As soon as the game table was prepared, Neirin sat down. Marquis Edward William Johnson was seated comfortably on her left, and the emperor was on her right.
Soon enough, two other nobles, Count Richardson and Marquis Valler, seated beside Marquis Johnson and the emperor to complete the game. At the same time, all other nobles who followed them were seated different tables and chairs.
The servants handed the cards.
The silent atmosphere inside the playroom was now bustling as Neirin could hear the nobles chattering and even bragging about what will be their bets would be. Neirin even heard that a noble was willing to bet some of its manor and properties. Others who do not want to be left behind also bet some things with equal value.
Neirin chuckled, hiding her displeasure. Only five women, including her, were present in this room. It seemed that, just like in the past, most women were not viewed as equal to male Aristocrats. Although Neirin was able to mingle with them, she was sure there were already rumors about her educational background and how she did not fit well in this society.
Nevertheless, she doesn't care.
"Duchess?" Neirin was called again. This time, the cards were already given in front of her. She smiled.
"What game are we going to play, your majesty?"
"It's a simple game called Whist my lady. Four players play it, so Count Richardson must watch for now." The emperor turned to look at the count. "I apologize for the inconvenience, Count Richardson."
"It is alright, your majesty. I enjoy this game just by watching," Count Richardson expresses his thought. Neirin couldn't help but raise her brow subtly as it disappeared without even a trace. She was betting that what the count said was probably a lie. He must be feeling his humiliation right now.
"I am grateful for your humbleness, count." Gideon emperor countered.
"It's all for his majesty."
"Is that so?" The emperor expressed his satisfaction as he smiled. He turned back to Neirin. "Do you know how to play such a game, my lady?"
"Yes, your majesty. Fret not, as my father and I have already played this game once before. This game establishes a partnership, yes?"
"The lady is right," the Marquis interjected. Raising his hands, he called a male servant. "Then, would the lady mind if we ask how the game is played?" He smiled kindly.
Neirin stared at him for a while. Clearly, the Marquis was challenging Neirin, but she didn't mind at all. She grabbed the 52-pack of cards on the table and started shuffling it.
"Of course, I'll be honored to explain the rules to those who don't know, right?" She started distributing the cards to each player. Four pairs of eyes waited for her explanation.
'Were they waiting for me to embarrass myself later after being unable to tell the rules?'
Neirin uttered in her mind. Her facial expression was calm.
"Before we continue, my lords, your majesty, would I ask who will be in the same partnership? Hmm? Would I have the privileged to choose who I want?"
"Of course, duchess. We are gentlemen, after all."
"I'm glad."
After distributing the cards equally, Neirin meets the emperor's gaze. "Would it be fine if his majesty and I were partners, yes?"
They all looked surprised, but soon enough, they settled down and nodded. The emperor was the one who spoke, " I am a bit surprised that you chose me, my lady."
"In such games, your majesty, I considered this an honor." Neirin lied swiftly. Despite them talking casually like this and even betting, none of them here could ever oppose the emperor. Hence, Neirin played safe and chose him as his partner.
This way, even if she lost, no mouth could utter it since she was paired with the emperor.
As all of them settled down, Neirin began her explanation. "The goal of this game is to take more tricks on our opponent, right?" Neirin arranged her cards. The last card that was drawn before was the number 2, which she opened for the other four to see.
The four around the table, except for count Richardson, followed and arranged their cards after seeing the number two card flipped.
"Each trick is created by stacking up cards in the middle, and the highest ranking card wins. The Cards were ranked with Ace being the highest and the number 2 card being the lowest. Since the Marquis called a servant, I assumed he would be tracking and recording our scores, right?"
The Marquis chuckled. "As expected of the duchess. Yes, you are right. Then, before we start, since money is boring, what should we bet?" His eyes landed on the duchess.
Since earlier, Neirin had already noticed how the Marquis was challenging her with her authority and her position. She was beyond pissed, but she won't show it right away.
Moreover, In every gambling game that aristocrats participated in, money was the minimum they could ever bet, and sometimes, it was hardly even considered. This gamble game has a hidden objective, with politics being involved.
Neirin leaned back. She then threw the question back to Marquis Johnson. "Then, since I am a bit lacking in this aspect, would the marquis be kind enough to name his bet first?"
Despite the cheerful atmosphere around them, the table they were currently occupying was silent. Even the emperor who has the highest position was observing. His lips were formed into a smile, anticipating.
In the end, Count Richardson, who couldn't handle the heaviness surrounding them, cleared his throat. "Ahem."
Marquis Edward looked down and arranged his cards once again. He had a smile, but Neirin doubted that that smile was even genuine.
"How about an estate?" The Marquis suggested. "I have a state near the sea. It is beautiful, and often my family goes there for vacation." He turned to Marquis Valler, who had been watching since earlier. "How about my partner?"
Marquis Valler smiled. Neirin observed him. Despite his blonde hair and blue eyes, he appeared to be a warm person having a gentle and kind smile. Neirin did not feel any mockery towards his actions.
"How about the duchess first? I am lacking and wanted to ask the duchess for ideas."
"Ah, then, how about a favor?" Neirin suggested that all the people were stunned and looked in her direction. " A favor that no matter what situation you are in, the family of the Halstead will help you no matter what? Would that bet sounds satisfactory?"
All of them who were present here knew that the bet that the duchess offered was even enough that an estate could not even compare to it. She was making a promise, not a favor. And in all the other families in this society, next to the royals was the family of the Halstead.
Receiving their promise was like a reward after a war that had been stretched for so long. Would the duchess be able to bear the consequences of such a promise, especially if the receiver wanted something even more than the Halstead duchy could ever do?
"That is something far more satisfactory than an estate, duchess. Are you sure?" The emperor inquired. The smile on his lips never faded.
Neirin was confident. "Of course, your majesty. Since this is my first game, I want to do only my best." Neirin glanced at Marquis Edward. Either whatever the outcome is, the emperor would win.
"Then, if that were the case, a favor for me too would suffice." The emperor countered by matching what Neirin had bet. "It was disappointing that I am your partner as I want to receive the Halsteads favor, duchess."
"Then perhaps another time, your majesty." Neirin smiled and pointed at the cards. "Then, shall we play?"
--
The game has been going on for a while.
Marquis Edward, who had been silent for a while, had won two times already, but the emperor also seemed quite competitive, not wanting to lose.
It was Neirin's turn. She put down the ace of hearts telling everyone that she had already won the first trick. The servant recorded the score. The emperor was quite pleased. The game continued, and as their cards were diminishing, Neirin paused for a moment as she heard what she wanted to hear around the corners of the room.
"Have you heard of the latest victim of the serial murder case?" It was a whisper enough to dissipate once the sound circled the room. But Neirin could hear it quite clearly, and she was sure that the people around her, the emperor and the two Marquis, could hear it very well.
"I heard! It was count Liden's son!"
"Right, his name was Arthur! He was a promising child. I was thinking of him becoming my son-in-law."
"How horrible!" Another noble countered.
The whispers became much louder than before. "The authorities said that his parents had filed a missing report the day before yesterday, and his body was only found today."
"There were rumors that his body was decapitated and hardly even recognizable!"
"Goodness! What is happening? Why are they only threatening the nobles?"
"How many times has it been? I am scared of going outside alone. I do not even want to attend parties anymore. If it weren't for his majesty's grace, then-"
"Has his majesty done anything?"
"Hush! What do you think you are saying!?"
There! The words she was waiting. A heavy silence soon followed.
"We never thought that the duchess was simply curious about rumors, hmm?" Marquis Edward countered making Neirin look up. All four pairs of eyes landed on her.
She smiled unfazed by the attention. " I am simply curious." It was her turn to put down a card. It was once again an ace. "Since we are in this matter, would the gentlemen tell me the latest gossip in the capital?"
--