Chapter 25
“Aches, I feel like I’ve seen this scene in a dream.”
“This is not a dream, Lady Esia.”
Aches smiled beautifully, grounding me in reality.
“I know that, but I just wanted to deny reality for a moment.”
“I understand.”
“Whoa? Shasha, the area is so clean!”
Thanks to the people who panicked and ran away as soon as Derrion’s identity was revealed, no one dared approach within at least ten meters.
“Now, Shasha won’t have to touch anything else!”
Right, Shasha? Derrion smiled innocently, completely unaware of my inner thoughts.
“I envy the Grand Duke for not understanding the atmosphere… just for this moment.”
I was already close to tears worrying about the quests I still had to clear.
My heart was pounding when I saw Inyeong running quickly from afar.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
He lifted the fan he was holding to his chest, bowed slightly, and then raised it again.
When he lifted his head, his copper-toned skin and the slitted eyes glimpsed through violet hair came into view.
At the appearance of this stranger, Aches positioned himself in front of me, as if to protect me.
“Reveal your identity.”
Despite the sharp demand, the man didn’t seem bothered and maintained a calm smile.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am ‘Deuce,’ the organizer of <Sapros Racecourse>. It is an honor to serve someone of your stature.”
“You speak as if you already know who we are.”
“I am the organizer of the racecourse, yes, but in other words, I am a businessman. Information is money, you see.”
Deuce openly declared his focus on money, seemingly oblivious to the frown forming on Aches’ face.
He even rubbed his thumb and forefinger together as if counting coins—bold, or perhaps crude.
“A businessman’s basic virtue is to never miss the money in front of him.”
Aches raised an eyebrow at Deuce’s brazen attitude.
“Then why are you blocking our way?”
“If you noble guests don’t mind, I would like to show you the horses participating before the race begins. I can confidently say that the horses at Sapros are among the finest, even sought after by the current warring nations.”
At Deuce’s words, Aches and Derrion’s gazes turned toward me.
“If Lady Esia does not wish it, I will dismiss this person.”
It seemed I had the choice.
With their eyes fixed on me, Deuce’s gaze naturally shifted to me as well.
“Oh, so you are part of the party as well.”
‘? …Part of the party as well?’
The wording was slightly odd, but compared to the presence of Derrion and Aches, I could understand why I might feel understated.
Derrion, who had spent nearly his whole life outdoors, radiated robust health and beauty, and Aches was just… dazzling. Few could pull off such a bright and flashy hair color so well.
‘And Derrion’s looks ten years later were even more stunning.’
If this were stock, Derrion’s attractiveness would have skyrocketed. A guaranteed investment. Full buy.
‘Ah, a halo with red arrows blazing!’
Even though my younger self was cute, my “baby bean pod” effect in full force made me decide to let myself enjoy Deuce’s peculiar reaction.
“I’m curious about which horses will be shown.”
I had no real reason to refuse, nor did I know much about horse racing, so I looked up at Deuce’s hidden eyes and gladly accepted.
“I will do my utmost to serve you, noble guests.”
“?”
Perhaps it was my imagination, but as soon as I finished speaking, Deuce turned his back to me as if his business there was done.
Then, with a sharp clap, he struck his palm with the fan he was holding and fixed his gaze on Aches and Derrion.
The broad back of an adult man seemed to openly disregard me.
Even the two fans he held swayed around me without hitting me.
Apparently, my “cute baby bean pod” charm was not enough to influence him.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been treated this way…”
When I first started working as a pet behaviorist, often called a trainer, I received many looks like this.
It was a job requiring strength and stamina, and the looks from those around a freshly graduated student were hardly flattering.
Muttering this, Derrion’s ears above his head perked up.
“Shasha.”
“……”
“Shasha, Shasha.”
“Oh, Grand Duke, are you uncomfortable?”
Startled by the unpleasant sensation, I responded late to Derrion’s call.
“Hm, I’m fine, but it seems Shasha is uncomfortable.”
The instinct of the beast was accurate again.
I gently stroked Derrion’s head in concern.
He closed his eyes briefly, savoring the touch.
“You care for me?”
“You’re on my mind, Shasha.”
His golden eyes slowly opened, meeting mine directly.
Instead of avoiding my gaze, I affectionately stroked his fine black hair.
The trembling black ears following my touch were endearing.
‘I can’t let my little one worry.’
I smiled gently and lowered my hand.
As the warmth disappeared from above, his golden gaze lingered, seemingly disappointed.
“Actually, I was in a bad mood just a moment ago…”
“Shasha was upset? Why? You dislike him? Bite him?”
“Thanks to the Grand Duke, I feel better. And people shouldn’t be bitten.”
Derrion’s sharp gaze turned toward Deuce’s back. Deuce, sensing the hostility, flinched and glanced around.
However, under my calming touch, Derrion’s aggressive aura dissipated completely.
Deuce refocused on his explanation.
“If you follow me this way, you’ll reach the area where the horses wait before the race.”
On the way to the horse waiting area, Deuce finally got to the main point.
“Have you ever visited a racecourse before, noble guests?”
“I have seen the royal stables.”
“Oh! Then this will be your first time at <Sapros Racecourse>. May I dare to introduce our racing facility to you?”
“Do as you wish.”
Now, he blatantly excluded me, speaking only to the two of them.
“Since ancient times, competitions have been inseparable from the ruthless world of men.”
Ruthless indeed… Aches answered out of courtesy, Derrion didn’t even glance, but Deuce continued his fervent explanation.
To summarize after all the embellishments:
“One horse.”
That was it.
“You only need to guess first place.”
Deuce spread his arms theatrically.
“Simply purchase a <Sapros> betting ticket for that horse.”
With a dramatic flourish, he led us directly to the horse waiting area.
Just as the door opened—
“Hiiiiiing!”
“Prrr, prrr!”
The horses began to panic.
Deuce tried to close the door in surprise, but Aches had already stepped inside confidently.
“Oh ho?”
At Aches’ meaningful reaction, Deuce shouted inside.
“What is this? How were the horses managed?!”
“Until just now, it was fine…! Ah!”
“We weren’t expecting this either…! We’ll take the reins!”
Deuce, flustered by the horses’ sudden chaos, lost his composed smile.
“Normally, they are never like this.”
Some horses trembled behind him, while others collapsed where they stood.
“Hold the reins tighter!”
“Hiiiii!”
Eventually, one horse reared, cried out like in agony, and collapsed foaming at the mouth.
Staff tried to calm the remaining horses, but the excited animals were uncontrollable.
Even when they pulled out whips, the horses panicked even more.
“So confident about such hopeless animals… the level of <Sapros Racecourse> is quite something.”
Ah, right. Aches was a gem. I clapped in satisfaction without realizing it.
‘I think I know why the horses suddenly got so excited.’
I looked at Derrion, who had a blank, innocent expression as if he knew nothing.
He kept looking at me, and soon our gazes met.
“They didn’t bite, Shasha.”
“Yes, Grand Duke, they didn’t bite.”
“Did I do well? Staying calm too, right?”
“You did well.”
From behind Derrion, a vigorous flapping sound came—the tail hidden under his robe expressing joy.
“Grab it! I said grab it!”
The survival instincts of highly developed herbivores cannot be suppressed by a mere robe.
Derrion had deliberately released his aura as soon as the waiting room door opened, and although it was unfair to the horses, the sudden presence of a dominant predator inevitably excited them.
‘Strength? Stamina? Important. But bonding is also crucial.’
Without being asked, I gladly stroked Derrion’s head for acting on my behalf.
“Now, I will guide you to your seats.”
Deuce hurriedly led us outside.
I glanced at a plain horse in the corner, calmly eating hay alone.
‘Number 15.’
It was older and patchy compared to the others but had a bright, lively gaze.
Even under Derrion’s intense aura, its eyes shone.
This horse was clearly a true champion, as Deuce claimed.
“I want to buy a betting ticket for it.”
Deuce froze, handkerchief in hand, wiping sweat.
“The lady… wishes to bet?”
Even through slitted eyes, he openly scrutinized me from head to toe.
He had no intention of hiding his disregard.
Even as a young girl, compared to Aches, a prince, and Derrion, a Grand Duke, I was insignificant.
The more Deuce acted this way, the more I smiled innocently and pulled out all my gold from <Inventory>.
Deuce’s lips twitched upward, thrilled by the sight of the purse of coins appearing midair.
“Oh dear, I didn’t recognize someone so noble.”
I found his ease at flipping at a bag of coins disgusting.
“The counter is here.”
Yet, I couldn’t help but anticipate what was about to happen.
“Hmm, I couldn’t look closely earlier because the horses were so wild.”
He tapped his cheek with a finger, pretending to think hard.
“So I’ll just bet on the horse with my favorite number.”
But the deliberation was short.
Smiling innocently, I placed the purse in front of the counter clerk.
Thud! Clatter!
Gold coins poured out.
Without picking them up, I cheerfully declared:
“1.2 billion gold on horse number 15.”
Thanks to Derrion not hiding his presence, it was just us, the counter clerk, and Deuce.
“All in cash.”
