The Incompetent Emperor Who Changes the World from the Shadows: Iron, Gunpowder, and the Young Maidens of Favor - Chapter 14: Experimental Promotion and the Reactions of Commoners

Chapter 14: Experimental Promotion and the Reactions of Commoners

It’s early morning in the imperial capital, before the sun has fully risen.

The alleys of Ash Wall Alley are enveloped in damp air and the scent of soot-stained cobblestones.

Ariel walks alone down the street.

Above her, Sopina flies, observing her closely.

In her hands is a leather basket.

Inside are a dozen or so slender bottles, each filled with a faintly white, bubbling liquid in clear glass.

“Liquid detergent.”

This is the culmination of the current emperor’s accumulated knowledge and trial-and-error.

These bottles are now, for the first time, “going out into the city.”

“…The wind feels a bit strong today, doesn’t it?”

Ariel mutters to herself, and Sopina responds with a murmur of her own.

The wind’s not just strong—it’s cold.

But that girl isn’t shivering.

Even though her hands are red.

Ariel can’t hear the fairy’s voice.

Her back, wrapped in a thin coat, shows a hint of tension, but her steps are unwavering.

“Free sanitary supplies provided by the Imperial Sanitation Workshop.”

Ariel negotiates at each stop to get people to try the detergent samples.

“Please, give it a try.

It lathers even in cold water, is gentle on hands, and doesn’t damage fabric.”

Her voice doesn’t falter in the freezing air.

She speaks with strength, looking directly into the eyes of her audience.

Her first stop is a maternity ward in the city.

It’s a building filled with the cries of newborns, mingling with the faint scents of herbs and blood.

At first, the young female assistants are skeptical.

“A new kind of soap?”

“It’s liquid? Can it actually clean?”

“Just some noble’s joke, right?”

But the moment the bubbles touch their fingertips, the atmosphere changes.

“…What’s this? It’s slippery, but not cold!”

“It lathers this much?!”

“Wait, the stain’s already gone? How?!”

Excitement and surprise ripple through them, and several eyes peer into the bottle.

Nice reaction.

Once they see it “works,” they’re quick to respond.

Sopina, secretly following her, chuckles.

Of course, since no one but the emperor can see her, “secretly” is a bit meaningless.

She continues muttering.

But the one who “believed” is that girl, isn’t she?

That laundry maid’s got some real grit.

Ariel dips her fingers into an icy bucket, repeating her explanation of the detergent without losing her smile.

It looks like things are going well.

This is just the beginning.

From here, he and I will change this country.

And for my return, it has to change steadily.

That vision quietly spreads in Sopina’s chest.

※

That night, a report arrives.

The samples Ariel distributed have already been used at several sites.

A maternity ward in the capital’s north district, a laundry workshop, a washing area behind a barracks.

She visited each place, demonstrating how to use it and showing the bubbles.

The result—the reaction is beyond expectations.

“This… it cleans so well!”

“It lathers in cold water, lifts stains, and doesn’t rough up my hands!”

On my desk are several small report sheets sent from the field.

The scrawled handwriting brims with the users’ surprise, confusion, and awe.

Sopina, sitting on the corner of the desk, speaks.

They seem thrilled.

Almost shocked, even.

“Yeah.

The effect reached them properly.”

When I say it aloud, the words feel unexpectedly heavy.

What I was trying to create wasn’t just a product.

It was about delivering “convenience that doesn’t yet exist in this world” to “someone’s daily life.”

And now, it’s finally taken shape.

But—it’s not perfect.

Among the reports are some critiques.

• • The scent is too strong; some people reported headaches.

• • The bottle’s cap is hard to open for the elderly.

• • The bubbles fade too quickly, making users “anxious about whether they’re using it right.”

Sopina lets out a small laugh.

Well, it’s not gonna be perfect right away, is it?

Releasing a product isn’t the end of it.

“On the contrary.

This is the real beginning.”

Holding the stack of papers, I lean back in my chair and look up at the ceiling.

In the modern world, products go through test marketing, A/B testing, and complaint handling—all systematically managed.

But here, “reports” come by hand, and improvements are made manually.

The slowness is frustrating.

But it lets you see faces.

The assistant who was amazed by the detergent.

The laundry girl who said “thank you” as she took the bottle.

Through Ariel and Sopina, I can feel the hearts of real people, even if indirectly.

The product I created touched someone’s life.

And that life changed, even just a little.

“…Finally, I’ve dropped a single ripple into the world.”

Sopina mutters softly.

Bubbles disappear quickly, but the feeling when they touch you—it sticks in your memory, doesn’t it?

I nod.

“That’s exactly why it matters.”

※

“Excuse me.

Your Majesty, I’m here to report on the detergent matter.”

Night has fallen in the office.

When Ariel enters, the room is filled only with stacks of documents and candlelight.

Seeing her, Sopina’s daytime words flash through my mind.

Bubbles disappear quickly, but the feeling when they touch you—it sticks in your memory, doesn’t it?

“…Have a seat.”

At my prompting, Ariel sits cautiously on the chair.

On her lap is one of those bottles—the scented prototype.

“How many did you distribute today?”

“…Thirteen bottles, all handed out.

The response from the field is mostly positive.

Especially at the maternity ward, many praised it for ‘not causing hand irritation.’”

In the candlelit office, Ariel hands me the report.

Every place she visited today—

Each one received a bottle.

And the fact that it’s genuinely “useful.”

I skim the report and nod quietly.

“Well done.

Impeccable work.”

“No… I just handed them out and explained.”

“You know how valuable it is to ‘hand out and explain,’ don’t you?”

At my words, Ariel’s eyes widen, then she quickly looks down.

“…Thank you.

But honestly, I was scared.

Talking to strangers in the city… wondering if I could actually help anyone… everything.”

“But you did it, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

When she looks up, her eyes hold a quiet strength.

I meet her gaze directly.

“People believe when they see someone like you standing at the forefront.

Your words pushed a stranger’s back.

That alone is enough.”

A brief silence follows.

Then my eyes catch on a strand of hair near her ear.

It’s not messy, but it moves restlessly, as if tousled by the damp wind.

Before words, my hand moves.

I reach out naturally and gently tuck her hair back.

Ariel’s shoulders tremble slightly.

“…Ah…”

It’s just a fleeting touch.

But I see her cheeks flush faintly.

“Are you pushing yourself too hard?”

“No… today felt fulfilling.

It’s been a while since someone said ‘thank you’ to me…

I didn’t realize how happy it could make me.”

Her words warm my chest slightly.

(This isn’t enough with just “praise” anymore.)

The thought surfaces in my mind.

The Ariel before me is striving to fulfill her role with utmost sincerity and determination.

It’s not her status or position—it’s her will to “believe and act” that speaks to me.

And so, I say quietly:

“…You’re right.

The maids’ shared quarters probably don’t let you rest properly.

I’ll arrange a private room for you in the palace.

You can come and go directly from there.”

Ariel’s eyes waver.

“…A room just for me…?”

“Your work right now goes beyond what a servant’s role entails.

Your treatment and living space should match that.”

She starts to say something but closes her mouth.

Still, she sits upright, eyes lowered, and nods after a moment.

“…Thank you.

That’s… more than I could ever hope for.”

Her voice trembles slightly as she chooses her words.

Beneath that tremor, there’s a mix of “uncertainty” and “joy”—something real.

She hasn’t said anything more.

But a piece of her “feelings” is already resting in my palm.

I decide to simply accept it.

For now, it shouldn’t be named.

When she speaks it herself in the future—that’s when I’ll offer the words to “welcome” it.