Episode 83. We Need to Keep Our Distance
Neruan's mouth curled strangely at Rose's attitude.
She simply ran a hand through her hair five or six times.
After hearing Neruan mention that he had a fiancée, she felt the need to distance herself from the Grand Duke.
They weren't particularly close, but it didn't hurt to be cautious to avoid misunderstandings.
Rose unnaturally touched the corner of her mouth and reached out for the parchment again.
"Hmm. Well, how about this?"
But this time, the Grand Duke's attitude wasn't so positive.
"It'll be faster than before, but it'll still take a long time."
With that, he lifted the parchment unfolded on the far left.
"If you want something quicker, this design would be better."
"Uh..."
Of all designs, it was the one she hated the most.
The most crude and ordinary.
It was remarkably similar to the one she had drawn for Gwen earlier.
"How long will this take?"
Rose, seemingly unable to resist, asked about the construction period.
“If you use the magic stone, about half a year should be enough.”
“Half a year?”
“Yes.”
Rose, who had been drooping, widened her eyes at the Grand Duke's words.
Her once-frozen eyes suddenly filled with life.
“Right. If I’m going to spend thirty years on architectural design, this is better.”
There was a reason they said “simple is the best.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to settle for this.”
The exterior was a bit disappointing, but the interior could be decorated in a more antique style.
Since they had the money, Rose was determined to invest generously in the interior.
'Gwen said she’d introduce me to an architectural designer, but if I write down what I want in advance, things will go faster.'
“How about making it six stories, including the underground stables? Two underground and four aboveground?”
“Everyone would probably shy away from the fourth floor. How about three stories, starting from the L floor?”
Rose's eyes widened at the Grand Duke's words.
'The number '4' seems ominous here, too.'
Rose nodded, her expression bewildered.
"Yes, good."
Then she began to consider what each floor would need.
"First of all... I think we need an information desk in the lobby. And a stroller rental place. The most expensive brands should be on the lobby floor. The second floor should have a personal shopper room for VIPs to shop privately, along with accessories and cosmetics... Oh! Let's have bathrooms on each floor."
In a department store with a lot of people, having bathrooms on each floor was a given.
Rose's words made both the Grand Duke and Neruan harden.
"I don't understand what you're going to do with smelly bathrooms on each floor."
Neruan shook his head, as if the mere thought was horrifying.
The Grand Duke nodded in agreement.
"If a high-end shopping center stank of sewage, no one would want to go there."
Rose completely understood the Duke and Nerwan's reactions.
This was a world without flush toilets yet.
'Even the author is really funny. How can there be a traditional toilet in this dazzling, magical world?'
It was a worldview that felt somewhat ironic.
Rose spoke with a confident voice, as if nothing was wrong.
"We just need to introduce flush toilets."
Rose picked up a fountain pen from the table. Then, she flipped over the design of the department store's exterior that hadn't been chosen.
She drew a modern-day toilet with a pipe curved in an S shape underneath it.
"This is a flush toilet. There's water here and here,"
Rose explained, marking the water tank and the inside of the toilet.
"After you urinate or defecate, just press this button next to it, and the waste will drain down the pipe. Then, the toilet will be filled with new water."
The Duke and Neruan were incredibly fascinated by the flushing system they had never seen before.
"Then what happens to all the waste that goes down the pipe? Bury it in the ground?"
"No."
"You're not planning on discharging it into the river, are you?"
The Grand Duke's expression was quite serious.
The flush toilet was ingenious. It eliminated the need to contend with cleanliness and odor.
However, no matter how great the invention, discharging excrement into the river was unacceptable.
"Discharging excrement into the river will undoubtedly cause various diseases. Trying to eliminate the smell could lead directly to bigger problems."
Rose fully understood the Grand Duke's concerns. However, there were plenty of solutions to this problem.
"Hmm. We could use the water supply and sewage system..."
The problem was that Rose lacked detailed knowledge of this system.
Rose pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I think we could build a sewage treatment plant and purify it in stages."
"How would we even do that?"
What kind of groundbreaking invention would Rose come up with?
The Grand Duke looked at Rose with eyes full of anticipation. However, Rose spoke differently from the Grand Duke's expectations.
"We need to research that now."
Neruan's mouth curled strangely at Rose's attitude.
She simply ran a hand through her hair five or six times.
After hearing Neruan mention that he had a fiancée, she felt the need to distance herself from the Grand Duke.
They weren't particularly close, but it didn't hurt to be cautious to avoid misunderstandings.
Rose unnaturally touched the corner of her mouth and reached out for the parchment again.
"Hmm. Well, how about this?"
But this time, the Grand Duke's attitude wasn't so positive.
"It'll be faster than before, but it'll still take a long time."
With that, he lifted the parchment unfolded on the far left.
"If you want something quicker, this design would be better."
"Uh..."
Of all designs, it was the one she hated the most.
The most crude and ordinary.
It was remarkably similar to the one she had drawn for Gwen earlier.
"How long will this take?"
Rose, seemingly unable to resist, asked about the construction period.
“If you use the magic stone, about half a year should be enough.”
“Half a year?”
“Yes.”
Rose, who had been drooping, widened her eyes at the Grand Duke's words.
Her once-frozen eyes suddenly filled with life.
“Right. If I’m going to spend thirty years on architectural design, this is better.”
There was a reason they said “simple is the best.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to settle for this.”
The exterior was a bit disappointing, but the interior could be decorated in a more antique style.
Since they had the money, Rose was determined to invest generously in the interior.
'Gwen said she’d introduce me to an architectural designer, but if I write down what I want in advance, things will go faster.'
“How about making it six stories, including the underground stables? Two underground and four aboveground?”
“Everyone would probably shy away from the fourth floor. How about three stories, starting from the L floor?”
Rose's eyes widened at the Grand Duke's words.
'The number '4' seems ominous here, too.'
Rose nodded, her expression bewildered.
"Yes, good."
Then she began to consider what each floor would need.
"First of all... I think we need an information desk in the lobby. And a stroller rental place. The most expensive brands should be on the lobby floor. The second floor should have a personal shopper room for VIPs to shop privately, along with accessories and cosmetics... Oh! Let's have bathrooms on each floor."
In a department store with a lot of people, having bathrooms on each floor was a given.
Rose's words made both the Grand Duke and Neruan harden.
"I don't understand what you're going to do with smelly bathrooms on each floor."
Neruan shook his head, as if the mere thought was horrifying.
The Grand Duke nodded in agreement.
"If a high-end shopping center stank of sewage, no one would want to go there."
Rose completely understood the Duke and Nerwan's reactions.
This was a world without flush toilets yet.
'Even the author is really funny. How can there be a traditional toilet in this dazzling, magical world?'
It was a worldview that felt somewhat ironic.
Rose spoke with a confident voice, as if nothing was wrong.
"We just need to introduce flush toilets."
Rose picked up a fountain pen from the table. Then, she flipped over the design of the department store's exterior that hadn't been chosen.
She drew a modern-day toilet with a pipe curved in an S shape underneath it.
"This is a flush toilet. There's water here and here,"
Rose explained, marking the water tank and the inside of the toilet.
"After you urinate or defecate, just press this button next to it, and the waste will drain down the pipe. Then, the toilet will be filled with new water."
The Duke and Neruan were incredibly fascinated by the flushing system they had never seen before.
"Then what happens to all the waste that goes down the pipe? Bury it in the ground?"
"No."
"You're not planning on discharging it into the river, are you?"
The Grand Duke's expression was quite serious.
The flush toilet was ingenious. It eliminated the need to contend with cleanliness and odor.
However, no matter how great the invention, discharging excrement into the river was unacceptable.
"Discharging excrement into the river will undoubtedly cause various diseases. Trying to eliminate the smell could lead directly to bigger problems."
Rose fully understood the Grand Duke's concerns. However, there were plenty of solutions to this problem.
"Hmm. We could use the water supply and sewage system..."
The problem was that Rose lacked detailed knowledge of this system.
Rose pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I think we could build a sewage treatment plant and purify it in stages."
"How would we even do that?"
What kind of groundbreaking invention would Rose come up with?
The Grand Duke looked at Rose with eyes full of anticipation. However, Rose spoke differently from the Grand Duke's expectations.
"We need to research that now."
"I can't do it. "
Rose's attitude of ignorance was incredibly confident.
"When you say we need to research it, you mean the effectiveness of what Rose says hasn't even been verified."
Neruan, who had been listening intently, took this opportunity to intervene in Rose's plan.
“Just hearing it is a truly horrifying idea. The mere thought of excrement being mixed into the water we wash and drink makes me sick... no, it makes my stomach churn.”
Neruan wanted to express disgust, but he couldn’t say that in front of the Grand Duke.
“Why do you think it’s not okay?”
Rose, as if determined to properly refute Neruan’s words, burned with determination.
The resentment from yesterday still lingered.
Rose and Neruan faced each other and growled.
“Neruan, do you know what the biggest characteristic of unsuccessful people is?”
Neruan frowned at Rose’s aggressive tone.
“It’s that they focus only on failure without doing anything.”
“I want to tell you that wasting one’s life chasing empty dreams is also a very sad thing.”
The Grand Duke looked back and forth between Rose and Neruan, who remained sharp.
‘Yesterday, it seemed like you two were going to the flower garden together, but somehow, it seems like things have gotten worse.’
The Grand Duke's study offered a clear view of the mansion's garden, including the gardens and even the outer walls.
So, even without hearing it, he knew that Neruan and Rose had talked yesterday.
'I thought they were talking about marriage. But maybe that wasn't the case?'
Neruan readily obliged the Grand Duke to fulfill his wishes without even asking.
He was not only competent but also quick-witted.
Moreover, Neruan, who always acted mature, seemed his age today.
The Grand Duke cherished Neruan.
Not only had they been through difficult times together, but they had spent so much time together.
Though they were locked in a desperate glare, the Grand Duke found their bickering simply adorable.
"Look at this. You're being so negative again. Negative thoughts only lead to negative results. Broaden your perspective."
"This isn't a negative thought, it's a realistic one. Rose, you really need to stop chasing after the clouds. Since His Highness the Grand Duke praises you for your intelligence, you seem to think you're some kind of genius. How can someone who's spent her entire life lounging around at home suddenly come up with a legendary invention?"
His eyes widened as he launched a barrage of facts at Rose.
However, Neruan's words didn't strike Rose as particularly daggers.
Rose had never boasted about how great she was, and she had a fairly objective understanding of her own abilities.
She hadn't intended to create the water and sewage system herself from the beginning.
She had a rough idea of the principles, but the task at hand was too much for her to handle.
Rose folded her arms and turned to Neruan.
"Who said I was going to invent something? I'm going to gather scholars and wizards."
Neruan stared at Rose, speechless. Rose had taken the lead in most of her projects up until then, so he must have expected it to be the same this time.
Rose glanced at Neruan and smiled at the Grand Duke.
It was a gentle smile, different from the one she had when she looked at Neruan.
“I heard that the Artaeum Territory selects excellent students every year and supports them to enter the Royal Academy.”
“Yes.”
“Please gather the scholars and magicians who have received help from the Grand Duke. Anyone else with talent is also welcome.”
Yes. This is the taste of money.
The CEO didn’t necessarily have to be a genius.
As long as she had a certain level of intelligence and the money to hire talented people, she could achieve the desired results.
As was the case with countless companies.
Neruan continued to tease Rose tirelessly.
“Are you planning to use the estate’s budget for your personal business? The Artaeum estate’s budget already runs a deficit every year. As the butler of this mansion, I cannot tolerate you exploiting your relationship with His Highness the Grand Duke for illicit gain, Lady Rose.”
Rose pursed her lips with a dissatisfied expression after hearing Neruan’s words. After all, half of what Neruan had said was true.
Rose’s budget was limited.
Investing in water and sewage facilities could easily ruin the department store business. The cost would be high.
‘However, flush toilet research isn’t just beneficial to the department store business,’
Rose said calmly to the Grand Duke.
“I didn’t propose it just to benefit my business.”
The Grand Duke looked at Rose as if asking her to continue.
"If this research is successful, the standard of living of the territory's residents will improve. Not only that, but it will also attract high-level talent who have been expelled to other regions. Furthermore, if we patent our inventions and export them, it will serve as a boon to the territory's treasury."
It sounded plausible.
Unlike the negative Neruan, the Grand Duke was quite interested in Rose's words.
"I'm not suggesting we just keep trying until it works. Gather a few scholars and magicians, thoroughly examine the feasibility of installing flush toilets and sewage treatment plants, and then proceed. If they unanimously reject it, then we'll give up."
It was a research project that could significantly benefit the territory's development.
"Since examining the feasibility itself doesn't cost much, it would be best to listen to what the scholars have to say, as Rose suggests."
The Grand Duke, gathering his thoughts, looked at Rose before him.
Since meeting her again, much had changed.
He had been clinging to the precipice.
In a time when he was plagued by the anxiety of death and even revenge was a burden, all he could do was cling to evil. It wouldn't have been surprising if his uncle and his remnants had trampled his hand and knocked him off his feet at any moment.
But with Rose's appearance, all that anxiety vanished like a lie.
He felt a breath of relief.
Along with the hope of survival, he also felt the certainty that revenge was no longer impossible.
To the Grand Duke, Rose was like a gift from the gods.
He gave a short, perhaps blunt, answer.
"Yes."
However, his gaze toward Rose was gentle.
The Grand Duke quickly sought out scholars and magicians and sent out invitations.
The tightly shut doors of the Grand Duke's household began to open.
It was an unusual event that had not occurred in over a decade.
Rose's attitude of ignorance was incredibly confident.
"When you say we need to research it, you mean the effectiveness of what Rose says hasn't even been verified."
Neruan, who had been listening intently, took this opportunity to intervene in Rose's plan.
“Just hearing it is a truly horrifying idea. The mere thought of excrement being mixed into the water we wash and drink makes me sick... no, it makes my stomach churn.”
Neruan wanted to express disgust, but he couldn’t say that in front of the Grand Duke.
“Why do you think it’s not okay?”
Rose, as if determined to properly refute Neruan’s words, burned with determination.
The resentment from yesterday still lingered.
Rose and Neruan faced each other and growled.
“Neruan, do you know what the biggest characteristic of unsuccessful people is?”
Neruan frowned at Rose’s aggressive tone.
“It’s that they focus only on failure without doing anything.”
“I want to tell you that wasting one’s life chasing empty dreams is also a very sad thing.”
The Grand Duke looked back and forth between Rose and Neruan, who remained sharp.
‘Yesterday, it seemed like you two were going to the flower garden together, but somehow, it seems like things have gotten worse.’
The Grand Duke's study offered a clear view of the mansion's garden, including the gardens and even the outer walls.
So, even without hearing it, he knew that Neruan and Rose had talked yesterday.
'I thought they were talking about marriage. But maybe that wasn't the case?'
Neruan readily obliged the Grand Duke to fulfill his wishes without even asking.
He was not only competent but also quick-witted.
Moreover, Neruan, who always acted mature, seemed his age today.
The Grand Duke cherished Neruan.
Not only had they been through difficult times together, but they had spent so much time together.
Though they were locked in a desperate glare, the Grand Duke found their bickering simply adorable.
"Look at this. You're being so negative again. Negative thoughts only lead to negative results. Broaden your perspective."
"This isn't a negative thought, it's a realistic one. Rose, you really need to stop chasing after the clouds. Since His Highness the Grand Duke praises you for your intelligence, you seem to think you're some kind of genius. How can someone who's spent her entire life lounging around at home suddenly come up with a legendary invention?"
His eyes widened as he launched a barrage of facts at Rose.
However, Neruan's words didn't strike Rose as particularly daggers.
Rose had never boasted about how great she was, and she had a fairly objective understanding of her own abilities.
She hadn't intended to create the water and sewage system herself from the beginning.
She had a rough idea of the principles, but the task at hand was too much for her to handle.
Rose folded her arms and turned to Neruan.
"Who said I was going to invent something? I'm going to gather scholars and wizards."
Neruan stared at Rose, speechless. Rose had taken the lead in most of her projects up until then, so he must have expected it to be the same this time.
Rose glanced at Neruan and smiled at the Grand Duke.
It was a gentle smile, different from the one she had when she looked at Neruan.
“I heard that the Artaeum Territory selects excellent students every year and supports them to enter the Royal Academy.”
“Yes.”
“Please gather the scholars and magicians who have received help from the Grand Duke. Anyone else with talent is also welcome.”
Yes. This is the taste of money.
The CEO didn’t necessarily have to be a genius.
As long as she had a certain level of intelligence and the money to hire talented people, she could achieve the desired results.
As was the case with countless companies.
Neruan continued to tease Rose tirelessly.
“Are you planning to use the estate’s budget for your personal business? The Artaeum estate’s budget already runs a deficit every year. As the butler of this mansion, I cannot tolerate you exploiting your relationship with His Highness the Grand Duke for illicit gain, Lady Rose.”
Rose pursed her lips with a dissatisfied expression after hearing Neruan’s words. After all, half of what Neruan had said was true.
Rose’s budget was limited.
Investing in water and sewage facilities could easily ruin the department store business. The cost would be high.
‘However, flush toilet research isn’t just beneficial to the department store business,’
Rose said calmly to the Grand Duke.
“I didn’t propose it just to benefit my business.”
The Grand Duke looked at Rose as if asking her to continue.
"If this research is successful, the standard of living of the territory's residents will improve. Not only that, but it will also attract high-level talent who have been expelled to other regions. Furthermore, if we patent our inventions and export them, it will serve as a boon to the territory's treasury."
It sounded plausible.
Unlike the negative Neruan, the Grand Duke was quite interested in Rose's words.
"I'm not suggesting we just keep trying until it works. Gather a few scholars and magicians, thoroughly examine the feasibility of installing flush toilets and sewage treatment plants, and then proceed. If they unanimously reject it, then we'll give up."
It was a research project that could significantly benefit the territory's development.
"Since examining the feasibility itself doesn't cost much, it would be best to listen to what the scholars have to say, as Rose suggests."
The Grand Duke, gathering his thoughts, looked at Rose before him.
Since meeting her again, much had changed.
He had been clinging to the precipice.
In a time when he was plagued by the anxiety of death and even revenge was a burden, all he could do was cling to evil. It wouldn't have been surprising if his uncle and his remnants had trampled his hand and knocked him off his feet at any moment.
But with Rose's appearance, all that anxiety vanished like a lie.
He felt a breath of relief.
Along with the hope of survival, he also felt the certainty that revenge was no longer impossible.
To the Grand Duke, Rose was like a gift from the gods.
He gave a short, perhaps blunt, answer.
"Yes."
However, his gaze toward Rose was gentle.
The Grand Duke quickly sought out scholars and magicians and sent out invitations.
The tightly shut doors of the Grand Duke's household began to open.
It was an unusual event that had not occurred in over a decade.
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