Life Is a Gamble
"Do you know? Life is like a gamble. Every moment you roll the dice and pray a good number comes up."
The wine glugged into the transparent crystal glass, dark as blood. I smiled faintly and handed the drink to the noblewoman who was already completely sloshed.
"It seems Lady Aran has overturned the entire dice table. Otherwise fate wouldn't smile on you like this."
"Heh heh, that's right. You really know how to talk, don't you? I only came out of curiosity…."
Lady Aran giggled as she took the glass. Her tongue was already thick, her eyes spinning—she was nowhere near sober. She scratched her cheek in apparent embarrassment and looked away.
"Haha, not at all. I simply wondered how best to describe you, my lady. Look. When you overturned the dice table, all those people gazing up at you…."
"Exactly… Just like you said, I flipped the whole damn table! From now on my dice will only ever roll sixes."
Wanting to emphasize the overturning, Lady Aran flung both arms wide and shouted. I offered an admiring "Ohh." She looked smug, as though it were nothing.
"Indeed. Not only are you beautiful, my lady, but you listen so attentively to every word I say… I can only marvel."
"Puhaha, what's so impressive about that?"
"It is impressive. The world is full of idiots who refuse to listen. You, Lady Aran, are the exception. You're so perfect that you focus completely on my every story."
It was a lie. She only listened after I'd poured enough wine down her throat to float a ship.
Lady Aran. She might not understand politics, but with her drive and her house's wealth she had climbed to a high station. When a man named Hawin suddenly appeared in the imperial palace, was thrown into prison, then released, it was only natural. The charges had been dropped for lack of evidence, after all. Still, the mere fact that he had drawn the princess's eye guaranteed the interest of many nobles. Lady Aran was no different.
...This woman really is convenient to use.
Apparently unable to tell my smile was fake, she suddenly grinned, teeth flashing.
"You know what?"
"What is it?"
I tilted my head, curious. At the same time I pressed the recording artifact hidden against my chest. It was about time for something big to drop. Alcohol always loosened her tongue.
Without noticing, Lady Aran toppled backward and burst into wild laughter.
"You went to prison because of that bitch Lobelia, right?"
"She is the empire's little sun, the princess… How can you speak of her that way?"
"It's fine, it's fine. The mood is so nice right now. The princess is finished soon!"
Lady Aran's eyes flashed. Her pink irises swam with ecstasy and madness. She was already giddy, imagining her own dazzling future.
I gave a small, thin smile. Then I furrowed my brow and looked at her questioningly.
"Pardon?"
"She's going to die. Want a seat at the table? I like clever boys who know which way the wind blows. Just like you said!"
Click. I tapped a finger and the recording stopped. Perfect.
I approached slowly, laid a hand on Lady Aran's shoulder, and whispered with a smile.
"If you fail to seize opportunity, the world spins on without you. You, however, have seized it."
"We understand each other so well!"
"We do. By tomorrow… there will be enormous change."
"Huh? Tomorrow?"
Lady Aran stared at me with unfocused eyes, puzzled.
"Just wait patiently. Enjoy the present. For the world that is about to be overturned! Cheers!"
"Cheeeers!"
Lady Aran laughed loudly and clinked her glass against mine.
Clink.
...The next day.
Like a single shattered glass, one mistake can swell beyond control.
"Didn't I tell you?"
"H-Hawin?"
Lady Aran's eyes flew wide. She stared at me, disbelief etched across her face, unable to look away from the small artifact in my hand. It was as if she were trying to deny the scene before her.
She shook her head frantically.
"N-no… I…"
"My dear Lady Aran. You really should have listened carefully. If you fail to seize opportunity, the world moves quickly. It seems you let it slip away?"
I stepped in front of her with leisurely strides and smiled sweetly. Lady Aran, still flustered, tried to retreat. A wall stood behind her.
Thud. The moment her back met stone she flinched violently and began to tremble.
You should have hidden your tracks better…
Facing her terrified gaze, I spoke gently.
"Do you know? The young man named Jack—the one you conspired with to brew the poison—has already been captured."
"Y-you didn't say that far… No! Aren't you afraid of my house?! You were the one who kicked the chance away!"
Aran shouted, eyes blazing with fury. She seemed to have sobered at last. If she wanted to act, she should have done it convincingly; a trembling voice convinced no one. Even her pupils were flooded with fear, the look of someone staring at a monster.
"There, there. Then I shall give you another chance."
"A… chance?"
Lady Aran stared at me, dazed, not comprehending. I pressed the artifact into her hand.
"This is…!"
Shock flashed across her face. She stared at the artifact with trembling eyes, then looked up at me as though demanding an explanation.
"It might be a replica. It might be genuine. I will say it once more… This is your opportunity."
"W-what are you talking about?"
Lady Aran gazed at me, utterly lost. Everything had happened so quickly that resistance was meaningless; she could only be swept along in my current.
I pointed at the artifact in her grasp.
"If you break that, a signal will reach me. Lady Aran will lose every chance. You will suffer an end more agonizing than death—no, you will beg for death. A truly wretched finale."
"Real or fake, I just have to smash it! I can kill a worm like you right now!"
Lady Aran's voice cracked. Her clenched fist shook violently.
"Go ahead. Infuse it with mana and squeeze. Then you can kill me too. But what if it's a fake? And if I die here—oh, the timing would be simply perfect!"
There were two artifacts. One had already been delivered to the palace. The recording artifact was difficult to tamper with, yet possible; it was currently under examination. Jack had been handed over as well.
That alone was not clear proof that Lady Aran had attempted assassination. Even if evidence existed, her ducal house was too powerful. Execution would be impossible.
But if I die? Or if the fake artifact shatters?
Everyone would naturally conclude that Lady Aran had killed me to conceal her crime.
I continued with relaxed composure.
"Lady Aran. From now on, even if you wish to kill me, you will not be able to. You will have to keep me alive at all costs. In a different sense… this is your opportunity."
"You… what kind of bastard are you?"
"I am Hawin. Hawin. You will follow my orders and carry out the necessary investigations. If you wish to die, kill me. Even if I die by your hand through some mistake…."
I cut my words short and met her eyes. Those trembling pupils that looked at me as though I were a monster—I had seen them many times. I would see them many more.
...A monster, am I?
No. Anyone could become this. A perfectly ordinary man with neither talent nor power.
"Lady Aran. Remember it well. If I fall, you fall with me. You will not live comfortably. The only thing left for you will be…"
"Hawin, you…"
"To roll the dice and hope a good number appears."
I took her hand and grinned.
...After successfully reeling Lady Aran in, I swiftly spread my notoriety and expanded my network.
From now on she would act as my puppet. She would rebel, of course, but I could handle that much. The palace had long been looking for a way to dispose of Lady Aran, who had always been an eyesore. Yet a ducal house would not crumble so easily; therefore I had to seize control of her.
Things are proceeding faster than expected.
Half the nobles of the empire were already rotten; the other half would rot soon. Only a tiny few remained clean.
"Hum hum hum, la la la…."
I kept that truth firmly in mind. Even those who appeared decent would fall the instant they tasted power.
Humming cheerfully, I twirled my fingers.
"Life marches toward tragedy…."
Before me stood the empire's true traitor—Kalupen.
"The empire is rotten. Just as you said… Lady Aran has fallen as well."
"Correct. I knew a man of strong justice like you, Minister Kalupen, would understand."
"Yes… Only I can change the empire."
Kalupen offered a bitter smile.
Hypocrite.
I glanced at him and thought. Kalupen had grown disillusioned with the decaying nobility. When agents of the Nine Kingdoms approached at the perfect moment, he was seduced and became the second-greatest contributor to selling out his country.
I had approached him even before entering the palace. I had coaxed him with the words that only he was the empire's hope. That was how I earned his recommendation. And why was he second? Because I was first.
To be blunt, he's a fool who believes himself a righteous outlaw… dreaming of glory after the empire collapses.
Muttering inwardly, I spoke aloud.
"Please change this empire for us, Minister Kalupen."
Because you make an excellent sacrificial lamb.