Casino Wizard

You can’t cancel a political marriage with a backroom deal.

So I went to the princess’s reception waiting room.

The moment I arrived, I began looking for a scapegoat.

Though I say “scapegoat,” it’s not like they’d actually suffer.

As long as they weren’t an idiot, they might even walk away feeling superior to me.

What I needed was an outsider.

Preferably someone with high status—since the kingdom’s nobles were too familiar with me.

Fortunately, the perfect candidate was already present.

“Who is that?”

“He’s the eldest son of the Fraser family, Baron Hyden.”

“Fraser?”

“You don’t know them? They govern the Kelona region of the City Alliance. He’s here on a trade mission and plans to stay in the capital for a while.”

The City Alliance were ruled by dozens of major and minor aristocratic families.

Originally, it was a kingdom with strong regional identities. But a few generations ago, the royal line ended, and it remained a federated nation.

And among them, a powerful heir had shown up. A young man around my age.

I didn’t need to make the first move.

Nobles naturally mingle with their own kind.

Especially with my recent activities, I was drawing attention whether I liked it or not. Even without doing anything, they’d come to me first.

“I’m Kyle Fraser. And you are?”

They had no choice but to approach—just like this.

After exchanging names, I asked a palace servant for wine.

Then, deliberately breaking etiquette, I accepted the wine while holding the glass tilted in my hand.

As if I’d never been taught manners.

Kyle Fraser looked at me with a strange smile.

“Baron Hyden, my subordinates have mentioned something about a slot machine.”

“Your subordinates?”

“Executive members of our trading company. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the Fraser Trading House?”

“You mean the Fraser family’s trading company?”

“Well, yes… obviously… hah.”

Frustration slowly crept into Kyle Fraser’s face.

This is the moment when those accustomed to being revered feel the most discomfort—

When someone fails to recognize who they are.

Some people even feel persecuted when others pretend not to know them. In this case, they wouldn’t be wrong.

“Apologies. I didn’t know. Anyway, you said something about a slot machine?”

“It seems like an amusing contraption.”

“It’s just a rotating barrel with a handle. A toy, really.”

“Hah… So the kingdom’s getting worked up over a mere toy?”

“Seems that way.”

I cut off any interest in the slot machine.

The City Alliance were ruled by merchants and landlords.

Kyle’s family had built its fortune through trade.

Of course a businessman would be interested in hot-selling items. But if I, the supposed inventor, dismissed it as a toy, he’d find it hard to press the topic.

As I continued to respond halfheartedly, Kyle’s expression grew more strained.

“Baron Hyden. Six years ago, we conducted a crackdown on gambling in Kelona.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“We seized and burned countless dice and game boards. A few con artists who tricked innocent citizens were even executed. They were vile criminals who dared to bet with people’s fundamental rights.”

He stared at me with a meaningful look.

“I see.”

I brushed it off again.

The more I ignored it, the more aggravated he’d get. Let him see me as a fool too weak to even retort. That worked for me.

“That’s all you have to say? ‘I see’?”

“What right do I have to comment? It’s not even related to me.”

“……”

“Unless you have more to say?”

His face darkened with anger.

He could’ve just dismissed me as a nobody—but no, Kyle Fraser glared at me like he couldn’t let this slide.

He probably thought backing down meant losing.

So he chose to attack.

“I hear your business is quite large. Do you receive help from your brothers?”

“……”

“I hope that’s not a sensitive question. I myself have a half-brother. Though his mother was of humble origins, he’s clever, and I treat him as family. What’s more trustworthy than blood, after all?”

An indirect jab at my own illegitimate status.

I did have quite a few siblings, thanks to my late father spreading his seed like a madman throughout his estate.

In the end, this was just a roundabout way of calling me a bastard.

Laughing here would be as good as admitting defeat. Normally, a noble should respond with a subtle rebuke.

But instead, I said—

“None of my half-siblings are of any use.”

“Oh… let’s not be so prejudiced.”

“Well, they’re all bastards with no real background. The men are thugs, the women are either scammers or whores.”

I said it flatly. Kyle flinched and looked at me.

“Hah… that’s a bit—”

“If I’m speaking wrongly, feel free to teach me better manners.”

The air in the room had gone ice cold.

It wasn’t a large room to begin with.

Since this standoff started, no one had even dared to breathe.

Everyone was pretending not to watch—but of course, they were watching intently.

A noble from the City Alliance and the owner of a casino going head-to-head outside the princess’s reception room? That was a spectacle.

Now that the tension had built to a boiling point, they were openly observing.

“I…”

Kyle opened his mouth, then closed it.

His face clearly showed regret.

He probably wanted to say, I didn’t mean to offend you—but pride wouldn’t let him.

He didn’t want to cause a scandal in another country. But if he wanted to end this peacefully, he’d have to apologize.

And too many eyes were watching. For a noble, backing down in public was shameful.

“Please, speak freely.”

Even when I urged him, he stayed silent.

If even one more harsh word came out, and I treated it as an insult to be “washed away,” there would be no avoiding a duel.

And there were plenty of witnesses here to officiate.

All I needed was a little more.

Normally someone would intervene at this point.

But who would?

I couldn’t imagine any of the kingdom’s nobles wanting to get involved with me.

And the tension between Kyle and me kept climbing.

Eyes wide, Kyle tried to mask his panic. I set down my wine glass and took a step closer.

But I didn’t challenge him to a duel.

Because this man wasn’t my real target.

The princess must’ve heard by now.

She wouldn’t want her honored guests fighting for no reason.

If she understood what was happening, she’d be forced to step in.

She was probably preparing to receive guests in the reception room. She wouldn’t just sit idle upon hearing a commotion outside.

She wasn’t the passive type.

And I was right.

“What are you two doing?”

With a cold smile, Princess Beatrice entered the room.

Everyone awkwardly bowed.

“We greet Your Highness.”

That didn’t mean the confrontation was over.

The princess, who had been glancing between Kyle and me…

Let out a short sigh between her teeth, as if exhausted, and gently admonished us.

“It seems there was a minor misunderstanding between the two of you. Am I wrong?”

I quietly read the room and naturally moved to stand beside the princess.

I didn’t forget to flash a subtle smile either.

It was to give the impression that I had the princess’s support.

By doing this, it would look like I was asking her to take care of that bastard on my behalf. Of course, that was entirely intentional.

“Your Highness. Sir Kyle from the City Alliance will explain the details.”

“What details?”

“I was insulted by him and simply couldn’t let it pass, so I was responding. I apologize for causing a disturbance.”

At this point, the princess had to make a choice.

Between Kyle of the City Alliance—and me.

If I hadn’t made a move first, the princess could’ve just scolded us both and ended things cleanly. But now, one of us had to swallow his pride to resolve it.

And who would do that was up to the princess.

After hearing from both sides, Beatrice quickly made a decision.

“You’re both businessmen. Be rational. This isn’t something worth blowing up.”

She sided with neither of us and recommended reconciliation.

It was a perfectly reasonable response.

After all, punishing a foreign guest over something so trivial would be foolish.

“Baron Hyden?”

The princess gave me a firm look, urging me silently… I stared blankly at her as if at a loss for words, then shifted my gaze to Kyle Fraser.

“As Her Highness said, it was a minor misunderstanding. Don’t you agree, Baron Hyden?”

Kyle had regained his composure at some point and was now staring at me.

His expression practically said: Try to explain this “minor misunderstanding.” The princess you’re clinging to wants you to, too.

I deliberately stayed silent for about ten seconds.

Looking at Beatrice with a gaze full of grievance.

Now it’d be even harder for her to side with me. Doing so would mean contradicting what she just said.

That was enough.

I forced my lips to move without meeting Kyle Fraser’s eyes.

“I offer my regrets to the heir of House Fraser.”

“Honestly, I was taken aback. Why are you so quick to anger?”

“I lacked restraint. I apologize… I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“I should, of course. I wasn’t entirely blameless either.”

The moment reconciliation was swiftly achieved—

Kyle Fraser smiled brightly, while I stared blankly at the floor in futility.

The waiting room returned to peace.

But that didn’t erase the fact that I’d been publicly rejected by the princess.

It was the model response for a royal successor, but if she was human, it would weigh on her mind.

Especially if she remembered who had helped put her in that position.

So I decided to pile a few more burdens on her conscience while I was at it.

“Baron? You may go in now.”

“If it’s alright… I’ll yield my turn to someone else.”

I gave up my place in line and sat there blankly, waiting.

One hour, two hours—until all the other visitors had gone.

Then I finally entered the reception room, the very last one.

“Baron Hyden.”

The princess avoided my gaze for some reason as she offered me a seat.

It was exactly the reaction I’d expected.

The best way to reject someone was to reject—or cut them off—before they even had the chance.

That way, it was easier to erase any sense of obligation. And if you played that guilt right, you could increase your leverage in negotiations.

“About what happened earlier, I—”

“No, Your Highness. I was far too arrogant.”

Of course, what came next was even more important.