The three followed Leon toward the entrance.
When the glass door with its golden frame opened silently, an even more dazzling space unfolded before them.
The marble floor gleamed like glass, and a magnificent chandelier hung from the high ceiling.
Even the movements of the employees in neat uniforms were extremely orderly.
As Leon guided the three toward the staircase to the second floor, he paused for a moment and spoke.
“I will escort only Lady Aeplin and the attorney. The maid may wait in the customer reception room over there for a while.”
When Laurel pouted her lips, Aeplin forced a smile and patted her reassuringly.
Soon Aeplin passed through a discreet corridor and stood before a mahogany door.
When Leon opened the door ahead of her, a thick scent of musk wafted from inside.
Brilliant light illuminated the room, which held bookshelves reaching the ceiling and expensive sculptures.
An exotic carpet and a large desk added to the dignity.
Through the large window, the city of Lount could be seen at a glance.
And at last, she came to see the master of this place, Lucent Blackakson.
The moment he saw Aeplin, he rose from his seat, straightened his clothes, walked over to her, and kissed the back of her hand.
“It is an honor, Lady Aeplin von Hapen. I am Lucent Blackakson.”
“How do you do? I am Aeplin von Hapen.”
After that, Lucent also exchanged greetings with Edmon.
It was a flawless greeting.
Aeplin was greatly taken aback when she saw Lucent.
Contrary to his notoriety, he was so immaculate.
She had imagined a man with a menacing face scarred by a knife, endlessly puffing on cigarettes, but her expectations were completely off.
His blond hair, combed back neatly without a single strand out of place, and his eyes like blue diamonds were both radiant and sharp.
His tall height and sturdy build, the suit that fell perfectly on his body, and even his finest handmade shoes without a speck of dirt or dust—just from his shoes, one could guess he was a wealthy man who walked only on carpets or marble floors.
In addition, his bearing and movements were so refined that one would not doubt he was of imperial blood.
Above all, she had not expected him to be so young and handsome.
When he lowered his hand, the long fingers revealed between his sparkling cuffs were delicate yet seemed to hold strength at the tips.
He was the most refined gentleman she had seen in recent times.
“This way.”
Lucent guided Aeplin to a plush sofa.
Even in the midst of that, his gaze sharply swept over Aeplin from head to toe.
‘The empire’s golden apple…….’
At last, he had come face to face with the daughter of Count Hapen.
A noble bloodline born between the father of a count family with a history dating back to the medieval era, and a mother who had been a princess of the Kingdom of Monas.
Not only that, she was widely praised for being erudite and of good character.
‘How honored I am, that I can pluck the golden apple.’
He smirked, but it quickly evaporated like steam.
In one corner of his mind, he had hoped the reputation was exaggerated.
But Aeplin, who approached like a spring mist, was beyond his expectations.
Her vermilion hair and her verdant eyes, like a forest spirit, were very mysterious.
Her posture was elegant, and her steps were quiet.
Her sky-blue skirt, cream lace blouse, wide-brimmed hat, and harmonizing ribbon were all befitting a daughter of a distinguished family.
But what surprised Lucent did not end there.
She had a pure, transparent, and subtly sensual aura.
There was no doubt she was a stunning beauty.
Yet she did not look strong.
Rather, seeing Aeplin in person made him feel mischievous.
‘I wonder how she will come out. Will she, despite being bankrupt, put on airs as a lofty noble and try to threaten me?’
Still, Lucent was willing to tolerate any vanity from Aeplin before him.
But even that feeling was fleeting.
He was seized by a sense of wickedness, wanting to poke and scratch the ripe apple right away.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before that happened anyway…….
In any case, his prey gave him a fair amount of satisfaction.
“Please drink. This is a tea called Solarian Blue, imported from the New Continent.”
At some point, the finest teacups had been placed between the two.
As she took a sip of the tea, she felt the freshness of the forest.
It carried the scent of wind encountered while wandering among dense leaves.
The soft yet rich fragrance wrapped around the tip of her tongue, and it seemed to calm Aeplin’s anxiety for a moment.
“The tea is excellent.”
“I am glad it suits your taste.”
Lucent observed Aeplin with a sharp gaze.
The teacup elegantly held in her small white hand, the restrained posture as she silently savored the taste and aroma.
It was foreign in this cold space, but she looked like a beautifully blooming rose, not unpleasant to look at.
Knowing this was not the time to leisurely savor the tea, Aeplin set down her cup and went straight to the point.
She explained her father’s current situation in Senebaron and asked for an additional loan of 3 billion sallings.
“I have been rejected by every bank. I must seem pathetic and you must be bewildered that I am asking for a huge sum without any further collateral. But I believe that saving a customer in danger will also prevent loss for the bank.”
He listened to Aeplin’s words with his long legs crossed and one hand propping his chin.
“Everything Lady Aeplin says is correct.”
“Pardon?”
It was only a moment, but Aeplin brightened.
“But you have no sense of reality at all.”
“You say everything I said is correct, and then say that?”
“Do you believe that if you pay 3 billion sallings to the rebels, they will spare Count Hapen?”
Lucent shook his head.
He said it was absurd and returned Aeplin’s thinking to square one.
Edmon, who was beside her, immediately countered Lucent.
“It is not that I have not made such assumptions, but if the bank president helps, he will return safely. And surely, as soon as the Count returns home, he will do his utmost to repay the debt. Speaking of Count Hapen’s character, to borrow money and then recklessly…….”
At that moment, Aeplin stopped her attorney’s words.
Now was not the time to argue with Lucent.
“I would like to hear more of what the bank president has to say.”
At Aeplin’s words, a peculiar light flickered in Lucent’s eyes.
Soon he gestured to Leon, who brought a document and placed it on the table.
“I do not make deals at a loss. So I have already hired skilled mercenaries in Senebaron. Of course, if the operation is carried out, costs will be incurred.”
The moment Lucent’s blue eyes shone brightly, Aeplin realized.
“Edmon, would you excuse us for a moment?”
“I will, my lady.”
He, too, seemed to have caught on, for he bowed politely and left the office.
Soon Aeplin carefully examined the document on the table.
‘Regarding collateral worth 3 billion sallings?’
In particular, the phrase in the last line stating that ‘intangible value’ was also recognized was very striking.
‘As expected.’
She had heard a rather interesting story in the carriage on the way to the bank.
‘Bank president Lucent is still unmarried. He is famous for being very particular about women.’
‘Particular, you say……?’
‘I hear he wants to take a woman from a noble family as his wife. He wants perfection in bloodline, beauty, character, reputation in high society, and so on.’
Aeplin clearly understood the intention behind Edmon providing her with such information.
It was also her last resort.
“Bank president, do I also fall under intangible value?”
“That is correct.”
Lucent answered with a gentle smile, unlike before.
He highly regarded the fact that she was not clinging only to noble pride and floundering in vain delusions.
“First, I thank you……. for quickly devising a plan to save my father. But since you say it is not free, how about we negotiate something that satisfies us both?”
“That is what I wished for, my lady.”
“I am worth more than 3 billion sallings.”
At Aeplin’s resolute words, a thrill ran through Lucent’s entire body.
This kind of taut tension, calculating on the abacus in his head and devising strategies for victory—this invisible battle was enjoyable.
A few years ago, when he had tried to open Lucent Credit Bank, he had fiercely opposed the president of the Lount Chamber of Commerce.
‘Credit is the life of a bank. You are asking me to grant a banking license to the son of the notorious gangster Marcus Blackakson…… I need someone to vouch for you. It would be even better if you had the backing of a noble or royal…….’
At that time, he had fought fiercely and won by showing concrete results.
Since then, he had been rather bored, but he had never expected such an exciting thing to happen.
“How much do you think your value is, my lady?”
At Lucent’s words, Aeplin turned her head with a vacant expression, then looked back at him.
“Do you want me?”
