Chapter 12
—
What could I do right now?
As I paced anxiously around the room, I thought of something that, if resolved, would visibly yield results.
“I should pay off my gambling debts first.”
[Do you have the money?]
Bled threw cold water on my resolve.
“I have a bit of the compensation I received this time…”
[Can you pay it all off with that money?]
“…If I sell the house in town…”
[Would that cover it?]
“…It might still be a bit short…”
[Just how much debt do you have?]
“…I thought I could pay it all off with my skills.”
[Haa… You said you can’t stand the sight of blood. You can’t even go hunt magical beasts anymore, so where are you going to get the money?]
Bled placed a tiny hand on its forehead. I glared at him but had nothing to say, so I just pursed my lips.
[To begin with, how could a swordmaster fall for gamblers’ tricks? There’s no way you wouldn’t notice them cheating right in front of you.]
“…The liquor tasted good.”
[You idiot.]
When I was drunk, I didn’t notice how they were tampering with the cards.
I just liked the atmosphere of them flattering me and offering me drinks.
After killing magical beasts, knowing they were living creatures too, I often felt down, and I’d relieve that sinking feeling through gambling.
“…Let’s do it one last time.”
[What?]
Bled looked at me at my muttering.
“I need to take back as much as they’ve swindled from me. I’ll multiply the compensation several times and use it to pay off my debts.”
[Didn’t I tell you all day that what you need is to fix your image?]
“Even if I don’t go to the gambling den right now, my image won’t change. I’ll go one last time, win big, clear my debts, and then quit. I’ll start working on my image after that.”
Bled stared at me for a long time before letting out a sigh. Then he warned.
[Hmph, fine. But no more gambling dens after today. Promise.]
“Alright.”
I hooked pinkies with Bled, solidifying my resolve.
* * *
“I’ve just received word that Sir Marion rode out of the castle.”
At his aide Vito’s words, Kaiden, who was working in his office, looked up.
“Where is she going?”
“It seems…”
“The gambling den?”
Vito nodded with a pained expression.
Kaiden set down his pen and sighed. Marion didn’t used to be this reckless.
No, to be precise, it was three years ago, when she declared her independence and left the ducal castle to get her own place, that she started going astray.
She oddly became hostile toward him, started spending money lavishly, and began meeting men who resembled the crown prince.
She had seemed a bit better the past few days, but…
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“What? Where…?”
As Kaiden abruptly stood up, his butler Sebastian immediately prepared his coat. Vito looked at his superior and asked.
“Are you going to catch Sir Marion yourself?”
“Catch her?”
Kaiden flashed a menacing smile.
“I’m going to shut down the gambling den.”
* * *
“Hey? Long time no see, Sir Marion!”
“Yo.”
The gambling den was tucked behind a shabby tavern. Familiar faces welcomed me.
“Why haven’t you come by lately?”
“I had some things going on.”
“Hey, didn’t you just come back from hunting magical beasts? The hero of the north!”
“Ohh! You’re so cool, Marion!”
Soon, the gambling den was filled with voices praising me.
And why wouldn’t it be? Whenever I returned from a beast hunt, the stakes would skyrocket.
The old me would’ve gotten drunk on their flattery and thrown all my money away.
But not today.
“Here, here! A special brew for Marion!”
One of the gamblers offered me a huge keg of liquor. Seeing it, Bled, perched on my shoulder, spoke.
[They’re coming at you with full intent. Ugh, that’s an absurd amount.]
I agreed with him.
‘As a swordmaster, they probably couldn’t pull any tricks when I was sober.’
I gave a wicked grin to the guy who brought the liquor.
“I’m not drinking today.”
* * *
“This, this can’t be…!”
“What can’t be? Hand over the money.”
Kaiden, wearing a hooded cloak, casually played cards while keeping an eye on the table where Marion was seated.
“Did you see? I won five times the stake today.”
“That’s huge. That money could buy a building near the plaza.”
The situation was unfolding differently than he expected, leaving him flustered.
‘I thought she’d be drinking heavily again today.’
At that moment, Marion stood up from her seat.
“Alright, I’m heading out.”
“W-Wait, Sir! Just one more round…!”
“No way. I’m done with gambling. I’m quitting as of today.”
Kaiden dropped the cards he was holding. He could hear the man he was playing with curse, but that wasn’t the issue right now.
“Sir, how can you just leave like that? One more round! And have a drink! We brought some fine liquor, and you’re not even…”
“You guys drink plenty. I’m trying to quit drinking too. Some old geezer keeps nagging me about it.”
Kaiden wondered if the “old geezer” referred to him. After all, he was always telling Marion to cut back on drinking whenever he got the chance.
Then, a desperate gambler who’d lost money crossed a line.
“Did you pull some kind of trick? As a swordmaster, you must’ve done something we didn’t notice…!”
“Hey.”
“Eek!”
Marion swiftly grabbed a card from the table and flung it at the man.
Fortunately, it didn’t pierce through him. It only embedded itself into the stone wall behind him.
The room fell silent. One of the onlookers muttered.
“…Th-The card’s stuck in the stone.”
The others just swallowed hard.
Marion grabbed the gambler by the collar with a menacing voice.
“You little punk, I was trying to let this slide nicely, but you’re climbing all over me? You’re the one who was cheating by slipping cards when I was drunk, right? Right?”
*Slap!*
Marion struck the gambler’s cheek. The man let out a yelp. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Somehow, Marion looked like the greatest villain in the world. Even though it was clearly the gambler who’d tried to cheat.
“S-Sorry!”
“Yeah, don’t act up from now on. Let’s play nice, yeah?”
“Yes!”
“Cheat in moderation. I’m a swordmaster, for crying out loud—gambling debts? Really? Keep it reasonable.”
“Yes, understood!”
Marion went to the manager and handed over all her winnings to pay off her debts. It felt like she truly intended to quit gambling.
Kaiden couldn’t help but smile.
Marion finished her business and left the gambling den. With no reason to stay, Kaiden followed her out.
“Why are you following me?”
Marion was waiting for him outside the door. Kaiden paused for a moment, then looked at her and spoke.
“I heard you were heading to the gambling den.”
“I’m not going anymore.”
“I’d need to believe that first.”
“It’s for real this time.”
Marion, pouting, grumbled as she walked down the street. Kaiden followed behind her.
“I’m going to live virtuously from now on.”
“What?”
Kaiden thought he’d misheard Marion’s sudden declaration.
“I’ve been living like a rogue, so I’m going to repent.”
“…What was that about slapping a gambler just now?”
“Uh, that was…”
Marion stammered in a flustered voice. Kaiden let out a chuckle at her failure to reflect on her recent actions.
“A-Anyway! Um… Right! I’ll do one good deed a day to become a good person! So, Your Grace…”
“So I what?”
“…You need to keep an eye on me.”
Marion muttered, glancing nervously. Why was she so subdued?
“Like a naughty puppy.”
“What?!”
As Marion got angry, Kaiden burst into laughter.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
