Chapter 140 - Night Canary

 

There was momentary silence before the casino erupted into cheers and applause. The actual outcome was of little concern to the spectators. They had witnessed an overwhelming victory and a despairing defeat; it was the climatic ending they hoped to see.

Cecile stood and retrieved the scepter from the game table, while Yuliana gazed ahead blankly from the opposite end. Lifting the scepter, Cecile slammed it loudly on the ground. The venue instantly fell silent.

The empress stood before them illuminated underneath the chandelier. Her platinum hair shined brilliantly, and the light appeared to sparkle around her. The blue phoenix circling above perched itself on her shoulder and let out a shrill cry. She embodied the definition of dignity. The empress, with the scepter in her hand, emanated an aura of true authority. It seemed like all the power to be had was hers, and the world was her oyster.

One by one, the spectators began to bend their knees and bow their heads in reverence, starting with those in front and rippling out to the back of the crowd. There was no hesitation in their movements, as if it was the most natural thing to do.

Yuliana watched all this unfold in a daze. This had to be a dream. This couldn’t be happening. The scepter in the empress’s hand should be hers. All the respect the empress was receiving should be hers too. So, then why? How? Her eyes shifted to the dice on the table. The results of their tosses yielded unbelievable results. Anger blazed in her eyes as her gaze returned to Cecile. She mustered every ounce of strength left and raised herself with trembling arms.

“This can’t be happening…” Yuliana muttered quietly. She called on her powers… or at least tried to, but she sensed no reaction. Hastily looking down, Yuliana discovered the light that had always been there had completely vanished.

“Y-you… You! My power!” She cried out, staggering forward to pounce on the empress. Before she could take more than a few steps, the casino guards caught the princess and held her with an iron grip. “Agh! Let go of me!” Yuliana screamed, struggling to escape their hold. The guards mercilessly forced her to the ground, while everyone looked on in shock.

Click, click, click. The sound of Cecile’s heels echoed against the marble floor, until she came to a stop before Yuliana. “Princess Yuliana,” Cecile said, casting down a cold gaze. She paused, before continuing in a more commanding tone than she’d ever used when addressing the princess. “Or perhaps I should just address you as Yuliana.”

Yuliana flinched as gasps broke out on all sides. The princess had wagered her everything in the bet, including her status, which meant she was no longer a princess.

“You promised to accept the outcome of the wager, whatever it may be,” Cecile stated.

It was true. Yuliana had staked everything, believing in the certainty of her success.

“We played the game without using any ‘tricks’ whatsoever,” the empress added.

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At the mention of ‘tricks,’ Yuliana bit down on her lips so hard that she drew blood. She had no comeback to this vexing humiliation and it drove her mad. She had lost everything and was destitute. Not even her powers remained. This realization caused her remaining strength to leave her body and she slumped in defeat.

“I hope you will enjoy the rest of your stay in the empire, Yuliana, because unlike your time as a princess, you will experience a much different kind of enjoyment,” a cold voice rang from above.

Those were the final parting words the empress left for the former princess. As if she’d seen enough, Cecile turned away, and taking the cue, the guards immediately lifted Yuliana up and escorted her out. No one paid any heed to the incomprehensible mumbles of the former princess as she was dragged out without resistance.

* * *

‘Th-that was a close one.’ Inwardly, Cecile breathed a sigh of relief. When the dealer lifted the cups to reveal the results of the dice toss, she wanted to jump onto the table and dance about while screaming “I won! Hot darn it, I won!” The results were so astonishing, she had trouble believing it herself: triple 1s and triple 6s? Did she perhaps have the talent and luck for gambling? Who knew she would discover this new side to herself after becoming empress, and in such a manner too!

Cecile hugged the scepter close with shaky hands. ‘And I got this back safely too!’ Now she had the time to reflect, she wondered if she’d momentarily gone mad to have even considered staking the regalia in a game. While she was lost in thought, the mage lord approached her.

“Wow, you were totally awesome,” Richard said with genuine surprise. He flashed a thumbs up. “I was impressed. Estian did tell me about it, but I must say. Why didn’t you become an actress instead of an empress? You looked really cool.”

Cecile decided to overlook the archmage’s choice of words. After all, her behavior was not that different from his when outside of public view. Putting his phrasing aside, he was complimenting her, and that lifted her mood. She shot a look encouraging the mage lord to heap on more praise, but his expression became ambiguous.

“But is this really alright?” He asked.

“What is?”

“I mean it was great and all. You talked eloquently and won the game with style.”

“So, what’s the matter then?”

“I heard about your situation from Estian. Aren’t you supposed to be acting with villainy? The better your conduct is, the more danger it poses for your safety is what I was told. Is it fine to comport yourself in such a regal manner outside of the imperial palace, in a public place with so many witnesses?”

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