Casino Wizard

A prince of the kingdom threatening me to hand over my casino.

It was absurd, but a crisis was still a crisis.

This wasn’t just some loan shark tossing pocket change at customers. It was a far bigger player.

At least Miriam made an effort to butter me up while losing more than 500 gold. She spread happiness among the other VIP patrons.

But the second prince? He wasn’t after money; he wanted the casino itself.

He offered a noble title instead of cash, but from my perspective, it was just an attempted robbery.

A title… Not that having one would hurt.

Before I realized my past life’s memories, becoming a noble had been my ultimate goal. Back then, I had no real-world experience.

Even volunteering as a magician for the ridiculous Pierrot Party, a position other apprentices of the Tower Master avoided like the plague, was part of that pursuit.

But not anymore.

“You want me to give this up for just a title?”

My business was booming beyond imagination.

Situated in a neglected old ducal residence, it was a venue where a short queue meant a slow day. On a good day, people who couldn’t even get in crowded under the awnings playing mini-poker.

If they threw in a decent amount of money, maybe I’d consider it. I could always move and set up shop elsewhere.

But a title? That wasn’t worth a dime.

“Mr. Haydin, have you finished reading?”

“Yes, for now.”

Even if I refused, the second prince wouldn’t give up easily.

I needed a strategy, but none came to mind yet. Instead, I found myself lost in thought.

What had I done to provoke this? Was opening the VIP room to drive out that loan shark a mistake? No, chasing out the loan shark was just a trigger. The prince had been eyeing this for some time, and I had been cautious, trying to avoid jealousy and interference.

This wasn’t something I caused. The second prince was just a thug.

Unfortunately, that thug was one of the kingdom’s successors.

The bottom of the letter sealed my resolve.

“I know of the hardships you’ve endured as someone born to no one of significance. You’ve likely worked tirelessly to overcome your insecurities. I will overlook your minor rudeness if you seize this opportunity I’m offering. As a sharp individual, I trust you’ll quickly overcome any uncouth tendencies. I expect a swift reply.”

The only people I worried about now were my companions.

They were trustworthy but far removed from political intrigue. A middle-aged hero who knew nothing about politics, a female archer struggling to manage 80 dealers, and a shield knight who was already helping me to the best of his ability.

Would this affect them? Probably. But delaying my decision out of concern for them wasn’t an option.

“Mr. Haydin? His Highness, the second prince, expects a prompt answer.”

The royal guard delivered his notice curtly and turned to leave.

I rose immediately. “Sir Enrico, let us go.”

“Excuse me?”

“His Highness desires a swift answer, and I’ve already decided. I’ll meet him now. Unless formal attire is required.”

“You’ve decided this quickly?”

“Yes.”

My response was already set in stone.

…

“It’s a wise decision, Mr. Haidin.”

On the road to the royal palace.

Riding side by side at a steady pace, the royal guard Enrico beamed at me.

He seemed to have misunderstood, thinking I had accepted his lord’s proposal.

I didn’t see any reason to argue with him, so I just smiled faintly. That only made him look even more satisfied as he nodded approvingly.

“Mr. Haidin, His Highness the Second Prince is, surprisingly, a thoughtful man.”

“……”

“While he may sometimes appear rather informal… when not under the influence, he is a dignified and respectable figure. And he rewards loyalty generously. You’ll come to see this for yourself.”

“……”

“So, there’s no need to feel burdened. Haha.”

Listening to him chatter on, it was clear that Enrico was a close confidant. His praises continued, but I let them pass in one ear and out the other.

I was too preoccupied strategizing how to deal with the Second Prince.

Stefano Rainiero Emanuele.

A fortunate man who gained the chance to aim for the throne simply because the First Prince, the eldest son, was born with a disability.

Once considered a strong contender, he squandered his prospects by dabbling in casinos and had now even fallen behind the princess.

Though not entirely out of the race, his flame was dim.

Perhaps his interest in my casino stemmed from a desire to regain influence. After all, owning my casino alone would solve his financial woes.

“Sir Enrico, you say His Highness is a generous man?”

“Of course!”

“I hope you’re right.”

After riding for some time, the royal palace came into view.

A sudden audience had been arranged.

Fortunately, I had already regained my composure.

****

The Second Prince received me in a parlor.

“Welcome.”

Judging by his demeanor, this man also seemed to think I would willingly hand over my casino.

“I prefer tea brewed with cold water. What about you?”

“I know little of tea.”

“Haha, I suggest you start learning. You’ll need to become accustomed to it soon.”

His expression was bright and untroubled, unlike when he’d been drunk and belligerent.

He seemed incapable of imagining refusal.

“You must’ve understood from the letter, but this isn’t such a bad deal for you either. …Ah, have you considered starting a new casino elsewhere?”

“Outside the capital?”

“Yes. If you agree, I’ll fully support it.”

As he rambled on, his character became even clearer.

A man unaccustomed to rejection.

No matter how politely one declines, he would consider refusal an affront. If his wishes weren’t followed, he’d see himself as the victim.

The Second Prince kept talking even as I silently weighed my options.

Finally, he got to the point.

“I’ll show you my hand.”

“……”

“I’ll explain using the Blackjack game you created. The essence of Blackjack is knowing when to stay. If you’re greedy, you’ll bust… but taking a profit without overreaching is the wise move, right?”

With that, the Second Prince actually pulled out a card.

Was this supposed to be theatrical? On the card’s front was a brief inscription:

Land Division, Barony.

That was it.

“When I turned five, the king granted me the County of Ferrara along with this land. You know it’s a royal title.”

“You’re offering to divide and give me part of that land?”

“Exactly.”

“……”

“I’ll allocate one village to you and seek royal approval to grant you a title. My steward tells me it’s a village with about 120 households, producing a decent yield.”

That should suffice, right?

The Second Prince added briefly, looking at me intently. He seemed ready to go directly to the king to finalize this deal if I agreed.

‘Accept this?’

I stared at him, speechless.

He wanted to make me his vassal by tossing me a small fraction of the land he’d been granted as a child.

I’d planned to decline whatever he offered, but this proposal was even more pitiful than I expected.

As my silence stretched, the Second Prince let out a short sigh.

“Insatiable, aren’t you?”

“Your Highness.”

“Fine. I’ll throw in another village.”

“……”

“And I’ll use my influence to have your biological father’s—oh, he’s deceased, isn’t he? Well, I’ll ensure his family accepts you as one of their own. It won’t be easy for me. Nobles will resent it, and my brother might exploit it as a weakness.”

He added two trivial “sweeteners,” detailing their supposed value.

Naturally, I felt nothing.

These were benefits I could have achieved myself through my magical prowess, even without running a casino.

I waited a bit longer to see if he had more in store.

The Second Prince clasped his hands together, silently observing me. It seemed he had nothing else to offer and expected me to be satisfied.

“Well, what will it be?”

He tilted his head slightly, waiting for my response.

So this was it.

Oddly enough, I felt relieved.

It seemed the Second Prince genuinely believed this was a reasonable proposal. Evidently, there was no advisor in his circle to challenge his lack of reality—or he simply ignored them if they did.

That kind of man.

Thanks to that, I could reply with ease.

“Your Highness.”

“I’m listening.”

“Even if I extorted the harshest taxes from the villages you’ve offered, their total revenue would barely match the profits from a single roulette table in my casino. Perhaps even less, given the costs of managing a territory.”

“What…?”

It was clear he hadn’t considered refusal. The cracks in his previously bright expression spread rapidly.

Slightly trembling eyes, lips tightly pressed together. His hand gripped his half-filled teacup as if he might shatter it.

If I said one more word, he might brandish his sword.

That confirmed it for me.

“The casino is not for sale.”

“……”

“I apologize.”

I offered an apology, though it was purely for show.

My gaze lingered regretfully on the card he’d presented, and I even let my lips twitch as if to suppress a sigh.

I knew this would enrage him. In his eyes, I had just mocked a gift he’d earnestly prepared.

“You’ll pay dearly for mocking me.”

It seemed my provocation had struck home. His voice was venomous.

Unperturbed, I smiled and bowed respectfully.

“I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for the generous offer.”

If a fight was inevitable, the first step was to shatter his confidence.