NOVEL WEB chapter 148
Penelope blinked at Ahwin, her mind momentarily blank.
There was nothing inherently wrong with what he’d said—except for one thing.
‘How far ahead did he plan this whole "date" idea?’
Had all his persistence in feeding her potions been part of some grand scheme to prepare for this moment?
‘Is this what they call fattening up the prey?’
No, it wasn’t.
Ahwin grinned mischievously as he adjusted his robe.
“You won’t feel dizzy at high altitudes anymore.”
“Th-That’s not true!”
“Let’s start with something simple—like climbing a tall mountain. Your stamina’s overflowing, after all.”
His confident smile remained intact, and to Penelope’s dismay, he even began to hum a cheerful tune.
Hiking? She felt as if a dark cloud had suddenly loomed over her day.
Not once had Penelope imagined that a "date" could involve mountain climbing. Not once.
‘Is this payback for leaving him alone so often?’
It was.
Reluctantly, Penelope found herself dragged along as Ahwin led her out of the house. Their destination: the peak of Lusol Mountain, which offered a breathtaking view of the capital.
By the end of the day, Penelope had discovered firsthand just how much her stamina had improved.
***
One Week Later.
At the crack of dawn, Emily Dott was bustling with excitement. Today was the grand opening of the Halo Beauty Salon.
“Sis! Are you ready yet?”
“Almost done!”
“Hurry up! We’ll miss the first-come-first-served gifts! They’re only giving out Halo’s new products to the first 30 customers!”
“I said I’m coming!”
Violet Dott frantically tied the ribbon on her bonnet, her youthful face lit with excitement. The reddish rashes that had once marred her skin were now completely gone, thanks to the ointment gifted by the Halo Baroness. Its remarkable effects had left no trace of her former condition.
“Okay, I’m ready!”
“Let’s go! The coachman’s waiting!”
Emily impatiently grabbed Violet’s hand and pulled her along. Laughing, Violet followed her energetic younger sister.
Their carriage sped through the early morning streets of the capital. As they neared Lusol Street, the location of the new salon, the sound of competing carriages filled the air.
The coachman soon spoke up.
“Ladies, you’ll need to get out here. The street ahead is too crowded for the carriage to pass.”
“Are we late?”
“Let’s run!”
Emily grabbed Violet’s hand, and the two sisters jumped out of the carriage, much to the coachman’s disapproval. Shaking his head, he muttered a prayer for their success.
When they reached the salon, Emily gasped.
“Look at this line!”
“Huff, huff... I can’t believe there are already so many people.” Violet panted as she glanced around.
A staff member handed them numbered tickets.
“We’re 29 and 30! We made it!”
“Eeee!”
The sisters squealed, jumping up and down as they clung to each other. They weren’t alone in their excitement; many others in line were reacting similarly.
After waiting their turn, the sisters were finally allowed inside the salon. A polite attendant led them to a seating area with plush sofas that exuded luxury.
“Would you like to sit here? I’ll prepare some tea for you.”
“Two cold teas, please.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.”
As the attendant left, the sisters exchanged wide-eyed glances and discreetly took in their surroundings.
The salon was spacious, immaculately clean, and elegantly decorated. There was an exotic charm to the atmosphere that made it feel truly special.
Near the walls stood single chairs that looked extraordinarily comfortable. Large mirrors hung in front of each chair, making the space feel even larger and brighter.
Seated in the chairs were customers being attended to by one or two stylists, who skillfully worked on their hair.
“Sis, look at that! They’re washing her hair!”
“I see it!”
Violet’s eyes widened as she watched a customer sit in a chair that smoothly reclined backward. Behind the chair was a basin designed to catch water, and next to it, a display of beauty tools, including the signature Halo soap.
When the customer reclined, the stylist deftly began washing her hair, moving with practiced ease.
“Wow… that looks so comfortable!”
Emily, who struggled with washing her own hair every morning, couldn’t stop marveling.
“This way, please,” the stylist said as she wrapped the customer’s hair in a towel and guided her to a chair in front of a mirror.
Once the customer sat, the stylist applied a generous amount of hair essence to the damp hair and then retrieved a hair dryer.
The customer, a young woman with short hair, was clearly a commoner.
“Oh, isn’t that one of Halo’s new products?”
“Is that the roll brush?”
Hearing the murmurs from the neighboring customers, the Dott sisters focused on the stylist’s movements.
With a roll brush and hair dryer, the stylist elegantly curled the ends of the woman’s hair.
‘So that’s how it’s used.’
The sisters were amazed. They had never imagined the new brush released by Halo could be used so effectively.
The stylist’s hands moved with precision and care, and within moments, the hair was perfectly styled.
“As you requested, I’ve styled your hair. How is it?”
“It feels so fresh, and I love it.”
“Please don’t forget to pick up your complimentary gift on your way out.”
“Of course. Thank you so much.”
The customer left, delighted, with a stylist handing over a neatly packaged gift.
Meanwhile, Emily and Violet found their attention drawn elsewhere.
“Look over there!”
“Another new product?”
“Oh my! Is that a hair iron?”
“Wow, they’re using it so effortlessly!”
The sisters couldn’t take their eyes off the stylist holding the hair iron.
With a smooth motion, the stylist used the iron to curl a noblewoman’s hair. As the iron released, it left behind a perfect, round curl.
‘Those curls are flawless!’
Gasps of admiration echoed throughout the salon.
Creating such elegant curls had traditionally been a grueling process.
In the past, maids had to heat an iron over a charcoal fire, carefully cool it to the right temperature, and then use it to style their mistress’s hair. Too hot, and it would burn the hair—or worse, the scalp or ears. Too cold, and it wouldn’t hold the curl.
The process was tedious, hot, and often dangerous, leading to blisters and burns for maids and discomfort for their mistresses.
Now, watching the stylist effortlessly create perfect curls with the innovative iron felt like witnessing a miracle.
“I heard those new products are available at Halo starting today.”
“I need to place an order right away.”
“If I don’t hurry, they’ll sell out again! I’m going now!”
“Wait, I’ll come with you!”
“Those who got them as gifts here are so lucky.”
“Seriously.”
Emily and Violet, still glued to their seats, even forgot the tea that had been served to them.
Watching the stylists work was like witnessing an art performance. Their skill, especially when using the hair iron, seemed almost magical.
‘I have to buy one, no matter the cost.’
But as luck would have it, the sisters received a hair iron and roll brush as complimentary gifts, sending them into joyous celebration.
***
“The hair irons sold out on the first day.”
“Sales of the hair essence and roll brushes are skyrocketing, too. The salon must have been the perfect promotional platform!”
Penelope listened to Pablo and Lucas’s report with a glass of champagne in hand.
The Halo Beauty Salon was a resounding success.
Traditional salons in this world were little more than barber shops, catering mainly to trimming hair.
In contrast, Penelope’s salon targeted noblewomen and affluent customers, transforming the experience into a luxurious retreat. Instead of enduring tedious haircare from their maids, women could now relax and enjoy themselves while having their hair done.
It was a strategy of premiumization.
The spacious and elegant salon was furnished with plush sofas and tables where customers could sip tea and chat while being pampered.
It also served as the first showcase for new products from Halo, allowing customers to experience them firsthand before they were available in stores.
“With the success of the Halo Beauty Salon’s opening, we’re now ready to launch the second and third branches of the Halo Soap Shop,” Pablo said confidently.
“Perfect. Let’s keep this momentum going.”
Penelope downed her champagne in one swift motion, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.