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CHAPTER 05
At this rate, she might actually be able to win 100,000 gold without much trouble.
“Aah…”
Su let out a soft groan and pushed the pile of chips in front of her toward the duke.
The duke silently looked at her, then pushed the chips back toward her.
What is he thinking?
Confused, Su stared at the round chips returned to her. The duke gave a faint smile and spoke.
He seemed to have a habit of lifting only one corner of his lips when he smiled. Or maybe sneering was simply second nature to him.
What should have looked sly on anyone else looked almost dazzling when he did it.
Su found herself momentarily mesmerized by those rose-colored lips—then startled at his voice and leaned back.
“You are excused.”
“Eh? Why?”
“However, I would prefer it if you stopped tapping your shoe heel.”
Now Su wasn’t looking at his lips anymore—but his eyes.
The moment their gazes met, a chilling sensation ran through her.
Ah. So that’s it.
Su finally understood.
This man had such cold eyes that, despite his elegant appearance, he didn’t seem weak at all.
Those were the eyes of a predator.
The eyes of someone who could tear apart a fraud like her in an instant.
Shantak. The sword of Willétan.
“I never—”
Flustered, Su stammered slightly, though her face remained composed.
Her expression clearly said: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
“I have rather good hearing.”
The duke met her eyes again and smiled crookedly.
Su’s smile twitched slightly.
See? I knew this bastard had a twisted personality.
After winning several rounds in a row, the duke remained expressionless even as others praised him.
As if to say it was nothing special.
Su was speechless.
“Hey. You.”
The duke turned and casually pointed at a neatly dressed man behind him.
The man jumped in shock.
“Go fetch some water.”
What.
Not only had the duke noticed her shoe-heel signal, he had also identified the Ru Dante members signaling her throughout the game.
Su’s face turned pale.
This was not a coincidence.
That man… he knows.
How?
Su screamed internally. It made no sense.
Her acting had been flawless. Even the signaling had been subtle and seamless. And Veronica, a confirmed noblewoman, had been part of it too.
The probability of him noticing their fraud was close to zero.
And they hadn’t even started properly rigging the game yet—so it wasn’t like he had grown suspicious from losses.
How the hell did he figure it out?
Had Veronica, enchanted by his face, somehow slipped him a hint?
Not me!
Su shot Veronica a sharp glare.
Veronica quickly shook her head.
“You’re very skilled at Rekat.”
Su steadied her breath and calmly looked at the duke.
Don’t panic, Su.
They hadn’t even properly started the scam yet.
Even if they were exposed, they could simply deny it—no one had actually lost money yet.
“So I hear you’re as good as most nobles.”
As if all nobles are card sharks!
Su nearly stood up in anger, then forced herself to calm down.
Her opponent was a duke. One word from him could easily cost her her life.
“You are worse than I expected.”
“I’m not used to it.”
“If you wish, I could give you private lessons.”
The duke whispered the words in a low, intimate tone.
At that voice, the women around him inhaled sharply and stepped back, eyes filled with envy.
He had never once shown interest in a woman like this before!
Sniffling sounds even reached Su’s ears.
“Wow, that would be wonderful.”
Su replied innocently, as if completely unaware of the atmosphere.
Satisfied, the duke smiled and stood up. His black coat fluttered as he walked ahead.
Su stared at his retreating figure for a moment—then quickly followed.
He headed toward the VIP room of the gambling house.
Even in Ardel, the richest city in Willétan, this was the most exclusive room in the most prestigious gambling house. Even the doorknob was made of pure gold.
As Su followed him inside, she hesitated briefly—then quietly ripped the golden doorknob off and shoved it into her pocket.
I’ll at least take this much.
Inside, the duke sat arrogantly on a crimson velvet sofa and gestured to the opposite seat.
“Sit.”
Su immediately obeyed.
“Have you seen me before?”
“What?”
“Have you seen me while I was committing fraud?”
Otherwise, there was no way he could have recognized her scheme.
She spoke with absolute certainty.
The duke looked at her, amused.
“Yes. About a week ago.”
“I wasn’t even cheating today.”
“Were you not trying to?”
“I wasn’t.”
Su blinked innocently.
Her clear brown eyes looked so pure it was hard to believe she was lying.
The duke observed her with interest.
“A proper fraudster indeed.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-four.”
“Stop lying now that I know what you are.”
Su frowned slightly, genuinely offended.
“I really am twenty-four.”
“…Older than I expected.”
Su almost snapped back—but stopped.
The duke actually looked satisfied.
“Good. That suits you.”
“What does?”
Instead of answering, he opened a box on the table.
Inside were Shakasfel pieces.
A strategy game more complex than Rekat, avoided by most nobles with poor intellect.
He arranged miniature knight figures neatly on the table and looked at her.
“Can you play this?”
“Of course.”
There was no gambling game Su didn’t know.
Shakasfel was actually one of her favorites.
“I don’t play games unless something is at stake.”
The duke pushed the pieces toward her.
“I never said there was nothing at stake.”
Su narrowed her eyes.
“And what would you bet?”
“What you desire from me.”
“Pardon?”
“Anything you want from me.”
For a moment, it felt like gold was literally raining in front of her.
This was too good.
Su hesitated. The condition was suspiciously generous.
“What do I have to bet?”
“Nothing important.”
“My life and property are off limits.”
“You think what you want from me is equal to your life?”
“Of course.”
The duke laughed faintly, almost mocking her confidence.
“Fine. Then I want you to work for me. I’ve recently found myself in need of a fraudster.”
“For how long?”
“One or two years.”
“Fine. We’ll decide the details after the game.”
There was no way she would lose.
Su was confident. She had not lost a game since she was thirteen.
Six hours later, she would regret those words with every fiber of her being.
It started smoothly. She was winning.
Her pieces moved under her control while the duke’s forces fell one by one.
But then—
Something changed.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Su stared at the Shakasfel board in despair.
This makes no sense! I lost?! Me?! Roland of Ardel lost at Shakasfel?!
She had never seen anyone play like this in her twelve years of gambling.
Every time the duke moved a piece, it felt like a real knight on a battlefield. Her heart dropped as if she were truly at war.
“Who the hell are you?!”
Su shouted without realizing it.
The duke only shrugged.
“Dioneir Shantak de Casa Miramonte. Remember it—you’ll need it.”
That annoyingly noble, long name only deepened her shock.
Calm down, Su Roland.
You’re sitting in front of a duke.
“Are you even a knight? Or just a gambler?”
“Neither. I only learned Shakasfel yesterday.”
“What?!”
There was no way someone could defeat her after learning a game yesterday.
“I just found it easy. It’s based on tactics.”
Su nearly bit her tongue.
I should’ve remembered that!
If Su was a genius of fraud, this man was a genius of warfare.
Shakasfel was a strategy game favored by commanders—and he was a war hero.
No wonder she couldn’t compare.
“So what do you want from me?”
If he prepared such a flawless trap, then he needed her for a reason.
Su frowned deeply.
“…Aren’t you going to run?”
