A short while later, Viscountess Elren appeared with a towel wrapped around her wet hair.
“I can’t believe she actually went and washed her hair for this,” Penelope thought, a bit surprised. Quickly regaining her composure, she said with a pleasant smile, “Please have a seat here.”
Viscountess Elren gracefully sat down on the chair provided. Penelope draped a soft towel over her shoulders and removed the towel covering the Viscountess’s hair, revealing damp orange locks cascading over her shoulders.
Penelope carefully applied fragrant oil to the ends of the Viscountess’s hair with a practiced touch. “That should be enough preparation,” she said, turning on the hairdryer.
With a low whirrr, the nozzle emitted a powerful gust of air. As the warm breeze tousled the Viscountess’s hair, the gathered noblewomen widened their eyes in astonishment.
Penelope gently ran her fingers through the Viscountess’s hair while guiding the hairdryer along. “I’ll start with a low temperature and gradually increase to a warmer setting. It’s important not to use excessively hot air, as it can damage the hair. And remember to keep some distance between the device and the scalp to avoid burns. Viscountess Elren, how does it feel? Please let me know if it’s too warm.”
“I-it’s fine,” the Viscountess replied, her cheeks flushed. The sudden sensation of warm air against her scalp was oddly soothing, making it hard to stay composed.
“When drying the scalp, it’s best to use a lukewarm setting, even if it takes a bit longer. It’s healthier for the hair that way,” Penelope explained, her hands never stopping their careful work. Years of hurried morning routines in her past life had perfected her technique.
“Who knew drying hair could feel this nice?”
The combination of the pleasantly warm air and Penelope’s gentle touch made the Viscountess’s eyelids grow heavy with relaxation.
“Can the temperature really be adjusted?” a curious noblewoman asked.
“Yes, there are three levels. If you move this lever on the handle all the way down, the temperature drops. Let me show you,” Penelope said, adjusting the dryer to a lower setting. The Viscountess’s eyes widened.
“The air suddenly feels cooler!”
Hearing this, the other noblewomen crowded closer to Penelope, stretching out their hands to feel the warm air. Gasps of delight erupted as the air caressed their fingertips.
Penelope continued drying the Viscountess’s hair, sharing haircare tips she had picked up from her previous life. “When drying your hair, focus on the scalp first. Squeezing wet hair too forcefully with a towel or leaving it damp for too long can damage the hair. Failing to dry the scalp thoroughly can also lead to dandruff, irritation, or even hair loss.”
“So that’s why my hair was falling out so much.”
The noblewomen listened intently, their eyes lighting up with newfound understanding. Many of them had noticed strands of hair falling out after rough towel-drying or felt itchy scalps after leaving their hair wet. Now they realized the reasons behind it.
“The scalp seems dry now. Let’s move on to the lower sections,” Penelope announced.
“Already?” the Viscountess exclaimed. It hadn’t taken long, yet the scalp was completely dry. The noblewomen, including Viscountess Elren, marveled at the speed.
“When drying the ends, you can twist the hair slightly like this while applying warm air. It gives the hair a soft, elegant shape without the need for heated irons,” Penelope explained, twisting the Viscountess’s hair gently as she directed the hot air. The hair curled naturally, forming a polished wave as if styled with a curling iron.
“Goodness...”
“Incredible.”
“All done!” Penelope declared.
“...!”
The noblewomen gasped. It had taken barely ten minutes, yet Viscountess Elren’s hair was completely dry, looking both natural and elegantly styled.
No one was more astonished than the Viscountess herself. Even as she stared into the mirror, she could hardly believe what she saw.
Then Penelope spoke, “I must apologize, but this hairdryer is a special gift for the Countess of Hinas, who so graciously invited us today. Only two prototypes were made—one for Her Majesty the Empress and one for the Countess.”
“I see. That’s unfortunate, but understandable,” the Countess said, suppressing a grin. To receive such a precious magical device before anyone else—her pride soared.
Viscountess Elren, however, impatiently asked, “If the prototypes are complete, when will they be available for purchase?”
“The Tower will begin sales soon. You should be able to place orders as early as next month,” Penelope replied.
Excited murmurs broke out among the noblewomen.
“Finally... salvation! Thank you so much!”
“To think long hair could be dried in just ten minutes! Lady Penelope, you are nothing short of a savior.”
“A savior indeed. I don’t even know how to repay you.”
The noblewomen flocked around Penelope, showering her with gratitude. Smiling warmly, Penelope responded, “I’m delighted to have been of help to all of you.”
***
The maid carefully dried the Empress’s hair using the magical device Penelope had gifted her not long ago—the hairdryer.
Whirrrr.
The soft sound accompanied the gentle fluttering of the Empress’s long silver hair in the warm breeze.
Normally, drying her hair would take a grueling hour and a half, but now, it required only fifteen minutes.
Elizabeth, the Empress, glanced down at the newspaper in her hands. Her gaze landed on a bold headline that caught her attention:
[The Lord of Halo Revolutionizes the Beauty Industry.]
A satisfied smile tugged at Elizabeth’s lips.
The Emperor, Yulis, approached her and casually snatched the newspaper from her hands. After scanning the article, he hummed in acknowledgment.
Elizabeth spoke with a triumphant tone.
“I told you, didn’t I? Penelope is a genius.”
“I’m inclined to agree. Honestly, I’m impressed,” Yulis admitted nonchalantly. The Emperor himself had long hair and had already become an avid user of Penelope’s invention.
Elizabeth continued, “I’m thinking of giving Penelope an award.”
“What kind of award?”
“I haven’t decided yet. But instead of giving her something I want to offer, I’d rather give her something she truly desires.”
“Then you’ll need to invite her here first.”
“I already have. She’s coming to tea this Friday. You should make time to join us.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t introduce her to me?”
“I’ve changed my mind. I think you should meet her. She’s a great inventor who has changed the world.”
“I’ll give her that,” Yulis conceded. Privately, he was convinced he was one of the most appreciative users of Penelope’s creation, given his distaste for the time-consuming ordeal of drying his hair.
That afternoon, a royal courier delivered an invitation to Penelope from the Empress.
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“A messenger from the palace just came by. Her Majesty the Empress has sent you an invitation for tea,” Giselle announced.
At the news, Penelope blinked in surprise, putting her pen down. She had been sketching a styling brush in her notebook, a tool designed to work alongside the hairdryer to add volume to hair.
Her notebook contained other designs as well, such as a straightening iron and hair rollers, concepts inspired by the success of the hairdryer. Penelope believed the brush and rollers could be developed in no time.
“When is the tea?”
“This Friday.”
Just two days away.
Penelope nodded as she rose from her seat, though her eyes lingered on her notebook.
“A straightener might take some time to make, but it’s doable. I should ask Professor Olan about it when he visits.”
Carefully, Penelope picked up the notebook. As the objects she had sketched were gradually brought to life, the notebook had become one of her most cherished possessions.
Of course, not every idea in the notebook was feasible for the time being. For instance, the vacuum cleaner.
“It’s not that a vacuum cleaner is impossible to create, but it would be too sudden a leap in technological advancement.”