Author: Nikss

 

‘A casino?’

 

I frowned when I heard Jeron’s words.

 

‘That can’t be true.’

 

Of course, if it were true, it would explain everything that’s happened so far.

 

Meyers’ business was ‘tourism’, he was buying up a lot of lands, that he’s working with Rebeauvel’s second son to build something, and so on.

 

But for all of these plans to come to fruition, there was one big problem in the first place.

 

“But gambling is illegal, right?” I asked Jeron, who was now sitting in front of me.

 

When I heard the word ‘casino’ from Jeron, I sensed that the story would be long, so I immediately sent O’Neill away. She seemed curious, but she got up without saying anything.

 

So now it was just me and Jeron in the living room. At my question, he narrowed his eyes like he had a headache.

 

“It’s illegal, yes, but…”

 

Yes, that was definitely what Jeron knew.

 

No, it wasn’t just Jeron, it was something that any normal Imperial citizen would have known. The Empire outlawed gambling.

 

No matter how much land you wanted to buy and build a massive casino on top of it, you couldn’t do it in the Empire. 

 

Even small-scale socializing for money, let alone cards or roulette, was outlawed.

 

I wonder if he was trying to build a casino in a country other than the empire, but that’s also strange. In the first place, Meyers bought more land in the empire than in any other country.

 

It’s clear that he wants to do something within the empire, and it’s illegal to run a gambling house.

 

“If you have the brains to set up a casino, you’re sure to get arrested, but you’re digging your own grave? Is that accurate information?”

 

“That’s accurate. But this isn’t usually a problem…”

 

“Why? What on earth do you mean?”

 

Watching him drag his horse, I felt frustrated. After thinking about it for a while, he soon became serious.

 

“Because the Imperial family might be involved.”

 

“The Imperial family?” I asked in disbelief.

 

“There are rumors that the emperor wants to legalize gambling.”

 

My mouth dropped open. 

 

“Legalize?”

 

“You might think this is only a rumor, but it was quite famous in the empire, and the Imperial family accepts and moves as a betting integrity that allows gambling…”

 

“No, wait, why now?”

 

Jeron said with a deep sigh, “I’m curious about that too.”

 

It couldn’t have been anything other than a lightning strike in a dry sky.

 

It wasn’t such a shock when I heard that Confucius Meyers was building a casino. But it so happened that the imperial family was planning to legalize gambling.

 

A law that had been in place for hundreds of years, and now?

 

“…It’s not a coincidence, isn’t it?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Do you think they were secretly in collusion?”

 

“I don’t know about that.”

 

There was nothing but collusion.

 

Otherwise, Meyers’ behavior up to this point could not be explained.

 

He’s planning to build a casino as if he has a piece of faith, and he seems to have finished planning to build the casino in advance.

 

And the corner he believed in was ultimately the imperial family. If the emperor announces that gambling would be legalized…

 

“It’s like putting on wings.”

 

Then I’d be left helpless without even having a chance to do anything.

 

The people of Averine did not particularly welcome gambling. But where does the blood of merchants go?

 

There’s no reason to do anything if it makes you a lot of money, especially if it’s legal instead of illegal.

 

As long as the empire was watching, Meyer’s business would continue to prosper, and even if I belatedly announced a new power source, I didn’t know whether it would have a chance of success.

 

I chewed my lips and muttered to myself.

 

“What do you think he’d ask for in exchange for making Averine’s vassal?”

 

“A lot of things. Like splitting the profits from the casino, or giving something to the imperial court every year.”

 

“Aren’t you ultimately going to bow down to the imperial family? Did Aunt permit that?”

 

“Because people don’t know what’s inside, they’d be curious.”

 

But it’s strange, to say the least. That my aunt, who was once so proud to be Princess Averine, would plan such a thing.

 

No, it was too hard to think of her. I turned to Jeron and asked seriously.

 

“Legalization, do you think it will pass?”

 

The only thing that could be trusted was the Congress. 

 

No matter how much the emperor wants to enact a new law, he must receive the approval of a majority of nobles in parliament.

 

And if the nobles are highborn, there are probably more of them who still disapprove of gambling.

 

But Jeron’s face remained grim as he shook his head.

 

“That’s what I’ve been looking into. It seems many of the nobles have already fallen. The proponents are unusually vocal.”

 

“The pro-gambling faction?”

 

“The people who led the legalization of gambling together with the imperial family. It may seem like an absurd group, but it is surprisingly large. After all, the person at the center was… ”

 

Jeron’s low voice interrupted.

 

“It’s Duke Goldman.”

 

✨ 

 

I stared at the ceiling, dumbfounded.

 

‘Goldman.’

 

It wasn’t unexpected, of course.

 

The Goldman’s have long been connected to the imperial family.

 

They were known to be the ‘imperial dogs’ and were known to stand by the imperial family in any situation.

 

That said, it’s unlikely that he would openly support the legalization of gambling.

 

After all, Goldman has been a public figure since the beginning and has maintained a clean image.

 

‘So they said Goldman’s children are raised strictly?’

 

I could get the answer just by looking, at the eldest son of Goldman, the commander of the imperial guard, and Princess Goldman, the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

 

They have always prioritized power and prestige over lust.

 

Of course, I knew that the current Duke of Goldman had a greater thirst for power than his predecessors, but instead of saving face, he took the lead in advocating for legalization.

 

And even more shocking…

 

‘He was running his own gambling house?’

 

When I finally heard that information from Jeron, I couldn’t help but be astonished.

 

Even though he was blind to power, he was even making a profit by committing illegal acts under the table.

 

‘It’s true, and the gambling house is quite large. It’s a wonder he hasn’t been caught before now.’

 

‘So, do you think…’

 

‘Yes. Either he’s been very careful to avoid detection, or he has someone watching his back.’

 

And there was, in fact, only one person who would watch the back of a man the size of a Duke.

 

‘The Emperor.’

 

I frowned, my hair spontaneously prickling.

 

Honestly, I don’t care about politics. I’m the successor, win a fight, and be recognized as a successor.

 

I was satisfied, too. When did this happen, I don’t even know if it’s gotten this big.

 

And what’s worse was that I had no choice but to jump into this complicated situation. I knew up to this point, but I couldn’t sit still and get beaten like this.

 

‘But where do I start to solve it?’

 

I sighed several times already. Then the person sitting in front of me looked at me with concern.

 

“Are you all right, Princess?”

 

“Oh…”

 

I smiled awkwardly at her.

 

“I’m fine, O’Neill.”

 

Suddenly, Jeron came in, forced to part ways, and a few days later, O’Neill came to see me again.

 

Although she said it was to update me on the progress of her research, it was clear that she came back because she was also curious about my situation.

 

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be hiding a secret curiosity behind her worried expression.

 

And as usual, I would have tried to smile and brush it off.

 

It’s not that I don’t trust her, but it’s my job, and I don’t feel the need to tell her.

 

The problem was, that this was not a normal situation. O’Neill was…

 

The one person I thought of when I heard the name ‘Goldman’.

 

‘Because she’s connected to Lord River.’

 

And Goldman’s second son, who probably knows the family situation better than anyone.

 

I don’t know why I trusted him so much.

 

But for some reason, I thought he wouldn’t agree with his father’s plan. Maybe that’s why in the North he secretly warned me.

 

‘Maybe I can get some help.’

 

But he was a Goldman, after all, and I wasn’t sure he’d tell me the truth.

 

Still, if O’Neill, whom he likes, asks for it…

 

When I’m alone with my thoughts again. O’Neill, who had been quietly looking at me from the front, suddenly opened her mouth.

 

“It might be difficult to say this, but… ”

 

“What?”

 

“Can’t you tell me the problem you’re worried about?”

 

When I made a puzzled expression, O’Neil continued to talk, even though she wiggled her fingers as if hesitating.

 

“You know how they say it’s better to share your worries, and maybe talking to someone else will give you a different solution.”

 

“…”

 

“Ah, of course, I can’t help it if you’re in trouble, but… I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help you…”

 

Saying that, O’Neill smiled shyly.

 

That smile made her seem like a pure and good person, so much so that I was embarrassed to think about whether I could appease Lord River over her.

 

And when she said she would help, I was the one who welcomed it. Because she did not belong to any family.

 

“But there is an unwritten rule that the Magic Tower remains neutral… “

 

“It’s okay. It’s just a matter of words, but it doesn’t matter as long as you take responsibility for it yourself.”

 

“Still, this was an important matter for me, and I don’t want anyone else to know…”

 

“Shall we take a pledge? What if I tell anyone the secret, I’ll die.”

 

“Huh?”

 

My eyes rounded. But when I saw her still smiling, I took it as a joke and laughed lightly.

 

“Hey, don’t say that even as a joke. Even if you don’t have to risk your life, I trust you, O’Neill.”

 

“Then…”

 

“You must never tell anyone else?”

 

She nodded firmly, and I began to tell her the story slowly.

 

From a long time ago, I have been preparing to become the family’s successor.

 

To become a successor, I have to go through the family’s customs, but I was having a hard time because of the rivals and had to compete with them for the position of successor.

 

I’m silent for a moment as I tell her what the rival was up to and how the imperial family plans to legalize gambling.

 

O’Neill, who had been listening intently, nodded.

 

“So you’re saying that if legalization passes, it’s a big deal.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“And they’ve got a lot of nobles in favor of it, so you’re in trouble.”

 

Done. I was about to tell her straight up

 

“Yes, so…”

 

“The leader of the favorable faction was Goldman, and he wanted to meet with Lord River, who was familiar with the situation there. If you can convince him, then…”

 

“If that’s the case, how about this?”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll step into the pro-nobles as a mistress.”

 

“Huh?”

 

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