After one week, please come back again.
Therefore, please don’t ever have phlebotomy performed until then.
And so, that was the promise Falma gave to the young Marquis’ daughter, Chloe. It was already dark in the Imperial Capital, and the shops had already closed.
“I am, looking at the situation right now.”
“Master Falma. We are going back to the mansion, why don’t you leave the research for tomorrow? A carriage is coming to pick us up.”
Then after that, the laboratory doors suddenly opened.
“Yes!”
He declined, this time, to die from overworking. He wouldn’t last long if he wasn’t relaxed. Thus so, Falma self-reflected.
“Yes! You’re hungry I see.”
“Prrfftt! What the hell happened!?”
“Master Falma, your face is too white!”
“How? White?”
“Why did you apply it on your skin by yourself…!? Why did you apply it on your own skin…!? I say it’s better to apply it to a woman.”
“That is the whitest I have seen so far. It has the sense of translucence, and the features have depth too!”
“This whiteness is surprising.”
“Lord Bruno told me that too much white is not good. Are you ok with that much whiteness?”
Before I give this, I should do some allergy tests on her.
“Wait a minute, why are lead and mercury a bad thing?”
“Those are poisonous.”
Ellen was horrified when she knew the reason.
“Both of you, will you please try applying this to your skin? I want to hear a woman’s opinion.”
“Waa… It adapts to the skin quickly!”
“Eh? Even Lady Eléonore is like that!”
And so, both Lotte and Ellen did their girl talk while sparkles flew.
“Not at all.”
“Falma, this, I want this too.”
“Falma, how did you know about this thing.”
He was a pharmacologist in his past life, formerly an associate professor in the graduate school of pharmacy, he frequently collaborated with pharmaceutical companies in research. He worked as a third-party evaluator on new cosmetic products by doing allergen testing. So he was somewhat familiar with cosmetics with that kind of background.
He already became like such a figure to Ellen.
“So, what kind of cream is this?”
“This, this is a foundation to prevent tanning. Therefore, it will whiten skin since it prevents tanning.”
Really? Even if you bathe in the sun’s rays? Was what Ellen said as she fell in surprise.
Light is made up of waves, and there are many types. He said that this cream had special ingredients, as it contained materials that absorbed ultraviolet rays. Falma was telling them all about it.
“I wasn’t able to keep up midway.”
“You just said it blocks the sun’s light. Therefore, you aren’t exposed to sunlight. So in turn, the sons and daughters of the nobles can go out without worrying about getting a tan.”
“No, they don’t have to let go of their parasols.”
1: CC Cream
UV protection, skin tone up, fixing underlying skin blemishes, moisturize, and various vitamins that cares for the skin.
He made the finishing powder per her request to be “white as snow.”
3: Finally, the thing that he mustn’t forget; makeup remover formulated to repair the skin.
A cosmetic set made just for her was the only one on this world.
The day of the promise had arrived.
The carriage of the Marquis’ daughter, Chloe, stopped near the Different World Pharmacy in the morning.
Falma couldn’t just leave her alone. Falma was already working, but had been waiting.
“Yes, I have it.”
Chloe gave a purse filled with gold coins generously in front of Falma.
Falma, like a beauty consultant of a department store, encouraged her to wash her face first. He recommended soaking the cotton with the cleansing facial lotion.
Falma served a white cream using a spatula from the container; she was looking at the unusual thing.
“This is much easier to apply to the skin. I have prepared it as a cream type. There are a lot of ingredients contained in here for beauty. It’s very effective to prevent tanning.”
Chloe was stretching her face. The cream was not sticky, and she was particularly surprised that it wasn’t that oily.
“Oh! I seem to be sparkling.”
Like a beautiful girl from the legends, Chloe was praising herself. She was spellbound and fascinated while looking at the mirror.
“Do you like it? Will you take this? This makeup will draw out a woman’s beauty.”
“Oh my…! What should we do?!”
Chloe was delightfully bowing her head many times as she went back.
The next day, Lotte was shouting and getting the attention of the women passing by in front of the Different World Pharmacy.
It was Lotte’s suggestion to sell samples of the products for three copper coins. When Lotte distributed it out on the street with a basket, hands from the women extended to her saying “Me too, me too.”
A hand of a feeble old woman was grasping three copper coins.
For those who couldn’t read, they were respectfully told to look at the storefront, as the instruction, using a series of pictures, were posted there.
“10 pieces of Sailor’s Candy.”
“Well then, I will drink some water!”
He might be distributing it to his companions that were walking with him.
However, that was not only it; customers came to the Different World Pharmacy little by little afterward. Mostly female clients.
Female customers. Their families and friends. These type of customers had been expanding gradually. Nobles, commoners and merchants from similar shops had come over in casual clothes.
“Yes, face whitening powder, it’s three right? Eh, five you say? Bulk buying is only up to three!”
The compounding fee was surprisingly cheap, and the medicine that the child storekeeper prescribed worked well.
“Well then, I will announce the results of the 3rd survey!”
“I expect a little more this time.”
“Medicines are cheap and very effectiveー 44 votes.”
“I want you to produce more cosmeticsー 36 votes.”
“Various candies are deliciousー 15 votes.”
Customers were concentrated in the cosmetic section; women swarmed the storefront, and Lotte too, was troubled that she couldn’t handle some customers. The Marquis daughter, Chloe, even suggested that aside from the pharmacy, Falma should create a subsidiary cosmetic department. This time, Chloe had completely, and splendidly, become fair-skinned.
“I will 100% invest in the cosmetic department. I will employ an apothecary, and a shopkeeper too.”
“That’s a good idea! Cedric, please proceed with the procedures.”
Falma agreed, it was decided that the sales of the cosmetics would be handled by the cosmetic department. And so, Chloe would employ a Second Class Apothecary and they would be thoroughly trained. They would be taught about the closely guarded recipe for compounding the cosmetics. It would then be possible for them to sell skin care products. Falma would then give them special ingredients for the cosmetics. As only Falma was able to produce these special ingredients.
The noble apothecaries arbitrarily decided that it was a lowly occupation. However, Chloe puffed up with pride as she did something using the power of the Marquis. It seems that they were wealthy.
“Isn’t this amazing?! Now everyone can buy the cosmetics! Being sold out will not happen anymore!”
For now, Falma heaved a sigh of relief.
Thus, the second shop turned into the cosmetic department of the Different World Pharmacy. It was just like cosmetics from the heavens! That was the reputation of the newly established cosmetic brand, MEDIQUE, from the public.
Incidentally, it was not long before Falma advised her Imperial Majesty, thereafter products using white lead, mercury, and other specified toxic substances were banned from being sold in all pharmacies of the empire in the name of the Empress.