Casino Wizard

“Draconian, playing poker?”

Even Lady Bonucci, the host of the poker game, felt uneasy at first.

The Dragon Kingdom is a multi-racial nation where elves, dwarves, beastmen, fairies, and humans live together. Each race enjoys autonomy, but the throne belongs to the Draconians.

The reason they could rule was naturally their overwhelming strength. A species with superior physical abilities and magical affinity surpassing even the elves. They are also a wandering species, perhaps mimicking the dragon’s playful nature, making them more visible compared to the elves.

But who would have thought they’d end up playing cards together?

Though it felt a bit awkward, Lady Bonucci couldn’t refuse.

Officially, the poker game was organized for social purposes. Could she just turn away guests introduced by acquaintances?

“Should the newcomer play at the other table?”

“Sure.”

Lady Bonucci seated the Draconian at the new player table. She hoped he was just a newcomer visiting the kingdom for business, someone who’d just casually play and leave after learning the rules like any other foreign guest.

Lady Bonucci continued the game as usual.

“Shall we keep going?”

“Let’s do it!”

“Oh, but Lady Barresi, your luck isn’t very good today. Perhaps you should take a break?”

“Mm, should I?”

She gave consideration to players who weren’t having luck with their hands, and she smiled at a former knight who was sulking about losing money, reminding him not to get angry.

This ease came from Lady Bonucci’s well-honed skills.

She was still working in partnership with a widow she had seated at the table.

“Two pair. I win this round.”

She was also capable of exchanging complex signals with ease.

If she touched her left chest with her left hand, it meant a special hand, if she touched her dress sleeve with her right hand, it meant a call, if she touched her ear with her thumb, it meant folding pre-flop, and if she stroked under her nose with her index finger, it meant folding after a three-bet…

There were more than ten signals like this, and changing them regularly was part of the game.

If the game started to get too heated, she’d intentionally cool it down.

After all, she only needed to maintain a decent win rate to uphold her reputation as a skilled player. The money was just for keeping up appearances.

The game itself went smoothly.

‘So, what about our newcomer?’

Lady Bonucci occasionally glanced at the new player table. It was where outsiders who had just joined or made mistakes were seated. Whenever a spot opened at her main table, she’d call someone over.

The Draconian was playing at the new player table.

He seemed to be playing quite well, though he was struggling a bit due to a disability.

“Could you shuffle the cards for me? I only have one hand.”

“Ah? Yes.”

Whenever he dealt, someone next to him had to shuffle the cards, but aside from that, he seemed quite ordinary.

Maybe her worry had been excessive.

Lady Bonucci smiled and put her attention back to the Draconian.

After several hours, she found herself facing him. She couldn’t dismiss a polite player like him.

“May I know your name, sir?”

“Call me whatever you wish.”

“Miss?”

“Yes, because you’re still young and beautiful. Though your title is Baroness, I heard it’s a marriage of convenience.”

His expression was hard to read. His vertical, slit amber eyes were unsettling, and his voice was deep. Yet, his manner was not arrogant.

Alright, she decided, she would treat him well, and if he was a decent guest, she’d build a connection.

Lady Bonucci carried on with the game, using her usual charm, sharing family details naturally, and engaging in casual conversation.

“So, what kind of work do you do?”

“I’m a merchant.”

“I didn’t expect a Draconian to run a trade caravan.”

“It’s not that grand. I drive the cart myself.”

“Oh… I didn’t mean to offend.”

“It’s fine.”

The atmosphere grew warmer, but Lady Bonucci remained cautious. Even if she let her guard down slightly, she’d be able to maintain control with her practiced moves.

Her facial expressions were perfected over time, and no one ever suspected her of anything unusual, assuming that she was simply using her natural beauty.

But now, something felt off.

‘What is this feeling?’

She felt a chill down her neck. Her hand that had been moving towards her chest stopped.

She sensed a danger and instinctively held back.

“You’re not touching your chest this time.”

The deep voice of the Draconian made her stop dead in her tracks.

Lady Bonucci almost foolishly asked, “What?” but held it in. Instead, she smiled and looked at the Draconian.

‘No, it must be a joke.’

She was wearing a dress with a round neckline that exposed her chest, a design often praised at social gatherings. It was a dress that had once made even the poet Hyden sigh with admiration for its “creamy fullness.”

It was a chest that even the dragon king himself had allegedly been captivated by. People often joked about her playing poker with her chest.

But now, it seemed it wasn’t a joke.

It was better to be cautious.

Lady Bonucci exchanged glances with her partner and stopped sharing family details.

She began to probe, trying to figure out what the Draconian had seen, how much he had noticed.

She began to probe, trying to figure out what the Draconian had seen, how much he had noticed.

“Isn’t it hard to build friendship without knowing each other’s names?”

“Lalo. I passed the inspection under that name.”

“Inspection…? If you don’t mind, could you tell me your real name?”

“Sorry, I can’t do that.”

He wouldn’t even reveal his name.

Lady Bonucci looked over at Sir Montifo, who had introduced the Draconian. She figured he might know the Draconian’s true identity.

But Montifo ignored her, standing stiffly with his back turned.

“Don’t waste time on that person. He doesn’t know my name either.”

Could he read her mind?

Lady Bonucci swallowed and glanced at the Draconian, unwilling to meet his eyes directly. He nodded, seemingly understanding her unease.

“I know it’s rude.”

“Really?”

“Still, understand. I’m just not someone to share too much.”

“I see…”

Lady Bonucci wasn’t interested in his name, but there was one thing she was curious about.

“Earlier, you mentioned not touching My chest. What did you mean by that?”

She smiled and adjusted her dress, wanting to confirm what had caught his attention.

But the Draconian shook his head.

“No need for that.”

“…?”

“Just play for now.”

Lady Bonucci hesitated but shrugged and returned to the game.

They played some Texas Hold’em at first, then switched to a faster version of mini-poker with two cards.

There were no significant wins or losses for anyone, though Lady Bonucci lost a bit, but it wasn’t a big deal.

“See you next time, Lady Bonucci?”

“Of course.”

“Tch. My luck’s not good today. Be sure to invite me again.”

“Haha, of course.”

As the players left, one by one, the Draconian was the last to remain.

“Maria Bonucci. Stopping earlier was the right thing to do.”

“What do you mean? You were watching me closely.”

“You have good instincts. If you had touched your right breast again, I would have been sure. There would have been no uproar, but I would have responded… But you stopped. Without certainty or evidence, I won’t make a fuss.”

The Draconian’s slitted pupils narrowed even further.

Lady Bonucci couldn’t help but glance at his hand. It wasn’t the normal wrist, but a hand that had been severed.

She realized that a strong species like the Draconians could have lost their hand somewhere. If it hadn’t been mangled, they could have healed it with holy magic.

The Draconian seemed to notice her gaze and casually showed her his severed wrist. Lady Bonucci forced a smile and looked away.

“You see, I suspected that if you had touched your chest, you were signaling a good hand. But even with a good hand, there are times when you fold pre-flop. If your partner hadn’t been so clumsy, I wouldn’t have suspected you as easily.”

“…”

“Perhaps your goal isn’t money. I don’t know, but find a smarter partner.”

The Draconian had figured out a lot from just playing a short while.

‘Who is he really?’

Poker was still a popular game in the kingdom, particularly in the big cities. In other countries, trick-taking or rummy was more common.

It was strange that someone so skilled in poker would suddenly appear in the Dragon Kingdom.

Maybe this man wasn’t just good at poker—he might have been an expert in gambling itself.

The word “wanderer” suddenly felt more meaningful to Lady Bonucci.

She decided to ask something else instead of his name.

“Why are you here?”

“I first heard rumors about the casino and the wizard Hyden two years ago. I’ve been interested since then, but I couldn’t cancel my planned trip, so I put it off.”

“…You came to meet the wizard.”

“Yes. But a friend I met here told me you won against the wizard in gambling, or at least outplayed him. He said the wizard made a mistake because he was distracted by your beauty? You’re certainly beautiful, and not bad at reading people.”

The Draconian paused and looked her up and down, not with a lecherous gaze, but as if appraising her.

“Your skills are still lacking compared to your reputation. Did you really beat the wizard?”

The comment felt like a blow to her pride.

Lady Bonucci could finally relax when the Draconian’s eyes left her body.

“By the way, I don’t like the title ‘gentleman.’ A few years ago, the dwarves gave me the nickname ‘Dragon Ear.’ It’s better than lizard or pumpkin eyes, so I accepted it.”

Dragon Ear… Likely referring to the Draconian’s distinct ear shape.

It was a nickname the dwarves might give. Maybe he wanted her to call him that from now on.

“I had fun, Maria Bonucci.”

The Draconian shuffled the cards with a one-handed shuffle and placed them in front of her. Gone were the days when he’d ask others to shuffle for him.

‘Something’s different.’

Lady Bonucci lowered her head after the Draconian left the poker table.

Sweat gathered at her collarbone and chest. She hadn’t been humiliated or lost a large sum of money, but her heart kept pounding.

“First, I need to tell Hyden.”

It seemed that someone unusual had arrived.