Chapter 36
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Yoshmut had fallen into a desperate situation.
“Damn it all!”
When the horse he had bet on failed to even place for the third time in a row, a curse burst out of Yoshmut’s mouth.
He shouted obscenities unfit for a prince and hurled his teacup, acting no better than a common thug.
“This is fraud! A scam!”
Forgetting all dignity, Yoshmut kicked over his chair and slammed the table, jabbing a finger at it in rage.
He had been gambling on the Stone Horse Racing Game for nearly half an hour, yet the horses he bet on had only won four or five times in total.
Because the game was so quick, the amount of money he had lost in that short span had snowballed to an outrageous level.
At this rate, he’d have to tear down and sell one of the palace’s pillars just to pay off the debt.
“Your Highness, please, don’t be so angry. Calm yourself.”
At the manager’s silky voice, Yoshmut’s eyes rolled with fury.
He lunged at the man, grabbing him by the collar as if he meant to overturn the entire gambling table.
“You bastards! Do you think your necks will remain on your shoulders after this?”
“Your Highness! Please! Surely you know gambling isn’t about winning every time. You understand that, don’t you?”
Though Yoshmut’s breath reeked of alcohol as he snarled, the manager secretly found it refreshing. Outwardly, he wore a pale, groveling expression, but inside, he could hardly stop laughing.
Because the chamberlain who was supposed to fetch cash had been delayed, Yoshmut hadn’t been able to put down real money. Instead, he had stamped his seal onto the gambling house’s promissory notes to keep playing.
One note became two… and then countless more. Before long, over twenty promissory notes were piled in front of him.
Yet Yoshmut had guessed correctly about one thing: the gambling house had hidden stones under the board, rigging the races.
In truth, the entire setup was a trap laid specifically to ensnare him.
Hmph. Strutting around like a prince, yet how much damage has he caused us? The lives lost because of him alone are worth a thousand years of slavery.
The manager, after all, was only a servant of the house’s owners. Even without this, he had always been beaten and berated whenever Yoshmut came and caused chaos.
Since Yoshmut had already wreaked havoc at every gambling den nearby, it hadn’t been hard to gather people. The manager invited a few who shared his grudge, men addicted to gambling and vicious enough to kill over a single coin.
And this—this scene now—was the result.
“You filthy cheats! Did you think I’d fall for your tricks? Out of my way! I’m leaving!”
Yoshmut, realizing things were turning dangerous, threw down the promissory notes and tried to storm out. But blocking his path were guards of the gambling house, men twice his size.
His face flushed scarlet.
“You must have a death wish! How dare you block me?”
Then the manager, standing behind, spoke in a sly voice.
“Your Highness, surely you know better than this. Please, sit, drink some tea, calm your mind. No one understands gambling better than you…”
“What—what did you say?”
Yoshmut was furious, but the manager’s oily calm made the situation increasingly unfavorable.
It wasn’t just the manager. Every gambler at the table knew who he was.
If he backed down and left now, it would be a humiliation so deep he could never show his face here again.
“…Damn it! Fine! I’ll strip you bastards bare tonight!”
Grumbling, he sat back down and stamped another note. Seeing this, Anduhu whispered nervously.
“What are you doing? Let’s stop and slip away quietly.”
“Quiet, you jinx! You think you’ve evened your losses already?”
“No, but—listen…”
The manager, noticing their whispers, called out.
“And what about young master of the Orchai family? Will you be joining this round as well?”
“Yes! He’s in! Put him in!”
Yoshmut yanked Anduhu by the collar. But to his surprise, Anduhu shoved his hand away and stood up.
“I—I’ll be going. I just remembered… it’s my mother’s… birthday today.”
“What? You rat!”
“Now, now, don’t be so harsh. Rat? Really! Ahem… Manager.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll… settle my share when I get home. You understand?”
“Of course, of course. Please, take care.”
As Anduhu slipped away, a cold sweat trickled down Yoshmut’s back.
After all, he was still a prince. No matter how notorious these thugs were, surely they wouldn’t dare lay hands on him… right?
But to raise this money… damn it! Why is he taking so long?!
Grinding his teeth, Yoshmut set another note on the board. The manager’s lips curled into a sharp smile.
“Then, Your Highness, please choose first. Normally the winner chooses, but since you’re upset… please, go ahead.”
Yoshmut clenched his fists and glared down at the eight miniature horses lined up neatly.
If only he could spot some sign of tampering—but the figurines and riders looked flawless.
Veins bulged on his forehead, sweat dripped down his temple.
“Your Highness, everyone is waiting,” the manager prompted.
“Shut up! I’m choosing, can’t you see?”
“Yes, yes. But we cannot delay too long…”
“You bastard—!”
Just then, the doors crashed open. Armed palace guards stormed in.
“N-no…”
Yoshmut’s eyes lit up. He jabbed a finger at the manager.
“Seize him! This man dared imprison and threaten a prince! Arrest him at once—!”
“Your Highness, please rise. His Majesty urgently summons you.”
Yoshmut’s triumphant grin froze on his face, turning blank with shock.
“…What? My father? Why…?”
“That, I cannot say. Only that we were ordered to bring you at once.”
“W-wait. My father? No, no…”
“Escort the prince!”
At the captain’s order, the guards formed ranks around him, hemming him in on all sides.
Yoshmut’s face turned pale as he stumbled along under their silent, oppressive watch.
Had it been his mother, Lady Turegene, who called for him, he would never have gone so meekly. But this…
“Ex-excuse me, Captain…”
The manager hurried forward, rubbing his hands.
“What is it?”
“I hesitate to trouble you, but we too are a business. And, well, here, these…”
The captain snatched the papers from him. His face twisted with fury as he read.
“You wretch!”
“It’s no lie! These gentlemen here can testify. Even the son of General Orchai was here moments ago. Ask him! He’ll tell you the truth! His Highness owes us a great debt. If we cannot collect it, our house is ruined. Please, just… at least… some recognition…”
The captain glared, then stuffed the promissory notes—bearing Yoshmut’s seal—into his sleeve.
Disgusted by the man’s greed yet unable to ignore the matter, he had no choice but to report it up the chain: the Imperial House itself was now indebted to commoners.
“Step aside.”
The manager grinned ear to ear, delighted.
