MLHRGD 53

#53. Active Role (3)

‘I didn’t realize the reputation was this bad.’

Even in Sasha’s previous life, Carto hadn’t been looked upon positively.
It wasn’t considered something absolutely forbidden like now,
but still—no one would pay money to eat it.

Carto was a symbol of poverty.

Only those so poor they gnawed on tree bark ate it.
Even then, they considered it deeply shameful,
and once their household improved, they never touched it again.
Naturally, anyone with even a bit of means avoided Carto.

Yet, in her past life, Sasha had advised patients to make Carto their staple food.

It was highly nutritious—containing every essential nutrient to live healthily.
More importantly, Carto grew underground while slowly absorbing mana.

For ordinary people who weren’t mages,
a moderate intake of mana was beneficial.
Mana was, after all, the essence of nature.
Consuming it regularly strengthened both body and soul.

So Sasha urged patients to eat Carto.

Her words carried weight—she had been called a great healer.
Those who returned home after being treated
followed her advice, planting and eating Carto.

It quickly became a craze.

With a little care, Carto was easy to cultivate.
In just a few years, it was grown nationwide,
and people became accustomed to eating it.

Yes… that’s how it was.

Recalling her past life, Sasha felt her worries ease.

Even if it was now reviled as Devil’s Dung,
with effort, she could change its image again.

“We need to ensure farms can grow Carto. Please, everyone, help me.”

Ivan and Yelena turned pale.

They usually obeyed her without question,
but this time they couldn’t stay silent.

Precisely because Sasha looked so determined—
if all her effort failed, how deeply would she be crushed?

They exchanged glances. As her closest aides,
it was their duty to speak frankly for her sake.

Ivan stepped up first.

“But even if you force it by decree, people won’t obey.
There are even rumors that eating Car—no, Carto, causes death.
Resistance will only grow fiercer.”

“That’s right, Lady Sasha. Perhaps it would be wiser to think longer…
or find some alternative.”

“You both feel the same?”

At her words, they both nodded gravely.
Their faces showed firm resolve.

Though they opposed her plan,
it was clear they still supported her wholeheartedly.

Sasha smiled gently at them.

“I understand.”

She did.

More than anyone, Ivan and Yelena cared for her,
and she didn’t want to dismiss their heartfelt counsel.

But she firmly cut their suggestion short.

“Still, this time—I need you to trust me completely.”

If she had more time,
she would have persuaded them slowly,
or searched for alternatives as they advised.

But the disaster foretold by the spirits was fast approaching.

There’s no time.

She had already lost precious days searching for Carto.
She couldn’t afford more delays.

“I’ll explain the details later. For now, we must act first.”

Her resolute tone finally made them nod, though reluctantly.

Just as Ivan and Yelena feared,
the commoners of the territory reacted harshly.

“They want us to eat this?”

“Pah! Do the nobles think we’re livestock?”

They saw Sasha’s proposal as an insult.

When soldiers handed out Carto seeds,
the villagers threw them to the ground in defiance.

The precious seeds Sasha had fought to acquire
were trampled and ruined.

Watching secretly from across the road, Sasha saw it all.

Yelena, alarmed by her silence, burst out,

“Those wretches! Young Madam, don’t worry. I’ll go—”

“No, it’s fine.”

Sasha stopped her, expression calm.

Truthfully, she was fine.
She had expected resistance—
but she didn’t think it would last long.

“Soon, they might be fighting each other to grow it.”

“…Excuse me?”

Even after that scene, she could say such an optimistic thing?

Yelena worried Sasha had lost her senses from disappointment.

But Sasha only chuckled softly.

That method will work.

She would use knowledge drawn from her palace of memories.

On Earth, too, people once refused to eat potatoes.

Potatoes had been called the “devil’s crop,”
reviled much like Carto now.

But through a certain method,
they spread among the people.
And thanks to hardy potatoes,
many survived famines.

Sasha resolved to apply that same method here.

The first step was calling the right person.
For this, the perfect candidate was—

“Sir Andrei.”

Newly knighted this year, Andrei had remained in the territory.
He should have gone to war with the Black Wolf Knights,
but since he had been assigned as Pavel’s guard,
he naturally stayed.

Mostly by Pavel’s side,
he came at once when summoned.

Despite running quickly, he wasn’t out of breath.
He bowed sharply before her.

“You called, my lady.”

“Yes. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

Sasha had him sit instead of standing stiffly.

“I need your help. Will you assist me?”

Without hesitation, Andrei replied,

“Give the order.”

Just as when they first met—
asking nothing, ready to trust her completely.

“Thank you. Then…”

Sasha spoke decisively.

“Would you farm for me?”

“…Pardon?”

“Oh! And before that, please build a fence as well.”

Farm?
Fence?

Andrei blinked, stunned.

Sasha’s lips moved on,
but her words only confused him more.

“Bring plenty of soldiers. Dress splendidly when you go.
Your knightly uniform will do nicely.”

“…”

“And don’t forget your sword.
Even from afar, people must think you’re a knight of high standing.”

The more conditions she added, the more baffled he became.

What exactly is Young Madam asking of me?

First she told him to farm,
now she was dictating his attire.

And the knightly uniform, while impressive,
was impractical for farm work.
Especially with a sword.

But she wasn’t done.

“During the day, guard the fields strictly with the soldiers.
If anyone approaches, tell them these crops are for the lord himself,
and don’t let them in.”

“…Understood.”

That part he could accept.
But then—

“But only during the day.”

Her voice lowered meaningfully.

“At night, loosen security on purpose.
And if someone sneaks in to steal the crops—let them.”

“…What?”

Andrei blinked again.

Tend the fields,
then allow thieves to plunder them at night?

He couldn’t begin to guess her intentions.

Yet, as a loyal knight,
he accepted without protest.

“…I will obey.”

“Thank you, Sir Andrei.”