Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Plague Doctor's Dispatch Duty (5)
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Creak...
In the morning, as I opened the door to my lab and stepped inside, Princess Mint was sitting at my desk, waiting. I closed the door first.
What the hell? It's not a hallucination.
I opened the door again, but there she was. Princess Mint was still sitting there, waiting for some reason. And she looked displeased about something.
I need to think carefully about what to say.
Princess Mint had many nicknames. The doll of high society, the moon of the imperial family, the empire's finest daughter. And today, she was just a girl being annoyingly persistent for no reason.
"I came because I wanted to see you, but you weren't here. You hadn't been around for a few days. Where did you go?"
Unlike her appearance, her speech lacked much charm. Well, that was to be expected.
"What do you mean...?"
"Where have you been?"
I'd been on an urgent business trip.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No."
Then why would Mint care? Whether I went somewhere or not. After a moment's thought, I answered the princess.
"Ah, it wasn't anything major. There was an outbreak in Lapis territory, so I was urgently summoned as a quarantine advisor and stayed there for a few days."
"An outbreak isn't major? You're a strange one."
"The outbreak is major. I just mean my trip there wasn't a big deal. Princess, may I sit?"
Mint shook her head.
I sat at the desk. Since Mint was in my usual spot, I had no choice but to sit facing her in the guest chair.
Now for the full Estina perspective.
"Report your movements from now on."
"Are you joking or serious?"
Mint ignored my question.
"You went to stop an outbreak? How was it?"
Her tone was casual, but her expression showed interest. I considered what to tell her.
"The scene was horrific. So many deaths that there wasn't space to bury them all, so they dug a massive pit and dumped the bodies in. But the solution was simple. We'd brought back infected horses."
"What was the solution?"
"We poured distilled spirits into the well."
Mint looked down at me.
This time, her face showed utter disbelief.
"You poured alcohol into the well?"
"Yes."
"Every time I talk to you, I realize I have no idea what you're saying. What does that have to do with the plague?"
"Well, cholera-like dysentery is caused by bacteria that live in water. Most bacteria are killed by alcohol, so pouring alcohol into the well solves most cases of cholera-like dysentery."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"Ridiculous. There must be hundreds of cities and villages turned to ruins by cholera-like dysentery. Was that really the solution?"
I nodded.
"Yes. The relevant research will be compiled soon."
"Horrifying. Thinking about all the people who died just because no one knew."
Mint stared into space.
"Lapis... That's where that young regent lord is from, right? The Baroness of Lapis, Lafrenia?"
She's not that young. Actually, a bit older than Mint, isn't she?
"Ah, yeah, I think so. I met her."
"How was she?"
The princess's reaction was a little odd. Doesn't she like the Baroness of Lapis much?
"Well, I don't know much else, but she cooperated well with our instructions. Thanks to that, we turned things around in just two days."
"Her ears must have been burning. Smoothly navigating a crisis like this during her regency."
Mint shook her head.
"Won't the plague's arrival trouble her?"
"No. Plagues are unavoidable disasters, but resolving them is a leader's skill. From that perspective, it's good."
It wasn't wrong upon reflection. But is that how high nobles think? It felt a bit inhuman.
"I see."
"She must be riding high now, in Lapis."
"Probably."
Not my concern.
"Do you dislike Ms. Lafrenia?"
"Not dislike, exactly. I just know her. We've met."
They must cross paths often in imperial high society. Lapis barony isn't far from the capital or the Academy, after all.
"She mentioned her ailing father, which is why she's handling the regency."
"That Lapis lord grandfather? He's not ailing. He's just old."
I've never met him. The princess must have encountered him at imperial social events.
"She even gave me something like a letter of recommendation. Asked if I wanted to work in her territory."
"Oh? What did you say?"
A flicker of displeasure crossed the princess's face. I wasn't sure what triggered it, but I thought about my next words.
"Of course, I refused. I came to teach at the Academy. Can't just bail for somewhere like that. I have research too."
"I see. Good."
Mint nodded.
"Now, please get out of my desk, Princess."
"No."
"Then stay there."
She's not a kid. Or is she?
Whatever she wants.
If the princess insists on squatting at my desk, there's nothing I can do. What, am I going to grab her by the collar and drag her out?
But I can't just stop working either.
I had no choice but to sit and shuffle papers. What was on the list? Almost no patients in the ward, so research and writing.
I'd passed it to Estina, but I still needed to advance cholera research. With luck, I might even stain and observe the cholera bacteria themselves.
More fundamentally...
To disprove spontaneous generation of bacteria, prove they spread via specific contamination sources—contact, air, water—and that hygiene is essential in daily and clinical settings. Only then can modern medicine begin.
My schedule's shifted a bit.
Announce Snow's bacterial observations first, then Pasteur's disproval of spontaneous generation, Lister's papers next.
"No classes today, Princess?"
"None."
She won't camp here all day, right?
"What did you have for breakfast?"
"Why do you care?"
"Just making small talk."
Mint eyed me suspiciously. Don't barge into someone's lab, then act like I'm the crazy one for chatting?
"Right, Princess. Get me some grad students. One person's too slow."
"Come back to the palace. Then you'd have about ten imperial healers as your minions."
Who, the imperial healers?
Gamblers, alcoholics, chain-smokers, aren't they? Plus, no patients, poor access to prior research, no facilities...
Not for nothing I escaped there.
"Gotta watch my words around you, Princess."
"Normal people watch their words around princesses. You're just clueless."
"Are the classes worthwhile?"
"Your deflection's obvious."
Mint pondered a bit.
"They're fine. Not too hard. But the Academy really doesn't pull punches for high nobles."
"Dominion's earned, right? Glad they're manageable. Worth improving them."
"You're a pro at getting on nerves."
I barely said anything.
Time to go, I thought. Kill me if you want. I pinched Mint's cheek and shoved her out of the chair.
"Out now."
"Ack! Insolent. Don't push."
"Mercy."
The princess lounged around for about thirty minutes like that before leaving the lab. She can be a handful sometimes. Looks like a total kid then.
"Finally gone."
Mint left, and Estina came in.
"Why didn't the princess leave?"
"Beats me. Go ask."
"I was waiting to come in once she left. But she wouldn't budge. I was reading on the floor by the door."
I nodded.
"Must've waited ages."
"She stared at me as she left. Like, 'Who are you, sitting on the floor reading?'"
Oh dear.
Imagining it was kinda funny.
Estina, tired of waiting, squatting on the floor with a book. The princess glances down curiously, then walks past without a word.
"Anyway, how's the writing going?"
"That's why I came."
"Mm, okay."
"Fecal-oral transmission means cholera-like dysentery spreads through drinking water contaminated by feces, right?"
Obvious logical conclusion.
Once you know cholera spreads via tiny particles, considering symptoms leads right there.
"Cholera causes diarrhea. That becomes the infection source and spreads it. I keep saying bacteria are living things."
"Ah."
Structure and function are linked. Disease characteristics can't be separated from pathological mechanisms. Same for cholera.
"A sneeze-inducing illness spreads via phlegm or spit droplets. Cholera causes diarrhea, so it spreads via feces. Get it?"
"Harsh reality."
"Yeah."
Estina jotted down what I just said.
"Professor, get us more grad students."
"I want to. Ten would be ideal. Manage research, wards, lesson prep seamlessly."
Slaves—no, disciples—the more the better.
"Why not hire more?"
"No takers. More professors than grad hopefuls, actually. Hard to snag even two."
Estina sighed.
"Fair enough."
Original plan was to leverage Princess Mint's name for recruits. I floated it to her subtly, but she just asked what I meant.
Yeah. Good she doesn't interfere.