Chapter 3 : The Forbidden Fruit

It was clear that the photograph hadn’t captured even half of her real beauty.
The moment she came into view, it was as if only the area around her was uniquely bright, a strange experience in itself.
And was that all?
Perhaps because she was under the chandelier, the cascading light scattered dazzlingly off her crystal necklace, and the static movement of her body, draped in a smooth silk dress, froze his gaze as if under a spell that rendered him immobile.

A rose.
Yes, seeing Selene Ashcombe in person, she was a woman who truly reminded him of a rose.
Though the only thing reminiscent of a rose was her reddish-brown hair, nearly black, he had that impression, perhaps due to the rich scent of roses that emanated from her vicinity, or perhaps due to her cold eyes that seemed to hold thorns.

A rose… when was the last time I saw a rose up close?
Theron, who had been staring blankly, lost in thought about a rose he couldn’t even remember seeing, suddenly snapped out of the rose scent as if struck by lightning.
He realized this was no time to be standing there like a fool.

Coming to his senses, he firmly shut his lips.
‘She must have sprayed on a very strong perfume.’
To be able to smell the rose scent so clearly amidst this crowd of people.
Of course, being the heiress of a ducal family, it wouldn’t be strange for her to douse herself in expensive perfume on a rare outing like today.

By the way, does that woman always have that expression?
The old gentleman she was talking to seemed to be her former teacher, the reason for her attendance, yet even in front of such a person, she showed no sign of joy, maintaining a consistent lack of expression.
For the first time, Theron felt anxious.
It was because he was belatedly bothered.
Bothered by things like Lysander chattering about her being the Forbidden Fruit, or the sly old colonel’s sigh as he said, with a serious face, that he might be able to seduce her.

But what could he do?
If he couldn’t marry that woman, his lifelong dream, his freedom, would fly away.
Taking a glass from a passing young footman’s tray, Theron downed the strong liquor in one gulp.
As his throat grew warm and his heart began to beat a little faster than usual, Theron buttoned the jacket he had left open.

Just then, Selene, having finished her conversation with her teacher, was alone.
She was picking up the teacup she had set down again.
Near where the teacup was placed, there were lemons and sugar, presumably used by her.

‘That would be good.’
Theron strode towards that direction.
Stopping in front of Selene, a smile handsome enough to make anyone fall for him was already on Theron’s face.

“Sugar and lemon?”
At the pleasant, low-pitched voice that came with a shadow cast over her head, Selene stopped stirring her teaspoon and looked up.

“…”
“Lucky me. I enjoy that combination too.”
He had added more words, but no reaction came back.
As Selene just stared blankly at his face, Theron’s throat began to feel dry.
Usually, when you appeal to a shared taste, people feel a sense of familiarity and engage in at least a short conversation.
Theron decided to try speaking to her one more time, in case she hadn’t heard him properly.

“If it’s alright, may I use this lemon and sugar as well…”
“Get permission from my lady-in-waiting, Mrs. Gwendolyn. She was using it and just stepped away for a moment.”

“Ah…”
Damn it.
It wasn’t her who used it.
While Theron was flustered by the fact that he had stumbled on their very first encounter, Selene’s gaze, as if looking at something strange, followed.

“By the way, it’s strange. I’ve never seen a man put lemon and sugar in his black tea. Among my family, everyone who drinks it that way are all old women. In fact, my grandmother, my great-great-grandmother, my great-grandmother…”

“…Stop.”
At this rate, it seemed like all the dead women in that family would be dragged out, so Theron hurriedly stopped Selene.
He felt a cold sweat on his palms.

‘Wait, was she this talkative?’
He hadn’t received that information.
Where did that cold face from earlier go, as she now rattled off her family’s preferences?
At Selene’s words, which seemed to be pointing out that he had the same taste as old women, Theron barely managed to smooth his contorting expression.

“Actually, I don’t drink black tea. I just wanted to talk to Miss Ashcombe.”
Since it had come to this, a direct approach was the only way.
“I’ve been interested in you for a while, my lady.”

Despite the gentleman’s confession that should have made her blush, the woman’s expression instead became faintly bored.
‘This is a little pride-wounding.’
Nevertheless, Theron steadfastly continued his self-introduction.
“I don’t know if you know me, but my name is Theron Cox. I run a small business, and I have a friendly relationship with Colonel Ashcombe…”

“I’m not interested.”
It was a sharp reply that came before he could even finish his introduction.
Did I tie my necktie tighter than usual today?
Theron barely suppressed the urge to pull at the necktie that felt like it was strangling him.
It would have been easier to gain her favor if the woman at least knew his name, but from her expression, it was as if she was looking at a rolling stone from somewhere.
Theron tried his best to remain calm.

“Then what is the lady interested in?”
“Why should I have to tell you that?”
He was at a loss for words for the second time.

“…I guess there’s no reason for you to tell me…”
“I hope you enjoy the party.”

“Wait a moment!”
Theron urgently caught Selene as she was about to leave.
He was worried she would ignore him, but he was relieved that she at least stopped in her tracks.
It was absurd to feel relieved by this much.

“I know you studied abroad in the Kingdom of Velora.”
At the words ‘Kingdom of Velora,’ Selene’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
This is it.
It was a small reaction, but Theron didn’t miss it.

“My interest in you, my lady, began after I heard that you had studied in the Kingdom of Velora for a long time. Personally, it’s a country I’m also very fond of.”
The woman, who seemed ready to leave at any moment, now turned her body completely towards him.

“Do you have a connection with Velora?”
“I visit Velora more than three times a year for business.”
The woman’s words paused for a moment.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
Judging this to be the right timing, Theron immediately continued.

“Unlike the Empire, which is only interested in flashy things, the Kingdom of Velora is a beautiful country with dignity and tradition. It’s also a country where artists who will carve their names in history are born every year.”
“…”
“So, if I have the chance, I would like to have a deep conversation with you about this, Miss Ashcombe.”

Selene remained silent for a long time, as if thinking about something, despite Theron’s fluent speech.
Then, she finally let out her precious voice.
“Did you say Mr. Cox?”

“Yes, that’s right.”
“What are you doing this weekend, by any chance?”
At Selene’s question, which sounded as if she was trying to make an appointment with him, Theron was momentarily surprised and almost stuttered as if he had misheard.
“…May I ask with what intention you are checking my schedule?”
The woman, who had been speaking without hesitation, hesitated for a moment, her lips parting slightly.

Theron’s gaze was stolen by that small movement.
At the same time, a faint heat crept up his neck.
Come to think of it, her lips were excessively red.
For cosmetics, the color was so natural that he became curious about its original shade.
Wouldn’t he know if he kissed her?
If he sucked hard, and it was cosmetics, the chemical scent or color would fade…

“I wanted to talk a little more about Velora.”
At Selene’s voice, Theron instantly cut off the lewd fantasy that was flowing through his mind.
What am I thinking right now?
Contrary to his flustered heart, he managed to put a plausible smile on his lips without being late.

“I would be delighted, of course.”
The woman nodded slightly.
“Come to the ducal estate by 4 p.m. on Saturday.”

“I’ll see you then.”
Theron ended the brief meeting with a kiss on the back of Selene’s hand.
Although 4 p.m. was a rather ambiguous time to invite a guest, as it was neither a usual mealtime nor teatime, Theron decided to be satisfied with the fact that he could enter the ducal estate.

It was just the beginning.
What mattered was how he would act during the confirmed second meeting.
Unlike his easy assumption, the woman didn’t seem to be an easy opponent, so it was better to be a little tense.
There was also a reason why his concentration kept wavering when he actually talked to her.
It wasn’t simply because the woman was pretty.
Perhaps it was because he kept feeling out of sync due to her reactions, which were so different from ordinary women.

Suddenly, her nickname, came to his mind.
He became curious about what Lysander was hiding regarding that nickname, but by the time the faint scent of roses lingering at the tip of his nose faded, his curiosity about it had also waned and disappeared.

The Forbidden Fruit.