Please Lend Me 50 Million - Chapter 22

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She was so curious about that damn gift that it often popped into her head even when she was in the office. Eventually, even at Melissa’s Dress Shop, which she visited at his urging, Asha couldn’t help but think about the gift he would send.

What on earth could it be? A dress? Or shoes? Jewels? Or perhaps, land?

The only thing she desperately needed right now was fifty million Rublangs, so what on earth was he giving her? Asha moved her body to make it easier for the maids pinning her clothes, while her thoughts were elsewhere.

Contrary to her intention of only getting shoes, she ended up getting an early summer dress to match the shoes. Since he had suggested it, the cost of the dress would be paid with his checkbook, but for Asha, who was busy with business plans, time was precious, so she couldn’t help but fidget like a puppy that needed to go.

What should she do about the business, and how could she seduce a man who was cautious in such strange ways?

Even though it must have been difficult to do the fitting on a body that kept swaying, the maids skillfully refined the dress. The maids, who had been holding Asha as if forcibly bathing a puppy, only let her go after having her try on all six dresses.

A noblewoman approached Asha, who was secretly shaking out her calves which had become stiff from standing still.

“Asha.”

“Melissa!”

The lady smiled languidly and gave Asha a brief hug before pulling away. It was an expression of affection that was excessively close for use between noblewomen.

“You’re becoming more beautiful by the day. It feels like only yesterday I saw that seven-year-old tomboy who jumped out the window because she didn’t want to use the stairs.”

“Mel—issa.”

Asha’s face flushed at Melissa’s playful words. If she had expected that something she did out of childhood whim would follow her until she was twenty-five, she would never have jumped out the window. Melissa shrugged her shoulders slyly at Asha’s protest. Her black hair swaying with her movements and the beauty mark on her cheek looked enchanting.

“It was such an impressive incident, wasn’t it? I visited the Halsweins last week, and Helen was talking about it too.”

“Mother? Honestly.”

Asha pressed her forehead at the thought of her mother, who would have enjoyed teasing her. Did she really not know why a maverick like herself came out of a family like the Halsweins, who value conviction and etiquette?

“How is Mother doing?”

“Ah, she is doing very well. However, she was most curious about the news of the daughter she raised so dearly. So I told her many stories. When I said Count Bellstein had requested the most beautiful shoes and dresses, she gave a broad smile.”

“Ugh….”

Asha shrugged her shoulders at the embarrassing boast. She felt ticklish. But the mischievous Melissa did not allow Asha to escape the prison of praise.

“Also, I hear you’re changing all the furniture in the Bellstein mansion this time? It feels like it hasn’t even been a year since you got the new furniture, but to change it to Mery wood, which is so hard to find. I wonder how many ladies have taken to their beds with envy.”

“He’s changing the furniture?”

Despite it being a boast about her own home, Asha tilted her head. Even as the mistress of the house, Harriet handled most of the house management, so this was the first Asha had heard of it.

But instead of a sense of waste, a faint feeling of relief surged up. Hadn’t she personally tasted the sturdiness of Hoso wood recently? She felt like she wouldn’t live out her natural life if she hit her knee one more time, so she was excited to hear the furniture was being changed.

“You know I’m one of those ladies lying down, right, Asha?”

Melissa winked and mimicked an expression of dying from envy, but Asha gave a light snort.

She was speaking humbly, but there were more than enough men who would buy Mery furniture for Melissa. How many men had lined up before Melissa since her husband, Viscount Fedelian, died? The amount of overflowing bouquets and letters would take ten whole days to read without rest. Since Melissa changed men frequently as if to repay this fervent support, men waited with bated breath for their turn.

“With just one word from Melissa, a pile of furniture made of Mery wood would be stacked in front of your door, wouldn’t it? All from different senders.”

“Puhaha!”

Melissa burst into laughter at Asha’s grumbling. It was a laugh loud enough to be called undignified, but perhaps because it was refreshing, it only felt charming. Truly, she was someone exceptional at enchanting others.

“Speaking of which, I heard you matched Viscount Luman and Lady Shelmier this time? How on earth did you do it?”

“The news travels fast, Asha. Usually, young men and women catch fire just by being put together.”

Melissa lightly countered Asha’s words of admiration. Her attitude suggested it wasn’t humility, but truly a simple task. Did she have some kind of potion that made people fall in love?

Melissa showed talent in her own love life as well as matchmaking, to the point of making one imagine nonsense. Asha did not hide her wonder.

“But Viscount Luman didn’t seem particularly interested in Lady Shelmier, did he?”