Penelope glanced at Ahwin nervously before opening the potion bottle. With a soft pop, a refreshing aroma wafted out. The scent of expensive herbs was unmistakable.
No matter how she looked at it, this was the kind of thing knights would drink before heading out to hunt monsters.
"Are you sure it’s okay for me to drink this?"
"Stop overthinking and just drink it."
Unable to refuse any longer, Penelope gulped down the potion. As the liquid flowed down her throat, a cool sensation spread through her body, and a refreshing energy surged from her head to her toes.
‘Wow, this feels amazing!’
The fatigue that had weighed her down just moments ago completely disappeared. Her body felt so light, it was as if she could soar into the sky. The effects of a top-tier potion were undeniable.
"What exactly did you make me drink?"
"Something good."
She wanted to ask what "something good" even meant, but Ahwin changed the subject.
"It doesn’t make sense for the girlfriend of the Tower Master to collapse from exhaustion."
"Well, that’s true, but..."
"You need to have enough energy to make time for our dates."
So that was his ulterior motive.
Penelope didn’t know what to say and glanced away, avoiding his gaze.
It seemed Ahwin was eager for a date, but Penelope didn’t have any free time in the near future. Preparing to open the new salon in the capital required her full attention.
‘We’ve only just started dating, but I’m already too busy. And I’ll probably stay busy for a long time.’
Guilt began to creep into Penelope’s thoughts.
As if reading her mind, Ahwin spoke up.
"Then let’s go on a date now."
"Today? I already have things to do today."
"In exchange, you can pick the location for our date. How about that?"
"That’s..."
"Anywhere is fine. I’ll stay right by your side no matter where it is."
Ahwin’s offer left no room for refusal. By saying he didn’t mind the location, he was essentially saying he’d be fine even if their "date" happened at Pablo’s office.
It was an offer Penelope couldn’t turn down.
"Alright," she finally agreed with a nod.
***
Penelope and Ahwin set out together to inspect the potential site for the new salon, under the guise of a "date."
Even though Lucas and Pablo joined them, Ahwin didn’t complain much. His expression, however, was slightly sour.
“What do you think?” Pablo asked.
“It’s smaller than I expected. Isn’t there a bigger location?”
“I’ve secured a spot for the third branch. Would you like to see it?”
“That would be better.”
Pablo hesitated, glancing at Ahwin. He assumed the Tower Master wouldn’t be thrilled about Penelope’s work dragging on.
Yet, Ahwin stayed quietly by Penelope’s side, simply observing her.
‘Strange. Did the Tower Master eat something bad? Why is he so quiet?’
Pablo’s suspicions went unanswered as Ahwin maintained his silence.
The group took a carriage to the location earmarked for the third branch.
As soon as they stepped inside, Penelope was captivated by the space.
“I like it. What do you think, Pablo?”
“I think it’s perfect.”
“Then let’s settle on this spot and start redesigning the interior to suit the salon.”
“I’ll bring in the chief designer immediately.”
Pablo summoned Pedro, the architect who had worked with Halo on various projects, including the installation of underfloor heating systems. Experienced and talented, Pedro was particularly fond of working with Halo because of the generous pay.
Penelope quickly dove into discussions with them.
“I have a design in mind. Would you like to hear it?”
“Of course. It’ll help guide the project.”
“I want to make the salon a space just for noblewomen. Think luxurious yet comfortable. There will be plush sofas where they can enjoy tea while browsing the latest catalogs, all while getting their hair done. They could even stop by to have their makeup done before balls or parties.”
Penelope explained her vision, drawing from her past life’s experiences with modern salons. Pedro was visibly impressed.
“This is an incredibly sophisticated and bold concept. I think noblewomen will love it.”
“The sofas should be exotic yet cozy. As for salon chairs, we’ll need two types: one with adjustable height and another that reclines comfortably. Can you manage that?”
“With clear instructions, I can certainly make it happen.”
Having already experienced the innovative designs of Halo’s heating systems, Pedro was eager to tackle this new challenge.
Penelope sketched her ideas, drawing from her memories of modern salon equipment. She carefully illustrated the reclining chairs used for washing hair, ensuring the design was clear.
It was then that Ahwin, who had been silently observing, chimed in.
“Penelope, you really have no talent for drawing.”
“As long as it’s understandable, does it matter?” Penelope protested, her cheeks reddening.
“You’d better not show this to anyone else in the future.”
With a casual wave, Ahwin redrew her crude sketches into precise, professional blueprints. He then rolled up Penelope’s original drawings and tucked them into his robe.
Ahwin’s new blueprint was so clear that even a child could understand it.
“This is exactly what I envisioned! How did you know?” Penelope clapped her hands in delight.
“After staring at your messy sketches long enough, I managed to figure it out. It was easier than deciphering the First Tower Master’s spellbook.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” Penelope muttered sarcastically, though it didn’t feel much like one.
She carefully handed Ahwin’s blueprint to Pedro. The drawing wasn’t to blame, after all.
Later, Ahwin handed her a small glass bottle.
“Here, drink this.”
“Another potion?”
“Good things need to be taken regularly to be effective.”
“That’s how I ended up drinking poison last time...”
Ahwin looked slightly flustered at her sharp retort.
“This time, I promise it’s genuinely good for you. I swear on my name as Tower Master.”
Swearing on his title, no less.
Penelope was now convinced the potion contained nothing but the best herbs.
‘The potion isn’t at fault.’
Resigned, she opened the bottle and drank it. As the liquid went down, a refreshing coolness spread through her body. Her fatigue vanished, and her mind felt sharper than ever.
‘Just moments ago, I wanted to collapse. Now I feel like I can conquer the world.’
The effects of the high-quality potion were undeniable.
Fueled by the potion’s energy boost, Penelope threw herself into work.
By granting approvals on-site, she significantly sped up the process. Hiring and training new stylists went smoothly, and soon the project began to run without her constant involvement.
For the first time, Penelope was able to step back.
‘I finally have some breathing room. I might actually get to rest. And... I’m not even tired!’
It was astonishing. Despite working tirelessly for days, her body still felt light and energized.
The credit, of course, went to Ahwin’s insistence on her potion regimen.
Now Penelope understood why modern people swore by nutritional supplements.
“Here’s today’s potion,” Ahwin said, handing her another bottle.
“Another one?”
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“I also made pills for today. Liquids can be a bit too filling.”
Ahwin’s persistence left Penelope in awe.
She drank the potion and swallowed the pills. Almost immediately, she felt a surge of energy.
If she lived in a game-like world, she imagined a notification saying, “Stamina permanently increased by +10.”
Ahwin, watching her closely, asked, “How does it feel?”
“Honestly, the effects are incredible. I don’t get tired as easily, and my focus has improved a lot.”
“I told you—it’s packed with the best ingredients,” Ahwin said smugly, his tone brimming with pride.
Though his attitude was slightly irritating, Penelope couldn’t deny her gratitude.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so much in such a short time without your help.”
With the Halo Beauty Salon set to open in just a week, Ahwin’s devoted support had made a noticeable impact.
Seizing the moment, Ahwin said, “Now that the complicated work is done, let’s go on a date.”