"Is this the cream?"
Penelope stared curiously at the round jar of cream. The pale green substance inside gave off a gentle scent of green herbs.
Ahwin asked with a hint of expectation in his voice, "What do you think?"
"Just from looking at it, I can’t tell. I’d need to try it. Is it okay if I use some?"
"It’s made with ingredients that are good for the body. It’s safe for you to use."
Reassured by Ahwin’s confident response, Penelope smiled brightly.
"Thank you. I’ll use it well."
She was immediately delighted.
When the social season starts, the luxury soap will sell well. If I add cosmetics to the mix, the advertising effect will double. Then I’ll become even wealthier!
The thought of growing richer always put her in a good mood, and Penelope’s smile widened.
Ahwin watched her with narrowed eyes before letting out a soft chuckle.
If the wizards at the Mage Tower found out I was being used to make soap and cosmetics, they’d faint.
Even the emperor would be shocked to learn that the Mage Tower Master was engaged in such mundane endeavors.
Ahwin dismissed the thought as unimportant. Watching Penelope laugh in front of him put him in a strangely good mood, making it hard to suppress the swell of pride in his chest.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"It’s the treasurer."
"Come in."
At Penelope’s permission, the treasurer entered the reception room.
The treasurer glanced briefly at Ahwin but then acted as though he wasn’t there, turning his full attention to Penelope and bowing respectfully.
Penelope asked, "What is it?"
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"It’s about the matter of hiring teachers for the school, as you requested. It seems we can hire professors from the Imperial Academy."
"Professors from the Imperial Academy? They’ll be teaching the children basic subjects like imperial language, history, and math. Do we really need professors for that?"
"Two professors are willing to work for the salary we proposed."
"Oh..."
Penelope was momentarily at a loss for words.
With the change in emperors, it was no surprise that political issues had led to some professors losing their jobs.
Is this going to turn into a situation where a flood of displaced experts from the central capital comes rushing to Halo?
It wasn’t entirely unreasonable to think so.
Being a rural territory at the northern edge of the empire, Halo was free from the central government’s scrutiny. A contract with the territory also meant stable income.
Penelope felt a slight chill as she considered the implications.
If too many politically displaced individuals gathered in one place, it could draw suspicion that they were forming a faction.
But wait, that’s overthinking it. We’re just hiring teachers for a school. Does it really warrant that much concern?
The term "faction" only applied when at least a hundred people gathered with a shared goal. Hiring one or two schoolteachers hardly seemed like a reason for alarm.
In fact, getting highly educated professionals at a bargain price was a stroke of luck.
Halo was growing rapidly, with more people arriving by the day, and the city was thriving. Capable talent was essential to sustain this progress.
Penelope made her decision swiftly.
"Let’s hire both of them."
***
The cosmetics turned out to have remarkable effects.
They made the skin radiant and hydrated. When used alongside the Green Herb Soap, the synergy seemed to enhance the benefits even further.
The maids eagerly shared their glowing reviews of the cosmetics.
“This is an amazing product! I don’t think I can ever go back to using anything else.”
“My skin looks so much better—it feels like I’m more beautiful now!”
“If you sell this, it’s bound to be a huge hit! I guarantee it with my name!”
However, Penelope’s own experience with the cosmetics was a bit underwhelming compared to the maids’ enthusiasm.
Maybe it’s because my skin was already good. I didn’t notice much of a difference.
At just over twenty years old, Penelope already had naturally good skin and didn’t need much help from cosmetics.
As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, Penelope shook her head.
Skincare is all about starting early and being consistent. If I keep using it now, it’ll pay off in the long run.
Satisfied with the maids’ positive results, Penelope turned her focus to the upcoming meeting.
The weekly general meeting, held every Friday, was attended by all the officials of the Halo lordship.
The number of attendees had grown significantly since the advisors were hired, and the conference room was now packed. The murmur of greetings between the new and old staff filled the air.
“Apologies for being a bit late.”
“The meeting hasn’t started yet, has it?”
“Indeed not. Take your seat quickly.”
A few officials, clearly breathless from rushing, barely avoided being late. With the territory’s growing population came an avalanche of tasks to address, keeping everyone exceptionally busy.
Penelope began, “Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this meeting.”
“It’s our duty, my lady. No thanks are necessary.”
“I’m pleased to see the new advisors here. I notice there are quite a few new faces among us, and I look forward to working with all of you.”
“We’re honored to serve, my lady,” Lucas said on behalf of the advisors, seemingly taking on the role of their representative.
The treasurer stroked his beard with a satisfied expression.
Smiling, Penelope moved to the first agenda item.
“The first topic is the soap workshop.”
“The soap workshop? Is there an issue?”
The administrator’s face immediately tensed with concern.
“There’s no issue with the workshop itself. In fact, the soap is selling better than ever. I think it’s time to expand and start developing new products.”
Word about the Green Herb Soap had spread beyond the territory, attracting a growing number of visitors to buy it. Contracts with prominent trading companies for large-scale sales had also been secured.
“I have good news. The wizard has created a cosmetic product using Green Herbs. It’s far more effective than existing cosmetics, and when used alongside the soap, it creates a synergy effect.”
“The wizard has created another incredible invention!”
The officials, including the administrator, were visibly delighted. Penelope continued, sharing her thoughts.
“I think we should expand the workshop to include a facility for cosmetics production. We’ll maintain soap production while beginning to manufacture the cosmetics as well.”
“An excellent idea,” one official agreed.
Penelope added, “The administrator is already responsible for the workshop, the school, and fire safety. I think we need to appoint someone else to handle the workshop. Is there anyone you would recommend?”
“Ah... yes, I can think of someone trustworthy from the workshop staff.”
“Then let’s appoint that person as the workshop manager. Administrator, please focus on other tasks but oversee the transition for now.”
“Of course! I’ll ensure a smooth handover.”
The administrator’s lips curled into a relieved smile. The workload had been overwhelming recently, even with the addition of two capable advisors. Despite his best efforts, he often found himself working late into the night.
Penelope, well aware of his hard work, said, “Your workload is certainly the heaviest. We’ll hire a fire safety manager soon, so please bear with it a little longer.”
“Understood.”
The administrator’s response was tinged with pride at Penelope’s recognition, prompting envious glances from the other officials.
After the general meeting, Penelope convened another, smaller meeting with her key advisors.
The treasurer initiated the discussion.
“It’s about the heir. We contracted the Valkyrie Guild to investigate and discovered that a distant relative of the late Baron Halo is currently in an orphanage. He’s a twelve-year-old boy.”
“Really?”
Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected to find a suitable candidate so quickly. The other advisors murmured among themselves, their faces showing a mix of concern and anticipation.
The treasurer continued, “Shall we bring the boy here and see how he responds to education?”
“Please arrange for him to be brought here. Whether he becomes the heir will depend on his potential, but there’s no harm in fostering him. Prepare a room for the child and hire a tutor as well.”
“I’ll instruct the guild to retrieve the boy,” the treasurer replied.
Penelope let out a long sigh, nodding firmly.
***
A tavern in the capital.
A man and a woman sat at a table, drinking beer. Both were graduates of the Imperial Academy and currently employed by a major merchant guild.
"Have you heard the news? Professor Bake has been hired as a teacher at the elementary school in the Halo territory."
"I heard Professor Rance was hired as well."
"How did former professors of the Imperial Academy end up taking teaching jobs in a rural territory?"