Chapter Title: The Gambler's Fallacy
Cesare's words made Palmina's eyes widen. She smiled sourly, apparently guessing his purpose.
"You're welcome, Prince Cesare. This isn't without precedent between us."
"I'm honored by your mercy." He was determined to repay the humiliation at all costs. Cesare laughed and sat down next to Adele.
"I suppose playing cards was to your liking." The moment he whispered this, Adele seized his hand as it reached toward the table.
"Brother. Are you certain about this?"
"......" Cesare looked down at Adele's hand covering his own, then slipped free.
"I can't afford to lose my sister's pension."
"Then just give me the money."
He nearly spat out his cigar. He didn't know what to make of it—this mad remark. His composure shattered before he could collect himself.
"Are you insane?"
"Completely."
"Fine then, let's begin. How much is the pot?"
"Just three billion gold."
"......" Cesare stared at Adelaide in bewilderment. Adelaide met his gaze with an innocent expression.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing." When he had asked why she hadn't responded to what he'd sent, it was simply because the amount was too small. Judging from the look in Palmina's eyes, it seemed she wouldn't let them leave unless they were stripped of at least ten billion. Cesare leaned over and whispered to Adele.
"I won't interrogate you, so step away." Adele furrowed her brow at that, then sighed softly. In an instant, her eyes changed.
"Thank you. It seems you've come to complicate matters. This makes things very difficult."
Her teeth clenched around the chilly whisper, and Cesare's mind went blank.
"Wasn't I the one who should be angry?"
"Every time I shuffle, you draw attention. Make the final round as large as possible—so much that Madame Genobl is blinded."
The final round?
"You'll understand when you see it." She didn't elaborate further. Adele tapped her cheek without answering. *You'll know when you see my face.* Cesare chuckled.
"Don't speak to me now. It's complicated." Here was a shoeshine girl giving orders to the head of Buonaparte. The end times had truly arrived. With that thought, Cesare ordered a strong whiskey from the servant. He didn't forget to unbutton a few buttons of his shirt.
"It's rather warm in this salon." All the ladies' eyes turned to him. Only Adele sat upright, speaking to Palmina without expression.
"I have something to say, Madame Palmina. I didn't mind before since it's a house rule, but I think it's unfair to have only one dealer."
At that, Palmina's large eyes filled with anger.
"Are you accusing me of cheating?"
"No, not at all. But for the sake of fair play, may I deal from now on?"
Palmina's tan gaze settled on Adele as if assessing something. Adele stared back blankly. Watching the two women square off, Cesare unbuttoned one more button.
"Madame Palmina, I believe I'll need some whiskey."
"If my brother wins, he'll give me his winnings."
"May I remove my coat?"
"I'd like to see the terms revised."
Palmina looked at the mad siblings as if questioning their sanity, then waved her hand in disgust.
"Fine. Whether it's the dealer or the contract, do as you please. ...It won't change the outcome."
Cesare raised one eyebrow thoughtfully. He had never been concerned with money, but this blatant dismissal was certainly irritating. Then Adele whispered from beside him.
"Don't worry. We have everything we need."
He turned to see Adele gazing up at him with an unwavering look. Her golden eyes were as clear as the sun on the horizon.
"I'll end it with this round."
---
Twenty minutes later.
Palmina stared down at the table in a daze. Her tan eyes, bulging like a goldfish's, trembled with disbelief and shock. Her sparse hair seemed to stand on end.
*What happened?*
She looked up, her features blank as if erased. Before her sat a beautiful brother and sister with golden eyes, utterly indifferent. No—Adelaide was the only one so calm she seemed weary. Cesare had the same reaction. He too was looking down at the table, his eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
*That's right. It's impossible...*
Palmina looked at her hand again. K, K. It was the most powerful hand in Hold'em after a pair of Aces. The community cards on the table were A, A, K, 3, and 9. Since they weren't suited, there was no flush, and a straight was impossible. In other words, Palmina's hand was a full house—the most powerful hand one could strategically aim for.
The only thing to watch out for was four of a kind. But four of a kind wasn't a hand that came easily. It shouldn't have been.
...But why did Cesare have two Aces?
Palmina stared blankly at Cesare's hand again. Adelaide had only shown a 2 and a 7, but when Palmina rubbed her eyes, his hand held two Aces. It meant she had lost.
"Why...?"
"How much is the pot?" Adelaide ignored Palmina's murmur and looked at the chips.
"Eight billion now?"
"......"
Palmina's heart began to pound belatedly. Even her hands on the table trembled like leaves. The realization dawned on her.
*Eight billion. Eight billion... When did I bet so much?*
Eight billion gold was enough to build a galleon. Palmina's vision blurred and her breathing grew ragged. Cold sweat broke out across her face. She looked around and saw everyone rubbing their eyes. Lucrezia, originally pale as wax, had turned white as flour.
*That's right. It doesn't make sense. How did Cesare...*
"Madame Palmina." Adelaide's cold voice called to her. "Eight billion. Thank you."
"...This is absurd!" Palmina slammed her hands on the table and stood. "This is fraud! He must have cheated!"
It was a grandiose cry that squeezed strength from her belly, but Adelaide responded calmly.
"Are you claiming this game was fraudulent?"
"Of course!"
"On what grounds?"
"There's no way Cesare could have won!"
"I suppose it was finally time for my brother to win."
"Cesare has never beaten me!"
"You're committing the gambler's fallacy. Just because you've lost before doesn't mean you can't win next time."
Palmina laughed bitterly.
"Ha! Cesare beating me? That's impossible!"
At that moment, Adelaide's smile deepened.
"Why?"
"Because...!" *Because I've always cheated him...*
Palmina's expression gradually drained away. She stared blankly at Adelaide, who looked back at her with the same calm eyes she'd had when betting three billion gold. An epiphany struck Palmina like a blow to the head.
"It can't be...!"
"Don't make a scene, Madame Palmina." Adelaide cut her off.
"You come from a fine family, you wear beautiful clothes, you've only ever seen and known fine things. Stay that way. If you don't..."
Adelaide snapped her fingers. A servant unknowingly held out a silver tray bearing the written pledge.
"Perhaps next time we won't stop at eight billion."
"......"
Palmina gasped. Her tan eyes turned pleadingly toward Adelaide. Adelaide smiled.
"Then you should donate eight billion gold to the Poor Development Fund in Buonaparte's name, as you promised."
---
As soon as they climbed into the carriage, Cesare spoke.
"You cheated?"
His eyes sparkled with mild wonder. Adele nodded.
"Yes."
"Ha!" Cesare furrowed an eyebrow and laughed broadly.
"I've acquired a mad little shoeshine! You must be out of your mind. Eight billion?"
"As for the old woman—it was Madame Palmina who started it. If they had been honest, I would have played fair."
"You handled the cards?"
Cesare began to laugh, his shoulders shaking. He looked quite delighted. After a while, he stopped laughing and asked with boyish curiosity.
"Tell me. How did you do it?"
"It's simple sleight of hand. You need to have the right card..."
Cesare immediately pulled the cards from his breast pocket and held them out.
"Handle them with care. I'm going to have them coated and displayed on the wall."
Adele nearly laughed, then cleared her throat.