions. His eyes widened as he scanned them—these weren’t just tools; they were revolutionary.


    “Ser,” he said, his voice shaking, “when does Her Highness need these completed?”


    “The mud collector cage is to be completed within a week. The others have a three-month deadline,” Hughes replied.


    Nille swallowed hard, nodding. “Understood. I’ll ensure they’re made on time. With these… no one in Jola will ever go hungry again!”


    His words ignited a spark of hope among the group. What kind of tools could ensure the city’s survival?


    Finally, Hughes turned to Richard. “Mister Richard, we need you to stop fishing for the time being and assist with food distribution and farming.”


    Richard blinked. “Ser… did you say farming? And why stop fishing?”


    Hughes smiled faintly. “Her Highness believes the soil at the bottom of the ocean is fertile. We’ll use it to farm potatoes from the supplies we brought. Your task is to collect seabed soil and help transport it inland.”


    Richard’s mouth fell open. Farming… in Jola? It sounded absurd, yet it made sense. They had all seen green plants growing underwater. If they could use that soil, it might actually work.


    “And,” Hughes added, “one of the designs I gave Mister Nille is a mud collector cage to help you bring up the soil more efficiently. It’ll be ready within a week.”


    Nille nodded. “I’ll make sure of it, Richard. We’ll have that soil in no time!”


    As the group processed the overwhelming news, Hughes concluded, “This is all according to Her Highness’s orders. Unfortunately, she’s unable to meet you in person right now. She fell ill during the journey and is currently resting in her quarters. She asked me to apologize on her behalf.”


    “No, no, Ser Hughes,” Richard said quickly, his voice filled with respect. “Please let Her Highness know we wish her a speedy recovery.”


    “Yes,” Jessica chimed in. “We’ll make sure everything is ready before her public appearance so she doesn’t see her people hungry or cold!”


    “Right!” Nille added enthusiastically. “We’ll start immediately!”


    The group’s excitement and gratitude were palpable. For the first time in years, they felt like hope wasn’t just a distant dream. The rumors about Ravenna, they realized, must have been lies spread by her enemies.


    Just as they were about to leave, Hughes stopped them. “One more thing,” he said, his tone serious. “Have any new people arrived in the city before us?”


    Sarah stepped forward. “Ser, their names are all recorded in my list, including the new arrivals.”


    Hughes smiled faintly. “Good. Thank you, Miss Sarah. That’ll be helpful.”


    The group left the castle, their steps lighter than they’d been in years. Change was coming to Jola, and for the first time, it seemed like it might be for the better.


    Meanwhile, in the private sanctuary of the Lord’s bedroom, Ravenna sat upright on the grand four-poster bed, her emerald black eyes fixed intently on the glowing system panel before her. The screen displayed several neatly organized spreadsheets. Her fingers danced across the interface as she entered data with precision.


    “I can’t believe how useful this system is,” she murmured, her voice low, almost in awe.


    The truth was, Ravenna had no idea how to govern an estate, let alone a struggling desert city like Jola. Even with the original Ravenna’s memories, the task was daunting. The former Ravenna had been adept at navigating the treacherous waters of politics, but her expertise ended there. When it came to resource management, infrastructure, and the intricacies of administration, her knowledge was painfully inadequate.


    This left Ravenna with no choice but to rely on her own experiences—those from a life far removed from this world. Back in her previous life, she had been a project manager in a reputable corporation. While managing sprawling urban territories was a far cry from overseeing corporate projects, she reasoned that the foundational principles of planning, organization, and execution must remain consistent.


    It was during her initial days of struggling in the carriage ride she stumbled upon a revelation: the system’s access to the internet, frozen in time to the day of her death, was more valuable than she’d ever imagined.


    Even though the data was static, it was a treasure trove of information. Blueprints for blacksmithing tools, agricultural innovations, and urban planning concepts lay at her fingertips. She discovered templates and resources that could streamline tasks that once seemed overwhelming. A particularly unexpected boon was finding a free spreadsheet platform, one she had frequently used in her past life. Now, it served as the backbone of her budding plans for Jola, allowing her to track resources, draft budgets, and chart strategies.


    “If I’m to live as Ravenna Solarius in this city of sun and sand,” she muttered, her voice carrying a blend of determination and resignation, “then I’d better do it right.”


    Ravenna leaned back slightly, her gaze lingering on the screen. There was still so much to do, but for now, she allowed herself a rare moment of satisfaction. This wasn’t going to be easy, but she was no stranger to challenges. After all, rebuilding hope from ruins was a project worth pouring her heart into.