Chapter 19. Push and pull to get what you want. (5)
“Do you want to bet?”
As I found an empty seat and sat down, the dealer asked politely.
“okay.”
I received a card and started the game.
Texas Hold’em is a game in which players select two individual cards and five of the five cards shared by participants to create the final card combination to be revealed.
The participant with the highest combination wins, so you must bet strategically to win.
‘That’s why it’s also my favorite game.’
Today I was planning to mainly fight using my brain rather than my memory.
“Raise.”
“Raise.”
The game went on smoothly.
When someone wins, someone loses, someone stays and someone leaves.
The winning rate was also good. There were far more times when I gained chips than when I lost them.
When a good hand came in, I boldly raised the stake, and when a bad hand came in, I took the time to fold it.
“As expected, the mask of blue feathers….”
“You’re spending all your money again today.”
The nobles looked at me and whispered quietly.
I spent some time calmly ignoring those reactions.
The current game was just an appetizer, the main game hadn’t even started yet.
“I’ll switch dealers for a moment.”
A new dealer came in, and the existing dealer left.
The new dealer was a handsome young man whose good looks were quite striking even in a place that employs quite a few decent-looking employees.
“oh.”
“The face is quite….”
Noble women whispered, covering their mouths with fans. I just focused on the game without much appreciation.
“I fold.”
“Raise.”
Then at some point,
‘Hmm.’
I felt something small that was bothering me from earlier. Something small and subtle that cannot be accurately captured.
I got that feeling at some point when I sensed a slight decline in my win rate.
‘Is this after that dealer came in?’
I wasn’t dealt an absolutely bad hand. However, only cards that were difficult to achieve an absolute landslide victory were obtained.
So, even though I thought hard and tried hard to win, the results were not as good as expected.
‘Let me see.’
From then on, I focused on the dealer rather than the game.
“Would you like to call?”
I closely observed his gaze, breathing, and hand movements. And he realized.
‘There are different sounds mixed in.’
As he shuffled or dealt cards, subtle noises mixed in. It meant that he wasn’t just making superficial movements.
‘That’s fun.’
Casinos have dealers ready to deal with specific customers. But the fact that they appointed this dealer to me, who was only participating for the second time… … .
‘It must have been someone’s instructions.’
I burst out laughing.
Even after realizing that fact, I deliberately did not react and participated in the game. Instead, I listened carefully to the sounds outside the room.
“The Red Jewel Mask won this game.”
The dealer’s manipulations continued as if he thought I didn’t know. He smiled, narrowing his long eyes.
“Do you want to continue?”
It was a face commonly said to resemble a fox.
“for a moment.”
When I, who had been participating up until now, said that, the dealer paused.
“Do you want to stop?”
“No, not that one.”
I reached out my hand and grabbed the dealer’s wrist.
“-!”
The guards standing against the wall straightened up.
It was placed to deter those who were often drunk or who could not accept the outcome of the game and became riotous.
“…….”
The dealer shook his head quietly at them. It meant not to move yet.
I got up and walked straight to the dealer. I whispered into his ear.
“I feel something under my wrist.”
“-!”
The dealer’s eyes widened in shock. I looked at him and smiled.
“You didn’t do it alone, right? Who told you to do it?”
The dealer’s lips trembled as if he had hit the nail on the head. He wrinkled his nose as if he couldn’t speak.
“Hmm, okay.”
I knew he couldn’t answer. He knew who it was anyway.
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“What is this atmosphere?”
At a surprising moment, that ‘someone’ appeared.
“Why are you arresting the dealer and threatening him?”
Princess Violet’s harsh voice flew into the room.
Again, again.
With the sound of high heels.
‘Your clothes have changed recently.’
It seemed like they showed some manners when participating in the consecration ceremony.
Unlike back then, when her skin was hidden from view, she was now wearing a dress that clearly exposed her straight shoulders.
Just like when they first met, Princess Violet wore a pitch-black mask that covered half of her face. However, she didn’t wear her wig today and just wore her black hair up.
‘Anyway, you like decorating.’
Once Princess Violette appears wearing a certain dress or jewelry, within a few days, that outfit becomes a sensation in the capital.
Therefore, the capital’s clothing stores and jewelry stores made every effort to provide goods to Princess Violet.
That meant she could be a good promotional tool.
‘I’ll have to try to coax him out.’
First, I slowly let go of the dealer’s wrist.
“You’re saying it’s a threat, such harsh words.”
He rested his chin on one hand and smiled at Princess Violet.
“I was just talking.”
The dealer’s body stiffened. He glanced at the princess with a bloodless face.
“What did you say that made the dealer’s face look like that?”
Princess Violet crossed her arms and looked closely at me and the dealer.
People are no longer surprised to see me talking openly with Princess Violet. I just watched the conversation between the two, hiding my expression behind a mask.
“Well, I don’t know if I can say it here.”
Princess Violet’s eyes narrowed as she sensed something unusual in my tone of voice. She looked to her side to ask about her situation.
“Well, that is.”
The manager, who had entered the room earlier and was fidgeting, came out. It seemed that the commotion that occurred here had already reached headquarters.
Princess Violet gestured arrogantly towards him.
“Explanation.”
The manager whispered something into Princess Violet’s ear. I turned the volume down as low as I could so that people around me wouldn’t hear it, but it couldn’t escape my ears.
“I tagged a player, but he got caught.”
“what?”
Princess Violet got angry.
“What do you mean? Why are you doing something you weren’t told to do?”
“No, the princess has always said that when that blue-feathered mask comes, I will show her an example.”
“No, then you should think about taking a fair shot. What if I use this method?”
Princess Violet grabbed the back of her neck at the manager’s protest that seemed unfair.
“Do you want to see the casino fail? What are you going to do if there’s even a rumor?”
“No, that’s it. The loss last time was huge, so….”
Princess Violet glared at the manager as if he were going to kill her, then turned around. When she saw her smile resting on my lips, she sighed.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“good.”
I shook my seat and got up. I squeezed the frozen dealer’s shoulder once.
“I consider myself lucky.”
After saying some serious words, I left the room.
Princess Violet had already left the room and was going somewhere else. She had two escorts behind her as always.
Let’s see where her steps reach,
“Hoo?”
It became very enjoyable.
Princess Violette was heading to the very balcony where we had been talking.
When Princess Violet gestured, the guards opened the door on both sides. I followed Princess Violet, who walked proudly inside.
“…….”
Howie’s sharp gaze flew through the gap in the mask. Maybe he got fired because of the last incident, but he was different from the escort I saw back then.
widely.
The balcony door closed behind me.
“long time no see.”
Princess Violet looked back at me, leaning on the railing. Her purple gaze looked me up and down.
“joy.”
She turned her face when she realized that my clothes were flawless.
“Princess Violet.”
Since we knew each other’s identities, we skipped the formal greeting.
“This place is a bit… isn’t it?”
A bitter smile appeared on Princess Violet’s lips at the deliberately made-up voice of distress.
“Do you still have a conscience?”
She pointed around with her hand.
“That’s where you hit me in the back.”
Her eyes shone a dazzling blue color.
“Why, do you think it’s bothering me to come back again?”
“No, that’s not it.”
He waved his hand as if asking what he was talking about.
“I meant that it was a bit odd to be alone in such a small place.”
He rounded his eyes and smiled.
“You probably don’t know what nobles use this place for.”
“W-mumu what are you talking about?!”
As expected, Princess Violet jumped up from her seat. Her earlobes turned red.
“I just called you to talk while avoiding other people’s eyes! Don’t imagine anything strange!”
“I didn’t say that? Aren’t you the princess who has strange imaginations?”
“Oh really!”
Princess Violet screamed loudly.
Oh, it was fun too.
Even though it looks innocent, it shows such a strong reaction when you lightly poke it.
“Anyway, just forget about what happened last time.”
He spoke softly as he approached Princess Violet.
“Didn’t you just turn a blind eye to the dealer’s case?”
If I had exposed the dealer’s deception to the world, the casino would have been in a very difficult position.
“……That, hmm. Yes.”
Princess Violet brushed away the hair that had fallen slightly below her ear.
“It looks like the ones below are more motivated. I hope you forget about today.”
“What happened today? I’m not sure what you’re talking about?”
He answered in a natural tone.
“I just took it off because there was something stuck to the dealer’s wrist.”
“Foot.”
Princess Violet smiled softly.
“It’s been a while since I heard something I like.”
Her posture seemed to have relaxed as she relaxed.
“Princess Violet really enjoys walking here. I thought she would participate in the banquet held at the imperial palace.”
Princess Violet’s body became stiff again at my words.
“……The banquet is usually held in the evening, so I have time to relax until then.”
“Ah, then did you plan on staying at the casino until then?”
“……Um, that’s right.”
The answer was also very stiff.
‘cute.’
I suppressed my laughter as I looked at Princess Violet’s stiff mouth.
‘I’m not very good at lying.’
Princess Violette liked to show off her influence in social circles. Therefore, on days like this, she would wander around the imperial palace banquet hall.
It was obvious why she appeared at the casino so quickly.
‘I guess they told the casino to let them know when I come.’
Otherwise, there was no way I would have shown up so soon after starting the game.
I could see Princess Violet running towards me in a panic, thinking about resuming her match with me.
“Then, would you like to go in and compete with me? Any sport is fine.”
I already figured out the level of my skills. The casino can’t beat me without hiring a professional dealer.
So no matter what sport I chose, I was confident I could beat the princess.
“Hmm. I don’t know.”
Princess Violet, who had thought she would come forward willingly, was surprisingly reluctant. Her eyes captured the outside scenery beyond the balcony.
Things like food stalls and garlands spread out along the road, lively music and clowns wandering around diligently.
“I thought so at first, but I changed my mind.”
Princess Violet turned to me. She pushed up her mask and asked.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
Purple eyes sparkled mischievously.
fantasy,
