As Suzaku departed after his dismissal Euphie sank back into her chair. She was manipulating the young man to a certain extent, playing his idealism to her advantage. Yet Euphie felt little guilt about it. She did want to help the Japanese after all and she did believe that successful integration of Area 11 required that its original residents be accorded greater standing and rights. Yet she needed to tread carefully. She must never give the impression that Area 11 might ever be allowed its independence. Self-rule, on Britannia's terms, possibly, but never outright independence. That would be political suicide of the highest magnitude within the Empire and Euphie herself did not really believe that the various Areas would be better off separated from the Empire. Most were all too likely to succumb to the disease of populism and eventually keel over under tyranny of another sort, of the unruly masses. Better that the Empire be guided by a firm but benevolent hand. The time was coming after all, when she herself would need to demonstrate her firmness. For now however benevolence was still paying dividends. There was as yet no need to remove the silken glove to reveal the iron fist.
