Casino Wizard

Dawn. Uninvited guests barged into my home.

“Open the casino!”

The intruders were my customers. All of them wore desperate expressions.

Leading them, as expected, was Marquis Tripolia.

He had once been a plump middle-aged man with an unremarkable appearance, but in just a few weeks, he had become noticeably gaunt.

It wasn’t just weight loss—his hair had turned gray, and the once-meticulously groomed goatee was now unkempt. Perhaps the rapid political shifts of late had caused him great stress.

“We’ve waited long enough.”

“Your Excellency, the Marquis.”

“We have been anxiously awaiting the reopening of the casino ever since you returned to the capital. Of course… yes. We understand now. A casino doesn’t just run itself with a dealer flipping cards and accepting bets.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“But isn’t this delay unreasonable?”

That’s right! Indeed!

The nobles standing behind Marquis Tripolia echoed his sentiments.

Viscount Tonelli, Baron Ebola, Baron Budicci—

And they weren’t the only ones.

There were also the head of the Bakers’ Guild, the vice leader of the Brewers’ Guild, and executives from major trade associations.

These were the same people who once entertained themselves in the VIP rooms, but now they seemed more tightly united. There was a sense that a faction had formed—a coalition of hardliners, perhaps.

I stared blankly at my customers, who were clamoring for the reopening of the casino.

I wasn’t mocking them for staging a protest at the crack of dawn.

After all, I was the one who had encouraged them.

And I had certainly benefited from them. If it weren’t for their influence, securing the royal family’s cooperation when sending Hilde away would have been much more difficult.

Letting them spend some money at the casino in return was a very modest request. Naturally.

But I had my own reasons.

“I’ve already promised to reopen the casino, haven’t I?”

I had discreetly spread the word about my reopening plans.

The official resumption of operations would take place right after I received my title.

The reopening was timed to follow my ennoblement, which was being arranged by Prince Alfonso and Princess Beatrice. The royal administration also wanted it that way.

“It won’t be much longer.”

“Listen here.”

“The justification for my title is that I assisted Her Highness in peacefully resolving the conflict with the Dragon Kingdom… Afterward, in His Majesty’s infinite mercy, the Sin Tax will be repealed, and I, moved by gratitude, will return to my business.”

“You think I don’t know that?! I know all of it!”

Marquis Tripolia’s voice grew louder.

Of course, I understood his frustration…

But it wasn’t as if I had completely abandoned my customers.

I had handpicked a few trustworthy dealers and had Madam Bonucci prepare a suitable venue to serve as a temporary playground for them.

A downgraded version of the VIP room, at best.

I had even briefly opened a secondary gaming hall under the pretense of facility inspections—to make their waiting period a little less excruciating.

And yet, here they were, making these outrageous demands…

“If you knew all that, why did you come here?”

“Because we know, that’s why!”

“What?”

“Your plan is to receive your title, thank His Majesty for repealing the Sin Tax, and then open the casino. I remember it well. That’s exactly why we’re here—to demand that you fulfill your promise today.”

Fulfill my promise?

Only then did I sense that something was off. I took a closer look at my customers.

Some were flushed with emotion, veins bulging in their eyes.

Others had slackened expressions, murmuring, “Finally…” under their breath.

Some were subtly nodding at me, urging me to move.

It was the demeanor of people acting with a legitimate cause.

“Your Excellency… Could it be?”

“That’s right.”

The marquis gestured behind him with a flick of his fingers.

A man in a crimson uniform stepped forward in response.

A royal envoy.

In his hands was a scroll bearing the king’s decree.

That was likely my title certificate.

And apparently, my customers had arrived with the royal envoy for a reason.

“We thought the process was being delayed unnecessarily.”

“So you took matters into your own hands?”

“Exactly. You see, not everyone was thrilled about granting you a title. Not because of any personal dislike toward you but…”

“My lineage played a part, I assume. I understand.”

I was a bastard.

Before I became part of the Hero’s Party—and even afterward—I had been called “Mantova’s bastard.”

I was one of the many illegitimate children sired by the eccentric former Viscount Mantova, a man notorious for his debauchery.

People like me were quietly looked down upon. Some of my half-siblings were outright scoundrels, reinforcing the stigma.

Naturally, granting me a title was controversial.

It could set a precedent that gave false hope to the many bastards scattered across the kingdom.

That was why the royal family had been treading carefully.

“We put an end to the pointless debates.”

My customers had worked together.

At Duke Urbina’s grand banquet, at a charity event hosted by a bored branch member of the royal family—they had rallied support for me, shaping favorable public opinion.

They had even circulated a petition.

Not to gain leverage over me.

Just to reclaim their casino.

“Now then, deliver the royal decree to Mr. Hyden.”

At the marquis’s urging, the royal envoy hesitated before finally handing me the decree.

His voice was solemn, but his face betrayed his bewilderment.

This was a title I was bound to receive eventually.

I accepted it with due courtesy and reverence.

“Congratulations. Now, open the casino.”

And with that, the demand to keep my promise was renewed.

Other customers chimed in.

…Hurry up. A commoner I befriended outside got stabbed at an illegal den yesterday. We need a place to play.

It’s freezing outside.

Let us return to our safe haven.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell them to wait. I nodded.

“Waaaaah!!! Finally!!!”

Only one customer threw their arms up and jumped in excitement.

The rest celebrated quietly.

Some coughed weakly, their lungs damaged from sleeping outside the casino.

Some clenched their fists, staring into the distance.

Some, disbelieving, pinched their own cheeks.

I watched them, then—

“I’ll see you all at the casino later today.”

I officially confirmed the end of the closure.

And then, a woman began sobbing.

“It’s over… It’s finally over. I just knew today would be a good day.”

Her tears of joy did not stop for a long time.

****

After the Uproar at Dawn

As promised, I reported to work at the casino. There was no problem since all the practical preparations had already been completed.

I took a brief look at the title deed.

“Sadie.”

That was the name of the estate I had been granted.

My noble title was the same—Baron Sadie. It was a newly created title bestowed upon me along with the estate.

But that wasn’t all.

“I even got land?”

Lucy, who had returned to her dealer uniform for the first time in a while, looked visibly flustered.

I was just as surprised.

To be honest, I had never desired an estate.

The idea of leaving the capital to govern a territory was especially unappealing—it would take me away from the casino.

At first, I was puzzled. But this wasn’t the royal family’s way of exiling me to the outskirts.

“Lieta.”

“Huh?”

“Lieta. That village.”

A peaceful countryside village where Lucy and I had once spent our vacation.

It was set to become my domain in name.

It was a small village, but still, it meant a piece of royal land had been carved out for me.

And I wouldn’t even have to play the role of a ruler.

I was given taxation rights, but security and administration remained under the jurisdiction of the village chief.

The town was known for its olives and grapes, but considering it was a retirement haven for former bureaucrats enjoying tax benefits, exploiting it ruthlessly wasn’t an option.

It wouldn’t be profitable. Still, it was land.

And land that had been separated from the royal domain.

I could already predict how the nobles would perceive this. It reeked of careful calculation.

I had no way of knowing whose idea it was.

There were two people who could have orchestrated my title grant.

The first prince, who seized the perfect opportunity to step in and ultimately sacrificed a friendship for it, or the princess, who had worked with me to take down Hilde Rakae.

It could have been either of them—or a compromise between the two.

It didn’t matter.

Whichever it was, it wasn’t a bad thing for me.

“At least you won’t have to deal with as much filth anymore, huh?”

“Agreed.”

Outside the casino, I was still a commoner and a bastard.

I had to show at least minimal respect even to the most insufferable fallen aristocrats. I also had to endure the sneers of nobles who mocked my VIP clientele—calling them fools for throwing their money at a lowborn.

That wasn’t necessarily bad for business, though.

Most of my customers were commoners anyway.

If a commoner won a 40-to-1 payout on the Big Wheel and mocked me, declaring they’d enjoy spending my money, the main gaming hall’s atmosphere would instantly liven up.

The easier I seemed to beat, the more people believed they could win against the casino.

That was why I had never craved a noble title before.

But now, I was happy to accept it.

“I can’t focus only on business anymore.”

“That’s true, Baron.”

“Mm.”

“Just ‘mm’? You’re not telling me to call you like I always have?”

When I looked up from the title deed, I saw Lucy’s disappointed expression.

In a way, this title was something we had earned together.

I had set the stage, but Lucy’s contributions were no small feat. If not for her help, Hilde would have killed me—or worse, I could have disappeared like the other gamblers Hilde had eliminated, my body never to be found.

Of course, I had no intention of demanding noble treatment from Lucy.

“Call me however you like.”

Not “as you always have.” Lucy smiled again.

“We’re ready. The team has been waiting for this day.”

It was time to return to business, grateful for the royal family’s generosity.

As I stepped into the main gaming hall, the familiar sights came into view.

Dealers stationed at each table. Servers standing by with trays in hand.

Everyone was fully prepared for the grand reopening.

“Open the doors!! Please—!!”

Just then, a desperate wail came from outside.

The voice was so distraught that I paused.

Within moments, the noise escalated.

“Open up, please!”

“Calm down, customers, please!”

“We’re all going to die at this rate—!”

If we were even a second late in opening the doors, they’d break them down.

Of course, I wasn’t about to let a riot break out.

“Start business.”

It was time to make money.