Casino Wizard

There were quite a few gambling establishments in the Kingdom of Alvinia that copied my casino.

Lately, though, they’ve been on the decline.

That said, last year, there was a brief moment when a well-funded copycat managed to snag some market share from me.

While it didn’t push us to the brink of ruin, there were times when tables other than baccarat and blackjack stood conspicuously empty.

It was enough to make me seriously consider restructuring, though I ultimately chose to maintain the status quo for long-term stability.

‘That was all because of this guy.’

Right now, Prince Stefano, the second prince, was drunkenly rambling in front of me.

The casino he opened under his brother-in-law’s name had enjoyed a short-lived success last year.

And to be fair, the conditions were overwhelmingly in his favor.

He had wealth from royal allowances and estates granted as a direct royal descendant, a network of nobles eager to curry favor with him, and, of course, an excellent location.

While my casino was situated in the outskirts of the capital in the Majanti district, his was smack in the bustling city center.

As for the games? They were identical to what my casino offered.

Blackjack, baccarat, casino war, and hold ’em—games that hadn’t even existed in this kingdom until I introduced them.

‘With the same services but a superior location, it would’ve been stranger if it hadn’t taken off.’

But the second prince’s casino had risen and fallen in the blink of an eye.

The reasons were so numerous it was hard to count.

However, the prince’s understanding of the failure differed from mine.

“Hyden, I hear your casino’s still doing well. You must be busy fleecing the customers you stole from my establishment.”

“We do have many customers who visit us regularly.”

“There are times I still reflect on how you sabotaged me.”

The guy actually believed—or at least wanted to believe—that his business failed because of my schemes.

Either way, one thing was clear: his feelings toward me were far from friendly.

Of all days, this had to happen on my day off. Who would’ve thought this man would be at the same restaurant?

Wait, hold on.

“Your Highness, the liquor your aide is holding—it’s from Remioli Mountain, isn’t it?”

“You seem to know your drinks.”

“I understand this establishment doesn’t carry that particular brand.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not at all.”

It seemed increasingly likely that this man had deliberately sought me out after somehow learning where my colleagues and I were dining.

Conveniently enough, the tavern next door was owned by a mistress the second prince favored. Maybe he’d been drinking there and overheard that I was nearby.

Judging by his behavior, his visit seemed impulsive.

As for his motive, I didn’t even have to guess—he freely revealed it himself.

“I hear you’ve finally opened a VIP room. So, you’re showing your true colors now, eh? With all the competition gone, you’ve decided to start raking in the big money.”

It was about the VIP room.

Despite having only three tables, the VIP room generated hundreds of gold in daily commission—a clear success.

It seemed to have struck a nerve with the prince. He probably believed that the fruits of that success rightfully belonged to him.

Still, I hadn’t expected him to show up in person.

“Your Highness, I opened the VIP room at the request of my patrons.”

“Don’t give me that nonsense.”

“If it sounds like nonsense, so be it. But it’s the truth.”

“What?”

The prince growled, stepping closer to me.

The stench of alcohol wafted over, and his unsteady steps were anything but reassuring.

A sense of foreboding gripped me—this wasn’t going to blow over quietly.

‘If bowing and scraping would end this, I’d gladly do it.’

But with someone who showed up just to vent, groveling would only encourage them. He’d take it as a sign of guilt and push harder, thinking he could extract some kind of confession.

Yet confronting him head-on wasn’t an option either.

He was a powerful royal, and I was just a magician running a casino.

The power imbalance was immense. Of course, that’s why he felt emboldened to throw his weight around.

“It’s still baffling to me. My casino was a hundred times superior to yours! We let people drink freely while they played, raised the betting limits for nobles, and didn’t bar commoners from entry. Oh, and let’s not forget—our stage had the finest dancers, renowned jesters, and even magicians putting on shows!”

The prince was passionately listing the reasons for his casino’s supposed superiority.

It was true—his casino had been more extravagant and entertaining than mine.

For example, while I limited customers to one glass of low-alcohol wine or fruit liquor, he served hard liquor without restriction.

He’d also hired stunning dancers, famous jesters, and even magicians to put on performances.

For a time, it had drawn not just citizens of the capital but even tourists from abroad.

But it was precisely that extravagance that had sealed its doom.

“Disgusting beings.”

“Your Highness.”

“Whether it was during the hero’s party or now, you people are nothing but garbage tarnishing the dignity of this glorious nation. Because of you, I had to endure humiliation—no, countless humiliations.”

“……”

“Even now, after all these years, you scurry like rats, draining the kingdom’s lifeblood.”

At this point, it was getting hard to keep a neutral expression.

Being insulted wasn’t a new experience for me.

Back in the days of the hero’s party, we’d been summoned to the royal palace and harshly reprimanded. Every silver coin of the modest funding provided to us had been scrutinized down to the last detail. And back then, I endured it all in silence.

But this time, enduring the second prince’s words was proving difficult.

Maybe it was because he’d interrupted my meal, or maybe it was the way he kept poking my shoulder with his finger.

Or perhaps, it was simply because—

“How much more do I have to endure?”

I couldn’t shake off the sense of injustice.

Neither I nor my companions had ever expected to be treated with reverence. We were well aware of our lackluster accomplishments, so we hadn’t demanded titles or rewards. Even when satirical plays mocking us were staged, we turned a blind eye.

Sure, we were living comfortably now, but that hadn’t come easily either.

And yet, our treatment remained the same—garbage.

“Hyden, are you even listening to me?”

That’s enough. Time to put an end to this.

I forced a smile and spoke up.

“My apologies, Your Highness.”

“Huh?”

“I said, I apologize. If you wish, I’ll even kneel before you.”

The second prince finally shut his mouth.

He seemed to be pondering my intentions. I didn’t give him time to think.

“Will apologizing now suffice?”

“So you’re admitting it, then?”

Admitting to what, exactly? I shook my head.

“Frankly, I don’t even know what I’m being accused of.”

“That you profited from opening the VIP rooms—oh.”

“Yes, I did profit. That’s the purpose of business, after all. Do you want me to close the VIP rooms? If so, I’ll shut them down first thing tomorrow. But I’ll be sure to state that it was done under your command.”

“You little—!”

****

Inside a carriage returning to the palace, the second prince spoke.

“Summon my men tomorrow. I need to discuss the casino.”

“Your Highness, please, calm your anger…”

“Just do as I say. My decision isn’t driven by anger alone.”

The second prince gazed out of the window with an expression much calmer than his earlier outburst suggested.

His eyes settled on the Hyden Casino in the distance.