Our Family Has Fallen

”Behave yourself a bit, and after this month is over, I’ll have the winery set aside a bottle of fine wine for you.”

”Really?” Boudica immediately perked up.

”When have I ever lied to you?”

”You’re always so good to me~”

Boudica tried to cozy up, but Lance hastily stopped her. ”Don’t come any closer! Go take a bath, or you’ll be left behind when dinner starts.”

After sending Boudica off to bathe, Lance considered how to make soap. Wasn’t it just a saponification reaction between fat and lye? We have quicklime, and we have lard...

As Lance was heading back, he had just stepped out of the great hall when he saw Grendel waiting. It seemed she had come over after hearing of his return.

”The environment in the Beast Lair was terrible,” Lance began, praising the equipment she had prepared. ”If it hadn’t been for the gear you prepared, we wouldn’t have returned so safely and easily. Both the disease-protective and invigorating masks and the Corpse Decomposition Spore specifically helped reduce the difficulty of the mission.”

”It’s no problem. I’m glad I could help,” Grendel replied, not showing any conceit from the praise, maintaining her usual gentle demeanor.

When she had come in earlier, she had seen Boudica’s condition. Noticing her dejected state, so downcast she didn’t even want to speak, Grendel understood the journey hadn’t been easy.

”Have there been any issues in town lately?” Lance quickly got down to business. He enjoyed the privileges of a Lord, and with them came corresponding responsibilities.

”Mostly, everything is normal. The biggest problem is still the workshop’s lack of productivity...”

Lance had only been away for a few days, and Grendel had the Messenger. If there had been any truly serious issues, she would have informed him already. Even the problems she specifically raised were just recurring ones.

Lance was aware of the workshop’s limited productivity. He had already taken steps to improve it: upgrading the hydraulic forging hammer, assigning more apprentices, refining the division of labor, establishing standardization, and introducing incentive systems.

But these were all temporary fixes, not fundamental solutions. To significantly increase production in the short term, they needed more skilled craftsmen and the resources to support them.

However, skilled craftsmen were technical workers. Apart from places like Totnes, which had a saturated market, they could earn a living anywhere. Moreover, Hamlet Town had no nearby mines, so all metal materials had to be imported. These two reasons alone made it clear how difficult expanding production would be.

Grendel was also aware of these issues. Realistically, there were no short-term solutions, but she still felt the need to bring them up, as pressure from all sides mounted daily.

”There’s one more thing I need to discuss with you,” Grendel said, noticing Lance seemed reluctant to dwell on the workshop. She took the initiative to change the subject. ”The situation with the bathhouse might not be as optimistic as we’d hoped.”

In truth, the bathhouse had been operational for two or three days, but one could say it had virtually no visitors. Nevertheless, the operational expenses were very real. Even Grendel wasn’t optimistic about the project.

”Why do you think no one is going to the bathhouse?” Lance suddenly asked, a question that left Grendel silent.

She hadn’t really thought deeply about it. There were far more pressing matters in town, and she hadn’t given this issue much importance.

Seeing her reaction, Lance knew she hadn’t contemplated the problem, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he began to explain.

”First of all, many people simply don’t have the concept of bathing. They don’t know the benefits of bathing or the downsides of not bathing. Some religions demonize bathing to keep the populace ignorant, inventing a plethora of far-fetched reasons and equating illness with demonic possession.

”Secondly, it’s summer. Apart from those with special needs, who would want a hot bath?

”Third, and most crucially, most people aren’t accustomed to spending money on baths. Do you think the common folk will pay to go to a bathhouse?”

”So most of them go to the river to bathe; it’s cool and free,” Grendel said, understanding now. It was currently as hot as a steam oven; after a hot bath, you’d barely dry off before the sweat would be enough for another wash. And going to the river was free; one could wash however they pleased, but the bathhouse charged a fee.

Lance listened but didn’t seem overly concerned, continuing with his own perspective.

”Before I approved the bathhouse project, I researched this matter thoroughly. To solve the problem of an empty bathhouse, we need to address it from several angles.

”First, post the survey report I prepared earlier. Then, have someone give lectures in the town square at night about the scientific benefits of bathing and the drawbacks of not bathing. We also need to dispel religious restrictions and shatter their fabricated rumors.

”Second, we must find a way to let more people try the bathhouse. Start with three free days. Then, reward those who perform outstandingly with free visits, but these must have expiration dates. No one can resist a good deal. First, attract more potential customers, then gradually cultivate their spending habits.

”Third, we need to adjust the bathhouse’s offerings. If it can be helped, no one wants to wash in an open area. We can also create separate cold water pools outside the hot spring area, perhaps even using icy well water. We’ll introduce tiered pricing: options for three visits, five visits, monthly passes, and so on...”

Lance spoke eloquently, not forgetting to add a self-congratulatory remark at the end. ”To solve a problem, you can’t just identify the situation; you also need to explore the reasons behind it—to see the essence through the phenomenon.”

Only after he finished speaking did he notice Grendel’s somewhat odd expression. He couldn’t help but ask, ”What’s wrong? Do you have any objections?”

Grendel hesitated for a moment but still voiced her thoughts. ”Implementing this plan might require substantial funds. From my understanding, the simplest method would still be to impose a bathing tax or prohibit people from bathing in the river...”

Lance fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, but he quickly understood Grendel’s real meaning. Her words were simple: she was criticizing the crude methods of the Imperial Nobility. If an ordinary Imperial noble encountered this situation, they would directly impose heavy taxes or forbid river bathing, forcing people to either pay the tax or not bathe at all. Even if they knew of Lance’s plan, they wouldn’t implement it because it required a significant initial investment with no guaranteed return.

Thinking of this, Lance immediately laughed and teased, ”Hahaha! Your idea is excellent. Let’s do it your way.”

Grendel was taken aback by his words. Looking at Lance’s smiling face, she realized he understood her meaning—that he was teasing her. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, though a smile also touched her lips.

Lance, seeing Grendel’s reaction, didn’t feel offended. Instead, he found it added a lively charm to the young woman.

Yes, she was only seventeen or eighteen, like him. In the prime of their youth, yet she carried the burden of her clan’s annihilation, and vengeance had become the pillar supporting her will to live. And he, at a similar age, should have been chasing girls in school and enjoying his youth. Instead, he was inexplicably burdened with the fate of Hamlet Town, and eliminating that old foe had become his sole objective. In some ways, the two of them were...

”What’s wrong?” Grendel asked, puzzled by Lance’s sudden quietness.

”I just realized you look beautiful when you smile,” Lance said directly, with no intention of hiding his thoughts.

Grendel, a bit flustered, quickly composed her expression.

Lance didn’t press the matter and changed the subject.

”As a ruler, if one only considers their own interests, then their existence is unnecessary, as anyone could replace them.

”I’m investing in the bathhouse not to make money, but for the hygiene and health of the residents. This will reduce medical burdens, promote development and exploration, stimulate related industries, and create more jobs.

”What I want to bring is peace and stability, better living conditions. These are the things worth fighting for, worth sacrificing for.”

Lance spoke with righteous conviction, almost seeming to radiate a golden light.

”For Hamlet!”

Grendel was somewhat taken aback by his words, as if the teasing moments before had been an illusion. Nevertheless, she echoed his sentiment.

”For Hamlet~”