Chapter 24

Carmine pretended to size up the situation, but in truth, he was scrutinizing the customer from head to toe.

“You’ve come here quite a few times, haven’t you? It’s a shame to walk away after just a little bad luck, don’t you think?”

“Well, that’s true, but… what I just bet was my last…”

The man answered hesitantly, though his eyes kept darting back toward the tables, clearly reluctant to leave.

Carmine chuckled slyly and gestured toward the staircase leading to the basement.

“If you really can’t let it go, go have a word with our manager. He can help you out… for a price.”

“Really?!”

“Of course. Head down to the basement. Just tell them I gave you permission, and they’ll let you through.”

There were countless ways to squeeze money out of desperate fools.
And inevitably, they would pay the price.
But gamblers blinded by greed never realized that.

Whether some commoner left the club penniless or fell into debt with loan sharks, nobody cared.
All Carmine had to do was rake in the profits.

He waved lazily to the man who bowed repeatedly in thanks.

* * *

Carmine Pierce was born the second son of a count’s family that owned fertile lands.
To outsiders, that alone was enviable enough. But to him, it often felt unjust.

When Carmine was born, there was already a brother four years older.
Their father would seat the children in front of him and repeat the same words over and over.

“The family will be inherited by Jeremy. The rest of you must support your elder brother.”

Their father was old-fashioned, unyielding. Open defiance was impossible.
The most Carmine could do was scowl and ask in frustration:

“Why?”

“Because that is how it must be. You need not question it.”

The household and its future were Jeremy’s responsibility.
If something went wrong, Jeremy would be the one held accountable.
Therefore, the younger ones had to support him.

To Carmine, those lectures about “helping one another” only sounded like shackles.

The family estate was stable. Anyone could manage it as well as Jeremy could.

“Please give me a chance too. Forcing this all onto him is a burden, even for my brother.”

“You foolish boy. Don’t use your brother as an excuse to satisfy your own greed!”

The rift between father and son only deepened until eventually, they cut ties.

“You want to start a business?”

“I want to prove I’m more capable than my brother.”

“Ha! Even Wellington could never have imagined this. A boy who’s never so much as pulled a cart thinks he can run a business?”

“I have my own vision…”

“Do as you please. I’ll give you your share of the inheritance in advance. But…”

He must not return to the family until he succeeded.

Those cold words burned into him. Clenching his teeth, Carmine left the estate.
It had already been three years.

In the capital, he bought an old winery and converted it into a card club.

“I’ll prove it. That I’m better than my brother. That my so-called father is the fool.”

This was no refuge — it was paradise of his own making.
Whatever anyone said, Rigoletto was a new world he had carved out with his own hands.

Not long after finishing his business for the day, Carmine donned his coat and stepped outside the club.
Glancing idly around Seneca Street, his expression suddenly shifted to shock and curiosity.

“Well, well, who do we have here?”

He approached a carriage that had stopped nearby.

“Miss Diana Wellington? What an honor to see such a rare face.”

“…”

Though she gave no invitation, Carmine unhesitatingly opened the door and climbed inside.

For a brief moment, Diana’s face showed a flicker of ‘just my luck’, but she quickly composed herself.

“Good evening, Sir Carmine. I didn’t expect to see you at this hour.”

Her calm, clear voice poured over him.

“Imagine my surprise to encounter you here in Seneca Street. What brings you here?”

“I was just passing by. If you hadn’t forced your way into my carriage, I would’ve left already.”

“You seem to have some leisure. Why not step out? It would be my pleasure to show you around.”

“Thank you, but I’ll decline. My schedule is busy.”

Carmine smiled politely, but Diana’s attitude was as frosty as ever.

Come to think of it, she had always been that way.
A fine face, yes — but far too proud, far too arrogant.
In plain words, she had no manners.

Her chilliness soured his mood.

“You know, that reminds me of when we first met.”

Back when Diana Wellington had just debuted in society, she had drawn much attention at the royal banquet.
She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful debutante of the year.
And she carried herself with a matching dignity.

Aside from one obligatory dance with the first man who asked, she stayed by her chaperone’s side all evening.

“Do you remember? I asked you for a dance that night as well, and you were just as cold then as now.”

Like countless others, Carmine had lined up for the chance.
But Carmine Pierce had recognized something immediately: she was first-class.

Clothes, weapons, horses — only his brother ever received first-class. His share was always the second-rate.

So he knew at a glance: this woman is first-class.

He wanted her. He wanted to claim her as another trophy to flaunt before his father.

He was sure the other men there had felt the same.

“Unfortunately, I do remember. You told me you liked me because I was beautiful.”

Diana’s icy voice cut through the air.

“I remember because you spoke as if you were picking ribbons off a gift box. It was insulting.”

“That was insulting? Women should be satisfied simply with being chosen by someone.”

“…”

“Your beauty is certainly first-class, Diana. That’s why you had the privilege of choosing dance partners. But…”

Carmine studied her face. Yes, she was still as flawless as ever.

“Without charm, beauty loses its value. That arrogant nature of yours is why you’re only second-rate.”

“Please leave. I have no patience left for your nonsense.”

“I’m only giving you honest advice.”

Cold disdain flickered in Diana’s eyes.

“Advice? Strange. Wasn’t it you who chased after me just because of my face?”

“We agreed to forget that.”

“You pestered me endlessly for a dance at our first meeting, then the very next day barged into my home to demand a relationship.”

“Hey.”

“And after I refused, you ran off to find another woman. What nerve…”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut your mouth?”

Carmine slammed his fist against the carriage wall.

Women always needed to be spoken to roughly before they listened.

He glared and threatened:

“If you dare let Mio hear about this, I’ll kill you.”

“…”

“Do you understand?”

Diana closed her lips as he wished, but the contempt in her eyes only deepened.

By the time he lowered his fist, the carriage was silent again.

Carmine continued as though nothing had happened.

“I was simply clouded in judgment then. Who would want a woman who’s cold and pretty but nothing else?”

His mind turned once more to his fiancée, Mio Campbell. Unlike Diana, Mio had charm — the kind of sweetness that lifted a man’s pride and soothed his temper.
Her looks might only be second-rate, but she made up for it by knowing how to please.

He felt reassured in his choice.

“I hear you’ve managed to ensnare young Lord Crawford now?”

“Get out of my carriage.”

“Well, since you’ve caught yourself a first-class man, perhaps you should learn how to please one too.”

“Did you not understand me?”

“Who could ever love a woman as cold as you?”

“…”

Carmine looked straight at her, the woman who had once rejected him so harshly.

Every time he saw that lovely face, he couldn’t help but spit out venom.

“Remember this. When loneliness comes for you, you’ll be the one chasing after men.”