Chapter 141
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142.
Croa clicked her tongue at the sight of the tight-fitting jacket.
A man with such a physique was rare to find in the Capital.
Anyone with a discerning eye could immediately tell that his muscles came not from labor, but from something else entirely.
Julian truly possessed a body ill-suited for disguise.
"Your Grace, it seems your frame has grown larger?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, the jacket does seem a bit snug."
"Have you been taking some sort of supplement and exercising? I've noticed you've been throwing yourself into training with particular fervor lately, but to achieve this in such a short span...."
Julian immediately frowned and retorted.
"What are you implying? Do I look like someone who would resort to such shallow methods? I've been eating properly and training the conventional way. And there was a reason I needed to build strength quickly."
"Pardon? What reason is that?"
"It's just.... Something like that. Anyway, shall we head inside now? We don't know when that bastard Devonshire might show up."
Croa pouted at Julian's secretive behavior toward her once again.
Ever since Rebecca arrived, Julian had taken to consulting her first before turning to Croa with his questions.
Because of this, Croa was acutely feeling the sting of being demoted from first to second.
"I expected as much, but everyone is really overdoing it."
After a brief inspection, Julian clicked his tongue as he stepped into the Casino.
Despite the early morning hour, the Casino was crowded with a considerable number of people—in fact, even more than before.
The Emperor's luxury ban seemed to have only excited them further.
As it was, people always found greater thrill in doing what they were told not to do.
Moreover, gambling was not something one could simply abandon at the Emperor's command.
Even if a blade were pressed to their necks this very moment, there were enough people here who would pull the slot machine lever to fill the streets.
He understood well enough.
The Emperor's luxury ban amounted to little more than a fine—almost a mere formality.
Save for those of the Emperor's Faction, few within the Empire truly adhered to it.
It was only natural.
The luxury ban directly contradicted the doctrine of the Defrian Church.
Had Zahidra proclaimed severe punishment, the Knights of God might well have stormed the Imperial Palace itself.
The fact that the Emperor had even uttered the ban was itself a considerable achievement.
Julian furrowed his brow deeply and swept his gaze across the Casino, where one could not distinguish day from night.
The domed ceiling, towering high above, bore a sacred image of the Defrian Goddess, unmarred by a single window.
Beneath the Goddess's feet, tobacco smoke hung thick and heavy.
The shrill alarms of the ceaselessly spinning slot machines mingled with the shouts of losers and winners, creating a dizzying cacophony.
Julian clicked his tongue at the sight of people who had lingered in the Casino since dawn—or perhaps even longer, their sense of time lost.
"It seems divine authority is quite formidable. They don't even fear the Emperor, it appears."
"Even if the Pope himself had issued the ban instead of the Emperor, these people would have crawled their way to the Casino regardless."
Croa spoke matter-of-factly and went to the exchange counter, returning with a modest amount of chips.
Julian examined the number of chips and spoke.
"You brought so little?"
"This much is enough for you to spend the entire day here anyway."
Julian chuckled softly. He was right.
The Temple's Casino was the perfect place to prove God's blessing.
Every number Julian touched turned into a jackpot, and the alchemically-crafted slot machines erupted with wins.
On the day he quarreled with the Pope, Julian, consumed by the thirst for revenge, spent the entire day at the Casino and walked away with enough winnings to shake the Temple's foundations.
In the end, the Temple surrendered unconditionally to him.
Only after Julian agreed to stop winning at the Casino did he negotiate to change the rule requiring him to visit the Temple once a week down to once a month.
"Still, I should lose a bit so I don't raise suspicion. Bring me more chips. And some alcohol too."
"You're going to spend money on this, sir?"
"I didn't say I'd lose money."
When Julian's lips curved up playfully, Croa stopped her protests and simply obeyed.
Julian settled into a corner table with a clear view of the entrance and sipped his whiskey diluted with soda.
He had barely touched alcohol since living with Rebecca.
But to endure staying in this den of demons for an indefinite period required dulling his senses somewhat.
Colin had informed him that Zeppelin would visit the Casino today.
However, they hadn't managed to pinpoint exactly when he would arrive.
Because of this, Julian had no choice but to wait here indefinitely.
He could have sent an attendant, but when it came to matters involving the Temple, his own eyes were more reliable.
He had to see everything without missing a single detail.
From the staff member who greeted him upon entry, to the amount of chips he exchanged, to who saw him off when he left.
"What number will you choose, sir?"
The dealer asked Julian courteously.
Julian glanced casually over the numbered board before answering indifferently.
"13."
The rules of the game Julian selected were simple.
Whoever matched the number the spinning marble landed on would take the entire pot.
It seemed few had won recently, as chips were piled high in front of the dealer.
A rough count suggested enough to purchase a respectable estate.
"Then I'll spin it."
Clatter—
As the marble rolled, the eyes of everyone gathered at the table rolled along with it.
Some were already trembling with their hands, having lost much.
Julian paid no attention to the marble's trajectory, regardless of where it landed.
His gaze, fixed rigidly on the entrance, faltered as he brought his glass to his lips.
A man with striking blonde hair, visible from a distance, pushed open the door and entered.
Though he wore a mask, his contemptible gaze could not be concealed.
It was Zeppelin.
Immediately, a figure in white robes rushed out to greet Zeppelin.
The hooded figure, hood pulled deep over their head, quickly ushered Zeppelin inside.
"This is a scam! You're in on this with that bastard, aren't you? How could this result possibly happen!"
At another gaming table, a gambler who refused to accept the outcome grabbed the dealer by the collar and caused a commotion.
When the gambler suddenly stood up, the man in the white robe passing beside him stumbled.
His robe slipped off in the process.
He hastily pulled it back on, but he couldn't escape Julian's hawk-like gaze.
Julian's eyes widened for a moment upon recognizing the man in the white robe, then narrowed to slits.
He was a Priest who attended to Pope Deslatino.
Julian's lips curled upward with a cold smile.
"Well, well. A jackpot indeed."
The moment his words fell, the dealer cried out.
"Thirteen... it's thirteen! Guest number four wins!"
The dealer's eyes went wide with shock.
Normally, guest number two, who had just rolled the dice at the Temple and obtained a high number, should have won the pot.
So the ball should have rolled to twenty-five, where guest number two had placed their bet...
"What on earth is happening! I just received the Goddess's blessing!"
Guest number two clutched his head and glared at Julian.
Julian chuckled and patted guest number two on the shoulder.
"It seems I received the Goddess's blessing far more generously than you did. But it appears the Goddess was not mistaken after all. I have no intention of keeping these winnings."
"What... what did you say?"
Julian tossed the chips he had gathered high into the air.
"Take as much as you like."
Immediately, chaos erupted. Everyone scrambled desperately to grab the massive pile of chips he had thrown.
"Sir! Please, just a moment! Calm down!"
The dealer quickly called for security.
When the burly security guards arrived, the situation was brought under control.
As the dealer heaved a sigh of relief, Julian, who had been silently observing the commotion, tapped him on the shoulder.
The dealer jumped in surprise and turned around, whereupon Julian grinned and spoke.
"Now that you know what kind of man I am, you'd better treat me properly, wouldn't you?"
* * *
Meanwhile, Rebecca sat in a daze, watching the path where Julian had disappeared on horseback.
There had been times when she thought him young.
When asking him for favors, it felt awkward, as though she were requesting pocket money from a child.
But to Rebecca, he was no longer a child.
Looking at his broad back, she wanted to rest her head against it, to be held in his sturdy embrace.
Somehow, he had become her steadfast support.
'Is this what a husband is?'
A peculiar sense of security she had never felt in her previous life seized her.
Even as she reminded herself it was a contractual marriage, a relationship meant to end, her heart would race unbidden whenever she saw his handsome face sleeping peacefully beside her.
The fact that Julian, this remarkable man, was the one with whom she had exchanged rings brought an involuntary smile to her lips.
Rebecca had resolved to carry out her bitter revenge with her own hands alone.
She did not wish to stain the hands of uninvolved people with blood.
She had believed she was capable enough, but the truth was she was weak.
I couldn't even move my feet against Zeppelin's mere hollow threats.
I had whimpered, hoping someone would save me. The incident at the banquet had inflicted tremendous humiliation upon me.
Even when I encountered Zeppelin again at Devon Mansion afterward, the aftershocks lingered like tremors from an earthquake.
And it awakened a truth I couldn't bear to acknowledge.
I was still afraid of Zeppelin.
'I want to become stronger.'
I recalled Leo, who had been beaten by Zeppelin. At the same time, Julian collapsing as well.
I had to ensure such a thing never happened again.
I swore once more that I would never allow those dear to me to be sacrificed for my revenge.
I drew out the gun I had secured at my thigh.
Despite its beautiful exterior, it was a weapon with a most sinister purpose.
I pressed the gun's button once. The gun's size expanded.
I raised the gun and aimed at a bird flying past the window.
Even though I had made it light, my hands trembled as I held it, and the sight wavered uncontrollably.
No matter how much my stamina had improved, it was obvious I couldn't even shoot a single leaf properly at this level.
I grew anxious.
While the possibility of close combat was nearly nonexistent, I still didn't want to become a burden in any unforeseen situation.
"Kanna!"
At my call, Kanna opened the door and entered as if she had been waiting.
"Yes, Rebecca."
"Do you know how to shoot a gun?"
"I can hit the shoulder blade of someone jumping over a wall."
Kanna spoke matter-of-factly, as if it were as simple as breathing.
I smiled brightly and grasped Kanna's shoulder.
"Perfect! Let's go!"
"Where... are you referring to?"
"To the Shooting Range!"
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book Publication
January 12, 2022
Author
Ginbamhaneul
Publisher
Samakyeowoo
Published by
Woongjin Thinkinbig Inc.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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