At this rate, they might be able to test the ondol heating system before the first snowfall.

Ahwin spoke excitedly,
“If the design works as planned, the room’s internal temperature can go up to 60 degrees. You could even create a greenhouse!”

Penelope clapped her hands together in response.
“That’s truly good news.”

“Good news? Is that all you have to say?”

Ahwin looked at her in shock. To him, Penelope’s reaction was far too lukewarm.

If it were the wizards of the Mage Tower, they’d be jumping around and doing somersaults by now.

‘She seems so amazed by magic, yet she’s so indifferent to alchemy.’

It irked him more than he cared to admit.

Ahwin was used to Penelope treating him casually by now.

He had entered the Mage Tower at the age of three, quickly mastering not just magic and alchemy but even magitech. Being a commoner by birth, he had no concern for etiquette or hierarchy. In fact, he was the exact opposite.

Penelope stared blankly at Ahwin, who, unable to hold back his curiosity, pointed it out directly.

“Can’t you act a little more amazed?”

“I’m really amazed right now,” Penelope replied flatly, bewildered. Did he expect her to be more dramatic?

But having watched the melodramatic reactions of the Mage Tower wizards for years, Ahwin frowned.

“Are you secretly hundreds of years old or something…?”

Penelope shrugged wordlessly, as if to say, Do I look that old to you?

At most, her appearance suggested she wasn’t older than twenty-five. To be honest, she looked closer to nineteen.

Ahwin clicked his tongue.
“You must get told you’re boring all the time.”

The remark implied she acted like an old person despite her young age.

Penelope immediately understood and thought to herself, Seriously? Spaceships fly across galaxies back on Earth, and I’m supposed to be amazed by a mere ondol boiler?

While magic was fascinating, alchemy didn’t impress Penelope in the slightest. After all, wasn’t it just an inferior version of science?

Of course, she couldn’t say that, so she gave a halfhearted excuse.
“I’m really, really amazed. I even clapped earlier, didn’t I?”

Liar.

Ahwin was sure Penelope was lying, but he let it slide.

“Anyway, how’s the soap business going?”

“Funny you should ask. I’m meeting with the merchant today to finalize the contract. I plan to entrust him with the distribution of the soap on behalf of the territory.”

“What? You’re negotiating before you’ve even finished making the soap? Do you have a trustworthy merchant in mind?”

Penelope shrugged.
“Well, I’ll only know after I speak with him.”

“So you don’t know much about this merchant yet? Aren’t you worried he’ll swindle you?”

“Do I look like someone who’d get scammed that easily?”

No, she didn’t. If anything, she looked like she could survive being dropped in the middle of a forest and come back alive.

“When are you meeting this merchant?”

“In about thirty minutes. I’ve asked him to come here.”

“Perfect. I need to meet this merchant, too. As your business partner, I think it’s only right to check him out.”

“Do whatever you want. Would you like a scone? I’m about to order tea and snacks.”

“Are they corn scones?”

Ahwin’s face brightened as he asked. Penelope nodded.

Ahwin smirked in satisfaction.
“For a struggling estate, you’ve got a pretty good cook.”

Does he have to twist every compliment?

Penelope snorted inwardly and tugged the bell cord. Soon, Giselle entered the office.

“Could you bring some tea and scones? Make sure to bring some for the wizard, too.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

Giselle gave Ahwin a subtle glare of disapproval before leaving to prepare the tea. Moments later, she returned with a tray of tea and scones.

Slurp. Crunch.

The two of them enjoyed their tea in silence.

It was the only time of the day when the two managed to coexist peacefully. It was also when Ahwin was at his most agreeable.

“This territory is absolutely awful, but the tea and scones are decent,” Ahwin remarked.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“If you consider that a compliment, you might need a hearing test.”

“My ears are perfectly fine.”

The two continued their pointless banter, neither one willing to back down.

They looked like two cats growling and swatting at each other with soft paws. Neither Penelope nor Ahwin saw it that way, though.

This time, Penelope struck back.

“By the way, can’t you do something about that ridiculously long hair? It covers half your face.”

“Mind your own business. It’s my choice.”

“Well, I guess I shouldn’t expect much from someone with no sense of aesthetics.”

Penelope no longer bothered to hold back her remarks.

It wasn’t that she had lost all fear.

Despite his blunt words, she knew Ahwin was soft on her.

When he had first heard about her losing her husband, Ahwin had seemed to care about it more than she did.

From the beginning, she could tell he wasn’t the type to misuse his power recklessly.

Scary but also sloppy? He’s such a contradictory wizard.

Before long, she couldn’t stand looking at the hair covering half of his face.

He’s not a rebellious teenager with issues—what is this mess?

Just then, Ahwin smugly folded his arms and said,
“If I tidy up my hair, it’ll only make things awkward for you.”

“Oh, sure.”

“You don’t believe me at all.”

“I believe you.”

Penelope responded absentmindedly as she finished off her scone.

Roughly thirty minutes later, the steward entered with news.

“The merchant has arrived, Madam. Shall I let him in? I’ll also have tea and refreshments prepared.”

“Please do.”

The steward bowed politely.

Soon, Pablo walked into the office.

“It’s good to see you again, Madam Baroness.”

Ahwin’s face stiffened as he looked at Pablo and muttered in shock,
“What the… Why is he here?”

“Do you know me?” Pablo asked, puzzled, as he turned to look at Ahwin.

He flinched slightly at the sight of the scruffy, long-haired man.

“Of course…”

Ahwin quickly caught himself and clamped his mouth shut, realizing he couldn’t let on that he recognized the merchant.

Why is that dog who used to trail after Betty here?

Ahwin frowned as he gulped down his tea, while Pablo tilted his head in confusion.

It was only natural—given Ahwin’s current disheveled state, even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him.

Penelope glanced at Ahwin before turning back to Pablo.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Ah, thank you for the invitation.”

Pablo calmly took his seat across from Ahwin. A tray of herbal tea and scones was placed in front of him, as if they’d been waiting for this moment.

Penelope introduced Ahwin to Pablo.

“This is my business partner, the wizard.”

“Ah, I see. A pleasure to meet you. I’m Pablo, head of a small merchant group.”

“….”

Ahwin didn’t respond, only scowling instead. The mere fact that Pablo was acquainted with Betty rubbed him the wrong way.

Penelope spoke up preemptively,
“Don’t mind the wizard. He doesn’t enjoy conversation.”

“Ah, I see.”

Pablo’s expression turned slightly doubtful, but he quickly composed himself.

Penelope got straight to the point.

“You’re aware that I’m making soap, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

Pablo replied sincerely. He’d been nearly brought to tears when he received the large-scale order for soap ingredients from Halo Castle.

“Then do you have any idea why I called you here today?”

“…?”

That part hadn’t crossed his mind. Even after receiving the invitation, he was at a loss as to why the acting lord had called him.

Could it be that she’s recognized my potential? Does she want to recruit me for an important role in the territory?

Pablo’s thoughts ran wild as he tried to deduce the reason.

Penelope slid a greenish soap toward him.

“This is the soap I created with the wizard.”

“Ah, I see. It’s very well-made…”

Pablo examined the soap with an awkward smile, clearly trying to maintain a professional demeanor.