"Straight flush," Princess Charlotte declared with a hint of triumph in her voice. The mayor and the citizens gathered around, their faces filled with shock and disbelief as their mayor suffered defeat. Princess Charlotte rose from her seat,
her presence commanding attention. "Once you've collected your debt, call me," she stated, her words hanging in the air. With a simple command, she summoned her guards who quickly formed a line before following her out of the room.
As the citizens and the mayor watched the princess depart, a heavy tension settled in the room. The weight of their impending financial crisis was palpable, and they exchanged worried glances. The princess's cold stare lingered in their minds as she closed the door behind her, leaving them in silence.
The citizens stood there, their eyes widened with a mix of fear and uncertainty. One of them mustered the courage to voice their concerns. "What are we going to do now, Mayor? If this continues, we won't have enough funds, and our village will fall into poverty,"
they said, their voice trembling with anxiety. The mayor, feeling the weight of responsibility, closed his eyes tightly, desperately searching for a solution. "I... I don't know," he admitted, his voice filled with defeat.
However, just as hope seemed to fade, a voice broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention to the figure standing by the backdoor. It was Hiroshi, the high schooler who had recently arrived in this world. He strolled confidently toward the table and casually took a seat, propping his legs up on the table.
"I have an idea," Hiroshi declared, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to him, waiting eagerly for his solution to their predicament. Hiroshi leaned forward, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, Gramps," Hiroshi called out, leaning back in his chair. "Can you enlighten me about this princess? Oh, and while you're at it, how about sharing the story of how all this came to be? Oh, and a drink, please," he added with a mischievous grin.
The mayor, taken aback by Hiroshi's audacity, hesitated for a moment. However, realizing that he had no other choice, he sighed and began to recount the events.
"It all began two months ago when our once peaceful village served as a haven for people of all races to coexist harmoniously," the mayor began, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and concern. "But everything changed with the arrival of the Princess of Everdawn. Initially, we believed she had come to pay us a visit, perhaps to appreciate the beauty of our village."
The mayor paused, his expression turning somber. "However, to our astonishment, she unveiled her true intentions. Holding a sign declaring her intent to seize our lands for greater power, she brazenly asserted her authority over our village. The citizens and I vehemently opposed her proposition, refusing to succumb to her demands."
He sighed heavily, the weight of the past events evident in his weary voice. "But the princess, growing increasingly forceful, resorted to using her power against us. Faced with this unjust aggression, we had no choice but to declare a Veritaria game, hoping that our collective wit and resourcefulness would triumph over her might. Little did we know that this last game, as disastrous as it was, was not the first encounter with the princess."
The mayor's gaze met Hiroshi's, a mixture of hope and desperation in his eyes. "That's the gist of it, young man. Our village has been embroiled in a struggle for survival against the relentless ambition of the princess. We have fought bravely, but we find ourselves at a critical juncture, teetering on the brink of losing our autonomy and prosperity."
"We have exhausted all attempts to propose additional Veritaria battles, but with each one, our debts only grew deeper," the mayor explained, his voice filled with resignation. He cast his gaze downward, the weight of their predicament evident in his posture.
Hiroshi, taking a thoughtful sip of his drink, placed it back on the table before speaking up. "So, when does she come to the village?" he inquired, his eyes fixed on the mayor.
"Every Sunday is when she graces us with her presence, marking our final day of freedom before this village is reduced to nothing but a desolate wasteland," the mayor revealed, his voice tinged with a sense of impending doom.
Hiroshi's eyes gleamed with determination as he proposed his audacious idea. "Before this village descends into chaos, how about we propose one last Veritaria game to her?" he suggested.
The mayor and the citizens stared at him in astonishment, disbelief etched on their faces. "Young man, we have nothing left to wager. Our economy is in ruins, and we have no resources or assets to offer," the mayor responded, his voice tinged with desperation.
Undeterred, Hiroshi leaned forward, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "How about we bet the entire village?" he declared, his words hanging in the air, capturing the attention of everyone present. Gasps filled the room as the citizens grappled with the magnitude of his proposition.
"If you think about it, Mayor, if we do nothing, this village will be reduced to ashes. However, if we dare to challenge the princess once more, offering the stakes of our village itself, there is a chance, albeit a risky one, that we can regain our freedom," Hiroshi reasoned, his voice resolute.
Suddenly, an elf girl interjected, her voice filled with fear. "No! We cannot become subjects of the princess. Have you heard how she mistreats elves like us?" The orcs chimed in, their voices carrying a mixture of anger and determination.
"I've heard she enslaves orcs, using them as mere tools." A kobold added, speaking up for their kind. "We came to this village because it was known as a beacon of peace and acceptance for all races."
"So, you would rather see the children of this village suffer, forced to scavenge for scraps on the ground?" Hiroshi's words hung in the air, piercing through the room. The citizens' eyes widened, realizing the harsh reality of the situation. They couldn't bear to witness their children endure a life of poverty and hardship.
Realizing the depth of their desperation, Hiroshi took charge. "On Sunday, we will boldly declare one final Veritaria game, and I will be the one to face her," he declared with unwavering determination. A concerned orc spoke up, voicing the doubts of the group. "But how can we be certain you will win?"
Hiroshi's gaze met the orc's, his eyes burning with conviction. "Are you willing to take my place?" he challenged, causing the orc to fall silent, unable to meet his gaze. "I understand that many of you doubt me and that hope may seem scarce. However, we must seize every opportunity, no matter how small. So, Mayor, I ask you, will you accept this proposition?"
The mayor glanced around the room, the weight of the decision evident in his eyes. He knew that their fate hinged on this gamble, and he understood that Hiroshi's determination and courage offered a glimmer of hope.
After a moment of contemplation, the mayor took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, Hiroshi. We will accept your proposition. We have come too far to simply surrender. We shall place our trust in your abilities."
................
At last, the day of the long-awaited match had arrived. The citizens bowed in reverence as a crowd of knights gathered and approached the mayor. An elephant stood tall, its back serving as a bridge for the princess to descend upon.
Her golden locks danced in the wind, cascading around her as her piercing crimson eyes exuded an enchanting allure. Even the knights themselves felt their knees weaken in the presence of her beauty.
"Mayor, you are well aware of the purpose of my arrival," the princess stated with an air of authority. The mayor trembled under her gaze, his voice barely audible. "B-but before we surrender the debt, may we propose one final Veritaria game?"
"Hmm? Another game? Haven't you had your fill already? At this rate, your village will be reduced to nothing more than a desolate wasteland," the princess replied, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Furthermore, what do you even have left to wager? You possess so little that you wouldn't dare risk your village's land and its people."
The mayor took a deep breath, mustering every ounce of his courage. "Would you be willing to accept that as our wager?" he asked, his voice unwavering. The princess snickered, a haughty smirk playing on her lips.
"Oh, so you've finally resigned yourself to surrendering your land and people? That's more like it," she taunted. Her tone dripped with condescension. "How about this, Mayor? We'll engage in one final match. If you win, I'll graciously return everything this village owns and depart. But if I win, every single one of your citizens... will become my slaves."
Gasps filled the air, and wide-eyed stares pierced the tension. The mayor trembled like a leaf in the wind, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Come on, Mayor, make your choice," the princess urged, a sadistic smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"We accept," Hiroshi declared, placing a comforting hand on the mayor's shoulder. The princess glanced at him, surprise flickering across her features before being replaced by a wicked grin. "And who might you be?" she inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.
"I am the player you'll be facing," Hiroshi replied, his tone calm and determined.
To be continued