Chapter 2.
The Monster Called Inferiority
‘The world is in turmoil.’
Lucent remained lost in thought even after his secretary left the room.
Poor gypsies were running racecourses and amassing great wealth, while long-established nobles like Marcel von Hafen were falling from grace.
The upheaval was shaking society and redistributing wealth.
On the surface, it seemed that money alone could reverse social status.
Yet, the age-old prejudice of categorizing people by class persisted.
Lucent firmly believed in the philosophers’ theory that a person’s social position is proven not by birth, but by their effort.
‘It’s unfortunate… even if one tops the theory exams, it doesn’t guarantee admission to the Imperial University.
One must be a person worthy of the reputation of the top university.’
In the past, they had not only humiliated him but had shamefully even given him the answers.
Thus, Lucent desired not just wealth, but recognition as a perfect member of high society.
To achieve that, he needed someone to fill the gaps in his own deficiencies.
The person who came to his mind was Applin von Hafen.
She was the Crown Prince Serge’s long-time fiancée and a perfect lady in terms of family, beauty, intellect, and social reputation.
It was the first time Lucent had taken such an interest in, and desired, a woman.
Ever since he had learned of Applin, he had intensely desired her.
Knowing that nothing valuable comes for free, he had lent 6 billion Sallings to Marcel von Hafen at a low interest rate.
Even when the interest was overdue for a year, he had not demanded it.
‘It would be disappointing if she didn’t appreciate all this effort.’
At that moment, the door to Lucent’s office burst open, breaking his train of thought, and a familiar ruckus filled the space.
Regular reminders of his inferiority.
“Brother!”
“Son!”
‘Damn it…!’
Lucent’s mother and younger sister had barged in.
He had told them not to come to the bank, yet his mother arrived holding a bottle of alcohol, and his recently married sister came with her face beaten up.
The two women started wailing at the top of their lungs upon seeing Lucent.
The sister flopped on the sofa, pounding it with her fists without hesitation.
“Why does your face look like that?”
“My husband hit me. He’s an incomparable bastard.”
Smudged makeup, disheveled hair, and Lucent’s temples throbbed painfully.
“You knew what kind of man he was when you married him.”
“I loved him, but he was a complete rogue. He stayed away from home for days, and during that time, he took a mistress.
The two of them were completely naked doing that deed.
When I grabbed the mistress by the hair, my husband did this to me.”
“Mother, what exactly happened?”
“Son, I was humiliated by fraud too. Those wretched women!”
Monica, his mother, drank straight from the bottle while venting her frustration.
She had spent a fortune to join the gatherings of upper-class ladies in the capital, but they kept postponing and refused to admit her.
“The Baroness of Camus said I could join the Rubel Ladies if I paid one hundred million Sallings, yet just a moment ago, you know what they said?
Other ladies opposed me because my presence, as a former courtesan, lowered their rank. I even hosted the party with my money…”
Lucent pressed his hand to his forehead.
Though this was not the first time he had heard their complaints, his head ached as usual.
His mother and sister wore far more expensive dresses and jewelry than any other lady, yet their ostentation could not conceal their vulgarity.
In fact, the more splendid the shell, the more easily the emptiness inside showed.
“Hoo-”
Lucent stood and walked toward the two.
“Mother, what shall I do for you? Marie, shall I divorce him, or should I kill your husband?”
* * *
Meanwhile, Applin von Hafen was busy meeting with lawyer Edmond to prepare countermeasures.
Her mother, Lilien, had collapsed from shock, leaving her as the only one capable of resolving the matter.
Applin visited relatives and all major banks in the capital without exception.
But the results were disastrous.
‘You must have collateral equivalent to 3 billion Sallings.’
‘Is a credit loan impossible?’
‘It is possible, but the head of the household must apply in person.’
She realized she could not secure a loan.
Applin had always thought the capital, Rount, was as beautiful as a landscape painting.
But for the first time, the world seemed gray, devoid of a single ray of light.
“Why? Is there really no way to resolve this, Miss?”
The maid, Lorel, murmured as if about to cry.
“Not at the moment.”
“Why not ask Crown Prince Serge for help?”
“Lorel, you must distinguish between personal and official matters.”
No one yet knew that her relationship with the Crown Prince had ended at the year-end party.
Applin did not want to think of Serge for even a second under the current circumstances.
At that moment, lawyer Edmond spoke in a solemn tone.
“Miss, you have ten days remaining. Also, this arrived yesterday.”
Edmond took a black-and-white photograph from his coat and handed it to Applin.
She unconsciously swallowed dryly as she examined the image.
“……?!”
It showed Marcel von Hafen bound with ropes, the Senebaron rebels pointing guns at him from both sides.
Applin felt the blood in her veins chill to ice.
Her body shivered uncontrollably, and she recoiled in terror.
Even when hearing the news, she had trembled, but seeing the tragedy approaching with her own eyes, her body and soul were consumed by fear.
A scream welled up in her throat, nearly bursting into tears, but she restrained herself.
If she broke down here, she might never rise again…
“Edmond, is there no other way to save my father?”
Her voice trembled as she asked.
“There is, but it depends on your choice, Miss.”
“I don’t think I have a choice in this situation.”
Even as he answered, visions of the horrors she would face if her father died flashed through her mind.
“There is Lucent Credit Bank.”
“That’s the bank where Father has already borrowed a huge sum.”
* * *
Applin arrived at Queens Street, the busiest street in Rount.
She got out of the car and looked up at the Lucent Bank building.
The five-story main building, built of top-quality marble, featured colossal Corinthian columns at the front and intricate gilded decorations and delicate sculptures on every wall.
[We will be a ray of light for our struggling clients.]
Just by reading the inscription above the entrance, it was hard to believe that this was the notorious high-interest Lucent Credit Bank.
‘I really didn’t want to come here…’
“Miss Applin von Hafen?”
Leon, standing in front of the building, smiled kindly as he approached.
Lawyer Edmond stepped forward.
“I am Edmond Murtley, the lawyer of the von Hafen family.”
“Ah, you are the one who contacted me beforehand? I am Leon Sharmus, secretary to the bank manager.”
Even as they exchanged polite greetings, Applin’s tension continued to rise.
Eventually, she had arrived at this place.
Her father had borrowed 6 billion Sallings, putting not only his entire fortune but also her mother’s inheritance as collateral.
Leon, dressed in a neat suit with a company badge, approached Applin and greeted her politely.
Meeting the bank staff in person was different from what she had imagined and caught her off guard.
The Blackcarson family, owners of Lucent Credit Bank, had a terrible reputation.
Rumors said the bank manager’s father had been a villain who made money through arms trafficking.
Even if true, it didn’t matter to Applin; the image of her father in the photo was vivid in her mind.
“Just a moment.”
Applin asked Leon for a moment, then stood upright and looked at Lorel.
“Lorel, check if anything is out of place.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The fire was already at her feet, but she knew trembling in fear and panicking would achieve nothing.
Now was the time to act most rationally.
