AHH!!

Ciel made a sound like a balloon deflating. His shoulders dropped, his lower lip didn’t quite protrude, but it came close enough. It made several people in the room look away to hide their smiles.

"Oh, for—" he quickly spun toward Thiago. "Then, I’m the only active officer who wants to play? That’s—that’s mean!"

Thiago rubbed the back of his neck. This situation was really embarrassing to say the least.

Out of every actively serving public official in the room, only Ciel—the youngest, the most impulsive, and arguably the most recognizable given his family name—had zero reservations about sitting down at a gambling table.

"Tell you what," Thiago said. "You play. I’ll fund you. That way, there’s no paper trail. No transactions under your name."

Ciel’s entire demeanor changed. His eyes went wide and liquid, his mouth curved into a trembling smile of exaggerated gratitude.

"Really?" Ciel whispered.

"Oh my god, stop that," Thiago muttered.

"You’re the best brother-in-law figure I’ve ever had—"

"Stop." Thiago held up a hand. In the corner of his eye, he saw Grayson looking at him with a displeased expression.

He knew that it was wrong to condone Ciel’s absurd behavior, but his wife, Grayson’s older sister, Elara Maxwell, doted and spoiled their little cousin rotten.

Thiago continued, "But listen. If you lose the budget I give you, you’re done. Done, done. You got it? If you don’t, I’ll pull you out from the table and sit you with Helena for the rest of the night. Understood?"

Ciel’s gratitude evaporated and changed into indignation.

He stomped one foot against the floor and declared, "Like I can’t pay if I lose! I also have money!"

"That’s not the point," Bryan said in a tone of someone who had been there, done that, as he sat properly in his seat. "This game can be addictive."

Ciel rolled his eyes so hard his head moved. "Like I have time to roam around a casino every day. I have a command to run."

"You might not play every day," Grayson said in a bland, flat tone. "But you are a high roller."

The room went still.

Ciel opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Then, with effort, sealed it shut for good and looked at the floor.

"Right," Bryan said into the silence, clapping his hands once. "So. Final roster. Who’s playing?"

The lineup assembled itself.

Neville was already seated with Grayson standing behind him.

After all, the game started between him and Lilianna; his participation was non-negotiable.

Ciel dropped two seats to Neville’s left, acting as if nothing had happened earlier.

Thiago, now serving as Ciel’s financier, stood next to him with his arms crossed.

"I can’t play if I’m funding him," Thiago declared, "We can’t afford too many gamblers in one household."

"So, you admit you’re an addict to?" Bryan said with mischief.

"Just shut up."

Iris was standing behind Bryan, peering at the table.

"I have no idea how to play," she announced.

"You could learn," Ciel offered. "There’s always beginner’s luck."

"I could." She said.

But Iris still didn’t sit down in the empty seat next to Bryan. Instead, she moved behind Bryan’s chair and placed her hands on Bryan’s shoulders.

"But I could also watch someone who knows what they’re doing."

Bryan smiled sweetly as he looked at Iris, "Suit yourself."

Julius pulled out the chair to Neville’s right and sat down.

He placed his hands flat on the velvet and cracked his knuckles once and said, "I’m in."

Then Sarah appeared and slid into the chair beside Julius.

She beamed at Lilianna across the dealer’s station. "You cover for me!"

Lilianna blinked and explained, "I can’t. I’m the dealer. My money’s on the line too."

"So?" Sarah leaned forward, undeterred. "Just cover my losses. If I win, I keep it. If I lose, you pick up the tab. It’s simple!"

"That’s not simple, that’s—"

"It’s solidarity, Lily. We’re practically sisters."

"We are sisters."

"Then it should be even easier!" Sarah clapped her hands together and smiled brightly at Lilianna.

Lilianna sighed through her nose.

"Fine," she said. "But only the losses. And if you go over—"

"You’re the best!" Sarah was already studying the table before Lilianna finished the sentence.

Lilianna closed her eyes for a second.

Then, Julius suddenly leaned back in his chair and looked at Bryan. "Are we betting in real time?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Neville turned to him. "What does that mean?"

Before Julius could answer, Grayson spoke from behind Neville. His hand rested on the back of the chair, centimeters from Neville’s shoulder.

"Real-time betting," Grayson said. "It means we use actual star coins to value the chips — your wins and losses settle immediately against the account used."

The words actual star coins made Neville dizzy.

He thought that this was just a friendly game, not real casino betting!

No wonder Thiago was limiting Ciel’s budget to play. That even Sarah asked Lilianna to cover for her.

Neville swept a glance at everyone at the table.

And then he looked at himself.

He started to worry about how much he could afford to lose.

"What’s the minimum?" Neville asked Grayson.

Then, his voice cracked in panic at the realization that maybe he couldn’t even afford the minimum.

"Wait—I don’t have money."

From the dealer’s station, Lilianna rolled her eyes.

Why does he keep saying that?

She bit the inside of her cheek. The false modesty grated on her.

Everyone at this table knew who would sponsor Neville’s game.

Sure enough, Grayson didn’t even pause and said, "I’ll cover your share."

Neville twisted in his chair to look up at him.

"I can’t just—"

"You can." Grayson’s hand reached Neville’s nape, massaging it lightly. He even sent a small amount of his pheromones to calm him down. "Just play and have fun."

Sure enough, Neville did get relaxed by Grayson’s actions, but he still wanted to argue.

However, looking into Grayson’s eyes, he was lost and gave up making a scene.

"...Fine."

Lilianna watched the exchange from behind the dealer’s station, her fingers still moving through a slow, idle shuffle. The cards whispered and clicked in her hands.

Disgusting, she thought. Absolutely disgusting.