Casino Wizard

A particularly clear day.

As soon as the casino opened, I knew that the operation to remove the second prince’s breathing tube had begun.

Just by looking at the atmosphere in the VIP room, it was clear that things were different from usual.

“Ah… this is the first time I’m sitting at the baccarat table without waiting in line.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of disappointing. I’ve been waiting for two hours.”

The main gaming floor was as crowded as usual.

But the VIP room was rather empty.

Though the baccarat tables were full, there was no waiting line, and only three people were sitting quietly with the dealer at the blackjack table.

Our customers hadn’t suddenly recovered from their gambling addictions.

‘Marquis Tripolia, Baron Ebola, Baron Barbogha… none of them are here.’

Nobles who either held honorary positions at the royal palace or had any connection, no matter how faint, with the second prince, were all absent. This had never happened before.

This was evidence that the princess had begun her move.

After all, the second prince had already exhausted most of his resources.

Reputation.

Freedom of action.

His limbs.

As for money… he had already squandered it last year when he lost the casino.

Now, the only thing left to him was one thing.

The right to the throne.

And only one person could take that from him. The current king, Carlo III.

The advice I gave to the princess was aimed at bringing him into play.

“Your Highness, the princess. You must urge His Majesty to make a swift decision.”

“Are you saying that I should ask with my own mouth to strip my brother of his title?”

“No. You just need to show that the second prince has irreversibly ruined himself. You need to make it clear that the hope of him becoming the heir to the kingdom must be extinguished. And that should be done dramatically.”

“That’s cruel.”

“I’m sorry, but His Majesty is already enduring a cruel situation. 1st Prince is in such a condition, and 2nd Prince is the same… I regret to say that even Your Highness is not the most trusted person. In fact, this is an opportunity to ease His Majesty’s worries.”

I had suggested forcing the king into making a decision, and the princess accepted.

Seeing that the VIP room was quiet, it seemed like the princess had had a successful negotiation with her father. Through the three suckers, she must have persuaded the second prince’s aides.

I would soon confirm the results with my own eyes.

“Magician Hyden. Please enter the palace immediately to testify.”

After all, I was part of that stage.

****

Royal Palace, Second Prince’s Quarters.

‘Finally, the nightmare is over.’

A rare smile appeared on the second prince Stefano’s face.

“His Majesty has ordered Your Highness to be prepared and brought to the office immediately.”

The steward’s notification. At last, he was summoned by his father.

The suffocating confinement would come to an end today.

To be honest, it hadn’t been all that long, but it had been maddening. He had to spend time playing mini-poker with a dull steward, feeling lonely and bored.

He couldn’t wander the social scene with his beloved Lady Bonucci,

Nor could he tend to the faltering support base,

Nor could he control his younger sister, who was now causing trouble.

In his heart, he longed to escape for a moment and rally his supporters… but the second prince held back. He knew that defying his father would be unwise. He had endured the humiliation of confinement with patience.

Would that patience prove not to be in vain?

“Finally, the self-imposed penance is over. Is that correct?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean, not sure? You’re the head steward, aren’t you?”

“Yes… From my limited perspective, it seems to be over.”

“Hm!”

The second prince’s face brightened as he headed toward his father with the steward.

He had a specific plan in mind.

The casino? Even though it still made his stomach turn, he would leave it alone until he regained his strength.

It wouldn’t be wise to start a fight with the hero party just after being released from confinement. For now, he intended to stay low and regain his father’s trust.

‘After all, my father has no other choices.’

His older brother, treated as nonexistent for many years.

His younger brother, who even the nobles were too afraid to approach.

And his younger sister was a woman.

She might inherit the throne, but in the end, she would have to follow her husband’s family name. By the time his younger sister’s generation came to the throne, the dynasty would change.

No king would be happy if the royal family name changed after his death.

In the end, the only viable heir was the second prince.

As long as he didn’t make any mistakes, he would eventually win, even if it took a while.

He could focus on revenge after being crowned as the crown prince. He would kill them all. Especially that Hyden bastard.

‘No matter what my father says, I have to go along with it for now.’

In front of the office.

The second prince, after meeting with his father, was planning to show proper respect.

He would lower his head and endure until his father commanded, “Lift your head.” He thought it would make him appear repentant.

The door slowly opened.

“Hmm?”

But inside the office, his father wasn’t alone.

“Come in.”

“Your Majesty?”

“It’s fine.”

His father, with a serious expression, stood next to his impudent younger sister, Beatrice, who had her hands neatly clasped. Surrounding them were various court nobles.

Why was that wretched Beatrice here…

No, wait. She must be lingering around, trying to please her father. Stefano chose to ignore her and tried to maintain proper etiquette.

“It’s fine. Just stand there.”

But his father refused. Stefano awkwardly stopped.

The atmosphere felt heavy, but he was determined to show humility.

But there was no time for that.

It was his younger sister who made the first move.

“Father, should I bring him in?”

“Allow it.”

“Let him come in.”

With her unnecessarily loud voice, his younger sister ordered someone to enter.

It was Hyden, the magician.

The second prince immediately scowled. How dare that bastard, who only deals with gambling, be brought into the king’s office… No, that wasn’t the issue. Why was this bastard being brought into the palace at this moment? And by his sister’s summons?

But his surprise was brief. The second prince experienced a sense of déjà vu.

‘Is this a trap?’

His premonition proved correct.

Hyden, kneeling on one knee, began to speak.

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but Prince Stefano here pressured me to sell the casino to him. When I refused, I was retaliated against. I was subjected to organized business interference, falsely accused of breaking national and church laws, and my establishment was even occupied… I did not want to testify against a noble, but with Princess’ persuasion, I reluctantly speak now.”

A late accusation.

Stefano, looking at Hyden who was speaking so politely, could only think:

‘Is this it?’

It seemed like a trap set up by Beatrice and the sneaky magician. Beatrice must have been trying to eliminate him from the succession competition while he was down. Hyden, fearing future retribution, had probably sided with her. Or perhaps Hyden had approached them first.

Stefano was startled, but he remained calm.

He had been tricked by that magician once before. If it happened again, he’d be a fool.

“Your Majesty, may I have a chance to explain myself?”

Stefano approached without showing anger. The king nodded.

“The accusation against Him is… Yes, it was an attempt, but there were no ill intentions. However, it is true that it was an unfounded accusation, and I deeply regret it. But aside from that, it was all just delusional fantasies born from Hyden’s victim mentality.”

“You never tried to take the casino?”

“I did mention voluntarily giving it to the royal family, thinking it might help with finances. I was thinking it would stay under the royal ownership.”

“I see…”

Stefano skillfully twisted the truth, admitting the parts that were undeniable while carefully spinning the rest.

That was a fine response.

Attempting to forcibly take the casino? It was true, but how could that bastard prove it?

Still, he decided to bow his head for now. Stefano thought showing remorse would earn him points.

“Your Majesty, it’s true that I wronged Hyden here.”

“……”

“And I understand why he’s making these accusations with Beatrice’s ‘help.’ He’s probably afraid of retaliation. …But I promise, here and now, I will forget about the hero party, as you instructed.”

That should be enough, right?

The second prince, Stefano, felt a sense of satisfaction.

Now, with his younger sister and the vile magician working together, they’d keep quiet.

‘Did they want me to make a mistake? Foolish idiots.’

This shallow scheme would be repaid many times over later.

Hyden, skilled in fire magic, could be made a slave and sent to the charcoal factory. Beatrice could be married off to some old foreign noble.

Not now, but later.

The second prince looked at his father, his face filled with hopeful expectations. He thought he had scored points with his calm demeanor and repentance.

But the situation didn’t unfold as he expected.

“Beatrice, do you really have to do this?”

“It wasn’t me. It was my brother’s people who wanted this. I’m just providing the opportunity.”

“Do as you wish. I’ll hear that man’s explanation later.”

After that exchange, a group of people entered one after another.

These were all people who had either followed the second prince or had been followers in the past.

Count Immobilé, and the nobles led by him, along with knights like Sir Enrico, his right-hand man, and adventurers used for secret dealings.

And, most surprisingly, even Baroness Bonucci, who would never normally be allowed in the king’s office.

‘What is going on here?’

Before the second prince could collect his thoughts, the next procedure began.

It was the revelation.

“Your Majesty, I was ordered by Prince Stefano to monitor the casino and attempt to sabotage it. I moved nobles I was familiar with to create a conspiracy that the casino dealers were cheating, and I even hired a half-elf adventurer to interfere with business. Although it was under the prince’s orders, I clearly have a crime in this matter.”

Suddenly, Count Immobile confessed.

“Your Majesty! Prince Stefano, after the casino’s downfall last year, took coercive tribute from merchants to make up for the losses… I know this because I was there. It was unbearable and shameful.”

Sir Enrico revealed past wrongdoings.

“…Prince Stefano has often instructed me over the years to spread false rumors about his siblings. For instance, he asked me to spread a rumor in high society that Crown Prince had been rejected by a prostitute or that Princess was collecting compromising information on young ladies… I kept quiet out of fear, but thanks to Princess’ encouragement, I now speak the truth.”

Maria Bonucci, even you…

This wasn’t a trap; it was more like a public execution.

Prince Stefano, stunned, looked around at his inner circle.

But no one met his gaze.