As the Lord of the Western Frontier, Roland didn't need to do it himself. He could simply sketch the rough outline on paper and explain it to the recruited tailor.
Though he had never worn a bra himself, he'd seen countless ads, TV shows, and movies featuring the same few styles. He chose the most common back-button shoulder strap bra, with three sets of copper hooks that let you adjust the fit to your liking.
Since this bra required a snug fit to achieve the desired cupping, Roland had the Maid from the castle come to the tailor's shop for measurements. The tailor, with years of experience in tailoring, immediately grasped the purpose of the bra after hearing Your Royal Highness's explanation. Based on the actual measurements, she categorized the bra sizes into several tiers, with further adjustments made for each tier.
In fact, the prototype of modern bras—the corset—had already emerged in this era. However, its purpose wasn't to enhance comfort but to tightly constrain the waist and elevate the bust, creating a hourglass silhouette. The elaborate Noble dresses were also designed for slender waists. Without corset support, most women would struggle to wear such tight-fitting garments. The excessive compression on the waist caused extreme discomfort, and in severe cases, could even impair blood circulation, leading to fainting.
In addition to supporting the chest, the bra also serves to stabilize and reduce vibration, providing greater comfort for women during daily wear.
In just two days, the veteran tailor crafted twenty bras using silk and premium cotton fabric supplied by Roland, combining aesthetic appeal with breathability while showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
Before Roland could deliver the gift to the Witch, a caravan from the capital had already arrived at Border Town.
Unlike the fleet's punctual arrival last month, this time it was not only late but also much smaller in scale. When the sailboats docked at the town's newly expanded pier, they looked sparsely scattered.
"Your Highness, we meet again," Margery said with a smile.
"Welcome. Thank you for your previous efforts in transporting refugees," Roland said, glancing at the fleet by the river. "This time, there seem to be fewer sailboats?" "Due to some... unexpected circumstances," she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "If you don't mind, let's talk in the reception hall. It's too hot here." "I feel the same," Hog muttered. "I'm a true Graycastle native. This weather could kill me. I wouldn't have left my home if it weren't for the first steam engine." Roland nodded and led the group back to the castle. As they entered the hall, a cool breeze greeted them. Hog let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God we discovered such a wonderful thing... If I hadn't seen the production of ice shards firsthand, I wouldn't have believed they emerged from sewage. Oh, and ice water! Your Highness, may I—" "Certainly," Roland gestured for a drink before returning to his seat. "What then caused this month's cargo—mainly saltpeter—decrease?" By contract, she was supposed to deliver at least three ships of saltpeter to Border Town monthly, but this time, only one of the sailboats carrying saltpeter arrived.
"Thanks to the Alchemy Association of the Capital, they've been purchasing saltpeter at favorable prices lately. But with the backing of Prime Minister Marquis Wick, this isn't just a business deal—merchants can't refuse." Margery shrugged. "I suspect Tefiko's influence is at play here. After all, the Prime Minister and he practically share the same air." "Tefiko?" Roland asked in confusion. "Didn't he head south?" "Exactly," she nodded. "Tasa must have informed you. Rumor has it he left the capital with a large contingent and supplies, likely to confront Garcia again. The Alchemy Association's massive saltpeter purchases came shortly after his departure." Roland knew more about the matter. Tasa's deployment in the capital had proven effective. Initially, he only received Tefiko's summons for the underground rats. To prevent sudden attacks, he specifically ordered Perro to strengthen the fortress's defenses. However, the next secret letter from the Imperial Guards gave Roland some relief—Tefiko was heading straight south, clearly indicating this recruitment wasn't aimed at him.
Roland and the Imperial Guards shared similar views on these rats 'utility: they were unfit for direct combat, with discipline worse than that of civilians and serfs. Thus, Tifeco's approach would mirror his previous tactics—first drugging them into addiction, then forcing them into combat. This strategy of wearing down the enemy through repeated cannon fodder was a prudent tactic for the new king, who controlled two-thirds of Graycastle's territory.
Why did the Alchemy Association suddenly decide to purchase large quantities of saltpeter? Snow Powder was originally one of their flagship products, but due to incorrect proportions, it could only be used for the Sound Bucket. Are they now discovering the correct formula for gunpowder and planning to mass-produce it, or are they still in the process of conducting extensive experiments to determine the optimal ratio?
Roland shook his head, dismissing the doubts that had crossed his mind. He realized these were pointless—prioritizing the industrial production of three acids and two alkalis, then transitioning to more advanced chemical gunpowder, was the right path.
"Can't you guarantee three ships' supply of saltpeter next month?" "Well... I'm not sure," Margery replied with a hint of hesitation, though she kept her words straight. "The shipment from the Western Frontier was purchased through considerable effort from Silverlight City. With summer's peak demand for saltpeter, I'm uncertain how much we can secure. In other seasons, I could guarantee three ships' supply." "I see," Roland took a sip of icy water. "Next month's supply is optional. I have new goods to procure from you." "Oh?" Margery seemed relieved. "What's it? More ore?" "Detergent stone," he answered. "It appears as white, cloudy chips or pillars that feel slippery when soaked in water. This is common in the capital's inns." "Indeed... more ore," the merchant sighed. "Your territory has a large mine, yet all your purchases are minerals. That's puzzling. Well, it's plentiful and inexpensive. What do you plan to use it for?" "For easier laundry, of course," Roland smiled.
The soapstone, a substance he retrieved from the Fourth Prince's memories, is essentially a natural alkali with sodium bicarbonate as its primary component. Renowned for its potent cleaning properties, it was once hailed alongside wood ash and bamboo ash as one of the three ancient cleaning tools. Without ion-exchange membranes, electrolyzing saltwater to produce sodium hydroxide was not only highly inefficient but also made salt prohibitively expensive. Thus, he resolved to procure natural alkali directly for caustic soda production. With sufficient caustic soda, large-scale soap manufacturing became feasible... along with its byproduct, glycerol.