NEW LIFE IN ANOTHER WORLD

12. Becoming the talk of the town

Seraphina had just finished with the Duchess’s makeup, admiring her work as the Duchess gazed at her reflection with sheer delight. “You’ve worked wonders, Seraphina,” the Duchess said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Seraphina smiled. “I’m glad you’re pleased, Your Grace. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must attend to the Countess and the Marchioness. I understand the banquet starts at six, and it’s already five. I’ll need to work quickly.”

The Countess and Marchioness both nodded, aware of the time constraint. “No need to worry,” the Marchioness said, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ve already done our hair and are wearing the coats we’ll take to the banquet. Just focus on the makeup.”

Seraphina set to work immediately. She began with the Countess, who had remarkably good skin for her age. “Your skin is lovely, Countess,” Seraphina commented as she cleansed and moisturized her face. “I’ll use a light touch with the foundation.”

After applying a primer to smooth the Countess’s skin, Seraphina used a concealer to hide any wrinkles and dark spots. The Countess’s skin was naturally fair, so Seraphina opted to skip the heavy foundation, instead lightly contouring her face to define her features. She highlighted the Countess’s cheekbones and the bridge of her nose, blending everything seamlessly before setting it with a soft powder.

For the eyes, Seraphina chose a subtle yet elegant look to complement the dark purple coat the Countess was wearing. She applied a touch of dark pink eyeshadow and added a hint of white silver sparkle to highlight the eyes, making them pop. After a delicate application of eyeliner and mascara, Seraphina turned her attention to the Countess’s lips. “This deep red will match your coat beautifully,” Seraphina said as she carefully applied the lipstick, making the Countess’s lips the focal point of her face.

The Countess looked in the mirror, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction. “It’s perfect, Seraphina. Thank you.”

Without missing a beat, Seraphina moved on to the Marchioness, who wore a striking emerald green dress. The Marchioness also had a large, exquisite emerald necklace, which Seraphina immediately noted.

“You have such a stunning piece of jewelry,” Seraphina remarked, already planning how to highlight the emerald. “I’ll keep your makeup simple to let the necklace take center stage.”

She cleansed and prepped the Marchioness’s skin, focusing on concealing any uneven tones. For the eyes, Seraphina chose a light touch of green eyeshadow, blending it seamlessly into a soft eyeliner. The effect was subtle yet striking, drawing attention to the Marchioness’s eyes without overshadowing the emerald necklace. She added a light blush to the Marchioness’s cheeks to give her face a soft, youthful glow.

Finally, Seraphina selected a muted red lipstick for the Marchioness. The color was just enough to define her lips without overpowering her look. After setting the makeup with powder, Seraphina stepped back to admire her work.

The Marchioness beamed at her reflection. “You’ve outdone yourself, Seraphina. I look… refined.”

Seraphina chuckled softly, pleased with the praise from both women. “I’m glad you’re both happy with your looks. Now, you’d best be on your way. You wouldn’t want to be late for the banquet.”

The Duchess, Countess, and Marchioness all rose from their seats, each looking elegant and satisfied. The Duchess handed Seraphina the silver coins they owed, and with a few more words of thanks, the three women left the store.

As the door closed behind them, Seraphina let out a sigh of relief, glancing at the clock. It was almost six. She turned to her employees. “You’ve all worked hard today. It’s time for you to go home and rest. We’ll have another busy day tomorrow.”