Please Lend Me 50 Million - Chapter 47

While Asha’s gaze persistently swept over Beryl, the conversation topic flowed into business. This was because most of the noblewomen leading the talk were middle-aged women interested in increasing the wealth they had gathered.

“I heard that the grandfather clock trend has returned this time and gained such great popularity? They say there are many people looking for vintage ones among them.”

“That’s right. Moreover, they say jewels from the Northern mines are very popular. High-stability items don’t go out of season.”

“I suppose so, since things like wheat, celibe, and barley are too seasonal. Celibe is about to hit harvest season, so the margin of its price crash is quite large.”

Even though it was her favorite topic—business—Asha simply kept her mouth shut. It was already a struggle just to control the “colt” inside her that wanted to flip this whole situation over right now.

“I heard the Head of the Perso Trading Company is so well-versed in business? They say they earned a massive amount of money this time as well.”

“It’s amazing to see figures who earn such large amounts of money in business. I heard Sir Schlitz, who is the commander of the knights, is also handling quite a bit of money? Seeing things like that makes me wonder if business is really something you have to be born with a sense for, regardless of your profession….”

A noblewoman who had suffered a great loss of wealth due to her husband’s business failure continued in a lamenting tone. But strangely enough, Beryl intercepted her last words.

“How about seeking advice from Countess Bellstein?”

“From Countess Bellstein…?”

Asha, who had been keeping her mouth shut, sparkled her eyes at the sound of her name. The noblewomen, who quickly exchanged glances, witnessed Asha’s smile deepening. It was clearly a remark mocking Asha for ruining seventeen businesses, but to Asha, it was merely laughable.

You think you know business? Do you even know the ‘b’ in business?

Asha, offering a soft smile, looked more piteous and harmless than ever.

“My, I didn’t know Miss Anderman was interested in business. If I had known you were this interested, I should have given you a tip sooner.”

The quiet, gentle way of speaking was that of a high-ranking noblewoman. Beryl expected her to fly into a rage, but since she responded maturely instead, a look of confusion passed over Beryl’s face. Anxious that she hadn’t gained the upper hand, Beryl quickly added more words.

“I’ve become interested in business for various reasons. If it’s alright, could I get some advice?”

‘If Harriet is included in those various reasons, you’re dead.’

Asha, who responded to Beryl with a relaxed smile, continued playfully. She didn’t forget to roll her eyes and fold her fingers as if emphasizing, pretending it was no big deal. If her mother, Helen, had been nearby, it was an action that would have gotten her dragged to the lounge immediately, but there was no one here who could stop Asha.

Because this was Peliche, inside the mouth of the Bellstein family.

“Umm…. Which business should I use as a metaphor? The seventh one, where I invested seventeen million Rublangs? Or the thirteenth one, where I poured in thirty million Rublangs?”

At the enormous sums popping out of Asha’s mouth, several people stiffened their bodies. They were those whose entire wealth combined wouldn’t even reach thirty million Rublangs.

The platinum blonde hair shimmered under the light of the brilliant chandeliers. The eldest daughter of the prestigious Northern Halswein family, the wife of the money-devouring demon. In a world where status ultimately wavers before gold coins, who could possibly laugh at her?

The noblewomen laughed awkwardly and tried to smooth over the situation, but the strangely rigid atmosphere could not be dissipated. Thanks to that, chilly glares were directed at the culprit who had ruined the mood. Beryl shrank back at the sharp gazes directed at her and blinked her eyes pathetically. It was a face that looked quite piteous, but there was no one who would fall for such a thing.

The only one who could fix this atmosphere was the Duchess of Seline.

“My… I would like to hear about all of your businesses, but I particularly want to hear in detail about the blue opals you brought in when you ran the dress shop. They were top-quality goods rarely seen on the market.”

At the words that refreshed the atmosphere, everyone chimed in.

“That’s right. At that time, they were much larger than any blue opal on the market, so the capital was in an uproar.”

“What other jewels were there besides the blue opals? I believe there were red sapphires as well….”

Beryl could not say anything while the conversation continued for a long while. Even when she started a sentence, she didn’t receive attention, and even if she joined the conversation, she received subtle rebukes. With this turn of events, she kept her mouth shut by the time the story reached its peak.

Asha’s gaze stayed on Beryl the entire time. Where was the person who had dared to provoke her earlier? Beryl bit her lip hard, as if the gaze was embarrassing. As her red lips became more enticingly stained, Asha’s head burned brightly. She had a great desire to cause even more of a scene, but at a glance, Beryl was just a greenhorn who had debuted late in society and didn’t know the ways of the world. Treading all over such a greenhorn wasn’t very good for Asha’s dignity, either.

‘Let’s endure, I have to endure.’

The moment Asha took two shallow breaths to try and calm her roiling insides, ‘Harriet’ appeared in the ladies’ conversation.