Please Lend Me 50 Million - Chapter 21

Harriet’s thick thumb touched Asha’s neck. Strands of sweat-soaked hair caught on the tip of his thumb. Because Asha was turning her head away, her moist skin was captured in Harriet’s eyes without filter. The thumb, which had been touching her lightly as if confirming her presence, began to cling lingeringly, as if to engrave her tender skin onto his fingertips.

Harriet’s chest, touching Asha’s shoulder, expanded, and his held breath burst out. At the sudden sigh, Asha whipped her head up. A man with a clean face, who looked as if he had sighed while looking at her shoulder, looked down at her.

“What is it? Why are you sighing like that?”

“Because you are so lovely.”

Asha’s eyes narrowed at the words meant to evade the situation. Even though the sharp look in her eyes, as if demanding the truth, must have been quite stinging, Harriet only offered a faint smile. Just as a disgruntled Asha was about to whip her head away again, Harriet continued.

“I heard that the Tesseli Theater is putting on an opera to commemorate the birth of the Saintess.”

“An opera?”

Asha asked back while shrinking away from the ticklish sensation.

“Yes, an opera. At that time, I would like to receive the tuition for the lessons I am giving you.”

“What?”

Tuition. Asha’s eyes widened at the out-of-the-blue remark.

“Tuition?”

“My, did you think you could just receive business lessons from me personally for free?”

“Harriet!”

Asha looked at him with sharp eyes at his words that treated her like a highway robber. It was a remark that grated on her pride. As if he had anticipated her reaction, he soothed her by rubbing her nape with a gentle touch.

“Of course, I do not believe that a woman as proud as you would forget to repay me for this.”

“…Of course.”

Actually, she was a little scared. She had entered into a contract to grovel at his feet like a dog for fifty million Rublangs, so she was afraid of what kind of outrageous thing he might demand as tuition. However, since the pride of a Halswein would not allow it, Asha made the expression of a beast walking into a slaughterhouse on its own feet.

“Do not be so frightened—it is a very simple request.”

“What kind of request is it?”

“I will send you a gift on the day we go to the opera, and I would like you to wear it.”

While she was relieved by the simpler-than-expected request, she couldn’t suppress the rising suspicion. Asha looked into his eyes to find a clue, but Harriet only smiled brightly.

“What is the gift?”

“My, aren’t gifts supposed to be more enjoyable when you receive them without knowing?”

“But you can at least give me a clue, can’t you?”

To the servilely clinging Asha, he let a word slip as if he couldn’t help himself.

“You will like it. It is also something quite necessary.”

“Is it a dress? Or jewelry? Something I need….”

It was no exaggeration to say that there was nothing Asha, who lacked for nothing, needed. Her anxiety only deepened as the identity of the gift became more ambiguous the more he opened his mouth.

“Shoes? Is it shoes? Low-heeled shoes?”

“I didn’t know you needed those. I will instruct Melissa’s Dress Shop to prepare shoes this week. I hope there is something you like when you visit.”

Asha, who suddenly had to stop by a dress shop, spoke hurriedly.

“No! I don’t need shoes.”

“Trends and temperatures change with every season, so wouldn’t you need new shoes? Since early summer is already approaching.”

“That’s not it, I mean what on earth is your gift—!”

It was a tone that suggested no amount of excuse would work. At the absurd situation of trying to remove a lump only to add another, Asha blinked stupidly, and he continued with a deep smile.

“I’ve already given you many clues. Let’s confirm the identity of the gift on the day of our appointment.”

At his attitude of seemingly never telling her no matter how much she asked, Asha eventually gave up on finding out and shook her head.