When Gale came back from bathing in the lake, Agnes was fully clothed in dry clothes, sitting idly in her usual seat at the table. Dawn had joined her, as she usually did, preparing beverages for him. She, too, seemed to have just bathed, her white hair wet behind her ears, wearing her white shirt and black trousers.
Gale moved to sit next to her. "I have told you, you don't have to prepare all this every morning."
"I'll feel useful if there's nothing to do," she said, serving the tea.
"Well, I'll soon have something for you to do."
Dawn looked up at him questioningly. She was like a porcelain doll with white hair, a button nose, and very distinctive silvery eyes with purple pupils. Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked at him.
Gale cast another tiny radiant spell to dry her hair. The essence didn't just dry the hair but probably had some nourishing qualities, as it made the job of styling the hair easier.
"As per our agreement," he said, bringing out a comb to brush her hair, "I'll do your hair until you stop bringing in the tea as the first thing in the morning."
Dawn blushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. Gale had already combed her hair a couple of times; the reason for her sudden fluster was probably because another person was watching.
"So this is how you became pretty good at styling women's hair, huh," Agnes muttered. "You had someone to practise on..."
Gale styled Dawn with a side braid, which needed him to move around her sides a couple of times and a few minutes. He made sure it was perfect, turning her bright pink face towards him.
"Now it's done, you look lovely," he said. "Sometimes I wonder, I should have become a beautician."
Dawn's fingers clasped together, fidgeting, as she looked down to hide her face.
"Why does it sound like you're using her to fulfil your dream of becoming a beautician?" Agnes asked.
"Maybe," he laughed and noticed her own hair lying flat on her shoulder, barely even combed. "It seems you need some helping hands to rule your unruly hair as well."
Agnes pulled clumsy fingers over a lock of hair. "Well, how much is your rate then?" she laughed. "I'm not sure if I can afford the service of a half-god..."
Gale snorted. "You need only pay me in praises."
"Okay, done, do you need a mirror?" he asked, "to finally appreciate my work?"
He brought out one to stand before them one by one. "Come on, bring in the praises... After all, this is all an artist lives for..."
"Whose hair looks the prettiest?" June asked instead, as the other two women perked up. "What do you think?"
Gale froze, looking between the three of them. Although it was only June who asked, the others seemed to know as well.
I guess this is how women react when you ask for praise, he thought and pouted.
"Dawn's was the easiest to do," he said, thinking internally, because she was so easy to please.
He turned to the next woman. "It is a little difficult for Agnes," he said. "Because her hair is longer and thicker."
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He turned to the woman who asked the tricky question. "As for you, my love, it is the hardest," he said, growing closer to her to kiss her bare shoulder. "Even with the little brushing I did, you seem perfect to my eyes... so it is so hard to work on you..."
Gale couldn't believe he was uttering all these cringe phrases. But it was definitely working, as June's ears were tinged with redness, and she shot gazes at the other women with some form of superiority.
He sighed in relief inwardly. The lesson to learn here was to never answer a woman's question straightforwardly. They do not appreciate straight honesty in the very least... Instead, say what they want to hear. Bonus points if you can surprise them with your praise...
Huh, I seem to know a lot about it. Gale was surprised at his insight into women. Perhaps I should write a book about it.
"Ahem!" he cleared his throat and changed the topic before they could understand his trick. "Good, that you all are here... I have something to discuss and test with you."
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Gist of Chapter 326 Weird Custom:
June asked Gale if he was with any other women, which he answered truthfully that he hadn't to his knowledge. She felt sorry for not being able to give her everything to him and hints that elves' traditions are far more open about relations, that she might be happy with him sleeping with another woman, but she would understand.
Gale declines her because it doesn't look for just physical pleasure. He wants the emotional connections as well. The chapter ends with some weird fascination over a certain Angry Gale.