I stood in my room, staring down at my hands and then at the dusty surfaces around me. This place had been on my mind ever since I’d learned a bit about the hygiene issues here, and I’d been itching to try something practical. If no one else here understood the importance of soap, I’d just have to make some myself. And luckily, I already knew the basics. The only question was... would it work in this world?

My first task was to gather supplies, which turned out to be quite an adventure.

“Excuse me, Sara” I called Sara, who was dusting in the hall. “Could you bring me a few things? I’ll need some animal fat, ashes, and... hmm, maybe a few herbs if you have any lying around.”

Sara stared at me, eyes narrowing. “Lady Liana... you want animal fat?” She looked at me as though I’d just asked her to deliver a live chicken to my bed.

“Yes, exactly,” I replied, giving her my most enthusiastic smile. “I’m experimenting with something new. I promise I haven’t gone mad—well, not entirely.”

Sara blinked at me, clearly baffled, but eventually nodded. “Very well, my lady. I’ll be back shortly.”

As she left, I ran through the process in my mind, recalling each step. My old self would have laughed at the thought of making soap like this, in a castle kitchen with no modern equipment. But this was the start of something big, I could feel it.

With my supplies in hand, I slipped down to the kitchen. I glanced around, spotting a small, unused corner away from the bustling cooks and their loud clang of pots and pans. Perfect.

As I set up, I couldn’t ignore the curious and slightly horrified looks from the kitchen staff. I plastered on my best smile, hoping it looked more reassuring than unhinged. “Don’t worry, everyone,” I announced cheerily. “I’m just trying something new! If it works, maybe it’ll help keep you all a bit healthier.”

A few of the cooks exchanged glances, clearly skeptical. One of them, an older man with a rather prominent nose, gave a loud sniff. “Waste of good fat,” he muttered, casting a disapproving look my way.

I decided not to let his words bother me. After all, I’d heard plenty of doubters in my old world. But it did make me feel a bit like a mad scientist, setting up shop in the corner, alone with my strange ingredients. If they only knew what kind of difference this could make.

Rolling up my sleeves, I got to work, melting the animal fat in a pot I’d borrowed. It was surprisingly satisfying, actually, watching the fat soften and turn to liquid. I took a deep breath to steady myself, focusing on the task as I began stirring in the ashes a bit at a time.

“What exactly are you doing, my lady?” Sara who’d brought the supplies had returned and was watching me with wide, skeptical eyes.

“It’s an experiment,” I said, trying to sound confident. “I’m making soap. You know, to clean things.”

She blinked, clearly unconvinced. “But... doesn’t water clean things?”

“Oh, water’s wonderful,” I replied, nodding. “But imagine something that can actually scrub the dirt away. It’ll help prevent illness and make everything smell a little fresher.”

The maid looked more bewildered than ever, but she stayed to watch, her curiosity slowly overtaking her skepticism. As I carefully added the ashes and stirred, I felt a familiar sense of satisfaction—like this was finally something I knew, something I could do. My mind wandered to how even this little change could bring improvement here.

The smell began to fill the kitchen, a mixture of cooking fat and woodsy ash that wasn’t exactly pleasant. The older cook wrinkled his nose and muttered something under his breath.

“I’ll admit it doesn’t smell amazing,” I said, catching his eye, “but trust me, if this works, you’ll see how useful it can be.”

“Is that so, Lady Liana?” He replied with a skeptical raise of his eyebrows. “I’ve seen a lot in my years, but fancy potions aren’t gonna keep us from catching a cold.”

Oh God, help me keep my patience before I do something I’ll regret—or maybe not, I thought, gritting my teeth. Can’t this old man mind his own business instead of poking into mine?

I took a breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “This isn’t just a potion—it’s a cleaning agent.” I explained, more to myself than anyone else. “It’ll help remove dirt and germs that make people sick.”

The cook snorted, shaking his head, and returned to chopping onions with a smirk. The rest of the staff exchanged glances, but I ignored the doubtful murmurs and kept going. It was hard to prove that something invisible like germs existed, but I hoped I’d be able to show them soon. And besides, if I keep paying attention to them, I might just knock out that old man. I’m not exactly great at keeping my patience, especially for someone smell and look like a big frog. Not judge, but that is true.

At last, the mixture began to thicken, and I poured it into a small mold I’d improvised from some kitchenware. Now it just had to set.

Standing back, I took a breath, marveling at the small, simple creation in front of me. In my old world, I’d never have thought twice about soap, but here, in this dusty, disease-ridden castle, this little block felt like a tiny triumph.

“It’s still hard to believe,” Sara said, her voice softening as she watched me. “You really think this’ll keep sickness away?”

I looked at her and gave a determined nod. “It’s a start. Washing with soap gets rid of dirt and germs—the little things that make people sick. It could save lives, honestly.”

She stared at the little soap mold, clearly pondering this. Though still doubtful, she seemed a bit intrigued, and I felt a flicker of hope.

The soap would need to set for a while, but I couldn’t wait to test it out. If this little block could make a difference, even a small one, maybe people would start to see the benefits of cleanliness. And who knew? Maybe this would be the beginning of something bigger—a step towards a cleaner, healthier life for everyone here.