After learning about rice and sake, Gloria summoned the lord who governed the land where rice grew like a weed. His name was Paul.
It was a vast, flat land, but with many marshes, and it was often mocked as a burden to the duchy.
Summoned by the notoriously capricious Gloria, Paul didn't hide his displeasure as he sat across from her, his face sour.
She was tempted to throw the documents she was holding at the middle-aged man for his lack of courtesy, but restrained herself. Kate stood behind her.
Without the usual greetings, Gloria placed the documents on the coffee table. They contained a detailed method for brewing alcohol from rice, extracted from A-ko's memories, and a plan for improving rice quality.
A-ko had claimed to be a normal college student in her previous life, but whether her family had been rice farmers or her love for alcohol had led her to study the rice used as a base, she had surprisingly deep knowledge.
The methods of processing rice, how to make koji, and the tools and steps needed to turn it into alcohol were all outlined. Of course, there were vague parts, but those could be researched and refined by the people of this world.
With this much information, failing to succeed would be a dereliction of duty.
"So, you're saying you want to create a new alcohol using livestock feed?"
"At first, it's all about research, but I am confident we can do it."
Paul's eyes widened in disbelief at the well-organized documents, which were far from something one could dismiss as the whims of a spoiled young lady.
He read through the first page slowly, then continued until the end, letting out a long sigh.
"Indeed, it's intriguing. But... what about the Church?"
At those words, Gloria nodded.
It was true that disturbing the Church's vested interests wouldn't go unpunished. The Church had the manpower and wealth to pressure them at any time.
"I'm not trying to create an alcohol that will replace wine," Gloria explained. "It's just that wine is too expensive for commoners, don't you think?"
Despite being required at weddings and funerals, wine would sometimes vanish from such events if the attendees couldn't afford it, even among the nobles.
Much like in A-ko's world, wine was not a common drink. For commoners, it was more often a single drop given by a priest just before death as a "blessing for the journey."
In other words, many commoners would live their whole lives with only a single drop of wine. When A-ko learned of this, she had been genuinely moved to tears.
"I thought... without it, how could they feel close to God?"
As A-ko had murmured (Maybe it's because in the game, only wine is featured, so things are a bit warped?), this world's lack of alcohol diversity, compared to Earth's, felt distorted.
"Of course, I will apply to the Church to manage this alcohol, just like they do with wine," Gloria continued. "However, I intend it to be a more affordable option for commoners."
As long as it didn't compete directly with the expensive wine for nobles, and if it could provide a new source of income, the Church wouldn't refuse.
"However, if that's the case, the income for the duchy will be minimal."
Paul tilted his head, his face still sour. Gloria gave him a lukewarm smile she had recently perfected.
"I'm not trying to develop alcohol for the sake of making money."
She continued, her tone steady.
"I want to prove that there's no such thing as a 'burden' in my territory through the art of brewing."
"Gloria-sama..."
Paul looked at her with misty eyes, as if deeply moved. He gazed at her face intently.
"And if the new alcohol, like wine, is distributed among the commoners, it will allow them to feel closer to God."
Much like in A-ko's world, this could spark a deeper integration of faith into daily life.
Of course, this could also lead to the spread of alcoholism and health issues from drinking, but that was a matter of personal discipline, not Gloria's responsibility.
"I plan to bring this up with Cedric von Hattlestone at the royal family's tea party in six months, as a candidate for the prince's aide."
"Hattlestone... the second son of the 'Count of the Church'?"
Since the founding of the kingdom, the Hattlestone family had served as the bridge between the Church and the royal family, holding administrative duties. The "Count of the Church," as he was known, was a scholar-type character in the otome game, often portrayed as the intellectual glasses-wearing father of Cedric.
Cedric, in Gloria's first life, had proclaimed his commitment to using his knowledge for justice, but in reality, he had turned a blind eye to the prince's and the saintess's affair and used his knowledge to frame Gloria with fake evidence, a two-faced fool.
The White Hope Church was the only religion in this world, but internally, various factions fought for power.
For example, the person the Count of the Church recommended for the next bishop of the capital's church was a former bureaucrat who had the support of the nobles, but lacked the backing of the influential figures within the Church.
By involving Cedric, Gloria figured the Count of the Church and his faction, who sought "proof of deeds for the gods," would likely approve of the rice-based alcohol.
Incidentally, in her previous life, it was the "discovery of the saintess" that served as such a proof, but with Gloria having saved Kyla in this life, the future of Melody becoming the saintess was now out of the question.
With that, the Count of the Church's ambitions seemed to be fading.
"As for us, the Caldwell family, as long as we earn honor for serving the gods, that will be enough."
Paul placed his hand on his chest and bowed deeply to Gloria.