I Was Reincarnated as the Prince in a Villainess Story, so I’ll Use My Cheat Knowledge to Create a Noble Lady Harem and Make Them All Happy - 4

Chapter 4: Sewage, Disease, and the Words That Changed the Future

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“The Kingdom of Alveria is governed under a council system centered around the king.”

The instructor of the statecraft lecture—an elderly noble, Baron Castile—spoke with a hint of pride.

“That said, it does not mean the royal authority is weak. The king proposes, the nobles deliberate, and the king makes the final decision. While the structure itself maintains the form of an absolute monarchy, in practice it is a flexible system where the high-ranking nobles share and divide administrative duties among themselves.”

Yeah. I knew that.

No, he didn’t know it as factual knowledge at first, but after living in the royal castle for several years, Valis had come to feel that this country was not what one would call a “dictatorship.” His father—the current King Ars—was in his early thirties. Young, yet busy.

He attended political meetings every morning, received reports from within the territory in the afternoon, and met with guests or reviewed documents in the evening. On some days, he even stayed up late into the night reading drafts of military and diplomatic papers. In short, it was a monarchy where the king actually worked.

Moreover, the previous king, Valis’s grandfather, who had placed his father on the throne, was still alive. Though he had retired to a separate wing of the palace, it was not due to illness. He had abdicated of his own will. Under ordinary circumstances, that would be strange. But in this country, it was considered “normal.”

“The throne is not an honor, but a duty. Those who cannot fulfill their responsibilities have no right to sit upon the throne.”

That was the political philosophy of the Kingdom of Alveria. In form, it was an absolute monarchy. But in substance, it was closer to a “national management team.” While the king held the central authority, the high-ranking nobles bore responsibility for governance in exchange for the prosperity of their own territories.

What surprised him most was the nobles’ sense of duty. They were not a selfish, privileged class. On the contrary, they genuinely believed in noblesse oblige.

If the people starved, it was their shame. If an epidemic spread, they would personally take command to deal with it. If an incompetent king arose, they would have him step down and promptly appoint a successor. As a result, this country had far fewer deaths from starvation and almost no riots compared to others.

According to diplomatic records, in the southern Kingdom of Beltea, thousands of people died every winter from starvation. But in Alveria, thanks to the well-managed food storage and distribution network, even the slums received their share of gruel.

…No, it wasn’t perfect. There were still many problems. But—within this world, he thought—this kingdom was a well-run nation. As someone who had once worked in the sewer department in his previous life, he used to only see the flaws. But now, he found more and more things to admire.

That day, the incident happened in the afternoon. After the lecture, while Valis was in the library reading a grimoire, an urgent report arrived.

“Your Highness. There has been an outbreak of disease in the Fourth Block of the northern district of the royal capital’s slums.”

The young knight apprentice who delivered the message wore a grave expression.

“It appears to be ‘summer dysentery’—an endemic disease characterized by diarrhea transmitted through water. Since last night, cases have risen sharply, and by this morning, there have already been over a dozen deaths…”

His stomach turned cold.

“…It’s the sewage.”

The words slipped out before he realized it. The knight looked startled. Valis closed the book and stood.

“Call the council. I’ll seek Father’s permission to attend.”

This was a chance. The council chamber was a high-ceilinged stone hall. At the far end of the fan-shaped arrangement of desks sat the king’s chair. In front of it were the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, members of the royal family, the three ducal houses, the four marquess houses, and their subordinates. Valis took his seat in the section reserved for the Crown Prince. The meeting had already begun.

“…The Church has agreed to urgently dispatch clerics capable of performing the Divine Arts. First, we shall begin with prayers and purification rites—”

“Identifying the source of contamination must be our top priority. According to reports from the physicians, dead fish were found floating near the northern district’s reservoir—”

All of that was reasonable. But if they only did that, it would happen again.

“Your Majesty, permission to speak.”

The voice belonged to Duke Elfein. He was Milia’s father. In response, his father, the king, gave a small nod.

“…Valis. If you have an opinion, speak.”

Valis rose to his feet.

“…This outbreak stems from the collapse of the sewage system.”

His voice cut sharply through the still air.

“The Fourth Block of the northern district is built over old waterways. The ground is unstable, and every rainy season, the drains clog and the wastewater backs up. Last year, and the year before that, the same disease appeared in the same season.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted. The high officials’ eyes reflected both surprise and caution as they looked at Valis.

“Your Highness, with all respect, the Church’s Divine Arts have suppressed countless infections in the past. This time as well, purification through prayer would be the most—”

“Emergency treatment is important. But do you intend to ‘pray it away’ every single year?”

Valis intentionally spoke more firmly.

“You can purify the tainted water with magic. You can heal the sick through divine grace. …But what about the collapsed drains? The broken basins? The excrement and murky water festering below?”

No one answered. So Valis continued.

“If we don’t change the system, people will die again next year. Children, the elderly… They would be breathing their last in the alleys, unseen by anyone.”

With each word he threw, the room grew heavier. But he didn’t care.

“I will restore the capital’s waterways. We’ll combine magical flow channels with physical drainpipes to prevent backflow and turn the murky water into clean streams. Everyone should be able to access clean water whether it’s to wash their feet… Or to live with dignity.”

He could tell he was getting heated. But that was fine. Because this kingdom—this moment—was filled with potential for change. And then…

“Hm.”

A deep, resonant voice silenced the room. Duke Elfein stood.

“His Highness the Crown Prince speaks true. It is entirely reasonable. My house shall lend its full support for a test operation in the northern district.”

Then, another voice.

“Agreia concurs.”

Marquis Agreia, Reina’s father, rose to his feet.

“His Highness has the vision befitting a future king. As one tied to my daughter by bond, I could not be prouder.”

At those words, the mood in the chamber visibly shifted. Two nobles—both wielding influence second only to the king—had voiced their clear support. One after another, the other ministers followed suit, nodding their approval.

It’s decided.

The king gave a quiet nod and spoke.

“Valis is hereby granted special authorization to conduct trial restoration of the northern district’s waterways. Funding and personnel shall be provided with the cooperation of the Houses of Elfein and Agreia.”

The king’s words carried the weight of decree. And thus, for the first time, a royal command was issued under Valis’s name. The following morning, Valis went to the site.

The moment the prince’s carriage entered the slum, the air changed. The roads were narrow and muddy, the smell of stagnant water thick in the air. Children played barefoot, splashing through puddles of foul water. Under a tattered cloth at a doorway, an old woman lay coughing. From a half-collapsed wooden barrel, murky water overflowed onto the street.

“…So this is the ‘ground,’ huh.”

Things unseen from the throne. Things never written in official documents. The foundation of the kingdom itself.

“His Highness actually came here…”

The maid accompanying him whispered, her voice trembling.

“To a place like this…”

Yes. He had to come. Here. 

A king must kneel upon the earth and see his people.

Valis lifted his gaze to the sky. Gray clouds spread over the capital. And yet… If he could change the flow of water in this land, then one day, that sky too would turn blue again.

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