Chapter Four: Intensive Initiation Rituals (2)
“Well, I guess so.”
If the woman in front of him had given one more correct answer, she would have won. Gil smiled slyly.
“But are you so confident of your victory, maid?”
Unlike Jill, who wanted to enjoy the bet and prolong it, Rachel seemed in a rush to end it quickly. Haste means impatience, and impatience means bad judgement.
(This is not gambling style.)
He smiled mischievously as he placed the ball this time under the middle cup. Then he started moving the cups quickly again.
slap.
His hand stopped again.
“Okay, this time…”
“Right cup.”
She answered without any hesitation. Her steadfastness spread silence among those present, but Jill was smiling.
Slowly raise the right cup.
“What a pity, maid.”
But the ball was not under the cup she chose. He shook his head in feigned disappointment, then raised the left cup to show the ball in his hands.
“Bwahahaha!”
Everyone present burst into laughter, except for the prince and the maid.
Gil relaxed, smiling at her.
“Sorry, Miss Maid.”
“There is still one last chance.”
Despite her loss, Rachel's expression did not waver.
(Trying hard to look calm.)
Jill laughed softly. It didn't matter which cup you chose, the outcome was predetermined. It was a theater where victory was written only for him.
(It's all been rigged from the beginning.)
He exchanged glances with the orange boy next to him, then smiled smugly.
“Okay, last round.”
slap.
His hand moved like a lightning bolt and suddenly stopped.
“Which one is it?”
“That orange one… his left hand.”
Gil suddenly froze, as if cold water had been poured over him. Rachel stared at him silently. His confused face was reflected in her green eyes mixed with gold.
"What? What does this mean?"
"Orange? The only one with orange hair here is him."
The boys started whispering. The orange boy began to sweat, then shouted nervously:
"W-What are you saying? I was just standing!"
Rachel said quietly:
“Do I need to confirm what you have hidden in your hand?”
The boy was confused and backed away with confused steps, as if he was about to run away. But Rachel wouldn't let him. She grabbed his wrist and turned him around in a quick motion.
“Ahh!”
Short shouted, and something fell from his hand. It was the ball.
Everyone gasped in surprise, including Edwin. Only Rachel remained calm as she picked up the ball.
She pressed it between her fingers, and it relaxed and immediately returned to its shape.
“Rubber ball.”
“G-Give it back!”
The orange boy lunged at her, but Rachel dodged easily, then turned to Jill.
“A while ago, this little guy was sitting right next to you. When you mixed the cups, you must have sneakily thrown the ball to him.”
Her words made them both stutter.
'How... how did you know?'
Rachel continued her explanation in a cold tone:
“The person sitting across from you couldn't see if the ball was thrown at you. He caught it lightly.”
Then she suddenly grabbed Gil's arm, and another identical ball fell from his sleeve.
“Of course I prepared several balls. To secretly put them under the unselected cups.”
The orange boy bit his lip. Their deception was completely exposed.
"What?! Did Jill trick us too?"
"He cheated with that orange? What about my money?!"
Even the remaining boys felt like they were victims.
Gil looked at Rachel angrily, then threw the bracelet onto the box with disdain.
“Take it. You win.”
He spat at her and walked away angrily, but he did not dare to pretend more.
Rachel said to him disdainfully:
“Did you defraud the prince too? How impertinent. You’re just a little thug.”
"What did you say?!"
He pursed his lips angrily, then grabbed her collar. He whispered threateningly in her ear:
“If I had mercy on you, you should have withdrawn. Don’t push yourself to ruin.”
She smiled coldly:
"Mercy? With such a petty trick? Who do you think you're fooling?"
She was smiling with the face of an angel, but revealing the fangs of a demon.
“You idiot.”
She came close to his ear and whispered:
“Defrauding the Imperial Family is a crime punishable by death. You should have chosen your victim more wisely.”
Jill's face froze.
She added:
“The prince you disdained is still of the Emperor’s blood. Did you really not know that?”
He tried to pretend indifference and said:
"Who cares? He's just a despicable prince. They treat him worse than palace servants."
Rachel clicked her tongue.
“Can you believe that? Imperial blood remains imperial blood, even if its owner dies and comes back. And you know that whoever insults the imperial family is punished as a traitor.”
His face froze and grew paler.
She said with a sly smile:
“A petty noble’s son… versus a prince of imperial blood. Who do you think they will choose?”
He gritted his teeth:
“Fuck!”
He let go of her collar, then left angrily with his companions.
As for the orange boy, he remained hesitant, then said:
“I...I'm sorry.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“I only did it because Gil ordered me to…”
But she responded sternly:
“Do not apologize to me, but to Your Highness.”
The child immediately turned to the prince and bowed, saying:
“I am truly sorry, Your Highness. I will not offend you again.”
The prince looked confused, as if it was the first time he had heard such an apology. But he quickly straightened up and said out loud:
“I will forgive you just this once. But if you do it again, I will not leave you. Understood?”
His chest swelled with pride, his voice carrying real authority.
After repeated bends, the child disappeared, leaving Rachel to contemplate the prince closely.
Shining golden hair, sapphire blue eyes, smooth white skin. Up close, the prince looked remarkably handsome, but his thin body and pale face aroused her pity.
Then the prince turned towards her, his eyes full of suspicion, and his voice sharp:
“Who are you?”
Rachel froze for a moment at the question.