Kays Translations

Chapter 57: A New Product

When I returned to the mansion, a servant immediately prepared tea. While I relaxed in the salon, another servant delivered a letter from Lady Fabienne.

I opened the envelope with the accompanying paper knife.

Fabienne accepted my invitation and said she would bring a friend. It seemed I was about to make a new acquaintance without doing anything further. Excellent.

Chloe had also become friends with Caro during the summer. It was unfortunate that neither of them could attend this tea party.

Edward hadn’t replied yet, but preparations could begin. I asked the servants to arrange the event.

I also wanted to demonstrate the hot-and-cold air blower. That meant holding the party indoors. Rosalia would attend as well, and perhaps she would make more friends.

While I was preparing the invitations, word arrived that the wooden boards had been delivered sooner than expected. Someone must have rushed the order. I would thank them later.

In the ground-floor storeroom, I found several splendid mahogany boards.

“This is excellent wood. Once polished, it’ll resemble fine amber-coloured furniture. The blower might even look like part of the room’s furnishings.”

That would make it suitable for guest rooms and ideal for demonstrating to visitors.

Smiling to myself, I carried the boards back to the salon.

Would Rosalia be angry if I worked without her? I could at least convert the failed cylindrical casing into a rectangular one. She was absent, and the Craft skill would make the rough processing quick.

I brought the failed prototype from my room and used Craft to reshape its metal body into a rectangular column within seconds. The skill truly was convenient for basic fabrication.

I used it again to cut the mahogany to size and polish every surface. I considered carving decorations, but the natural grain was so beautiful that I left it untouched.

“Big brother!”

“Welcome home, Rosalia.”

The salon door flew open and she rushed inside. Even though the salon was a shared room, entering without knocking was poor manners.

Her attendant followed and gave me a small bow. She would undoubtedly remind Rosalia later.

“Did you enjoy the tea party?”

“Yes! Everyone was surprised when I showed them the magic tool I made.”

“I’m glad. Next time, we can design a lamp in a shape of your own choosing.”

Rosalia’s delighted expression suddenly changed when she noticed the half-finished blower beside me.

“Big brother?”

“I was waiting for you. All that remains is attaching these wooden panels.”

“They’re so smooth.”

She ran her hands over the polished mahogany again and again.

“Will you help me fit them?”

“Of course!”

Together, we attached the boards. Before long, the hot-and-cold air blower was complete.

It resembled a square wooden pillar. The top displayed the wood’s growth rings, while four short, sturdy feet kept the heated lower section away from the floor and made the unit difficult to tip over.

“It’s finished,” I said.

“It’s ready! I want to use it immediately.”

“Then we’ll conduct a thorough final test.”

“Yes.”

We began testing. Apparently, word had spread that we were making a new device in the salon, because several servants gathered to watch—most of them women.

They must have heard Rosalia discussing the problem of drying her hair.

The insulation solved the heat problem. Even at maximum output, the wooden exterior became only slightly warm.

At maximum heat, the blower could warm an entire room. That would be useful during the approaching winter and might reduce the household’s firewood consumption by eliminating the need to light a fireplace for brief periods.

We also tested the cooling function, though autumn was the wrong season for it. The room became uncomfortably cold almost at once, so I stopped the device. I could conduct a longer test privately later.

“No problems. Rosalia, you may begin using it tonight.”

“What? Won’t you dry my hair any more?”

She looked up at me with damp, imploring eyes. Where had she learned such a devastating expression?

“Well… perhaps I could still do the finishing touches.”

“Thank you, Big brother!”

She hugged me with a brilliant smile.

Yes. This arrangement was probably fine.

I turned to the assembled servants.

“You may test it as well. Please tell me what you think afterwards.”

They exchanged uncertain glances.

“Are you certain, my lord?”

“Yes. User feedback will help me improve it.”

The blower was extremely well received, especially for drying hair quickly. One unit wasn’t enough for the entire household, so the servants requested several more.

Rosalia and I decided to make the additional devices together. She was delighted to help.

Thus, a new magic-tool product was completed.

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