Chapter 1 : The Money Pit

In May of a certain year, when the fresh greenery was at its peak.
A boisterous party was being held at the vast, sun-drenched estate of Colonel Ashcombe.

It was a gathering of famous figures, hosted by the war hero Colonel Ashcombe to celebrate his victory in the great war that had swept the continent a decade ago, and the golden age the Gravanian Empire was now enjoying.

It was a joyful and happy day.
Even if one got drunk to the point of oblivion on sweet cocktails from midday, or played poker and shot billiards late into the night with a cigar in their mouth, no one would say a word.

However, not everyone had attended this frenzied party just to enjoy themselves.

Some came to find a partner to soothe their loneliness, some for clandestine business dealings, and others to meet someone who could change their life.

Someone who could change their life.

Waiting for such a person was no exception for Theron Cox, who was leaning against the railing of the second-floor balcony in the huge mansion, taking a deep drag from his cigar.

He had come here today for the woman who would change his life.

“This woman?”
Theron asked, his gaze fixed on the black-and-white photograph in his hand.

His business partner and old friend, Lysander, nodded.

“Yes. This is Selene Ashcombe. It’s the best photo we could get, obtained with great difficulty through one of the Colonel’s men today.”

Hmm…
Staring intently at the photo, Theron took a drag from his cigar and slowly exhaled the smoke.

“She’s ridiculously beautiful.”

In the palm-sized photo, the woman’s delicate features filled her small face perfectly.

And what about the slender waist and voluminous chest below?
She was a beauty that any man with instincts would inevitably gaze upon at least once.

If there was just one thing about this perfect subject that was unsettling, it would be the woman’s expressionless face.
That cold expression made her seem even more like a painting.

As Theron silently puffed out cigar smoke, a playful smile touched Lysander’s lips.

“So, what do you think? She’s the woman you’ll have to seduce.”

Despite his friend’s playful tone, annoying problems flashed through Theron’s mind for a moment, and he paused, holding the burning cigar still.

Lysander’s question was like a crude joke one might snicker about in a casino or a pub, but it was the reality that had befallen him.

This woman, Selene Ashcombe, was his target, as he was supposed to make her fall for him and eventually marry him.

In the past, this was a task he wouldn’t have even considered a trivial joke, but now it had been dropped at his feet.

Just as the ash from the cigar in Theron’s hand fell with a soft tap, he answered nonchalantly.

“She looks delicious.”

Lysander’s eyes sparkled.

“The woman? Or her money?”

“The money, of course. People have never been delicious to me.”

‘Not like I’m a cannibal.’
At Theron’s muttering, Lysander let out a scoff as if he was dumbfounded.

“And money is delicious?”

“Of course. It has a sweet taste.”

Funnily enough, he was being sincere.
Seeing as no woman, no matter how dazzlingly beautiful, had ever given him more stimulation than money did.

That wasn’t just Theron’s personal opinion.
In a world like this, was there anything superior to money?

The Gravanian Empire had become wealthier than ever by collecting the war bonds it had issued to neighboring countries during the war, and was experiencing unprecedented luxury due to industrial development.
People’s clothes grew more extravagant by the day, and hedonistic parties were held every night.

Even the once-haughty nobles acknowledged that land alone couldn’t protect their social standing and began to imitate the middle class who were making fortunes from factories and oil money, so the saying “throw tradition and dignity to the dogs” wasn’t for nothing.

As proof of this materialism, the term ‘Money Pit’ became so popular that even children playing house would say it.

Money Pit.
It no longer referred to a pit of consumption that sucked in money, but a source of money, be it treasure or oil.

No matter how vulgar or low, finding a pit where money came from had become important for everyone.

In the end, it meant that this measly green paper had raised above honor, dignity, and bloodline, and no one could deny that fact.

‘Because money is the only thing that doesn’t disappoint people.’

Theron tossed the photo back to Lysander and turned his body to lean his back against the railing.

A nagging remark followed from Lysander, who snatched the fluttering photo from the air.

“You damn miser. Still, Selene Ashcombe is different. She’s the sole heiress of the Duke of Ashcombe’s family. No matter how much the nobles are said to be inferior to the bourgeoisie, would the Duke of Ashcombe’s family be treated like any riff-raff?”

That was something Theron also acknowledged to some extent.

That even if the influence of the nobility was not what it used to be, this woman was a bit special.

Because after both her parents died in the war, the only direct family member of the Duke left in the house was his daughter, Selene.

Although she had a grandmother and an uncle, her retired grandmother seemed to have little interest in the fortune, and her uncle, Colonel Orlando Ashcombe, the host of today’s party, would only inherit a portion of the assets.

‘Although he’s the root of the problem.’

Thinking of her uncle, the source of this whole affair, Theron laughed in disbelief and roughly stubbed out his cigar in an ashtray.

Lysander continued speaking, spittle flying.

“Even if you have a face that makes women lose their minds, my point is don’t underestimate her. Do you know what she was called where she studied abroad?”

As his friend asked with uncharacteristic fuss, Theron slowly raised his gaze.

“What?”

Seducing one woman wouldn’t be a difficult task anyway, but there wasn’t much information on Selene Ashcombe, who had only recently returned to her home country after a long time studying abroad.

So, it wouldn’t be bad to learn any useful information beforehand.

Lysander momentarily held his breath, as if about to reveal a great secret.

“The Forbidden Fruit.”
(TL note: The Korean term used is Seon-ak-gwa, which literally translates to “the fruit of good and evil,” referring to the fruit from the tree of knowledge in Genesis. “The Forbidden Fruit” is the common English equivalent and fits the context of temptation.)

He had expected her to be called something like an expensive jewel or a fancy flower, but this was a little unexpected.

Theron’s lips curved into a smirk as he gestured to a footman.
When the tray was presented, he picked up a glass of cocktail.

“How grand.”

“It is grand. But from what I’ve heard, it’s not an exaggerated nickname. Considering how famous she was where she studied. She’s the young lady of a well-known, historic ducal family, she’s smart enough to get into university at the top of her class, and she even recently won a renowned piano competition, so it makes sense.”

At the mention of the piano competition, Theron’s eyes subtly took on a displeased look, but Lysander didn’t notice and continued his report.

“The list of suitors who courted her abroad includes everyone from princes to businessmen you’d know by name. Every man drools over her and covets her, but she hasn’t allowed anyone near her, which is how she got that nickname.”

The Forbidden Fruit, a symbol of temptation.
The interesting thing was that the forbidden fruit hanging on the tree seemed to have no intention of luring or tempting anyone.
At least, that’s how the woman’s expressionless face in the snapshot appeared.

Theron casually pictured the woman in his mind, then dismissed the thought as insignificant.

“But the interesting part is, the reason she’s called the Forbidden Fruit isn’t just because she tantalizes men.”

“There’s more to it, I take it?”

Lysander grinned with a sly look on his face.

“That’s for you to find out. It’s no fun if I tell you everything beforehand.”

Whenever his friend smiled perversely like this, something bad always tended to happen.

‘He had that same look on his face when he swapped my beer for hard liquor on my coming-of-age birthday, and when he advised me to bet on the last-place horse at the racetrack I first visited.’

However, the reason Theron could brush off this meaningful remark was that no matter what he was hiding, the task he had to do would not change.

To seduce Selene Ashcombe, marry her before the year is over, and receive a portion of the ducal family’s assets.

It was no different from discovering a new Money Pit.

Just like explorers pioneering new continents or businessmen finding oil fields.

Theron muttered as he tossed back the rest of his brandy.

“What does it matter.”

Selene Ashcombe.

“She’s the only money pit that can save me.”

Yes, at least, that’s what Theron thought back then.

That if there was a delectable money pit, all he had to do was bury himself in it.

Little did he dream that he would have to completely retract this arrogant thought just a few days later.