hotmtlnovel Chapter 69
Chapter 69
"That's all you want?"
"Yes. I don’t want any excessive revenge that could bring unintended consequences back to you. But I do want them to experience exactly what they inflicted on Sain—nothing more, nothing less."
"Fine. That’s reasonable enough."
Ahwin replied calmly, almost nonchalantly.
Penelope pressed her lips together before nodding firmly.
"Thank you for asking. If you hadn’t, I might not have been able to sleep with all this anger bottled up."
Ahwin smirked faintly, then stepped closer to her, stopping just in front of her. He stared at her intently, his gaze steady and penetrating.
It was as if he was observing her innermost desires, peeling back layers of her thoughts. His gaze bore a similarity to Lianel’s but carried an entirely different weight and texture.
Penelope felt her back tense, as though her spine had stiffened.
Finally, Ahwin spoke.
"You’re strange. You seem like someone who’s full of desires, yet you have so little."
"..."
"I find it curious. Maybe I always have."
With that, Ahwin walked past her and left the sitting room without another word.
It was only after he was gone that Penelope let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.@@@@
***
Leona, the former tutor of Sain, was heading home in her carriage.
‘To think that a so-called lord could be so short-sighted.’
The more she thought about it, the more baffled she became. She found the young lord utterly pathetic.
‘Children must be disciplined through corporal punishment. That’s just how it is.’
The moment she stepped out of the carriage, Leona strode forward with brisk, angry steps. Then, by the side of the road, she noticed an old beggar woman crouched on the ground.
Unable to suppress her rising frustration and disdain, Leona spat in the woman’s direction.
“Stop lying there looking so pitiful. Why don’t you just die already?”
Leona froze in shock when the old woman suddenly raised her head and glared at her.
“How dare someone as lowly as you look at me like that?”
Leona sneered as she glared back at the woman, seeking a way to vent her anger.
But the next moment, Leona’s breath caught in her throat. The old woman abruptly stood up and approached her.
The woman raised her hand. With a resounding slap, Leona’s head whipped to the side.
“Ahh! How dare you! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Who told you to spit at me?”
The old woman’s eyes were sharp, her gaze feral and filled with a terrifying intensity.
Leona froze, paralyzed like a mouse caught before a snake.
“Lowly? And you think you’re so noble? Let’s see if you can still say that after being on the receiving end.”
The woman raised her hand again. Another slap echoed, followed by Leona’s scream.
What followed was a merciless beating. The old woman’s hands were brutal, her strikes relentless. Leona ended up curled on the ground, trembling uncontrollably, unable to even whimper.
Baroness Elren, in particular, had been known for the acne scars that covered her face, forcing her to slather on excessive makeup wherever she went. But today, most of those scars were gone!
The noblewomen swarmed around Countess Hinas.
“Countess, could you tell us where you purchased that soap?”
“I want to buy some for myself!”
“Me too! I was so curious about it I couldn’t sleep last night!”
With a calm and composed smile, Countess Hinas replied,
“Oh, you must mean the Green Herb Soap. I received it as a gift from a merchant I know. That merchant will be visiting the capital soon, and I’d be happy to introduce them to you.”
The faces of the noblewomen lit up.
“Truly?”
“If you do that, I’ll never forget your kindness!”
The women surrounded the countess, their eyes sparkling with excitement. For them, skincare was of the utmost importance. Having clear, radiant skin was a hallmark of beauty, and it carried immense social value.
“So, the soap was made with green herbs? You mean they actually used herbs to make it?”
“That’s right. It’s made using green herbs, and with consistent use, it clears the skin and helps scars fade.”
The noblewomen gasped in admiration.
“My, how fascinating!”
“When is the merchant coming to the capital? I can’t wait to place an order.”
“I’ll host a tea party at my estate next Friday. If you come by then, you’ll be able to meet the merchant.”
“Oh, I’m so thrilled! Please be sure to invite me!”
“And me too, Countess!”
The noblewomen eagerly vied for the countess’s attention, desperate to secure an invitation. In their world, having clear, luminous skin was as vital as wearing the finest jewelry.
‘All eyes are on me now.’
Countess Hinas felt elated. Being the center of attention at a grand banquet always gave her a sense of pride and joy.
‘To think Pablo would bring me such a wonderful gift. What a clever man.’
Smiling to herself, Countess Hinas resolved to reward Pablo handsomely for his efforts.
***
A week later.
Pablo, filled with renewed determination, visited Countess Hinas’s estate.
‘I’ve been waiting for this day.’
Today marked the moment when the efforts he had poured into aiding the Lord of Halo would finally shine.
Throughout the winter, Green Herb Soap had sold exceptionally well among commoners, thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations from the northern folk.
However, orders from the nobility had been minimal. Conservative by nature, nobles rarely embraced new trends unless they were already popular in the social scene.
‘I will make sure to sell Green Herb Soap in bulk to the noblewomen today!’
If Green Herb Soap became a trend among the noblewomen of the capital, it would inevitably spread to southern nobles and even nobles from other kingdoms.
‘Dealing with haughty, prideful noblewomen isn’t easy. One misstep, and it’s over. I need to handle this perfectly.’
Resolving to stay sharp, Pablo followed the butler of Countess Hinas’s estate to the designated meeting room.