Chapter 14.
If You’re a Refined Woman
Applin von Hafen frowned as she read the morning paper that Laurel had brought.
The situation had finally spiraled into the worst possible outcome.
She did not want to defend Serge (the Crown Prince), but watching him fall lower and lower was still regrettable.
However, Serge needed to learn to take responsibility for the consequences of his own actions.
“Laurel, they say he wasn’t badly hurt.”
“So please don’t worry too much.”
“They said his Achilles tendon was injured.”
“That’s a serious injury.”
“He won’t be able to walk until he fully recovers.”
Unlike Applin, who was genuinely worried, Laurel felt thoroughly satisfied.
“That’s something His Highness brought upon himself.”
Laurel replied with a sulky face.
At first, she had pitied Applin, but now that she thought about it, it felt like something that had been bound to happen.
“This question might be pointless now, but there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“You said it was you who abandoned His Highness.”
“I did.”
“Still, if it were me, I don’t think I could’ve given up the position of Crown Princess so easily.”
“I didn’t want it badly enough to trade my life for it.”
Her answer sounded convincing, but back then, she had only been desperate to protect her pride.
Yet now, she felt as though fate had suddenly changed direction and led her to Lucent Blackcarson.
Perhaps, from the moment she first saw him, some part of her had unconsciously foreseen this kind of relationship.
“Well, the bank president is incredibly handsome.”
“My eyes went numb the first time I saw him.”
“Your eyes went numb?”
Applin laughed as she looked at Laurel.
“He’s charming.”
At that moment, the memory of her intimate first night with him surfaced.
Lucent’s bare body had been closer to a perfectly sculpted statue than something obscene, to the point that she had been in awe.
His sensual physique, captivating smile, and the way he gasped for breath in heated indulgence lingered vividly in her mind.
As a result, she barely heard what Laurel was rambling about.
“Miss, are you listening to me?”
“Huh?”
“What did you say?”
Applin asked back, her face flushed.
“I was talking about that dog named Riki.”
“You know, the dog.”
“Ah, right.”
Laurel went on to explain Riki in detail.
Despite his large size, he loved people and wagged his tail enthusiastically, sparing no praise.
“Then why would such a gentle dog attack His Highness?”
“Could it be a protective instinct?”
“That’s right.”
“Animals sense hostility toward their owner much faster when someone says cruel things.”
“That’s true.”
Only then did Applin feel a sense of regret.
She had briefly suspected that Lucent might have trained Riki beforehand to attack Serge.
She had overlooked the fact that animals recognize their owners and possess strong loyalty.
‘I should apologize when I get the chance.’
Just then, the butler arrived carrying a large gift box.
He said, in a slightly excited voice, that it was something Lucent had sent for Applin.
Applin stared at the gift box wrapped in white paper and adorned with a large pink ribbon, unable to close her mouth.
What on earth could it be, to warrant something this extravagant?
At a glance, it was clearly an expensive gift.
“He could’ve given it to you in person.”
“There was no need to go this far.”
Applin tilted her head repeatedly, unable to fully understand Lucent’s intention.
“He probably wanted to surprise you.”
At Laurel’s slightly exasperated remark, Applin finally realized her husband’s intent.
Still, the wrapping was so beautiful that it felt wasteful to open it.
For a while, Applin and Laurel simply admired the gift from every angle.
“Miss, you can’t just keep looking at it.”
“Hurry up and open it.”
“Well… should I?”
Thump, thump.
Applin’s heart raced wildly.
Since promising to marry Lucent, she had received countless gifts from him.
Most were expensive items like jewelry, dresses, shoes, and handbags.
The happiest person had been her mother, Lilien.
Applin untied the large ribbon, carefully removed the wrapping paper, and opened the box.
When she peeled off the golden wax seal stamped on white paper, the gift finally revealed itself.
“Oh my…!”
“It’s so beautiful.”
“But what is this?”
“It looks like underwear.”
Laurel exclaimed first, but her face stiffened when she saw the small piece of fabric fluttering in Applin’s hands.
Applin was just as taken aback.
The red fabric, similar to her hair color and covered in white polka dots, looked like a corset at first glance.
It had a sleeveless design, a deeply cut neckline, and an extremely short length that fully exposed the legs.
“There’s a card here.”
The card Laurel picked up contained Lucent’s own handwriting.
[My beloved wife, Applin.
I hope you like the swimsuit.
Tomorrow, I would like us to go to the sea together and enjoy swimming.]
Only then did realization strike Applin.
“Oh.”
“So it was a swimsuit.”
“I think I saw something like this in a magazine recently.”
“They say refined women these days wear special outfits when they swim.”
“Miss, there’s also a swimming cap here.”
The round red cap decorated with a flower looked slightly childish.
It almost resembled something meant for a baby girl.
Laurel burst into laughter and examined the swimsuit from every angle.
“It’s so bold.”
“It’s different from a corset, but it shows even more skin.”
“The back is deeply cut, and the chest is completely exposed.”
“And look at the legs.”
“There’s barely any fabric.”
Applin lightly clenched her fist and covered her mouth.
She had already shown Lucent her naked body, yet ever since their first night, all they did was exchange goodnight kisses before sleeping.
Still, the swimsuit he sent felt far more provocative and embarrassing than complete nudity.
Was it just her imagination, or was her perspective on swimsuits skewed?
Above all, Applin had never swum in water in her entire life.
* * *
Serge (the Crown Prince) exploded in anger as he read the newspaper article from his hospital bed.
“Arrest those journalists!”
“Every last one of them!”
“Your Highness, times have changed.”
“If you provoke them recklessly, the entire imperial family will be criticized for suppressing the press.”
Max sighed as he tried to calm Serge down.
“It feels like I fell into a trap.”
“Think about it.”
“Is it really a coincidence that the dog rushed out and bit my ankle at that exact moment?”
“It was a loyal animal.”
“You raised your voice at its owner, so it was trying to protect them.”
“Shut up!”
Even his own secretary wasn’t on his side.
Serge stared at his leg, wrapped thickly in bandages, and sank into thought.
In truth, he had been startled upon seeing Lucent Blackcarson.
He had only heard negative rumors about the man and assumed he could overpower him easily.
Yet the moment he saw Lucent’s appearance, he realized something was terribly wrong.
His tall stature, refined attire, and cultured speech and manners all grated on his nerves.
What unsettled him most was Applin’s attitude toward Lucent, which felt completely unfamiliar.
In that moment, his rationality had snapped, causing him to shout and rage even more.
‘It was an expression I’d never seen before.’
They say women become more beautiful when they fall in love.
Applin had already been beautiful, but seeing her look even more radiant than before filled him with anger.
Had she truly developed feelings for such a vulgar man?
Was she captivated by his polished exterior?
Serge shook his head, insisting that couldn’t be true.
‘I must be insane.’
‘How could I abandon Applin for someone like that…’
Regret poured over him like scorching rain soaking his entire body.
Marita Belmont had been a presence that allowed him to briefly forget his dull routine.
If Applin was gentle milk, Marita was strong liquor that intoxicated the senses and stimulated the nerves.
Marita’s bold seduction and the thrills he had never felt before had convinced him that he would love her forever.
Only later did he realize she was nothing more than a passing downpour that had soaked his mind for a moment.
Now, all he wanted was for her to disappear from his life.
‘I just need to get Applin back.’
Even if no immediate solution came to mind, things had never failed to go his way before.
There was only one thing that truly unsettled him.
‘You must not love that man, Applin.’
‘He’s a devil.’
‘A rat, rotten fruit, and the lowest form of human scum.’
