NOVEL WEB chapter 149
The taste of success was incredibly sweet—so much so that a faint chuckle escaped Penelope’s lips.
She was certain of one thing:
‘There might be people who’ve never used a hair iron, but there’s no one who uses it just once.’
Once someone experienced the convenience of the hair iron, they’d never want to go back to heating traditional curling tongs over a fire. Even Giselle, her maid, treated the hair iron Penelope had given her like a precious treasure.
In this world, hair was considered a universal symbol of beauty for both men and women. The fuller and shinier the hair, the more attractive one was deemed.
‘And yet, managing hair here is such a hassle.’
Noblewomen, in particular, often had long, voluminous hair that required extensive care. Maintaining it was an ordeal, one akin to a swan gliding gracefully on the water’s surface while furiously paddling underneath.
The idea of a place that could handle every aspect of hair care from start to finish? It was no surprise that Halo Beauty Salon had become an instant hit.
“The service where the stylists wash customers’ hair is particularly popular. There are even ladies who visit the salon just for that,” Pablo reported.
“Really?”
“Yes. Apparently, the reclining chairs are so convenient that some customers are asking to buy them. We’ve already applied for a patent with the Tower Master’s approval.”
This was an unexpected development. Lucas chimed in with an even more surprising remark.
“Actually, I sometimes stop by the salon after work myself. Lying back in those chairs while someone washes my hair feels like floating in the clouds.”
“Huh? Isn’t it mostly women who go there?”
“At first, I was hesitant for the same reason. But one day, I accompanied my wife, and the stylist offered to wash my hair for free. After experiencing heaven, I decided to change my mindset.”
“...”
Scratching the back of his head, Lucas sheepishly added, “And now, I’m not the only man there. Most husbands who accompany their wives end up becoming regulars, too.”
Penelope didn’t know how to react.
‘The rigid men of this world willingly going to a salon?’
In modern society, men visiting salons was normal, but she remembered how long it had taken for that cultural shift to happen.
Yet here, in a world of nobles and rigid customs, men were willingly heading to salons to get their hair washed. It was both baffling and amusing—a peculiar mix of open-mindedness amidst traditional values.
‘I suppose the stylists’ skills must be extraordinary.’
“Make sure to give the head stylist a bonus. Double their salary for this month and convey my gratitude for their hard work.”
“Charlotte will be thrilled. She’s exceptionally talented at managing the salon,” Pablo said with a beaming smile.
Charlotte was the head stylist Pablo had hired—a veteran with 30 years of experience. She oversaw the operations of Halo Beauty Salon and was in charge of recruiting and training the stylists for upcoming branches.
‘You have to treat loyal employees well.’
As someone who had experienced the struggles of working for a living, Penelope was determined not to become a stingy employer.
If she couldn’t secure competent staff with money, she’d reassess whether she was investing enough in her team.
For this reason, Pablo and Lucas had renegotiated their contracts several times, each with salary increases. The wages of staff and attendants had also been raised across the board.
“How are the preparations for opening the second branch of the Halo Beauty Salon and the second and third branches of the Halo Soap Shop coming along?”
“Everything is proceeding smoothly. If all goes according to plan, we’ll be able to open by the end of the month.”
“Then let’s open them sequentially once everything is ready. Use the locations I scouted for the new branches.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll proceed as instructed.”
“With that, let’s wrap up today’s meeting.”
At Penelope’s words, the attendees began tidying up their documents.
The meeting had included not only Pablo and Lucas but also Madame Lena, the manager of the Halo Soap Shop, and Pedro, the head of construction for Halo’s ventures.
From now on, Charlotte, the manager of the , would also attend the meetings. Penelope’s closest confidants in the capital had gradually increased.
As Penelope strode purposefully out of the meeting room, she suddenly stopped. Without a word, she turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
Ahwin, carrying an armful of potions, hurried after her. Penelope let out an exasperated cry.
“Stop following me!”
“Where are you going?”
“Wherever it is, I’m not drinking another potion!”
“Just one more bottle, and I won’t bring any more after this.”
“You said that last time, and I ended up drinking three more bottles!”
Penelope glared at him, her face etched with frustration, as she recounted the facts.
The day she downed three bottles of potion, Penelope found herself climbing Mount Rusol again. The view of the capital from the mountain’s summit was majestic and beautiful, but deep down, Penelope felt like crying. The last thing she wanted was to develop a hobby of hiking on her days off!
Ahwin, looking particularly handsome that day, tried to coax her with a charming smile.
“Pepe, just drink this one. It’s my masterpiece—made from only the highest-grade herbs from the market.”
“Stop channeling your Tower Master’s persistence into things like this!”
Once Ahwin became obsessed with something, he could think of nothing else, tirelessly working day and night. It was the quintessential trait of a mage.
Unfortunately, his current obsession was recovery potions. Thanks to that, Penelope had to consume “health-boosting” potions almost daily.
At first, she felt the benefits—fatigue dissipated, and her body noticeably improved.
But Ahwin wanted to measure her improvement with objective data. That’s why he dragged her up Mount Rusol, labeling it a “date.”
“Come on, just try this one. It contains high-grade Lavium extract, something nearly impossible for most people to obtain.”
The mention of its rarity made Penelope falter, even though she had already consumed enough potions to fill a chest. Every time Ahwin delivered one of his earnest explanations, she found herself tempted.
“Fine. But this is absolutely, positively the last one.”
“Understood.”
“I don’t want to get any healthier than this!”
“Calm down, Pepe. We’re done with Mount Rusol hikes, I promise.”
Ahwin tried to soothe the indignant Penelope, whose face was flushed with frustration. The idea of not wanting to get healthier was so absurd that he struggled to suppress a laugh.
After reluctantly gulping down the potion, Penelope wiped her lips with the back of her hand. The effects were immediate. Her shoulders, heavy from the meeting, felt lighter, and all her fatigue vanished.
Even so, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. So, she swiftly made her move.
“I’ve finished all my work for today. Let’s go on a date. I’ll choose the place.”
“Sure. Anywhere you want.”
Ahwin barely managed to keep his lips from twitching into a smile. The serious way Penelope proposed the date was so adorable that he almost burst out laughing.
Giving him a sidelong glance, Penelope began walking. She intended to decide on their date location as they went.
‘A classic itinerary would be the best choice for a date.’
Dining at a restaurant she’d been meaning to try, watching a performance, or visiting an art gallery all sounded appealing.
Then, she quietly crossed the art gallery off her mental list. Just thinking about it made her feel sleepy.
‘What else is there? A café tour?’
Finding a unique café worth photographing and enjoying tea there seemed like a decent date option.
‘Alright, let’s have a meal together and then some tea today.’
But then, Penelope came to another halt. For some reason, it felt like something she and Ahwin did every day.
Even at Halo Manor, they dined and had tea together almost daily. In the capital, it was even more frequent. The two were practically glued together during meals and tea breaks.
They had already done what could be considered dates to the point of exhaustion.
‘But if I take meals and tea off the list, that leaves performances, and there aren’t any shows starting today!’
Penelope found herself biting her lower lip in frustration. No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with anything fresh.
At this point, hiking seemed like a pretty good date idea after all.
‘No, hiking is out of the question!’