Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: To Get What I Want, I Push and Pull. (5)
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"Will you bet?"
As I found an empty seat and sat down, the dealer asked politely.
"Yes."
I received my cards and the game began.
Texas Hold'em is a game where each player gets two personal cards and there are five shared cards among the participants; you choose five from those seven to form your final hand.
The player with the highest combination wins, so you have to bet strategically to come out on top.
*That's why it's one of my favorite games.*
Today, I planned to rely more on brainpower than memory.
"Raise."
"Raise."
The game proceeded smoothly.
Someone won, someone lost, someone stayed, and someone left.
My win rate was good. I gained far more chips than I lost.
When I got a decent hand, I boldly raised the stakes, and when I got a bad one, I folded at the right moment.
"As expected of the Blue Feather Mask..."
"He's sweeping up all the money again today."
The nobles glanced at me and whispered among themselves.
I calmly ignored their reactions and passed the time.
This game was just an appetizer; the main event hadn't even started yet.
"We'll switch dealers for a moment."
A new dealer came in, and the one who'd been sitting went out.
The new dealer was a young, handsome man—strikingly attractive even among the good-looking staff employed here.
"Oh my."
"What a handsome face..."
Noble ladies whispered behind their fans. I felt nothing particular and focused solely on the game.
"I'm folding."
"Raise."
Then, at some point,
*Hmm.*
I'd been feeling a faint irritation for a while—something subtle and minor that I couldn't quite pinpoint.
I'd noticed it when my win rate started dipping ever so slightly.
*Since that dealer came in?*
I wasn't getting absolutely terrible hands, but only ones that made it hard to score a decisive victory.
Even when I agonized over them and went all-in, the results weren't as good as I'd hoped.
*Let's see.*
From then on, I focused more on the dealer than the game.
"Will you call?"
I closely observed his gaze, his breathing, the movements of his hands. And I realized.
*There's an extra sound mixed in.*
When he shuffled or dealt the cards, there was a faint noise. It meant he wasn't just doing the visible actions.
*Interesting.*
Casinos keep dealers on hand for specific customers. For them to assign one to me, on my second time playing...
*Someone must have ordered it.*
A chuckle escaped me.
Even after figuring it out, I pretended not to notice and kept playing. Instead, I paid close attention to the sounds outside the room.
"The winner of this round is the Red Jewel Mask."
Thinking I was oblivious, the dealer kept up his tricks. He narrowed his long eyes and smiled.
"Shall we continue?"
It was the kind of face people called fox-like.
"Wait a second."
When I—who'd been playing nonstop—said that, the dealer froze.
"Are you done?"
"No, not that."
I reached out and grabbed his wrist firmly.
"-!"
The guards standing against the wall straightened up.
They were positioned there to restrain anyone who got drunk or refused to accept a loss and started causing trouble.
"......"
The dealer subtly shook his head at them, signaling not to move yet.
I stood and approached him, whispering in his ear.
"I feel something under your wrist."
"-!"
The dealer's eyes widened in shock. I grinned at him.
"You didn't do this alone, did you? Who told you to?"
He trembled as if I'd hit the nail on the head, wrinkling his nose as if he couldn't possibly say.
"Hmm, I see."
I'd known he wouldn't answer. I already knew who it was anyway.
"What's with the atmosphere?"
At that absurd moment, that 'someone' appeared.
"Why are you grabbing the dealer and threatening him?"
Princess Violet's sharp voice flew into the room.
Click, clack.
Accompanied by the sound of high heels.
*She's changed clothes already.*
She must have dressed conservatively for the Founding Festival.
Unlike then, when she'd covered up her skin, now she wore a dress that boldly exposed her straight shoulders.
Just like our first meeting, Princess Violet wore a pitch-black mask covering half her face. But today, she hadn't bothered with a wig and had simply pinned up her black hair.
*She really loves dressing up.*
Whenever Princess Violet appeared in a dress or jewelry, it became a massive trend in the capital within days.
That's why tailors and jewelers in the capital went to great lengths to offer her gifts.
In other words, she was an excellent promotional tool.
*I need to handle her carefully.*
First, I slowly released the dealer's wrist.
"Threatening? Such harsh words."
I propped my chin on one hand and smiled at Princess Violet.
"I was just talking, that's all."
The dealer's body stiffened. He glanced nervously at the princess with a pale face.
"What did you say to make the dealer's face like that?"
Princess Violet crossed her arms and scrutinized me and the dealer.
People no longer seemed surprised to see me openly conversing with Princess Violet. They just hid their expressions behind their masks and watched.
"Well, I'm not sure if I should say it here."
Princess Violet's eyes narrowed at the ominous tone in my voice. She turned to someone who could explain.
"Th-that is..."
The manager who'd been pacing anxiously since entering the room stepped forward. It seemed word of the disturbance had reached headquarters.
Princess Violet imperiously beckoned him.
"Explain."
The manager whispered something in Princess Violet's ear, keeping his voice low enough not to be heard around—but it couldn't escape my ears.
"We sent in a ringer, but he got caught."
"What?"
Princess Violet flew into a rage.
"What do you mean? Why do something I didn't order?"
"No, Your Highness, you always say you'll show that Blue Feather Mask what for if he shows up."
"No, I meant I'd crush him fair and square! How could you use a trick like this?"
Princess Violet clutched the back of her neck at the manager's aggrieved protest.
"Do you want to ruin the casino? What if word gets out?"
"No, but... the losses last time were huge, so..."
Princess Violet glared murderously at the manager and turned away. She sighed at the smile lingering on my lips.
"Let's talk for a moment."
"Sure."
I brushed off my seat and stood. I gripped the frozen dealer's shoulder firmly.
"Consider yourself lucky."
Leaving those pointed words, I left the room.
Princess Violet had already exited and was heading somewhere else, flanked by her usual two escorts.
Seeing where her footsteps led,
"Oh?"
I was delighted.
Princess Violet was heading to that exact balcony where we'd talked before.
She nodded, and her escorts opened the doors from both sides. I followed as she strode in haughtily.
"......"
Sharp gazes from the escorts pierced through the gaps in their masks. They were different from the ones I'd seen last time—probably fired over that incident.
Click.
The balcony door closed behind me.
"Long time no see."
Princess Violet leaned against the railing and turned to me. Her violet eyes scanned me up and down.
"Hmph."
Finding no flaws in my attire, she turned her face away.
"Princess Violet."
Since we knew each other's identities, we skipped the formalities.
"Isn't this place... a bit much?"
At my deliberately troubled tone, a sharp smile curled on Princess Violet's lips.
"So you do have a conscience?"
She gestured around with her hand.
"This is where you stabbed me in the back."
Her eyes glinted fiercely.
"Why, does coming back here make you feel a little guilty?"
"No, that's not it."
I waved my hand as if to say what are you talking about.
"I meant it's awkward being here alone together in such a cramped space."
I smiled with crinkled eyes.
"You know what the nobles use this place for, don't you?"
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about?!"
As expected, Princess Violet jumped up from her spot. Her earlobes turned bright red.
"I just brought you here to talk away from prying eyes! Don't get any weird ideas!"
"I didn't say anything like that, did I? Who's the one with the weird imagination, Your Highness?"
"Ugh, seriously!"
Princess Violet let out a shrill scream.
Ah, it was fun as always.
She seemed prim and proper, but poke her a little and she'd react so fiercely.
"Anyway, let's forget about last time."
I approached Princess Violet with a smooth tone.
"I just let the dealer thing slide, didn't I?"
If I'd exposed his cheating right there, the casino would have been in a real bind.
"...That. Well, yes."
Princess Violet brushed back a strand of hair that had slipped over her ear.
"My underlings got ahead of themselves. I'd appreciate it if you forgot about today."
"Today? What do you mean?"
I replied innocently.
"I just removed whatever was on the dealer's wrist, that's all."
"Pfft."
Princess Violet let out a sly chuckle.
"You're saying something I like for once."
Her posture relaxed now that she was appeased.
"You really frequent this place, Princess Violet. I thought you'd be at the palace banquet."
At my words, her body stiffened again.
"...Banquets are usually in the evening, so I have time until then."
"Oh, so you planned to stay at the casino until then?"
"...Yeah, something like that."
Her response was stiff as ever.
*Cute.*
I swallowed a laugh at her rigidly set mouth.
*She has zero talent for lying.*
Princess Violet loved showing off her influence in high society. On days like this, she'd roam the palace banquet halls freely.
The reason she'd shown up at the casino so early was obvious.
*She must have told the casino to notify her if I came.*
Otherwise, she wouldn't have appeared so soon after I started playing.
I could picture Princess Violet rushing over in excitement to resume our rivalry.
"Then, shall we go in and compete? Any game you like."
She already knew my skill level. Unless the casino hired a pro dealer, they couldn't beat me.
No matter what game she picked, I was confident I'd win.
"Hmm. Well..."
Instead of jumping at the chance as I'd expected, Princess Violet hesitated. Her gaze drifted to the scenery beyond the balcony.
Street vendors lining the roads, garlands, lively music echoing about, busy clowns darting around.
"I thought about it at first, but I changed my mind."
Princess Violet turned to me and pushed up her mask.
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
Her violet eyes sparkled mischievously.