【Aside from playing cards, he doesn't care much about anything else. His most important items are his playing cards.】
568Please respect copyright.PENANAzb6orJu0FX
The dark night sky was filled with black clouds. It looked as if they would cause the country villa located at the corner of the town to collapse, meanwhile, a scintillating light emanated forth from the clouds every now and again.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAXS4qXvrwun
The rooms inside were dark, nothing was visible. Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck the window of the villa, lighting up the darkened room. It was then that I could see a small figure crouched under the window.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAHkgvyH4zFf
??? :
"Are you...?" I asked tentatively. "Are you a cooking attendant?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANA9AcM1hS8Ec
The figure was shivering noticeably, then, it continued trembling, looking as if it was going to cry.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAwFw1X1wEf0
Sandwich :
"My lady, my name is Sandwich, a cooking attendant. "
568Please respect copyright.PENANAa6T5r46fpV
I stood off to one side, as I could feel another cooking attendant sending out a signal to not get near her.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAZpF4yVefDt
Without getting a response for such a long time, there was nothing else to do but sit on the counter and play with a deck of cards.
568Please respect copyright.PENANABUiJNveTxK
Off in the distance, the lightning cut a flash into the sky again.
It provided enough for me to make out what the lady looked like.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA8w3Jzo5gCM
Her face as beautiful as a doll, with noble golden curly locks hanging down like silk strands.
An elaborate gown flowed down her thin frame, which, coupled with the luxuriant decorations around the house, it was not difficult to see that the cooking attendant was nobility.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA0r9kvQN5UF
The lady was the daughter of an Earl, but her father was known as a man who loved gambling.
Because he lingered all day at the gambling table, he was given the informal title of, the Gambling Earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANATTEYqWjBLp
At that time the aristocrats wielded massive power, the throne itself was just a charade.
All the nobles were addicted to fun. Gambling was just a pastime, it was nothing curious or peculiar.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA8M7wezFl04
Yet, I couldn't understand, what it was that could possibly make this little daughter of a wealthy earl, a girl who was set up for life, sit crying on this rainy night.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAneZPUpWRvK
The lady kept wiping away the tears from her face with the sleeve of her expensive dress, then, pretending nothing was amiss she stood up.
She tried to keep up the charade though her eyes were still red.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAVtXnVbWrtx
I couldn't help but laugh at such a wretched sight. She didn't say anything, she just sat with her back to me, as if she was angry.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAwqE3krk6D8
But think about it, this was a little girl of only 12 years old.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAJ08qKN6bhm
I figured she was a naive girl, too young to know much about the world. As a food soul, I should just talk of whimsical and fantastic dreams with her. Or just play card tricks to make her happy. So...
568Please respect copyright.PENANAFBVMNgoSOG
Little Lady :
"Sandwich, your gambling skills are pretty good, right?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANABFFhnRkOQn
Her words interrupted my train of thought.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0w3hE9QhN
Sandwich :
"I hate to sing my own praises, but... no one can beat me at gambling."
568Please respect copyright.PENANA5UckAOGTqe
I patted my chest in a show of confidence.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAAPXrceWk6B
Another bolt of lightning streaked through the dark sky.
The deafening thunder made me think that I had misheard the little lady, who was now smiling, had just said.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4bqjCl7i6V
Little Lady :
"Could you make my father lose everything he owns?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAApQz6qb3BJ
Yes, it all started that very night.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAR4hCq3AewA
The casino was massive, with a basement designed and built for the earl. The Little Lady had brought me here.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA1oPsEf7v6j
The gambling earl sat on his favorite place around the gambling table, and as usual was squandering the gold coins in front of him.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAtxQdP5k8Nk
People were laughing..
568Please respect copyright.PENANAov5339hEaY
I couldn't understand why their smiles had become so gradually distorted.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAnEQWMGbVzB
"God bless you" The Little Lady said as she walked in with holding the earl's favorite food.
She placed the plate next to the earl's right hand, to make it convenient for him to eat.
568Please respect copyright.PENANArTBTmIiZPO
But, he didn't glance at her at all.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAh5dolwGQI7
Apparently, the Little Lady had gotten used to this, she left without a single utterance.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAiiRTC6N6Wd
But I knew, the food, meat, and vegetables placed inside the bread was the one thing that the pampered Little Lady could have done. And it's also the reason why I was here.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAf7M02zTkME
At this point, I could only play the role of an observer, leisurely sitting on the banister playing my favorite card magic. No one knew of my presence there.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA2iKauTbXkP
Until the earl, who had been reluctant to leave the gambling table, reached out for the food that the Little Lady had prepared for him.
As if by some deep-seated unwillingness, my body took a step before i thought about what i was doing.
568Please respect copyright.PENANATm5YhAAKqz
A spade flew by me, and it stuck in the cracks on the table. The card almost touched the earl's hand.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAlFdi3lY7GM
When I realized it, I noticed that almost everyone was looking at me, the frantic one who dared to provoke the earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4CKz6bfTgL
It was all so totally out of the blue. Therefore, the situation wouldn't allow me to back down.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAO5tOVk7VOk
I slid down the banister railing and jumped, right in front of the earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAHeYJfTqg1Y
I laughed as heartily and as carefree as I ever had in my life, even though I was surrounded on all sides by soldiers. The earl did not order the soldiers to kill me though, he just looked at me keenly with particular interest, and asked, "The reason you have rushed in here so abruptly was not at all out of some queer death wish, isn't that right?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAcohhHmx6mW
I am not sure whether the Earl knew of my identity as a food soul. However, I was confident that I would not be stopped by them if I wanted to leave.
568Please respect copyright.PENANADEZ4eQWp6W
I sat on the poker table without hesitation, pulled the ace of spades out of the deck and laid it flat on the table, then I pushed the cards towards the Earl, and said: "Let's place a small wager, sire."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAIum3suhzIs
He laughed a hearty belly laugh as is he'd heard the newest joke of the day, and others around him burst into laughter as well.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAXuQ482AlZt
"I have not heard a jest of this manner for ages," The Earl snorted as he laughed, "Tell me my good sir, what on earth do you think you have to place a wager?" The Earl looked up and down me after he said that, and couldn't help laughing.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA1gSY15CYCR
I did not care that the Earl teased me mercilessly, I just picked up the cards on the table. I quickly shuffled the deck, took one out and placed it in the middle of the table, then started to deal.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA2fsFlwtaz7
The only thing this I was confident about was that I wouldn't lose to anyone there.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4M7MwF54ye
Sandwich :
"Now, my lord, please be so kind as to look at the cards in front of you now, and do please note, that the card in my hand is the only one I have yet to deal to you sire.."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6QhFMxGKd
I said, then, I turned over the card in the center of the table.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAhWAgKrAX0l
The Earl's eyes looked at me with scorn. He turned the card on the table casually, but his face stubbornly carried arrogantly, he was only willing to glance at it reluctantly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANANVDM6LG3xL
He leaned forward, stared during the moment he saw the cards. Wasn't sure why, but I felt happy when I saw his expression. It must have been the asinine look on his face.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAusGNDG8MFA
Although he didn't expect what I said would happen, the Earl calmed himself, and ridiculed me all the more explicitly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAt4KSfYBcmD
"So what? You are nothing but a pauper without a pot to relieve himself in."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAeFIuzi044z
"You must be after more power and land, I reckon."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAFSSY1RmTVK
【Silence...】
568Please respect copyright.PENANAaH03uYRt3r
Sandwich :
"Be that as it may, if I lose, I will use my gambling skills to help you acquire power and property, if I win you must surrender all your land and power to me."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAR9ZLg509s6
It sounded like an unfair bet.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA5pXOebqgbe
Earl :
"You don't trust my ability?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAkBlF09xMMn
Sandwich :
"Heh heh, nay sire, nay. Quite the contrary my lord, as it just so happens I am a person afraid of trouble."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAekRkXSXEdK
The soldiers who had been stood still suddenly began to approach me after the Earl finished speaking, "There are two choices for you at this point, one is to be my servant, the other is to die."
568Please respect copyright.PENANA51M6apEFx4
【Note : the Master Attendant is the Little Lady】
568Please respect copyright.PENANAmlT4mf2hcY
He didn't know that, as a food soul, it was my Master Attendant's feelings for him that were important. this was the first time I felt myself to be such a pitiable sort.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAWKB4JtI522
I did not have the mind to escape nor were there any signs of resistance. I just smiled and chose to obey.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAo9xwCTm8OL
There is a villa like a castle elsewhere in this country.
That's the realm of a powerful Grand Duke.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAsxCehoY0Y0
Out of the clear blue sky, this honored Grand Duke suddenly invited a host of nobles from prestigious families to a great feast at his palatial estate.
The Grand Duke himself had never held many dinner parties, and many nobles came from far and wide to attend the event.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOb13DwCoPd
The Grand Duke also invited a prestigious Earl , top dog of the aristocracy and a big gambler, to the great banquet.
Meanwhile, with you being my servant, you could also join the party.
568Please respect copyright.PENANANmKnbH85LM
It's dark at midnight and it's now the secret time after the end of the banquet.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAAPvOMmvDz8
This is the place that the Grand Duke set up for the gambling Earl .
The villa that was all lit up like a castle shed its disguise and disappeared into the black night
The withered branches surrounding the villa were covered in crows that surrounded the villa staring at the sole orange light that danced in the window.
The light that reflected back from the crow's eyes was the color of blood.
In another part of the window a gambling table was visible.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAO5bVToCB7q
I stood behind the center of the table, while the Grand Duke and the earl sat face to face.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAEqnuz4HNgL
One elegant-looking chap with a wry smile on his face holding a smoking pipe near his lips sat looking at the other in front of him,
who sat there with an unflinching look on his face, staring at his rival sitting across from him, while rapping the table with his index finger and smiling arrogantly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAVN4wOcwylq
They didn’t say anything.
As usual, I was responsible for shuffling, I dealt the cards, and then quietly placed them on the table, waiting for the opening.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAO0u7QlJBJu
Sandwich :
"The match is the best of one set. My Lord , the Earl , and your Grace , the Grand Duke, please begin."
568Please respect copyright.PENANA9y69WQv2QO
Earl :
”It’s rare indeed to be able to sit at the gambling table with your Grace , why not make this a bit more interesting?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAHakhWOUYTg
Grand Duke :
”Oh? What does my lord suggest?”
568Please respect copyright.PENANAewtOa0fmIG
Earl :
”The bigger the stakes the more entertaining, wouldsn’t thou agree?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAdF6Njigcjg
Grand Duke :
"What say thees sire?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAbfdiAamqXl
The Grand Duke didn’t want to say it directly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAuYDNcllorA
”Though I am a mere peon compared to your Grace, I am willing to exchange all my property for this estate and the surrounding land belonging to you,”
The Earl said.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAEKcmK70MGy
I really wasnt sure what valuable things the Earl intended to bet, but I was shocked by the fact that he so cavalierly threw out the idea of all his fortune."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAyU7P8qefSP
I knew that this was the gambling earl’s tactics, which would cause the other party to raise the stakes.
But I never would have thought that the earl would go all in like that.
It was most likely due to my presence there.
568Please respect copyright.PENANARtjaH7aJY3
But this turn of events was nothing unexpected for the Grand Duke.
568Please respect copyright.PENANATNXKunD9OH
Grand Duke :
”Long ago I was told of the bold and adventurous earl who was partial to a good wager, now i see with my own eyes that he indeed possesses a boldness of spirit a common man will never have..
Such being the case, I shall add to my bet the vast green pastures at the edge of town,
What say thee, sire?”
568Please respect copyright.PENANAEclBhwFbzB
Earl :
”But now that your grace has made such a motion…”
568Please respect copyright.PENANA3bpa9PlcHV
The gambling earl believed that his tactics were working, and feigned uncertainty.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA0LOkoE9zSu
The seconds turned into minutes.
I noticed the Earl’s face, once brimming with confidence, had gradually been stricken pale.
I knew how this was all going to play out.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3RorvC51D
The mournful caw of a crow abruptly cut through the long and deathly silence.
568Please respect copyright.PENANACiALca84cl
Purely out of force of habit, the gambling earl reached out to take his favorite food from the table.
But the table was empty as the earl’s pockets would soon be, as he was just about to lose it all.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA3AkxaILogD
The time was drawing near for me to take my leave.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAyigjyHeMIQ
Sandwich :
"My lord, the Earl , it is you who will lose this game of luck, the only question is whether it will be to lose to his Grace, the Grand Duke, or to me."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAMTbCA4l4mN
568Please respect copyright.PENANAaTQt3lX6tE
568Please respect copyright.PENANAfGoiELczDb
568Please respect copyright.PENANAFTpJEFG5rf
568Please respect copyright.PENANAFVJ540AuQs
Sandwich and his Master Attendant strolled along the bustling street.
Smiling faces were everywhere, as though nothing had happened.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOWuDIPMuLI
Two years later, the country's aristocracy had collapsed, and the people were now free.
Some people were leisurely enjoying their relaxing afternoon tea under parasols,
while others chose to spend their time getting together and going to the cinema or theater.
568Please respect copyright.PENANApCRXuK9v3h
Hardly anyone knew what had happened the Earl of Gambling all those years ago.
Over time, he became a joke that people might mention in passing after a good meal.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAhrVR23veLq
No one knew who had destroyed everything the Earl had created, and eventually people weren't sure whether he had ever even existed.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAaANbBNi2q6
While walking up the street, a stranger went up in front of Sandwich and his Master Attendant and said..
568Please respect copyright.PENANA2T7wzRHp5G
Popcorn :
"You're so beautiful.. My name is Popcorn, would you like to embark on an adventure with me?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANA02aZHmy4mi
The stranger's voice stopped them in their tracks..
568Please respect copyright.PENANAAiwsZFb8Gm
"You can just go embark yourself!"
Sandwich said, stepping in front of his Master Attendant.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA3NNfFGPtgW
Popcorn :
"Oh! I didn't notice you there!"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAXg2Mrjh0hH
Popcorn :
"Would you like to climb onto a step ladder and then say that to my face?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAwrd6sdYEXd
Sandwich and Popcorn squared off, neither willing to back down.
568Please respect copyright.PENANACbbRV5IUi6
「Woman」 :
"Alright alright, it's nearly time to open shop,"
his Master Attendant said, seeing that they weren't backing down.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAzYcR1arZpd
「Woman」:"Popcorn? That's right~"
568Please respect copyright.PENANA8nUwVEyA8q
Sandwiche's Master Attendant smiled warmly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAX8ACxLIHaX
「Woman」 :
"Thank you for your invitation, but I'm going to have to decline. But if you have some free time you should come visit my restaurant~"
568Please respect copyright.PENANANHK3sE1nWk
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOsTFQKbJPK
568Please respect copyright.PENANAcaH5vuzU1l
568Please respect copyright.PENANAn4hU7uevet
The whole street was bustling with activity, but in a little tucked away spot people were already lining up.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAUZXY3cmbgu
This was a restaurant called Sandwich that had opened up here a few years ago.
It wasn't a particularly fancy restaurant, but the customers came in droves.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAjm73pJ0k0w
The restaurant had a wide variety of bread and other ingredients, and their specialty was putting things between two slices of bread.
And if customers didn't like the customers combinations, they were free to make their own; this was another of their big selling points.
It was both tasty and convenient, and people just couldn't get enough of it so their customer base was always growing.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAH145b5ICsQ
The owner was a young lady who had just become an adult.
Her features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll, with long blonde curls.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4kNSOhWRwG
She was warm and hospitable, always ready with a cup of fresh coffee.
There were more than a few customers who came to the restaurant just to spend a wonderful afternoon chatting with such a beautiful young woman.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAtJrz8jzBH5
And all of the regulars knew this one thing.
Every so often a well-dressed older gentleman (too well-dressed for a place this cheap) would enter the establishment.
He would order a cup of coffee from the owner, sit in the corner, and then sit in the corner eating all afternoon without uttering a word.
568Please respect copyright.PENANACRSO9MQTFp
No one asked him why he was there, and after a while people just assumed it was some kind of aristocratic pastime.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAtqAyvtPUIe
Of course, there 【Aside from playing cards, he doesn't care much about anything else. His most important items are his playing cards.】
568Please respect copyright.PENANAzuwl08B1jJ
The dark night sky was filled with black clouds. It looked as if they would cause the country villa located at the corner of the town to collapse, meanwhile, a scintillating light emanated forth from the clouds every now and again.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA1feNnG16Ir
The rooms inside were dark, nothing was visible. Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck the window of the villa, lighting up the darkened room. It was then that I could see a small figure crouched under the window.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAhgg02bPq7x
??? :
"Are you...?" I asked tentatively. "Are you a cooking attendant?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAHIcgDscHER
The figure was shivering noticeably, then, it continued trembling, looking as if it was going to cry.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAfC8NcT4zHA
Sandwich :
"My lady, my name is Sandwich, a cooking attendant. "
568Please respect copyright.PENANAwUFxuF5axA
I stood off to one side, as I could feel another cooking attendant sending out a signal to not get near her.
568Please respect copyright.PENANATTnNGkZ11P
Without getting a response for such a long time, there was nothing else to do but sit on the counter and play with a deck of cards.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA83TAeEPZDc
Off in the distance, the lightning cut a flash into the sky again.
It provided enough for me to make out what the lady looked like.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAddHbeBl5We
Her face as beautiful as a doll, with noble golden curly locks hanging down like silk strands.
An elaborate gown flowed down her thin frame, which, coupled with the luxuriant decorations around the house, it was not difficult to see that the cooking attendant was nobility.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAgmYdVXiav5
The lady was the daughter of an Earl, but her father was known as a man who loved gambling.
Because he lingered all day at the gambling table, he was given the informal title of, the Gambling Earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAtAdaB046wm
At that time the aristocrats wielded massive power, the throne itself was just a charade.
All the nobles were addicted to fun. Gambling was just a pastime, it was nothing curious or peculiar.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAbyJ8SBldIP
Yet, I couldn't understand, what it was that could possibly make this little daughter of a wealthy earl, a girl who was set up for life, sit crying on this rainy night.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAoBDsbFoQwK
The lady kept wiping away the tears from her face with the sleeve of her expensive dress, then, pretending nothing was amiss she stood up.
She tried to keep up the charade though her eyes were still red.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAWYMy279dQg
I couldn't help but laugh at such a wretched sight. She didn't say anything, she just sat with her back to me, as if she was angry.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAmXvPrDVInI
But think about it, this was a little girl of only 12 years old.
568Please respect copyright.PENANADcOL8XaLbX
I figured she was a naive girl, too young to know much about the world. As a food soul, I should just talk of whimsical and fantastic dreams with her. Or just play card tricks to make her happy. So...
568Please respect copyright.PENANALkvXR6uXmZ
Little Lady :
"Sandwich, your gambling skills are pretty good, right?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOXHnujE7g8
Her words interrupted my train of thought.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAuNjfpIXpNk
Sandwich :
"I hate to sing my own praises, but... no one can beat me at gambling."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAkr23xqNVZn
I patted my chest in a show of confidence.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAO05CHdy5Z4
Another bolt of lightning streaked through the dark sky.
The deafening thunder made me think that I had misheard the little lady, who was now smiling, had just said.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAPojEKk4D9L
Little Lady :
"Could you make my father lose everything he owns?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANAyNk6F1qRAA
Yes, it all started that very night.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAWgy0VAJQWN
The casino was massive, with a basement designed and built for the earl. The Little Lady had brought me here.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAaXT5nS6Ngm
The gambling earl sat on his favorite place around the gambling table, and as usual was squandering the gold coins in front of him.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAx9sqH5snEt
People were laughing..
568Please respect copyright.PENANAqKLA7m3Lgl
I couldn't understand why their smiles had become so gradually distorted.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA9r2ri3c8ig
"God bless you" The Little Lady said as she walked in with holding the earl's favorite food.
She placed the plate next to the earl's right hand, to make it convenient for him to eat.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAhyEeP7b1JD
But, he didn't glance at her at all.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAHlFLN4bfW8
Apparently, the Little Lady had gotten used to this, she left without a single utterance.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAYXYud47ye0
But I knew, the food, meat, and vegetables placed inside the bread was the one thing that the pampered Little Lady could have done. And it's also the reason why I was here.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAwY6iOL7ynB
At this point, I could only play the role of an observer, leisurely sitting on the banister playing my favorite card magic. No one knew of my presence there.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAQlrAWFoE4r
Until the earl, who had been reluctant to leave the gambling table, reached out for the food that the Little Lady had prepared for him.
As if by some deep-seated unwillingness, my body took a step before i thought about what i was doing.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA5bc9sTvah6
A spade flew by me, and it stuck in the cracks on the table. The card almost touched the earl's hand.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAOcwBMctO4A
When I realized it, I noticed that almost everyone was looking at me, the frantic one who dared to provoke the earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAbt3yDBFt8I
It was all so totally out of the blue. Therefore, the situation wouldn't allow me to back down.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA9P1QUxispe
I slid down the banister railing and jumped, right in front of the earl.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAP5mzs1wbP1
I laughed as heartily and as carefree as I ever had in my life, even though I was surrounded on all sides by soldiers. The earl did not order the soldiers to kill me though, he just looked at me keenly with particular interest, and asked, "The reason you have rushed in here so abruptly was not at all out of some queer death wish, isn't that right?"
568Please respect copyright.PENANABqrp9owB1R
I am not sure whether the Earl knew of my identity as a food soul. However, I was confident that I would not be stopped by them if I wanted to leave.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAxPZi8wAwvy
I sat on the poker table without hesitation, pulled the ace of spades out of the deck and laid it flat on the table, then I pushed the cards towards the Earl, and said: "Let's place a small wager, sire."
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4brAWoEyUP
He laughed a hearty belly laugh as is he'd heard the newest joke of the day, and others around him burst into laughter as well.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA2r1lqBDEqB
"I have not heard a jest of this manner for ages," The Earl snorted as he laughed, "Tell me my good sir, what on earth do you think you have to place a wager?" The Earl looked up and down me after he said that, and couldn't help laughing.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAQ36nNkFRjQ
I did not care that the Earl teased me mercilessly, I just picked up the cards on the table. I quickly shuffled the deck, took one out and placed it in the middle of the table, then started to deal.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA9O6uuB2WM2
The only thing this I was confident about was that I wouldn't lose to anyone there.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAZTInSUu6ck
Sandwich :
"Now, my lord, please be so kind as to look at the cards in front of you now, and do please note, that the card in my hand is the only one I have yet to deal to you sire.."
568Please respect copyright.PENANAvXqAopkdSf
I said, then, I turned over the card in the center of the table.
568Please respect copyright.PENANAP82sQAW2if
The Earl's eyes looked at me with scorn. He turned the card on the table casually, but his face stubbornly carried arrogantly, he was only willing to glance at it reluctantly.
568Please respect copyright.PENANA4SZ47mWTPi
He leaned forward, stared during the moment he saw the cards. Wasn't sure why, but I felt happy when I saw his expression. It must have been the asinine look on his face.
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Although he didn't expect what I said would happen, the Earl calmed himself, and ridiculed me all the more explicitly.
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"So what? You are nothing but a pauper without a pot to relieve himself in."
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"You must be after more power and land, I reckon."
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【Silence...】
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Sandwich :
"Be that as it may, if I lose, I will use my gambling skills to help you acquire power and property, if I win you must surrender all your land and power to me."
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It sounded like an unfair bet.
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Earl :
"You don't trust my ability?"
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Sandwich :
"Heh heh, nay sire, nay. Quite the contrary my lord, as it just so happens I am a person afraid of trouble."
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The soldiers who had been stood still suddenly began to approach me after the Earl finished speaking, "There are two choices for you at this point, one is to be my servant, the other is to die."
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【Note : the Master Attendant is the Little Lady】
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He didn't know that, as a food soul, it was my Master Attendant's feelings for him that were important. this was the first time I felt myself to be such a pitiable sort.
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I did not have the mind to escape nor were there any signs of resistance. I just smiled and chose to obey.
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There is a villa like a castle elsewhere in this country.
That's the realm of a powerful Grand Duke.
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Out of the clear blue sky, this honored Grand Duke suddenly invited a host of nobles from prestigious families to a great feast at his palatial estate.
The Grand Duke himself had never held many dinner parties, and many nobles came from far and wide to attend the event.
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The Grand Duke also invited a prestigious Earl , top dog of the aristocracy and a big gambler, to the great banquet.
Meanwhile, with you being my servant, you could also join the party.
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It's dark at midnight and it's now the secret time after the end of the banquet.
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This is the place that the Grand Duke set up for the gambling Earl .
The villa that was all lit up like a castle shed its disguise and disappeared into the black night
The withered branches surrounding the villa were covered in crows that surrounded the villa staring at the sole orange light that danced in the window.
The light that reflected back from the crow's eyes was the color of blood.
In another part of the window a gambling table was visible.
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I stood behind the center of the table, while the Grand Duke and the earl sat face to face.
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One elegant-looking chap with a wry smile on his face holding a smoking pipe near his lips sat looking at the other in front of him,
who sat there with an unflinching look on his face, staring at his rival sitting across from him, while rapping the table with his index finger and smiling arrogantly.
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They didn’t say anything.
As usual, I was responsible for shuffling, I dealt the cards, and then quietly placed them on the table, waiting for the opening.
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Sandwich :
"The match is the best of one set. My Lord , the Earl , and your Grace , the Grand Duke, please begin."
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Earl :
”It’s rare indeed to be able to sit at the gambling table with your Grace , why not make this a bit more interesting?"
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Grand Duke :
”Oh? What does my lord suggest?”
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Earl :
”The bigger the stakes the more entertaining, wouldsn’t thou agree?"
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Grand Duke :
"What say thees sire?"
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The Grand Duke didn’t want to say it directly.
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”Though I am a mere peon compared to your Grace, I am willing to exchange all my property for this estate and the surrounding land belonging to you,”
The Earl said.
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I really wasnt sure what valuable things the Earl intended to bet, but I was shocked by the fact that he so cavalierly threw out the idea of all his fortune."
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I knew that this was the gambling earl’s tactics, which would cause the other party to raise the stakes.
But I never would have thought that the earl would go all in like that.
It was most likely due to my presence there.
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But this turn of events was nothing unexpected for the Grand Duke.
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Grand Duke :
”Long ago I was told of the bold and adventurous earl who was partial to a good wager, now i see with my own eyes that he indeed possesses a boldness of spirit a common man will never have..
Such being the case, I shall add to my bet the vast green pastures at the edge of town,
What say thee, sire?”
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Earl :
”But now that your grace has made such a motion…”
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The gambling earl believed that his tactics were working, and feigned uncertainty.
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The seconds turned into minutes.
I noticed the Earl’s face, once brimming with confidence, had gradually been stricken pale.
I knew how this was all going to play out.
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The mournful caw of a crow abruptly cut through the long and deathly silence.
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Purely out of force of habit, the gambling earl reached out to take his favorite food from the table.
But the table was empty as the earl’s pockets would soon be, as he was just about to lose it all.
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The time was drawing near for me to take my leave.
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Sandwich :
"My lord, the Earl , it is you who will lose this game of luck, the only question is whether it will be to lose to his Grace, the Grand Duke, or to me."
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Sandwich and his Master Attendant strolled along the bustling street.
Smiling faces were everywhere, as though nothing had happened.
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Two years later, the country's aristocracy had collapsed, and the people were now free.
Some people were leisurely enjoying their relaxing afternoon tea under parasols,
while others chose to spend their time getting together and going to the cinema or theater.
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Hardly anyone knew what had happened the Earl of Gambling all those years ago.
Over time, he became a joke that people might mention in passing after a good meal.
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No one knew who had destroyed everything the Earl had created, and eventually people weren't sure whether he had ever even existed.
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While walking up the street, a stranger went up in front of Sandwich and his Master Attendant and said..
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Popcorn :
"You're so beautiful.. My name is Popcorn, would you like to embark on an adventure with me?"
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The stranger's voice stopped them in their tracks..
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"You can just go embark yourself!"
Sandwich said, stepping in front of his Master Attendant.
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Popcorn :
"Oh! I didn't notice you there!"
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Popcorn :
"Would you like to climb onto a step ladder and then say that to my face?"
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Sandwich and Popcorn squared off, neither willing to back down.
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「Woman」 :
"Alright alright, it's nearly time to open shop,"
his Master Attendant said, seeing that they weren't backing down.
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「Woman」:"Popcorn? That's right~"
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Sandwiche's Master Attendant smiled warmly.
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「Woman」 :
"Thank you for your invitation, but I'm going to have to decline. But if you have some free time you should come visit my restaurant~"
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The whole street was bustling with activity, but in a little tucked away spot people were already lining up.
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This was a restaurant called Sandwich that had opened up here a few years ago.
It wasn't a particularly fancy restaurant, but the customers came in droves.
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The restaurant had a wide variety of bread and other ingredients, and their specialty was putting things between two slices of bread.
And if customers didn't like the customers combinations, they were free to make their own; this was another of their big selling points.
It was both tasty and convenient, and people just couldn't get enough of it so their customer base was always growing.
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The owner was a young lady who had just become an adult.
Her features were as exquisite as a porcelain doll, with long blonde curls.
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She was warm and hospitable, always ready with a cup of fresh coffee.
There were more than a few customers who came to the restaurant just to spend a wonderful afternoon chatting with such a beautiful young woman.
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And all of the regulars knew this one thing.
Every so often a well-dressed older gentleman (too well-dressed for a place this cheap) would enter the establishment.
He would order a cup of coffee from the owner, sit in the corner, and then sit in the corner eating all afternoon without uttering a word.
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No one asked him why he was there, and after a while people just assumed it was some kind of aristocratic pastime.
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Of course, there was another subject these people were always eager to discuss.
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Whenever there were a lot of people ordering food, a long line would form outside the restaurant.
Then, a handsome young blonde youth would appear and ask you:
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【Do you want to try your luck against me?】
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【Sandwich - END】was another subject these people were always eager to discuss.
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