Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: I Only Gamble on Sure Wins (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even so, the chances of Princess Violet actually flipping the table were slim.
The stakes between the two of us alone amounted to several hundred thousand gold. With that much on the line, this was undoubtedly one of the biggest games in the casino today.
'No matter how much of a princess she is, she can't just overturn a game like that.'
Doing so would shake the very foundation of the casino.
Moreover, countless nobles had witnessed the entire process. Even out of pride, she couldn't easily back down.
After making what I considered a reasonable judgment, I pulled all of Princess Violet's chips toward me.
Ching.
There were so many chips that just moving them felt like shifting an enormous mountain.
'A mountain of chips.'
I grinned as I gazed at the chips now piled in front of me.
Combined with the ones already there, the sight was truly magnificent and mesmerizing.
"This…!"
Princess Violet clenched her teeth, seemingly at a loss for words.
"Why…!"
More than her chips being dragged away or the massive sum she'd lost,
"Why did I lose?"
She seemed furious at the mere fact that she'd lost to me.
"I clearly…!"
Yeah, I knew it too. Princess Violet had an exceptional memory.
But compared to mine, hers was like a drop in the ocean.
There's a world of difference between memorizing everything as if painting a picture and vaguely recalling it.
'And I did interfere a bit.'
But no one besides me knew that. And no one should find out in the future.
"That was pretty fun."
I gathered my chips and stood up.
"Well, that's it for me."
"What…!"
Princess Violet snapped her head up.
"You're just going to clean me out and leave?"
She was so worked up that her speech slipped into crude language unbecoming of royalty.
"Sit back down. One more game!"
"Well, do it a hundred times, and the result will be the same."
I responded leisurely, then turned away from the table. Princess Violet jumped to her feet in outrage.
"Halt!"
Pretending not to hear her, I left the room.
My attitude made it seem like she wasn't even worth considering. And in truth, only one thought occupied my mind.
"The exchange counter… Ah, there it is."
I needed to cash them in quick.
Heading to the exchange counter for a different reason than before,
"I said stop!"
Princess Violet's shrill shout grew louder behind me.
"What?"
"Isn't that Princess Violet?"
"What's going on?"
People began murmuring and turning their attention to Princess Violet as she burst out of the room.
"Whoops."
She was chasing me in that dress, of all things.
Ignoring her calls, I slipped into the crowd.
"You there… Ack!"
A scream from Princess Violet echoed behind me. She must have tripped over her own feet.
"Princ…!"
Her guard knight hurriedly called out to her but then clamped his mouth shut.
"What a scene, what a scene."
I strolled along leisurely.
She'd been under constant life-threatening pressure, so suddenly standing up must have made her dizzy. Her legs were probably weak; she wouldn't walk properly for a while.
"Exchange."
I handed the bag to the clerk at the counter, whose eyes widened slightly. Even seasoned nobles rarely cashed in this much at once.
"All of it?"
"Yeah. Now. Hurry."
Because an enraged princess was hot on my tail.
My cold glare sped up the clerk's hands.
"Here you go."
The clerk's hands trembled as he handed over the pouch of gold coins. It was heavy.
"Thanks."
Clink.
The satisfying weight settled in as I took the pouch.
"Hmm, this should cover expenses for a while."
Grinning, I turned around and scanned the distance for Princess Violet.
"Where'd she go?"
I spotted her panting as she struggled to her feet.
'Here, right here.'
I waved leisurely in her direction.
"You…!"
Princess Violet gritted her teeth and started toward me.
"Be careful, Your Highness!"
She even shook off her guards' restraining hands.
"Hmm."
I sauntered toward the spot I'd eyed earlier. Even at this pace, I was much faster than her staggering form.
"Out of my way!"
"Who…! Gasp!"
Princess Violet shoved through the crowd roughly, trying to reach me. The packed masses made it tough.
Meanwhile, I'd already arrived at my destination.
'Here.'
I stopped in front of the balcony and waved at Princess Violet.
"You bastard!"
She drew closer. Her guards trailed helplessly but couldn't stop her.
"I'll have a drink."
I snatched two champagne flutes from a passing tray. Then I slipped through the balcony door.
Click.
Time had passed; the outside was pitch black.
"Hoo."
The capital Magiore was famous for its stunning nightscape. Moonlight poured lavishly between towering geometric buildings, creating a breathtaking view.
'Is this one of the spots in the capital tour packages?'
Probably a key night view course. Enjoying Magiore's nightscape from this casino balcony.
'I accidentally checked one off the list.'
As I finished admiring the view,
Bang!
The balcony door flew open violently.
"Hey! Didn't you hear me?"
Princess Violet stood there panting, her cheeks flushed red beneath her mask.
'Whoa, dropping the formalities now.'
As expected of the First Imperial Princess. The only one she showed proper respect to was probably her father.
"I heard."
"What?"
She glared at my apathetic reply.
"You're ignoring me even after hearing?"
"Nah."
I pointed to the champagne flutes on the terrace railing.
"I called you out here to talk."
"If that's the case, then earlier…!"
"Well."
I cut her off as she bristled.
"Things didn't seem right for chatting back then. Not unless you weren't about to grab my collar."
Princess Violet crossed her arms.
"My collar? Do I seem that barbaric?"
Her lip quivered slightly, hitting a nerve.
'She totally was going to.'
But no need to point it out and rile her up again.
"Well, good if not."
I picked up a flute and offered it to Princess Violet.
"The game's over. Have a drink?"
"Ha."
She stared at the glass in disbelief.
Probably no one in the empire had ever treated her this casually. But that very fact was piquing her interest.
"Unbelievable, really."
Even as she said it, she reached for the glass.
"You knew I was deliberately not drinking?"
"You're weak to alcohol."
She flinched at my curt reply, then composed herself and snatched the glass.
"Hmph, who said that? That I'm weak to booze."
Her fingers scratched at the edge of her mask as she grumbled.
No, you are, and I nailed it.
I chuckled softly and looked away. Princess Violet took a sip of her champagne.
"Fuu."
I'd chosen a blue-tinted one this time, the lowest proof so far.
Even that burned her throat; a faint sigh escaped her lips.
"…Haa."
She took another gulp.
Her cheeks flushed red, visible even in the dim moonlight.
"Ah, hot."
She quickly shrugged off her shawl and held it out to me as if it were natural.
I stared blankly at the red shawl thrust in my face.
Treating me like a servant.
"You said you were cold earlier."
As I took it with a chiding tone, she snorted.
"Weird. Why was it so chilly back then?"
"Beats me."
I replied offhandedly and draped the shawl roughly over the balcony railing. Princess Violet's eyes narrowed.
"Why put it there?"
"My arm hurts. Too heavy."
I shook my arm innocently.
"You carried that mountain of chips just fine."
"That's why my arm hurts."
"Ha!"
She turned away, not dignifying it with a response. After another sip, her cheeks reddened further.
"Hmph. Not bad taste-wise."
"You've tried three kinds so far, and they're all good."
"Of course. I picked them."
"Really?"
Didn't expect her to be involved in casino operations.
She nodded and drained her glass.
"Ah, hot."
Fanning herself, she suddenly grabbed her hair and yanked it off. The golden wig came loose, revealing the jet-black hair bundled beneath.
"Fuu."
She ran her fingers through it a few times, and
Swish.
Her hair cascaded like a curtain tailored from the night sky.
As the rumors went, Princess Violet perfectly inherited her father's imperious personality and her mother's stunning beauty.
Just standing there, regal imperial grace oozed from her. The mask even added an air of mystery, amplifying it.
"See,"
Her lips moved.
"You do know who I am?"
"Dunno."
I gave a vague reply on purpose. She snorted at my evasive reaction.
"Acting all cocky, I thought you were some country bumpkin noble."
She swept back a few strands falling over her mask.
"But your clothes and behavior say otherwise."
Her sharp gaze, unclouded by drink, scanned me.
"What's your name?"
I sipped my champagne without answering, letting the tension build until she grew antsy.
"That curious, huh?"
"Curious enough to rip off your mask right now. You'd behave then, right?"
"Ugh, scary."
I set down my half-empty glass with exaggerated fear and bowed toward her.
"Shall I show proper respect now? Your Highness, Princess Violet Magiore Impero."
"……."
Princess Violet stared fixedly at the crown of my bowed head.
By protocol, those of lower rank than royalty couldn't raise their heads until acknowledged.
"How's this?"
But I looked up with a grin. Innocent, harmless.
"Like it better?"
"…Ha, jeez."
She smirked incredulously at me.