TRETTHD 49

Chapter 49. We’re Not Here Just to Play

Khalid casually checked his cards, then revealed one. After glancing at the additional cards dealt to him, he placed his bet.

Everyone else at the table, unwilling to lose, followed his lead.

“Hooh?”

“Your Highness, it’s been a while since you last played, hasn’t it? You must still be rusty.”

One of the participants tried to provoke Khalid. But Khalid only smirked and folded his arms. His expression didn’t change, though his eyes flicked across the table.

“Call.”

One voice was followed by another.

“Call.”

“Fold.”

The chips kept piling onto the table.

A moment later, when the chatter subsided, the dealer dealt another card to each of them.

“Hm.”

A few low groans echoed across the room.

Unfamiliar terms flew around again as more chips stacked up on the felt.

Velia blinked, watching in silence.

After several rounds, the game reached its end. A mountain of chips had piled high, and the remaining players began to reveal their hands.

“Two pair.”

“Not so good. Straight.”

“Full house. Hahaha. Seems today isn’t your day, Your Highness?”

One man laughed and reached for the chips.

But Khalid laid his cards on the table and spoke.

“Indeed… not such a lucky day. Just four of a kind.”

With a sly grin, Khalid signaled to the attendant, who promptly swept all the chips toward him.

Velia had no idea what had just happened, but it was obvious Khalid had won. She clapped along awkwardly, and Khalid glanced at her with a mischievous look.

“Want to see what’s over there?”

“Yes!”

Velia didn’t understand the rules or the game, but strangely enough, she found it fun.

Seeing her slightly flushed expression, Khalid gathered his chips and moved to another table nearby.

“What’s this one?”

“This time, you’ll join in.”

Velia startled, not even trying to hide her flustered reaction.

“But… I don’t know anything!”

“It’s not hard,” Khalid reassured gently.

“You don’t know the rules, so I’ll explain simply. The dealer will roll three dice. You bet whether the total will be over or under eleven. You can also bet whether the sum will be odd or even. Easy, right?”

“Hmm. So basically just guessing numbers?”

“Exactly. Which means you can do it.”

Khalid announced Velia’s participation, and the game began.

After some thought, Velia bet on even and over eleven.

The result: odd, over eleven.

“Ah…”

A disappointed sigh escaped her lips.

“Heh. You lost half and won half, so you’re back where you started.”

Khalid chuckled, handing her more chips.

Velia clenched her resolve and focused hard on the dice. Each time they rolled across the table, her eyes sparkled.

Khalid couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked.

Sometimes she won, sometimes she lost everything. Before long, her pile of chips had completely vanished.

“…Huh?”

Only then did Velia realize her hands were empty. She looked around in shock.

Beside her, Khalid rested his chin on one hand, watching her with amusement.

“Fun, wasn’t it?”

Velia’s cheeks flamed red. She couldn’t bring herself to deny it.

Time had slipped away without her noticing.

So this is how gambling becomes addictive…

The thrill had swept her up, and even for that brief moment, she’d forgotten everything else. It was shameful, especially when she had come here with a purpose.

Suddenly sobered, like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, Velia jumped to her feet, grabbed Khalid’s hand, and dragged him away.

“Hahaha.”

Catching on to her sudden change, Khalid only laughed and let her lead him.

Back in the lounge where they had first been received, Velia calmed her flushed face before speaking.

“What do we do now?”

Do we storm into the hidden room right away? What about the guards?

She didn’t dare voice these questions aloud, but Khalid seemed to understand anyway. He took her hand and led her out.

“Eh?!”

Instead of going deeper into the casino, they walked toward the opposite exit.

“Wait a minute…!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

What on earth?!

Velia looked back in shock, but Khalid tightened his grip and pulled her along.

Before she knew it, they were outside the casino, boarding the waiting carriage. Her expression was one of utter bewilderment.

“Are we really just leaving like this?”

“Of course.”

The carriage drove away toward the palace without hesitation.

Velia couldn’t make sense of it.

They had really just come to play and then left?

“Raoul is inside right now! And you’re just going to leave him? He’ll be on his guard from now on.”

She had assumed they came here to catch him, since they knew he was visiting the illegal gambling den.

But Khalid had chosen instead to make their presence known to everyone and then leave. His demeanor was calm, as if this had been his plan from the beginning.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll be back.”

“…I don’t understand.”

Why not just arrest him right away?

Khalid smiled, stroking her cheek.

“Even if we caught Raoul now, he’d find a way to wriggle out of it. He could even claim we framed him.”

Velia stared, startled.

“Even though we found him there?”

They had him caught red-handed—how could it be turned against them?

“Think about it. The crown prince and his consort just ‘happened’ to stumble into an illegal casino for the first time ever and ran into Raoul? Who wouldn’t find that suspicious?”

Khalid explained calmly.

Velia was wise and knowledgeable, but she didn’t understand the depths of intrigue—how easily people could be deceived and framed. That was Khalid’s role.

“If Raoul claims he was only there to investigate illegal operations, while blaming us as the ones actually using them, it wouldn’t be hard for him to silence the staff and players. Others, not knowing the truth, would believe his version. And since this is our first appearance there, the suspicion would fall on us.”

If suspicion was turned back on them, they would have no way to refute it without looking worse. After all, the emperor had already publicly praised Raoul for his earlier campaign against illegal gambling. Public opinion would side with him.

Velia realized his reasoning made sense.

“That’s why we had to show ourselves openly. This isn’t like the incidents you’ve been solving—it needs a different approach.”

She nodded slowly.

“One day, Raoul will let his guard down and visit again. That’s when we’ll spring a trap he can’t escape. And meanwhile… we enjoy a date.”

“But Raoul will surely suspect us after today.”

Velia’s voice trembled with concern, but Khalid only shrugged.

“It’s fine. Thanks to how much fun you had, people saw you genuinely enjoying yourself. That will make our excuse of ‘just stumbling across it’ far more convincing later.”

“Ah…”

Velia’s face burned again.

So that was why he had made her play.

And she had been so excited, completely unaware…

“You could’ve told me in advance…”

At least then she wouldn’t feel quite so embarrassed.

She fanned her hot cheeks with her hands.

“You were so cute enjoying yourself, I couldn’t resist.”

“I only played hard because you told me to!”

She puffed her cheeks, sulking.

Leaning back comfortably in his seat, Khalid chuckled.

“I’ve already planted someone inside. They’ll keep us informed.”

And there was already someone ready to report the place as well.

“…You suddenly seem different.”

“What do you mean?”

Until recently, he’d shown only his vulnerable, yearning side.

“How do I seem different?” he teased.

Velia didn’t answer. Her face was heating up again.

“Do I look more dashing? Or… like someone you might fall for?”

Khalid leaned close, his eyes curving into charming crescents.

That playful look—he always showed her that.

“Go away.”

Velia pushed his shoulder.

Instead, Khalid pressed even closer.

“How do I look, Velia? Tell me.”

“….”

“This time, say you’ve really fallen for me. Hmm?”

Velia thought her face might explode.

She wanted to say she liked him… but not yet. Not until they destroyed Raoul.

“Velia. Look at me.”

If she confessed now, she feared she’d lose herself completely in him and forget her goal of revenge.

…Later.

When Raoul falls, then she would tell him.

Velia knew she was being cowardly. But for now, she had to keep her balance.

“…I looked. What now?”

Velia pouted, and Khalid burst into laughter.

“Haha.”

Then he pulled her into his arms again.

“I know you’re wavering. I can feel it. So even if I rush you like this, forgive me.”

He hugged her tighter around the waist.

Velia let out a small sigh and could only answer one way.

“…Thank you.”

In that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.