The Beginning of Winter and Cold
Prevention 4 (Director's POV)
The
one my foolish son brought home was a lovely young lady with fluffy brown hair.
At
the sudden welcome, she widened her large eyes even further in surprise, yet
greeted us politely. Despite being in a place she had come to for the first
time, she seemed to have an undaunted personality, and her firmly making eye
contact with each person left a favorable impression.
Her
body was slightly too thin rather than just delicate, but since she ate the
food served to her properly, I was relieved for the time being that her health
condition was not bad. However, the tense atmosphere of trying to shoulder
everything alone bothered me.
What
was written in the advance notice was the young lady's name and the fact that
the one who made the Jilgista Kingdom's new medicine was her. How he
learned of such a classified secret, and what he said to persuade her were both
omitted. Thinking to get at least a little more information, I questioned the
servant who brought the letter, and he said he took her away from an evening
banquet and put her straight on a ship.
What
are you doing. Your mother doesn't remember raising you to be a man who abducts
a young woman of marriageable age, you know.
While
feeling a light dizziness at my son's reckless action, nevertheless, it was
also a joy that my child—who flatly discarded any young ladies who approached
him, reaching the realm of a misogynist from that annoyance—brought a girl
along. It was unexpected that my unintentional mutter of, 'I wonder if she
would just become my daughter-in-law,' spread as a rumor. Fufu, it was
definitely not on purpose, you know.
I
left that rumor alone, thinking Ashren would extinguish the fire before
long, but……
They
use the same carriage for both going to and returning from work. When I probed
the maids of the separate estate, it seems they are unexpectedly getting along
well, reading books or drinking tea in the same room after meals. As if to
drive the point home further, when I heard that he pulled a tearful Layla
into an embrace and comforted her at the Medicinal Herb Department, I
doubted my own ears. That misogynistic son of mine.
While
thinking such things in the corner of my mind, I headed to the Medicinal
Herb Department to consult about the new medicine, and right then, Ashren
and Layla came out the back door. In Ashren's hands was a large
pot likely borrowed from the kitchen, and on his neck was a woman's scarf.
What
is with that sloppy face. Was he a child who made such faces?
The
two of them placed the pot directly on the ground and put red leaves and stems
inside it. Then Layla began to mix it with a ladle. From that pot, made
with a rough process just like children playing house, a pungent odor that
pierced the nose gradually began to rise.
Eh,
are they okay? Just what are they making?
Becoming
worried, when I unintentionally called out to them, they said they were making
a cold prevention medicine. This roughly? Besides, this is the first time I've
heard of a prevention medicine.
「This is a medicine you drink, right?」
Thinking
it felt like it would be a bit hard to drink, I asked, and Layla shook
her head.
「This is gargling medicine. Also, it
can be used as a disinfectant. You can dilute it with water and use it to wipe
tableware, desks, and doorknobs.」
Gargling
medicine! That idea had never existed before. The cause of a cold is due to
invisible bacteria, and it is said to be transmitted from person to person.
Because we were always so focused on how to quickly cure infected people, I
never even thought of preventing the infection itself.
「So it's for infection prevention.
That is amazing, I certainly did not have that idea. Moreover, to think it can
be made this easily; let's make a lot of it right away and circulate it in the Royal
Capital.」
「Right. I will go explain it to the
people at the Medicinal Herb Department right now.」
「In that case, I have an appointment
to meet with Reizan, so I will tell him myself.」
If
it can be done this easily, I wonder if I should have the kitchen servants help
out as well, not just the Medicinal Herb Department. We need large pots,
so I'll borrow the large pots for expeditions from the knight order, and
perhaps have the knight order make some while they're at it. As I was setting
up the plans in my head, I noticed Layla looking at me hesitantly.
「What is the matter, Layla? Is
there something bothering you?」
「No, um. But, I don't think I should
say this much……」
Layla, who usually states her opinions
clearly, was stuttering unusually. Tightly gripping both hands in front of her
chest and letting her gaze wander, seeing her like this was rare.
「What is wrong, Layla? If
there is anything bothering you, please tell us anything.」
「That is right, do not hold back. Besides, I am the one who
will ultimately decide whether to adopt the idea, so you do not need to worry
about things like responsibility or your own position.」
When
I said that, Layla looked back at me with wide eyes. What is the matter,
to be so surprised. Ah, surely no one had ever said such a thing to her until
now. From what I've heard, her former boss and fiancé seemed to be quite a
piece of trash, after all.
「Thank you very much. Actually, I
proposed this in the Jilgista Kingdom as well, but I was scolded and
told it wasn't within my domain to think about, so this might be an
overstepping opinion, but……」
Even
so, after that preface she said while still looking hesitant, I was once again
surprised by the content Layla proposed.
「Could we not spread the method for
making this disinfectant to the Royal Capital…… no, throughout the
entire country? As I explained earlier, it is a very simple method to make. The
Director said it was like cooking, and that is exactly right; it is a
medicine even a commoner housewife without expert knowledge could make if she
heard how. The ingredients are also just water and medicinal herbs growing
nearby. Epidemics often spread from the impoverished class, but if we sell this
as a medicine, they might not be able to afford it.」
「……Layla! That is an
incredibly magnificent method. You think so too, don't you, Director?」
Oh,
son. Why are you so proud as if it were your own doing? It is true that you
were the one who brought back such a wonderful treasure, but still.
「Yes, I am of the same opinion. We
will use the completed medicine in the Royal Castle for now to confirm
its effectiveness, but in parallel with that, I will advance the circulation of
the recipe.」
「Thank you very much. But…… if we do
that, won't it become a major task that involves not just the laboratory, but
other departments as well?」
It's
true; first, I have to pass the talk to the Prime Minister and explain
it to the King and others. Then, hand the recipe to the nobles of each
territory and have them make it known to their territory's citizens. But, it
will be fine.
「It is not a problem. I am here for
exactly that purpose, so leave it to me.」
「Layla, when it comes to moving people,
there is no one who can surpass my mother. Rest assured.」
Looking
alternately at my face and Ashren's face as if finding it mysterious, Layla
nodded despite being bewildered. I could tell her the detailed circumstances,
but that is for later. Let us say it's fine for now.
「Bottling it with just the two of you
will be tough, so I will go call some people.」
「No, if we can just get the bottles, Layla
and I will handle the rest by ourselves.」
My,
my, it seems I am playing the third wheel. When I chuckled, Ashren
glared at me. Yes, yes, your mother will be considerate and leave, so do your
best with the rest.
I waved my hand at the two of them and decided to knock on the door of the Medicinal Herb Department.
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