Chapter 181

I diligently traveled around the villages, spreading antibiotics wherever I went.

This wasn’t limited to places where dysentery was spreading.

“Summon all the midwives from the surrounding villages.”

“Yes, Lord Alan! … Might I ask the reason?”

“Tell them that if any mother complains of persistent high fever and abdominal pain more than two days after childbirth, they should give her this medicine. I’ll leave some supplies here for you to distribute. Make sure it’s all documented.”

“Yes, sir!”

I also decided to distribute a little to the midwives.

In the village, the church essentially acts half as a government office.

I wasn’t giving orders because I believed they’d be perfectly followed.

Some might avoid it, thinking it’s a drug dealer’s medicine, or an enterprising midwife or official might try to make some pocket money from it.

But I decided not to persecute them one by one.

Someone would benefit from it, and it would become known that the medicine came from me. When word spreads that a woman suffering horribly from puerperal fever was saved by simply taking some medicine, it will surely circulate. That would be enough.

It wasn’t just antibiotics I distributed.

Disinfectants based on chlorhexidine.

And occasionally methadone as well.

I deliberately traveled with a grand retinue, openly bestowing favors.

But I couldn’t win any favorable reactions.

Low-ranking local officials would either cringe in fear or reluctantly follow my orders with expressions of resignation. The clergy alternated between wary caution of me and occasionally delivering stern admonishments.

A journey of charity where I couldn’t even earn a proper “thank you.”

I had anticipated these reactions, even deliberately cultivating them.

But Bono, who accompanied me, seemed to think differently.

“It will take a long time, Lord Alan.”

“Long time?”

“Well… ah, excuse me for speaking frankly. People’s prejudices against you won’t disappear for a long while. Most of the people benefiting from your charity don’t even realize it’s a favor.”

“…”

“Still, I didn’t expect… it to be this bad.”

Bono openly showed his sense of defeat.

He still didn’t seem to get my intentions, so I decided to come clean since there was no need to hide it.

“It’s deliberate.”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you wonder why I’ve been quizzing about the specifications of wells and communal water sources? People are very sensitive when it comes to tampering with water sources. Especially in villages that solely depend on wells, even spitting nearby could cause suspicion.”

“…”

“So when someone like me suddenly shows up and interferes with the well, they can’t help but be suspicious.”

“You intentionally provoked that…?”

“That’s right.”

Doing good but being mistrusted.

I was merely following Siena’s orders. Since she had requested, “Make sure they can’t even say thank you.” She was probably expecting them to regret and suffer later.

But this approach was also a pretty good strategy, practicality-wise.

“I can’t possibly take care of everyone in the empire with my own power.”

“Eh… Lord Alan?”

“It’s possible, but it would take a long time. And I don’t plan to start immediately. I need to gradually proceed after installing Victoria on the throne. By then, I won’t have to personally travel around.”

“Then… what is this?”

“For now, it’s enough to provoke debates.”

I didn’t need to win everyone over as my ally.

The late bloomers who eventually realize my goodwill.

And those who continue to believe the vicious rumors about me.

Just by cultivating these contrasting evaluations, it would suffice.

More honestly speaking, being an object of worship was a tiring existence.

Of course, rare and selective favors.

Instilling this perception among the people was much more advantageous to me.

“…I understand what you mean, Lord Alan.”

Now, finally comprehending, Bono nodded.

Thinking about it, he had been fooled by me in a similar way. He now loyally follows my orders. No one understood better than Bono how employing prejudices wisely could translate into profit.

I immediately set off for the next village.

Here too, I encountered minor resistance.

“Lord Alan, please… not this village.”

Again, it was a priest.

I feigned a hint of regret while distributing the antibiotics.

And before they could experience its efficacy, I quickly departed the village.

**

I visited more than thirty villages and small towns.

Roaming around endlessly wasn’t feasible. There would be no end to it.

I needed to return to the State before word-of-mouth spread too widely, but I couldn’t leave things unfinished.

I needed to create proper justification and opportunity. I needed the aristocratic society, at least, to recognize that I didn’t stop out of my own volition.

So my next destination was Skenting.

It wasn’t one of my direct dominions.

The empire was a country where 80% of the territory was governed by governors or mayors appointed by the Imperial Court.

At first glance, it might seem like the nobility of fiefs had little presence, but that wasn’t true.

Being able to maintain ownership of their fiefs without selling them to the Imperial Court implied their certain capabilities. As long as they fulfilled their duties to the Imperial Court, the lords still ruled their fiefs as if they were kings.

Skenting was one such region.

A place where crops flourished with just the sowing of seeds, it was also one of the empire’s granaries.

“Lord Alan, it is a true honor to meet you.”

The Comte Skenting greeted me with full respect the moment we met.

Even this gentleman found me difficult to approach.

Still, his attitude wasn’t one of utter discomfort due to his strength. In fact, his posture was more composed.

“Lord Alan? You see, before relations soured with Chinguk, I planned to marry my nephew to one of Chinguk’s crown princes. Now that relations have been restored, may we proceed with this again? We will carefully consider the situation.”

The straightforward request.

I felt this was sufficient, and a smile emerged on my face.

“No problem. However, if this marriage is for the sake of your family’s interest, reconsider it… crown princes are often crown princes or grandchildren of princes. Seigniory and stipend are given only up to the marquis rank. It lacks significant meaning beyond that.”

“Even so, being the king’s granddaughter.”

“I happen to have dozens of kings.”

I kindly offered guidance.

After that, we continued with a reasonably normal conversation, but it didn’t last long.

I moved straight to the topic.

I asked him to gather all the doctors and midwives operating within his dominion and provide them with necessary education, and also to thoroughly share all information about drinking water sources within his dominion to the Privy Council.

This time, I gave a detailed explanation, with politeness.

‘Would he comply if I asked like this?’

Of course not.

How could he like the sight of me who might soon serve as an envoy wielding more authority than the emperor, stirring his territory? He’d perceive it as an attempt to expand influence rather than for charity.

“Lord Alan, of course, I believe you are conducting this charity activity with solemn purposes.”

The count was already sweating cold beads.

He seemed to be pondering on how to reject my proposal.

He must feel burdened to reject outright, yet worries permitting it would be akin to handing over the keys.

I quietly stared at him for a moment, then sighed.

With purposefully relaxed tones, I continued.

“You don’t need to answer immediately.”

“Lord Alan?”

“I know what misdeeds I’ve committed so far. After hearing about the tragedies that unfolded within Chinguk… the reality is far grimmer than any rumor you’ve heard.”

“…”

“Would it be possible to cleanse such a tarnished name overnight? I suppose it would be easier to kill and destroy someone to fall back into my old patterns, but this is quite challenging.”

“Lord Alan, it’s not what I…”

“…take some time to think about it calmly. I’ll give you until tomorrow.”

With these words, the Count of Skenting seemed to relax a little.

“Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome. It’s settled.”

I planned to stay a night in the lord’s residence. Throughout the feast and introductions to the count’s family, I didn’t stop my facial acting.

…

The next morning.

“Sorry, Lord Alan.”

The count calmly delivered his refusal.

He didn’t just flatly refuse but seemed prepared with a plausible pretext.

“Lord Alan… Of course, I trust you. I know the work you’ve done has been for the nation’s benefit. The resources coming from the Great Forest have indeed made the Britannia Empire richer, haven’t they? …But it’s the church.”

“The bishop must be troubled.”

“Yes, that’s right. …We implicitly recognize the autonomy of the areas surrounding the diocese. Moreover, the church’s deacons also serve as medical personnel.”

Ultimately, it was an excuse from the church.

Perhaps he struck a deal with the bishop during my feast. Either way, they’d offer this as a reason to protect my name.

Or, it might be that the bishop is truly opposing it. From the encounters with the priests, there was a noticeable level of wariness towards me from the church hierarchy.

Anyway, this accomplished my goal.

I pretended to contemplate for a moment more and nodded.

“…It’s alright. On the contrary, I appreciate the effort saved.”

“Are you genuinely… Oh, sorry. I’ve been rude.”

“Really, it’s fine. I’ve been well hosted.”

I briefly answered and glanced at the floor.

At this point, I might look as if I’m brooding over regret, or maybe trying to overturn everything with gritted teeth but barely refraining from doing so.

Either way was fine. Securing the rationale was sufficient.

“See you again.”

After standing there blankly for a moment, I turned my steps.

…

Having completed my benevolent acts, I returned to the State with ease.

Not long after, I heard that the Cardinal leading the Great Diocese had convened a gathering of clergy, and the reason turned out to be the reports submitted by the priests. The priests I met along the way must have given concrete accounts.

The church officials actively reacting.

Even though they can’t outwardly display their fear, nobles must be murmuring below the surface.

Now, it wouldn’t take long for the news to spread across the whole empire.

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