The Gambler’s Den

“Ah, what an unexpected pleasure. For an esteemed guest such as yourself to grace my humble casino with your presence is truly surprising.”

As Victoria entered the casino alone, Karl Rogers twisted his comical body, a fawning smile plastered on his face, and slid to her feet in a half-kneel.

Victoria’s gaze, utterly devoid of warmth, swept over the clown-like figure before her. “Get lost! Don’t soil my eyes!”

Karl merely raised a brow, a hint of an inscrutable smile playing on his lips as he calmly rose and stepped aside.

Victoria’s eyes freely roamed the entire casino. Her arrival caused no stir; all the gamblers remained intently focused on their tables.

Their expressions were utterly morbid, as if their entire lives were staked on those small gambling surfaces.

“How utterly repulsive.”

Victoria recoiled her gaze in disgust. Not a single one of these individuals was worth saving.

She turned to Karl, who still wore a fawning smile, and spoke with chilling clarity. “Summon the one behind you!”

Karl narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile unwavering. “If the master wishes to see you, they will appear. However, since you’ve come all this way, esteemed guest, would you not care for a few rounds at the table?”

Victoria let out a cold laugh. “The thing I detest most in life is a gambler!”

“To utter such words, dear sister, truly wounds my heart.”

A golden-haired nobleman suddenly descended from the second floor, leaning casually against the railing.

Victoria’s gaze, filled with unexpected surprise, fixed on him. She couldn’t help but raise a brow. “It’s you?”

Wayne Michelle offered an enthusiastic smile, idly toying with a die in his hand. “Find it unbelievable? Heh, my poor sister, do you truly believe heretics are some untouchable existence?”

Victoria stared at Wayne, a hint of mockery gracing her lips. “It seems you’ll be the first to be eliminated in this struggle for succession.”

Wayne clicked his tongue repeatedly and shook his head. “No, you are the one to be eliminated first. You should not have willingly stepped into this place!”

This casino was his territory. Life and death here were under his command.

No sooner had he spoken than a wave of azure flames erupted from Victoria’s body.

She watched Wayne’s expression falter, her voice icy. “My possessions belong only to me!”

Wayne snapped back to awareness, clapping a hand to his forehead as he threw his head back and laughed maniacally. “Hahahaha! So that’s it! My poor sister was replaced by you long ago!”

He watched the frost-faced Victoria with fervent eyes, yet gracefully bowed to her, perfectly displaying the etiquette expected of a nobleman. “I have long admired the name of the Lust Witch. Might I have the honor of sharing dinner with you?”

Victoria’s eyes overflowed with revulsion. “The dead have no such opportunity!”

Wayne merely chuckled at her words. “As fellow heretics, what makes you think you can kill me? Moreover, this isn’t your true body; how much power can you truly exert?”

Victoria stated coldly, “Enough to kill you!”

The azure flames around her began to spread from the soles of her shoes, yet they halted abruptly after covering only five steps.

Wayne observed Victoria’s furrowed brow and smiled softly. “The time within this casino is under my control.”

Victoria clicked her tongue. She bent down, snapped off the heels of her shoes, and drew a small dagger she carried, advancing towards Wayne one step at a time.

Wayne’s eyes narrowed slightly as he rapidly chanted a spell. A magic circle formed in his palm, unleashing a bolt of lightning.

However, Victoria completely ignored the lightning strike. It didn’t even touch her body, being assimilated by the azure flames burning around her.

She pressed close to Wayne, dagger in hand, and unhesitatingly thrust it towards his heart. Yet, upon touching his clothes, it stopped dead.

Wayne Michelle’s time had also been momentarily paused.

Wayne smiled at the cold-faced Victoria, speaking softly. “It’s truly perplexing. What is your reason for wanting to kill me, even at the cost of revealing your identity? Given your rumored personality, you must stand to gain something far greater than what you stand to lose. But what value could this small territory possibly hold?”

Victoria gazed at Wayne indifferently. “Then what is your reason for being here?”

Wayne chuckled softly. “Naturally, it’s because there are no Holy Church informants here, making it convenient for all sorts of endeavors. Miss Victoria, what do you think is the most essential thing for nobles like us? Power? Status? Wealth? We are born with these things, yet we lack sufficient time to enjoy them.”

“You intend to sell time?”

“I possess ample ability to do so.”

“Are you not afraid of the Holy Church?”

“While the Holy Church is indeed powerful, after thousands of years, its interior has long since decayed. Those who truly harbor the Holy Light are few and far between.”

“How utterly ridiculous.”

Victoria withdrew her dagger, her gaze fixed on Wayne with derision. “Ignorant fool, your fate is already sealed, yet you stand here gloating?”

Wayne raised a brow. “Oh? In your opinion, I am destined to fail? Then, would you care to make a wager?”

Victoria scoffed, then turned and walked towards the casino doors.

Wayne watched silently as she pushed open the doors. With his authority, he could have easily detained her, but what use was keeping a mere remnant of a body?

****

Outside the casino, Reyn’s pupils contracted slightly as he watched Victoria emerge safely.

He had anticipated Victoria’s plan failing, but he hadn’t expected her to willingly enter the casino, much less walk out unharmed.

He composed his expression, striding towards Victoria with a perfectly timed hint of concern. He spoke softly, “Miss Victoria Michelle, is there anything amiss with your health?”

‘The Young Master is concerned about me!’

A surge of joy filled Victoria’s heart, emboldening her. She feigned weakness and collapsed into Reyn’s arms. Seeing that he didn’t object, she naturally rubbed her chest against his.

“I am a bit tired. Could you help me to the carriage to rest?”

Reyn’s eyelid twitched violently, his smile stiffening. “I can, but Miss Victoria Michelle, aren’t you a little too close to me?”

Victoria tilted her head back, her cerulean eyes gazing intently at Reyn’s face. She whispered, “Do you not like it?”

‘This woman is doing it on purpose!’

Reyn quickly realized this was no accident, but he couldn’t understand why Victoria would act this way.

‘Could it be that she genuinely fancies me?’

‘But it makes no sense!’

The gazes directed at them grew more numerous, and Reyn began to realize they couldn’t linger here. He was about to call for Steward Ark’s help, but Steward Ark was nowhere in sight.

‘Why disappear at a time like this?’

Reyn could only grit his teeth and help Victoria into his carriage. Just then, Steward Ark’s voice came from outside the compartment. “Patriarch, where to?”

Reyn looked down at Victoria, who was still nestled in his arms, and asked in a low voice, “Miss Victoria Michelle, are you returning directly to the hotel?”

Victoria gently bit her red lip with her pearly white teeth, her eyes fixed on Reyn with affectionate tenderness. She whispered, “Can’t I go to your place instead?”

‘Damn it!’

Reyn’s eyelids fluttered uncontrollably. “Steward Ark, return to the manor.”