Things were going so well, and then his thoughts took an absurd turn.

The correct answer was ‘They wouldn’t even open it.’

Halo might technically be a territory, but it was little more than a rural town.

Besides, even among the nobility granted titles by the Emperor, many dismissed those who never visited the capital as being beneath their notice.

So why would anyone bother opening a gift sent by an acting lord, not even a full lord?

Her way of thinking is shockingly sharp, and her words are straightforward and candid. More than anything, there’s an unshakable decisiveness in the way she speaks.

Pablo felt a chill creeping up his spine.

It was the same thrill he’d felt when he first met his former lord, Elizabeth, a sensation that had pierced through him back then as well.

But this time, I won’t give my loyalty so easily.

Having been exiled to the northern countryside for picking the wrong lord once before, Pablo resolved to scrutinize everything this time—down to the last detail.

As a merchant who had failed to sell large quantities of green herbs in the north, Pablo silently strengthened his resolve.

“Could you give me a set of Green Herb Soap for promotional purposes? When the social season begins, I’ll present it to the high-ranking noble families as a gift.”

“Fine. The steward will provide it.”

“Where is the contract?”

Pablo responded briskly, standing up from his seat.

Penelope was mildly surprised by his swiftness.

Pablo himself might not realize it, but he was already completely drawn in by Penelope.

“This way, please. I’ll take you to the treasurer,” said the steward, guiding Pablo out of the office.

As soon as the office door closed, Penelope let out a deep sigh.

Turning to Ahwin, she asked,
“What do you think?”

“What do I think about what?” Ahwin replied indifferently.

“You’ve seen the man. Surely you have some opinion about him?”

“…Still impatient, sly, and stupid.”

It was a borderline insult.

Penelope stared at Ahwin intently. Ahwin shrugged and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You know him, don’t you?”

“We don’t really know each other. He’s someone who knows someone I know. That’s all.”

“Oh…”

A friend of a friend.

Penelope nodded as if she understood.

Though he seems to know quite a bit for someone he barely knows.

It was clear that this was a connection Ahwin didn’t want to elaborate on.

Did they get into some kind of argument?

Given Ahwin’s personality, that seemed likely. In Penelope’s opinion, Ahwin was the type who could make enemies just by breathing.

Either way, Penelope decided not to think too much about it.

The important thing was to maintain clear boundaries.

“By the way, doesn’t it feel much colder in the castle lately? Are the preparations for winter going well?”

Ahwin wrapped his arms around himself and shivered theatrically.

Now that he mentioned it, Penelope felt a chill creeping in as well.

“I don’t think winter will be a problem this year. According to the steward, our preparations are much better compared to last year.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll move my more useful equipment to the castle and shut the door to my lab. The portal magic is consuming far too much of my mana.”

“Do whatever you want,” Penelope replied offhandedly.

She had no idea she would come to regret those words.

***

Penelope gave the steward full authority and set up a soap workshop in the communal hall.

With a dedicated section in the hall and local workers hired to produce the soap, the workshop quickly took shape.

Skillful women were employed, and many workers who had originally managed the herb fields were also brought in.

Penelope secretly handed the recipe for the Green Herb Soap to the steward.

“As of now, aside from the wizard, only you and I know this recipe. The method for making Green Herb Soap must remain known to the minimum number of people.”

“I will keep this in mind, and I’ll make absolutely sure of it.”

The steward replied solemnly.

He worked tirelessly, moving back and forth between the workshop and the castle.

The deft-handed women quickly adapted to making soap, and before long, high-quality, fragrant soaps were being produced.

These soaps were packaged in elegant paper and sold in the shopping district.

It was the moment Halo Territory’s specialty product was born.

New restaurants and taverns sprang up near the workshop’s main street, and general stores began to show signs of life.

A virtuous cycle of employment creating more employment had begun.

“The soap workshop is running smoothly. Additionally, we should be able to turn all the green herbs into extract before winter comes.”

“Most of the workers who used to manage the herb fields have found jobs either in the soap workshop or nearby. They’re delighted they won’t have to leave the territory for work this winter.”

“That’s very fortunate.”

Penelope smiled softly as she flipped through the reports while sitting at the head of the meeting table.

Territory residents who had lost jobs were now employed again, and new shops were beginning to open.

The once-dying territory was, bit by bit, regaining its vitality.

If security stabilized, there would be no major problems surviving the winter.

The vassals, realizing this, wore expressions of both relief and joy.

“How are the soap sales going?”

“For now, they’re mostly being sold to residents of the territory through word of mouth. I think we need to focus more on external promotion.”

“Hmm, yes, that makes sense.”

Penelope replied thoughtfully.

Setting up a workshop and producing soap wasn’t just for internal sales but also to market it outside the territory.

“For starters, let’s package the Green Herb Soap as a luxurious gift. We can make it something visitors to Halo Territory would want to buy as a souvenir.”

“That’s an excellent idea.”

The patent for the Green Herb Soap had already been filed. If the soap were sold exclusively here, Halo could enjoy the benefits of becoming a tourist destination.

People would come to Halo specifically to buy soap, and wherever people gathered, development naturally followed.

‘And then the money will start piling up, too.’

Penelope smiled to herself, feeling one step closer to her dreams. She barely managed to suppress the grin threatening to stretch across her face.

‘Good. Let’s take it step by step.’

For now, it was enough to produce high-quality soap, boost employment for the residents, and store the soap in warehouses.

“What do you think about distributing soaps with minor defects—ones that don’t meet the aesthetic standards—to the workers? We could also sell those to residents at a discounted price.”

“That’s an excellent suggestion.”

The steward agreed enthusiastically. His pride was evident—managing the soap workshop’s success had elevated his reputation among the vassals.

It was the first time since he had started serving Halo’s acting lord that a project could truly be called a success. As the one overseeing it, how could he not feel proud and satisfied?

The steward had already boasted about it to his extended family.

Just then, Penelope added,
“Oh, and while we’re at it, could you also teach the workers about the importance of washing hands with soap?”

“Washing hands?”

The steward blinked in confusion.

For most territory residents, soap was used to wash their faces in the morning or to bathe every few days. Soap was still an expensive commodity for them.

The concept of washing one’s hands regularly was nearly unheard of outside the noble class.

“Washing your hands with soap before meals or after coming home can prevent many diseases. I read that it’s especially effective for avoiding colds.”

“I’ve never heard such a thing before. Does soap really have such incredible effects?”

The vassals looked visibly surprised. Penelope nodded.

“I happened to read it in a book written by a renowned physician from the south. There’s no harm in trying it, so let’s implement it at the territory level.”

“If washing hands with soap is effective, there’s no reason not to spread the word. I’ll personally make sure the residents are informed.”

The steward responded with determination.

‘People may not immediately start washing their hands regularly, but if it boosts soap sales even a little, it’s worth trying.’

Satisfied, Penelope handed over the meeting to the treasurer, content with having planted the idea.

The vassals continued to discuss various matters as usual.

As the meeting drew to a close, Penelope turned to Sir Kane, the knight captain.

“Sir Kane, how is the security of the outer walls?”

“Fortunately, there are no issues.”

“…No issues?”