Chapter 189: A Strange Idea
If there’s money to be made, why wouldn’t you take it. As long as it’s not illegal or against the rules, earning money should be something you feel good about.
Clund weighed the coin pouch in his hand. He didn’t really want to take on a private commission so casually, but Anna had given him way too much.
Money, money, money. I love money!
That’s what Clund was shouting inside his head.
But after getting excited for a bit, he started to hesitate.
“But... it’s just for one novel?”
Even though this was like money falling from the sky, Clund couldn’t help but ask.
It was just one novel, after all. Did it really need that much money? Clund still saw himself as a somewhat responsible writer. While he was thinking, “I’m finally going to be rich,” he also started wondering if he could write the kind of story this "boss" wanted.
“She’s paying so much for just one story... I feel like it’s too much—”
Clund was also the honest type. Seeing such a big "tip," he couldn’t help but wonder if Anna had gotten too caught up in the moment. He hoped she hadn’t used the money she needed for food or rent.
“It’s okay,” Anna smiled. “It’s just some small spending money.”
“...Huh?”
Whether it was “small” or “spending money,” both words hit Clund like a shockwave. Anyone could tell this wasn’t “small” at all. The two coin pouches together were worth about three to four months of a regular person’s salary. And the stack of paper money in his chest pocket was so thick, he didn’t even need to count it to feel how much it was.
This much money was “small”?
Even as a writer with a hit novel, Clund never thought money like this was something small.
“Well, my family runs a business, so I have a bit of extra allowance.”
Although Anna wasn’t as rich as her ridiculously wealthy cousin Carle, she still came from a wealthy background.
And because Anna had always had a strong drive since she was little, “I want to earn my own fortune!” She actually didn’t spend much money, despite her family being rich. She never lived a wasteful or showy lifestyle.
Today, though, she boldly gave all her pocket money to Clund. While her family probably thought this was no different from buying a drink on the way home, for someone like Anna, who usually wasn’t so spendy, throwing out that much money all at once actually felt... kind of great.
Being rich felt amazing.
And when she saw her favorite author staring at her money with sparkly eyes, squatting on the ground, completely stunned by the gold coins, she felt even better.
“Miss, your family must really be rich…”
After all, people live very different lives. Even though Clund’s novel was a hit, he had spent years struggling before it got popular. He came from a normal family.
And even though the book was popular, the taxes and the publisher’s cut meant he couldn’t suddenly become super rich. So for him, this kind of money was already a huge deal.
“Mr. Clund, do you really love money?”
Anna tilted her head as she looked at how Clund still wouldn’t let go of the money bags. Something... strange was awakening in her heart.
“Of course I do,” Clund said without hesitation. “Who wouldn’t love money?”
Clund really was a money-lover. Otherwise, even when he was so tired from writing that he couldn’t sleep anymore, he wouldn’t keep pulling all-nighters just to rush out new chapters while his series was still hot.
“I see…”
Seeing how much Clund loved those two coin bags, Anna let out a small chuckle.
Then, she reached her hand out toward him.
Smack.
“…?”
Clund looked confused.
Anna had taken out a stack of paper money and lightly slapped it against his cheek.
It wasn’t hard at all, but the sound of the paper hitting his face rang loudly in his ears.
Damn… that felt good.
As Clund stared blankly at the paper money that had just been slapped against his cheek, Anna felt a strange kind of satisfaction.
It was almost like the playful wickedness that only rich people enjoy.
Meanwhile, Clund just stood there, completely frozen.
“Uh, ahem—ah, sorry, Mr. Clund.”
After a moment of silence, no one sure how long it lasted, Anna came back to her senses from that strange mood. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly apologized.
That sudden rush of wicked fun had made her smack Clund in the face with money. And looking at the dazed expression on his face only made her want to go even further. She wanted to toss all her coins on him, just for the fun of it.
Unfortunately, most of the money she brought today had already been given to Clund. She had only kept a little for herself. After all, even when spending freely, you still need to keep some money in case of emergency.
Blushing slightly, Anna shyly handed Clund the paper bills she had just slapped him with, since they were meant for him anyway.
After receiving the money, Clund finally seemed to snap out of the daze.
“—Phew.”
He let out a long breath, his cheeks turning slightly red. But since he was wearing sunglasses, it wasn’t too obvious.
Anna’s behavior may have seemed impulsive or over-the-top to others, but to Clund, who loved money…
It actually made his heart race a little?
That’s right. The reason his face was red wasn’t because he was embarrassed…
It was because he was excited.
While Anna and Clund were busy playing their strange little "rich people’s game," Evelia had already returned to Armand’s side.
Evelia had been staring at him so intensely the whole time that she didn’t notice Anna and Clund under the tree. She simply walked quickly up to Armand and said, “I’m back.”
“All done shopping?”
Armand glanced at the bag Evelia was carrying. The books inside were pretty much the same ones Anna had shown earlier.
“Mm. I bought everything I wanted. We can go back to the manor now.”
“Oh? You don’t want to look around a bit more?”
When Armand said that, Evelia was about to say yes. After all, that question sounded like an invitation.
Evelia had never made plans for things like shopping before, but from those romance novels she’d been reading, she learned that going shopping together was a simple and effective way to grow closer.
They could wander around, find a nice place to eat, or even check the theater schedule and pick a romantic movie to set the mood.
But—
Evelia just couldn’t stand the way the girls around them were looking at Armand.
Even though Armand was just standing at the edge of the street, and even though Evelia was standing right next to him, there were still some girls boldly staring at him. Their dreamy, admiring gazes made Evelia extremely annoyed.
She hated this feeling.
She didn’t want other people looking at Armand, and she especially didn’t want anyone else desiring her mission target.
There were already so many people looking this way now. If they really went for a walk, who knew how many more would stare? Evelia even imagined what it must be like when Armand was working at the knight order. Were the other knights and staff there staring at him like this too, looking at what should belong to her?
…She really wanted to lock him up.
Keep him somewhere only she could see, touch, and enjoy. A secret all to herself.
“Eve?”
Just as Evelia’s thoughts were getting darker, Armand’s voice pulled her back to reality.
“Yes, Mr. Armand?”
Evelia stood close by his side, tightly holding onto his wrist.
“Where’s Rachel? That kid, where’d she go?”
“…Ah.”
It was only when Armand said her name that Evelia remembered, Rachel had been following right behind her earlier.
But now, with just a blink…
She was gone.