The Duke of Kurten, having invited the guests inside, struggled to suppress his rising anger as he continued explaining the reasoning behind the wager.
“The reason I ask for a price in a bet is merely to confirm the opponent's resolve. It's exhausting dealing with someone who approaches with half-hearted intentions. If I could confirm the resolve in another way, I wouldn’t care about the price at all.”
The bet, after all, was just a hobby for the Duke.
He wasn’t looking to gain anything from it. After all, doing so would tarnish the name of Kurten.
A man like the Duke of Kurten, who respects strength and strives to be someone worthy of respect himself, would never stoop to the petty tricks one might see from someone like Count Newman.
“Prince Cecil even wagered his sword at first. A warrior offering his weapon — I understood what it meant, so I accepted the wager. Later, when I took his clothes, it was merely in fulfillment of Prince Cecil’s own desires.”
It was partly because he was excited to meet a young challenger who brought a sense of thrill, but the true root of the embarrassment lay with Prince Cecil. If the Duke were to rebuke him for it, he would feel unjustly blamed.
“Benedict. How long have you and I fought together on the frontlines, that you would misunderstand me like this? Do you think of me as the kind of trash who enjoys this sort of thing?!”
“I’m sorry! I have no words to say!”
As the Duke raised his voice in rebuke, Benedict bowed deeply, and the others, following suit, apologized as well.
In this room where everyone was watching the Duke, the only one unflinching was Lucy Allen, the one involved in the bet.
“Sigh. How long do you plan to keep acting like this? If you keep it up, I’ll go take a nap.”
The Duke’s lips curled into a slight smile at her audacity. She truly was a child who had done everything she could get away with. No matter who the opponent was, it seemed she considered them no more than equals.
“Don’t worry. While we’ve been talking, the servants will have finished preparing for the bet.”
“Then let’s hurry up. You don’t have much time left, you should use it wisely.”
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Her insolent remarks silenced the others, but the Duke, his hands raised, shot her a sharp look with his crimson eyes.
“Before we begin, we have something to discuss. What do you intend to stake in this bet?”
“Your gaze is rather lecherous. Would you like a kiss on the cheek?”
“What?”
“Isn’t that it? You’ve been staring at my lips, so I thought...”
Lucy Allen chuckled playfully, but the Duke could hardly smile.
As soon as she mentioned a kiss, a tense aura swept through the room. Everyone’s eyes turned cold.
“Ha. Seriously, are all of you animals? Did you all want my lips that badly?”
The Duke’s mocking smile barely concealed his complicated feelings. He had heard of the beauty that could shake nations, but he never expected it to be this little girl.
It was a blessing, though, that she seemed uninterested in anyone. If she were to take someone’s hand, it could very well spark a civil war.
“Let’s stop with the jokes. For the wager, I brought this mace.”
When the weapon was placed on the table, everyone in the room held their breath.
The mace used by the hero Ruel during the mythic age, the one that saved the world. It was a holy relic that even the church would desperately want, possessing immense historical value and remarkable power. The Duke was well aware of this.
Lucy Allen’s weapon was well-known.
Thus, the Duke thought she was just teasing, bringing out a precious item like that.
Such a weapon was not something you casually put on the line. It was something you’d part with only when your life was at its end.
When someone already had so much, there was no reason to stake such a priceless item.
“Feeling scared?”
“What?”
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
Scared? Me?
“Don’t worry, Sugar Duke. I don’t expect anything too big from someone like you. What could I possibly gain from an old man like you?”
“Are you confident?”
“Of course. I don’t plan on losing to an old relic waiting for his last days.”
“...Fine. I’ll accept that wager.”
Logically, it would have been best to reject this wager. If the Duke of Kurten lost, he would have to pay a price equivalent to the value of the mace.
No matter how powerful the Duke was, it would be a considerable burden to pay for something that valuable.
But, the Duke of Kurten accepted Lucy’s proposal. The moment he took a step back, he had the instinct that everything would collapse. He couldn’t afford to refuse.
“Let’s go.”
This daring little girl’s confidence — whether it was just bravado or if she had something to back it up, I’d find out soon.
<Please think before you speak! Who in their right mind would gamble their weapon away before such a serious matter?!>
The old man grumbled on, as if displeased by the fact that Lucy had made such a foolish decision.
I understand his frustration, but I have my reasons.
The more I stake, the higher my chances of winning.
It’s better to act boldly and confidently than hesitate and go in half-heartedly.
‘Who was the one telling me I was crazy when I said I’d bet myself?’
At first, I was planning to bet on myself. It had a high value and would be useful if I had to pull some strings later.
But as soon as I took out the mace, everyone — even the old man — was horrified. So, I had no choice but to switch to betting on my weapon instead.
<That’s insane!>
‘Grandpa, think about it another way. It means I’m that desperate.’
In truth, I’m not desperate at all. What I’m really thinking about is how delicious those human-shaped cookies will taste when I finally tear them apart.
But, if I said that, you wouldn’t understand, so I’ll make up an excuse.
‘I’m not doing this because I want to, but because I have to.’
<...Tch.>
Being a divine apostle sure has its perks. Even meaningless words carry weight when spoken from this position.
<Do you think you’ll win?>
‘Maybe?’
<What’s with that lame answer!>
Well, I don’t really know what will happen.
With my high luck and the buff from my Hero skill, I’m confident I’ll win, but since we’re in the real world, I can’t be too sure how things will turn out.
‘Well, let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, I can just knock it over.’
<The anxiety just won’t go away...>
The game was Blackjack.
A simple game where the person whose card total is closest to 21 wins.
The dealer, who had sworn an oath of honesty, was dealing the cards.
It was exactly like the game I had played before.
As I grinned, taking in the familiar scene, I could hear the murmurs of the room as I checked the cards in my hand.
An Ace and a 10.
Huh.
If I count the picture card as 10, that’s 21.
Again, 21.
Once more, 21!
Lucy Allen’s hand... again, 21!
Is this even possible in reality? How could I consistently get 21 every time in a game?
“Sugar Duke. You don’t need to be considerate anymore. I’ve already won.”
“...Next.”
“Huh? You’re not really trying, are you?”
“Next round! Now!”
“Pfft, there’s no way you’re really this bad. You can’t get 21, really? I thought you were the great Duke of Kurten!”
“Next round! Hurry!”
Lucy Allen’s hand movements were clumsy. The way she shook the cards, as though asking her opponent to see them, made it clear she was a beginner.
When the game first started, I thought her hand movements were a sign of beginner’s luck.
But now I know better. Lucy Allen is definitely up to something.
“I won again! I wanted to lose out of pity for you, Sugar Duke, but I can’t help but feel sorry for you.”
Laugh all you want. Many have tried to win by tricks before, but all of them failed miserably.
“That’s odd. Is it really that hard to get 21?”
Lucy Allen, you won’t end up any differently than they did!
The Duke of Kurten, fixated on finding the trick in her play, called for the next round, but the dealer shook his head with a perplexed look.
“What’s this?”
“Sir, it’s over.”
“That can’t be! The game hasn’t even been going on for long.”
“Duke Kurten, look at your own hands.”
At Prince Rene’s words, the Duke slowly looked down and realized his hands were empty, and his lips trembled.
“Huh? It’s over already? I thought I was finally starting to understand what’s going on.”
Lucy Allen, with a sneer, grinned.
“Goodbye, Sugar Duke. If I may offer advice, you should stop gambling. You’re too bad at it.”
“...Wait.”
It was a clear provocation, but the Duke of Kurten, cornered as he was, had no time to think about such things.
“One more round.”
“Huh? Again? I don’t like playing with you, Sugar Duke, it’s boring.”
“You don’t have to stake anything. If I win, you’ll just tell me your methods. That’s all I need.”
“What if you lose?”
“What?”
“You and I are on different levels, aren’t we? I’m doing this as a favor to you. Do you think I’ll just play for free?”
Though Lucy’s teasing tone annoyed him, the Duke had no way to retort. After all, reality had caught up with him.
“...What are you hoping for?”
“Who knows? I’ll think about it slowly.”
“Are you asking me to sign a blank contract?”
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. I’m fine with it. It’s been a chore to put up with that stinky old man’s scent.”
Hearing her laugh, the Duke of Kurten lost his composure. Despite everyone else trying to stop him, he nodded.
“Let’s begin!”
The game continued, and the stakes kept rising.
One more round. One final game!
Then I can expose this arrogant little brat’s trick!
“Huh? Didn’t you say you were going to win for sure? This is strange. Did I hear something wrong?”
Of course, it was inevitable, but the Duke of Kurten lost again, badly.
“Pfft! You really are pathetic!”
Now, the Duke was left in a position where he had to worry about what the demon in front of him would ask for next.