“The steamer said if I wanted more than a single meal you will need to submit an official request for catering,” the retainer informs her.

Lexi frowns heavily.

To Shaheen, she says, “I will return tomorrow with more food for you and your daughter. All right?”

She can see clearly from the noncommittal way Shaheen nods that the young woman doesn’t believe her, and somehow that only heightens every ill emotion Lexi is feeling.

Taru stands and waits. A moment later Lexi slowly rises and turns away from Shaheen and Char.

“Te-Gen,” the retainer begins carefully, “I appreciate how you feel, but this is a dangerous proposition. There are countless families here like this woman and her child, and Gen Stalbraid does not possess the food allotment to feed even a small number of them.”

“Then we will do what we can for as many as we can,” Lexi proclaims resolutely.

Taru frowns. “It could cause a riot if we try to disperse small amounts of food—”

“Being unable to solve a problem in its totality is not a reason to do nothing.”

“Very well, Te-Gen.”

They walk away slowly, and in silence. The mixture of confusion, anger, and sorrow is practically radiating from Lexi’s every pore. She stares straight ahead, seeing nothing, lost in her own dark thoughts.

Taru waits as long as they can contain themselves.

“Forgive me, Te-Gen, but are you truly so surprised? Did Brio never share with you the condition of the people here?”

“He told me they were forgotten by the Capitol and Crache, but I never… I simply didn’t understand what that means, I suppose. Perhaps I would not allow myself to understand.”

Taru only nods.

“I should have insisted on coming with Brio,” Lexi says, obviously speaking more to herself than anyone else. “I should have done… something to help—”

“Te-Gen, you helped Brio. You served as you were trained to serve. Like any of us.”

Lexi is shaking her head before Taru has even finished speaking. “It’s no excuse. No excuse at all.”

Taru frowns, deepening the perpetual lines in their face cultivated by their usually stern expression. “I should not have brought you here—”

“Yes, you should!” Lexi snaps at them, looking up at the towering retainer, her brow even more troubled. “You most certainly should have.”

Lexi returns briefly to her silent, contemplative staring.

Then, “How does this happen, Taru? How can this place exist? How can these people be allowed to live like this? Here, in the Capitol of all places? How can the rest of the city and its people thrive while these people have nothing? At every state function we praise our glorious nation and how we live free of things like hunger and poverty and violence. How can such a lie live?”