Casino Wizard

The fair and impartial behavior of the beloved youngest daughter brought a smile to King Carlo III’s face.

But it wasn’t a smile born of joy.

…

“Well done.”

Beatrice looked faintly bewildered at the sudden praise.

Carlo III silently observed his daughter.

She was an exceptionally talented child—if only she weren’t a woman.

Her swordsmanship was good enough to spar with royal guards several years her senior. Her memory was so remarkable she had once been involved in restoring lost tomes. Her appearance, too, was striking.

But she lacked empathy. That’s probably what caused the recent incident.

Not a situation where kind words came easily.

He knew sarcasm didn’t suit a monarch, but Carlo III was only human—he couldn’t always remain calm.

He decided to offer a few words as a lesson.

“…Rumors always spread faster when things go wrong. By now, that Hyden fellow’s humiliation at the palace has probably become widely known. A man whose standing was solidifying thanks to you and your brother has been disgraced. Why wouldn’t the news spread?”

“Father.”

“People are talking.”

He imagined everyone was buzzing with excitement.

The words of the nobles would inevitably shape Beatrice’s reputation.

Not protecting one’s close aides?

That part was acceptable.

If she had taken Hyden’s side, things would’ve been worse. They’d have said he was using the princess to throw his weight around.

Still, the idea that a royal would treat even their enemies fairly… that wasn’t advantageous.

It made genuine loyalty harder to expect.

That might not have been a problem if she were already a firmly established ruler.

“But you are not.”

That was the end of his reprimand.

Dragging it out would’ve been petty.

Even this outcome was a marked improvement from the past. She had only dismissed Hyden, keeping the others around.

What mattered was what came next—

How she would handle things after her misstep.

Don’t disappoint me.

Carlo III looked at Beatrice with silent hope.

He didn’t ask her what she planned to do.

If all she said was “I’m sorry,” he might mentally deduct a few points.

In a game of rummy, that’d be about ten penalty points? If one of his children had impressed him, he might have passed down some of his power and spent the rest of his days playing cards with his friends in peace.

“I’ll give Hyden what he wants.”

“Adoption? Surely that’s not all?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then what?”

Don’t disappoint me.

“What happened today was a staged performance, implicitly agreed upon by Baron Hyden and myself.”

“Is that true?”

“No. But that’s how it’ll be presented later.”

It sounded plausible enough, so Carlo III urged her to continue.

“Baron Hyden always stirs conflict—whether he intends to or not.”

“He’s quiet for now. So?”

“I planned this to draw a clear line and avoid being caught in his wake. But behind the scenes, I’ll continue to support him discreetly—so I can rely on his power when needed.”

In other words, she would spread the story that the cold treatment had been part of a prearranged act.

That wasn’t quite enough.

If Hyden didn’t play along, it would all be pointless. So he waited.

Thankfully, she wasn’t finished.

“Jerome Zanquius, commander of the city guard’s 3rd regiment.”

“Hero Pierrot’s companion. Go on.”

“If he’s promoted, Baron Hyden will feel appeased. Of course, it’s Your Majesty’s decision to make.”

So she meant to apologize indirectly by rewarding Hyden’s ally—using Hyden’s twisted sense of loyalty.

At least she had a plan.

Carlo III felt some relief.

It was sad that he had to feel relief over just this much, but still—he was glad.

The princess was the only card he had left.

A gambler with a bad hand could simply fold and wait for the next round, but he couldn’t afford to die—even if he wanted to.

“I see. Then that’s fine.”

But he still had more to say.

Not as a king—but as a father.

“You know I dislike him.”

Him—of course meaning Hyden Seydi.

There was no way he could like him.

Especially with what happened to the second son.

And from a monarch’s perspective, he was troublesome too.

Nobles who should be working hard for the kingdom were wasting their time gambling.

Spending their own money was one thing—but even the court nobles, meant to serve the royal family, were making excuses to skip duties and fooling around in casinos.

The latest slot machines even gave him an ominous feeling. Regardless of his opinion though…

“I acknowledge his abilities.”

“……”

“He could have been a capable partner to you. Perhaps.”

A marriage proposal that had ended before it began.

Beatrice was the other party in that proposal.

Carlo III had initially opposed it, but found it reasonable enough to accept.

But it had been called off—by Beatrice herself.

“That’s a shame.”

“I won’t disappoint you again.”

As she should.

Carlo III gestured for her to leave.

There was no time for rest.

“Send someone to Alfonso. Tell him I’ll visit and invite him for a walk.”

It would be a walk with his eldest son, whose steps were extremely short.

Not in the open gardens he despised—but in the small one by the western annex.

Discarded card…

How pitiful, to be in a position where even cards he had thrown away had to be checked again—just in case.

Carlo III felt fatigue wash over him.

…

“His Majesty has arrived at the western annex.”

It was a quiet message passed along by one of the palace women in charge of the annex.

Beatrice didn’t respond right away.

She knew all too well that her father choosing to visit her eldest brother at this particular moment did not bode well for her future.

However, taking any proactive action here would be a poor move. If she tried to check her pitiful brother, it would only deepen her father’s disappointment.

Perhaps he was doing this on purpose—to test her.

“I see. Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“Constantly be suspicious, but don’t judge hastily.

And look at the long game.”

That was the lesson Beatrice had taken away from all this.

It might’ve come a bit late, but fortunately, she still had opportunities left.

The fact that there was even a palace woman willing to inform her that the king had gone to the western annex was proof of that. A bit of loyalty like this came without her having to lift a finger.

‘The one who helped me build that position… is gone now.’

They had been at a distance—only interacting when needed, making exchanges.

In truth, it was still the same as before. Maintaining the status quo.

The emptiness she felt must’ve just been her imagination.

It had to be.

****

Four days had passed since I steered the direction of the political marriage off course.

I was still playing my part.

I wasn’t exactly in seclusion, but whenever I visited the casino, I holed up in my office. Most of the work I brought home and handled there. I only let it be known—indirectly—that I had someone new in mind at the palace.

That way, it would seem like I was a man publicly humiliated and heartbroken.

Sorry, but it was Lucy who had filled the gap I left. It was something I had to do, if only to give her some good news later.

Click!

Right now, I was testing an improved slot machine.

A slot machine upgraded with reinforced brake pads to prevent the wear and tear of the reel plates…

There were still countless improvements to make.

The rules,

the machine’s durability,

and the game’s overall diversity.

Just yesterday, an adventurer who lost his money got so pissed he ripped out the lever with his bare hands, causing a brief scene.

Sure, slot machine arcades were easier to manage than table games, but they didn’t run themselves.

I have to keep trying. Even more from here on.

I was the one who had launched slot machines into the world to build a casino kingdom, and struck a deal with the princess to get rid of future competitors before they even emerged.

That’s what had sparked the political marriage in the first place.

Having caused something that big, I couldn’t afford to neglect my main job.

Click!

The four reels spun tirelessly.

No jackpot.

Even as its creator, the slot machine delivered fair results.

It was just a test, so no matter what came up, there wasn’t going to be any payout—but that didn’t mean I was pulling the lever lightly.

I was seriously pulling it while thinking about further improvements—

When a royal messenger arrived.

It wasn’t a formally dressed herald in a bright red uniform.

It was Lady Bonucci.

“I’ve been sent to deliver a message.”

“I see.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why it’s me?”

There was no need to ask.

“It’s obvious. Spreading the word naturally would require someone like Lady Bonucci.”

In a world where the adoption system was extremely strict.

However, for daughters, adoption was somewhat easier than for sons. After all, unless something unusual happened, they weren’t given inheritance rights.

That loophole was often used as a way to ‘clean up’ one’s status.

“Besides, it’s not strange for someone like me to broker an adoption.”

That’s probably why the royal family chose Maria Bonucci—someone who could talk to me, and also spread the word naturally.

“The fee?”

“I’ve been paid. Just travel expenses.”

“By the royal family, I assume?”

“Most likely. But if you ask me… well, it’s probably better I don’t say.”

She said that all expenses had already been covered—by someone presumed to be royalty.

That included the compensation due to Bonucci,

as well as the gratuity meant for the family who would adopt the woman I had named as my fiancée.

It wasn’t hard to guess who that “someone” was.

The princess, maybe.

Perhaps it was support offered as an apology.

Or maybe the king stepped in on behalf of his daughter—either way, it didn’t matter.

With this, I maintained a connection to the royal family and avoided the political marriage in my own way.

“The Manion family will act on behalf of the royal house. The head of the family studied alongside His Majesty, and the lady of the house once served as the queen’s handmaiden.”

She explained the family that would take Lucy in as their adopted daughter.

A noble house with honor, but little money.

Close to the royal family, but uninterested in power.

They’d picked well in a short amount of time.

Lucy’s becoming a noble, huh.

It was mostly a formality. Just like how Maria Bonucci—standing before me now—never even associated with her so-called husband or his family.

“Um, Baron Hyden?”

“Yes?”

“Could I hear a bit more about your fiancée? I’ll need to introduce her to the Manion family to finalize the adoption, and then they’ll send a matchmaker your way in return. I trust you didn’t choose someone strange.”

Of course we needed to go through the motions. For the royal family’s image, if nothing else.

“It’s Lucy.”

“Ah, I thought so.”

Not that Lucy would be using her new surname for long.

Her essence wouldn’t change.

Even now,

and in the future—

we were still gamblers.