Chapter 4
“Well, that’s true.”
If the woman in front of him got it right just one more time, it would be her victory.
Gail smirked.
“But are you already claiming victory, miss maid?”
Unlike Gail, who wanted to savor the game, she seemed eager to end this bet quickly.
Urging him on meant impatience. Impatience meant clouded judgment.
‘That’s not how you play the gambling game.’
Gail let out a sly chuckle inwardly as he placed the die into the center glass this time.
Then he began swirling his hand once more.
Clack.
His hand came to a stop again.
“Then this time……”
“Right.”
There was no hesitation this time either.
A heavy silence fell around them at her unwavering answer.
But Gail himself was smiling.
He slowly lifted the glass on the right.
“Too bad, miss maid.”
Unfortunately, the ball wasn’t in the glass Rachel had chosen.
Gail shook his head regretfully and flipped over the far left glass.
Only then did the ball reveal itself from his grasp.
“Puhahaha—!”
At that moment, everyone except the prince and his nanny burst into laughter.
Gail softened his eyebrows as he looked at her.
“My condolences, miss maid.”
“There are still chances left.”
Even after blowing one opportunity, Rachel spoke as if it were nothing.
‘Trying so hard to act calm.’
Gail chuckled lowly as he watched her.
No matter which glass she picked, the outcome would be the same.
A stage where no one but him could be the winner.
‘That’s how it was designed from the start.’
Gail exchanged glances with the orange-haired boy standing next to him.
Then, he gave a leisurely smile to Rachel, who was about to lose.
“Then, the last one.”
Clack.
Gail’s hand, moving like lightning, stopped abruptly once more.
“Which one is it?”
“Orange hair, left hand.”
It was strange.
Just moments ago, Gail had been full of leisure, but now he froze in place like someone doused with cold water.
Rachel stared at him steadily.
His flustered expression reflected in her green eyes, which gleamed with an odd light.
“What? What does that mean?”
“Orange hair? He’s the only one with orange hair among us.”
The gang began to murmur.
Meanwhile, the only orange-haired boy among them was breaking out in a cold sweat.
As if he had something to hide, he suddenly shouted.
“W-what are you talking about? I was just standing here!”
“Shall I check what’s in your hand myself?”
At Rachel’s words, the orange-haired boy flinched.
“I don’t know anything……!”
He started backing away as if he might run.
But Rachel had no intention of letting him go easily.
In an instant, she grabbed his wrist and twisted it.
“Argh!”
With a short scream, the strength left his left hand, and something inside dropped to the floor with a clack.
It was the ball.
Not just Edwin, but the boys too, gaped in shock.
Rachel, the only one with a calm face, silently picked up the ball from the floor.
She crushed it between two fingers.
Surprisingly, the crushed ball immediately returned to its original shape.
“It’s a rubber ball.”
“G-give it here!”
The orange-haired boy flushed red like someone whose secret had been exposed and lunged at her.
But Rachel easily sidestepped and continued, looking at Gail.
“Just a moment ago, this guy was crouched right next to you. He must have caught the ball you deliberately flicked out while spinning the glasses.”
Gail and the orange-haired boy looked distressed at her courteous explanation.
The same question arose on both their faces.
‘How the hell did she figure it out?’
As if answering their doubt, Rachel added an explanation.
“You flicked it toward yourself so the person across couldn’t see, and he snatched it on the side.”
With an expressionless face, Rachel grabbed one of Gail’s arms.
Then, an identical ball rolled out from his sleeve.
“Of course, you’d have several balls prepared. You need to secretly put one in the cup the opponent doesn’t choose.”
At her words, the orange-haired boy bit his lip.
Rachel’s guess was spot on—enough to put the culprits in dire straits.
“W-what?”
“Wait, so Gail tricked us all too?”
“That bastard was in on it with him? What about my money?”
It seemed the two had deceived not just Rachel and Edwin, but everyone.
Amid the murmuring boys, the orange-haired boy glanced at Gail.
Gail glared at Rachel wordlessly before clicking his tongue.
He must have decided there was no point resisting now that the cheat was exposed.
“Take it. Consider it your win.”
Gail tossed the bracelet onto the box like an act of charity.
“Bad luck. Ptui.”
He spat in Rachel’s direction and turned away.
Her brows furrowed terribly at his utterly rude attitude, but he didn’t see.
“What’re you looking at?”
Instead, Gail shot a menacing glare at the boys staring at him.
Cowed by that look, the boys didn’t dare step forward.
They never had the guts to defy the youngest son of a count’s family, who was the disciple of an artisan favored by the emperor.
Gail gave them a pathetic look before turning away.
But there was one person who went against his mood.
“Did you pull the same trick on His Highness too?”
It was the prince’s nanny, Rachel.
“Impressive, swindling an innocent child. Just like lowly street trash.”
“What did you say?”
Gail’s mouth twisted at the sharp mockery.
“You must have been prepared to face the consequences of scamming royalty?”
His face flushed with excitement, he rushed at Rachel and grabbed her collar.
“I let you go easy because you’re a girl. Don’t push it.”
Gail growled into Rachel’s ear.
“Let you go? With that pathetic trick, who did you think you could fool?”
His face changed at the sudden informal speech and her unwavering boldness.
Rachel, with her angelic face, was now baring her teeth in a grin.
“You idiot.”
It was a wicked smile, like a devil rather than an angel.
She whispered right in Gail’s face.
“Scamming royalty is a capital offense for insulting the imperial family. You should’ve picked your opponents more carefully.”
Gail’s face trembled at the blatant scorn.
“And the prince you dismissed happens to be a member of the imperial family. Surely you didn’t fail to consider that much?”
It was plain fact.
But Gail tried to act nonchalant and retorted.
“S-so what? He’s just a worthless prince. Does anyone not know the third prince gets treated worse than the emperor’s palace servants?”
Rachel clicked her tongue in disbelief after hearing him.
“Do you really believe that? Royalty is royalty, even in death and rebirth. You know insulting them carries the same punishment as treason, right?”
No matter how noble Gail’s status, it was lower than a prince who bore the emperor’s blood.
That was an unchangeable truth, even if the heavens fell.
“A mere noble’s son versus the empire’s prince.”
She curled her lips smugly as she watched Gail’s face drain of color.
“Which do you think you’d choose?”
Grit—
Gail ground his teeth.
Just as she said, if anyone pursued this, he was as good as dead.
“Tch!”
Infuriated, Gail flung Rachel’s collar away.
Despite the force, she stood firm and simply brushed off her collar.
More annoyed by her composure, Gail huffed.
“Just you wait. I’ll remember your face.”
He fled the scene with the boys behind him.
Rachel didn’t bother stopping them.
With trust in their leader shattered, that gang wouldn’t last long.
Then, the last remaining orange-haired boy approached her hesitantly.
“Um, sorry.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow at the unexpected apology.
“I was just doing what Gail told me to……”
Of course, it was more excuse than proper apology.
Rachel told the orange-haired boy firmly.
“You should apologize to His Highness, not me.”
“Oh.”
The orange-haired boy quickly bowed to Edwin standing beside her.
“I’m truly sorry, Your Highness. I won’t be rude to you again.”
Edwin looked visibly flustered.
Like someone hearing an apology for the first time.
But that lasted only a moment.
The young prince straightened his back and raised his voice.
“I’ll forgive you just this once. If you do it again, I really won’t let it slide. Got it?”
Edwin puffed out his shoulders as if he’d never been cowed.
Having received forgiveness more easily than expected, the orange-haired boy kept bowing as he scurried away.
Only then could Rachel properly see the prince she was supposed to look after.
Dazzlingly bright golden hair. Blue eyes sparkling like embedded sapphires. Smooth, snow-white skin.
Up close, the prince was stunningly beautiful.
Though his scrawny frame visible over his clothes and his pale complexion were quite pitiful, contrasting his radiant beauty.
At that moment, the prince’s gaze turned to her.
“Who are you?”
His gaze was unkind, his voice sharp.
Rachel faltered for a moment.
