A Practical Guide to Ending a One-Sided Love - Chapter 33

“How did it become such a large amount…”

“It is shameless to ask, but you are a noble, Miss Leila, so this amount should not be difficult for you, should it? I heard your father, Count Bailey, is also a great asset holder.”

Even with Bjorn’s short understanding, he thought no woman would welcome a man who asked for money while even bringing up her family.

While convinced he would finally be firmly rejected this time, a bit of anxiety remained. If Leila Bailey overturned everyone’s expectations again and accepted even this…

“What should we do… It would be difficult to prepare the money immediately…”

But this time Allen’s plan truly worked, and at last the negative response he had been waiting for came from her lips.

At last, finally. After a total of three attempts including last time and today, Bjorn inwardly cheered at the result. No, he had to.

By original intent, he should have been happy enough to shout victory in his heart, yet…

Why did it feel strange?

He couldn’t understand why the back of his head throbbed as if betrayed by someone he had firmly trusted.

Only then did Bjorn realize the confidence that had quietly existed in a corner of his heart. The baseless arrogance that Leila would gladly accept even his unreasonable request.

Perhaps because of that, Leila’s refusal struck harder than expected.

However, he couldn’t lose himself to the unexpected blow. Bjorn quickly recalled what he would do when Leila said she couldn’t lend money.

Once the refusal was heard, the rest of the plan was simple. Without yielding, he would persistently ask to borrow money until she grew sick of it, and eventually she would explode and tell him to get lost or that she never wanted to see him again.

Imagining Leila shouting for him never to appear before her again strangely complicated his feelings, but Bjorn hurriedly cut off that unknown emotion.

“I don’t understand. A noble lady past adulthood should have some disposable property. I also remember the scale of your donations was considerable… surely you do not even wish to spend that much on me? Were your feelings for me a lie?”

As he recited the rehearsed lines, he became immersed and nearly felt genuinely hurt. Thanks to that his acting became vivid as reality.

He looked like a pathetic man whining to borrow money, enough to disgust even himself.

It would be perfect if Leila stormed out now or even poured the tea in the cup over his head. Of course, his heart might hurt a little…

However, the answer Leila returned after a moment of thought was somewhat unexpected.

“Sir Bjorn, after you finish the tea, would you come somewhere with me? First please drink before it cools. It won’t taste good if it gets too cold.”

Because of the calm way she offered tea, he picked up the cup in a daze.

At that moment Bjorn should have realized. Matters involving Leila never went according to his wishes.

No matter how many attempts, the result would always overturn his expectations.

* * *

After finishing the tea in a somewhat awkward atmosphere, Bjorn and Leila left the tea salon. She went ahead and led him, telling him to follow.

He grew slightly tense wondering if she might lead him straight to the guard in this unsuspecting state, but fortunately that did not happen.

The place Leila brought him was a shopping street formed slightly away from the bustling area where the tea salon was, yet not very remote.

Among the tightly packed three story narrow colorful wooden buildings was one small modest shop that did not look particularly special. Judging by the sign hung to catch passersby’s eyes, it seemed to be a bookstore selling books.

While he wondered why she had brought him here, Leila naturally took out a key from her handbag and began opening the shop door.

“It’s my first time inviting an acquaintance rather than a customer so it’s a bit awkward… I’ll introduce it. This is the bookstore I run.”

With a slightly flushed face she pushed up her glasses and spread her arms wide toward the inside of the shop. At the same time, he heard her add quietly with an embarrassed expression.

“Ta-da.”