"Maria, please kill me now..." I said as I slowly chewed on my food. It was embarrassing to the point where I could die.
I lived in a liberated society before but having people to hear your grumbling stomach was still one of the biggest humiliations one can experience in life.
I did it last night, Maria and two patrolling guards heard it but it was way different earlier since more people heard me in broad daylight.
"Milady, please remain strong. Don't worry, it will never get out of the kitchen! I already told them to keep it a secret!" She said in concern.
"Why am I even born?" I completely lost it.
Third Lady Frieda Landerborne, the one people regarded as the epitome of beauty, grace, and modesty has now met her downfall.
"Milady, didn't you tell me you only have six days to finish your plannings?" I glanced at Maria as she asked me. "Yes, what about it?" I asked her back.
"Well, instead of slacking around, why not do everything you can to finish that?" She said as she arched her brow at me. I gasped as I looked at her with awe.
She's right! I had no time for useless shenanigans! I have to act fast now!
"After this, let's go back to the library, and read all the books!" I said with conviction, I saw her smile as she clasped her hands. "That's more like it, my lady!" She said, I just smiled at her awkwardly.
Sometimes, I feel like she's the boss whenever she becomes too bossy on me. But that's fine. She's like a mother to me and I've said a couple of times already.
. . .
Instead of reading politics, I went towards the Construction guidelines so I will be able to know more about buildings. As my first project, I decided to consult an engineer about a sewer system. I'm not an engineer nor an architect, but I will try my best!
I just hope I will be able to find a way to make a functional sewer system that doesn't need drilling for this city. It will be too ambitious for me if I attempt to make it nationwide.
We are living in a manor owned by the House Landerborne, located in Altenhofen, the Capital City of Beleriadcrest. We are in the upper region since Altenhofen was a three-layer mountain, those who live at the flatten top are the nobles since they have a huge space and nobles are usually far from the cliff to avoid any erosion.
Balmoral, the centre of the nobles' residence was the third and smallest layer of Altenhofen, It was where the royal court was located. Everyone who has the last name of Beleriadcrest lives there.
I understand why it was hard to drill a hole in Altenhofen, other than having a hard rock layer, it was scary to dig in here. If you dig too much, you might cause soil erosion. No one's taking the risk to protect their own lives.
"Ah, Maria, could you please ask Sir Austin for Altenhofen's map? The most relevant, the better," I said as I scanned the books in front of me. "As you wish my lady." She said as she smiled widely, excited to go and talk to the head librarian.
Well, I guess I did give her a favour unknowingly.
"Milady, here it is." She said as she handed me a scroll. I rolled it open and saw the map of Mount Altenhofen and it was kind of spiral-shaped.
If I plot a representation of the sewer system, it should be a huge spiral tube, branching out into smaller ones that would be connected to different buildings.
I was thinking about where these tubes should lead to. From the map, the water dam was located at the walls, separating the capital from the rest of the kingdom. It was just like the aqueduct of Rome They are made of stone, bricks and cement.
Just then, I realized something. There are already cements in this era so maybe I can pull it off!
I slammed my hands on the desk table, Maria flinched as she heard it. "M-milady! W-what happened?" She asked, surprised. "Maria! When will father arrive home?" I asked in adrenaline. "His Excellency will be home before 6 pm." She answered in confusion. "Do you need something from him, Milady?" She asked.
"I'll tell you later." I took a paper and a pen. I dipped the pen to the ink and started plotting what I have in mind for my plans. "This should go here, and that.... and there... And a little bit more over here...." I muttered as I drew different lines all over the paper.
"I guess, this is enough," I said as I rolled the paper, I will present this to my father later!
"Milady, what's that?" Maria asked me in curiosity as she tried to peek at my works. "It's a secret!" I said as I wink at her, I noticed her pouted a little in disappointment so I chuckled. "Don't worry, Maria! I will tell you after I tell father about this," I answered her.
Why is she so cute? I want to pinch her cheeks so badly!
. . .
"Milady, His Excellency has arrived," Maria said as she came back to the library where I was reading.
I stood up as I sighed.
I walked my way towards the front door where It was said, father was.
He was indeed there, talking with his wife with a huge smile on his face.
Not long after, he noticed me walking towards them. I did a curtsy for respect. "Welcome back, Father," I said in modesty.
"It was a rare occurrence that you greet me all the way here. Do you need anything?" I smiled awkwardly. He suits his job, he knows how to judge people right. "Maybe I will tell you after you finally got some rest," I said with a sweet smile.
"No need for that, what is it about?" He asked as he loosened his cravat. "About our deal," I answered briefly. "Have you decided on something?" He asked, I noticed the madam watching us confused, it seems like she was not notified of our talk.
"It was still in progress and needed to ask an expert for it," I said. "I see, follow me in my study room." I nodded attentively, we were about to go when the madam suddenly spoke. "What are you two, talking about?" She asked in bafflement.
"I will talk to you later, for now, let us go," Father said, he immediately resumed walking. I briefly nodded at the madam and chased after my father.
As we entered, Father told me to speak.
"I made a rough sketch of a sewer system for Altenhofen," I answered, and I noticed a surprised expression from him. "A sewer system? Elaborate on your plan." He said as he sat on his study table, in the middle of the room. I walked towards him and then showed him the rough blueprint I drew earlier.
"What..." I noticed his forehead wrinkled. "What the bloody hell is this?" I smiled in embarrassment. I know, I'm not the best artist.
"Upon my incognito rounds around the marketplace, and that one time I went to the kitchen, I noticed the poor hygiene people practised. And the hundred-year worth of filth in the river at the foot of Altenhofen can be smelt when a strong gust of wind blows." I started.
"I'm just worried that these irresponsible waste disposals could cause a widespread plague throughout the kingdom or worse, the whole empire," I said. "How is the sewer system related to the possibility of spreading plagues? It was miasma that caused it right? And we can just solve it by stuffing flowers with amazing aromas." He said.
That's right, in the middle ages until the mid-17th century, people believed that diseases were caused by miasma, a poisonous vapour that was suspended particles of decaying matter that mixed into the air. Not until the 1850s, when John Snow refuted the theory of Miasma since it can not explain the relevance of miasma in diseases like Cholera, although it was only acknowledged by William Farr during 1866.
Now it's a problem for me how I will be able to explain that to people right now. I only have basic knowledge! I'm not good at Biology or any other life sciences!
Frieda, think of something, believable! Use that skill of yours that was good in public speaking that you hone for 22 years!
"Well... It is said that miasma was a poisonous vapour, made of decaying matter... It would come to a sense that decaying matter from irresponsible waste disposal, caused this miasma vapour. And giving it a more organized system prevented a further formation of a larger amount of miasma mixed in the air." I said.
"Fair enough. Continue with your discussion." He said, indicating for me to continue.
"With those reasons in mind, I decided to make a well-systematic segregation of waste and a fully functional sewerage system," I said. "And you asked me to help you consult an architect and engineer, for this?" He asked. I quickly nodded. "Yes, father!" I exclaimed.
"I see, tomorrow, come with me to the Royal Court and I will introduce you to the Minister of Public Works." My eyes widened in surprise as they twinkled in glee.
I don't want to be associated with any of the royals in a sense where I have to marry into their family. But I can't hide the fact that I want to enter that palace!
Well, I've been in the palace a couple of times, but not in the King's palace. Only people from the three divisions of the government can enter. And people who are not associated with those three can not enter.
"Yes, father!" I said in excitement.
"Be ready for tomorrow. As for now, prepare for supper. And uh, take this." He said as he rolled the map I drew and gave it back to me, I smiled sweetly as I did a curtsy. "Yes, thank you very much and see you later father," I said as I left his office with a huge smile.
As I left, I saw the madam, I did a curtsy at her as a greeting. She maintained a curious expression on her face. She was eager to know huh? "Father was inside, mother," I said as I excused myself so I could prepare for the last meal of the day.
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