"Then tell me, how exactly do you plan on making money?"
Celia's face was full of disbelief. "Let's get this straight beforehand—robbery and theft don't count! Things are too tense right now; don't go looking for more trouble for us!"
"Of course I wouldn't resort to robbery or theft!" Ansu said, exasperated. "I am a Friend of the Church and a model citizen. How could I do something so illegal?"
"Then your idea is...?" Celia looked at Ansu expectantly.
The events of the past few days had left her feeling cornered on all sides, but seeing Ansu's smug, confident expression suddenly made her feel much lighter.
"Did I ever tell you? My father was actually quite the gambler." Ansu chuckled. "Though I'm far from his level, I've inherited a bit of my old man's talent for the game."
"Dr. Morris?" Celia knew of his father, of course. She gave him a surprised look. "I didn't realize he had such a hobby."
This was quite the contrast. After all, she had investigated Ansu's family background; his father was a well-respected veteran military doctor who had even treated many people for free. He was a very kind man.
"After the old man came back from the army, it was like he became a different person..." Ansu curled his lip. "He became especially fond of drinking and gambling. No matter how much Vera and I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen. He ended up ruining his health because of it."
Of course, bringing up his 'gambler father' was actually just Ansu creating a cover story for himself.
With his simulation ability, the moment he sat down in a casino, wouldn't he essentially become a God of Gamblers? But it wouldn't be good if he acted too unnaturally.
Celia let out a giggle. "Dr. Morris isn't even your biological father. Besides, since when is that sort of thing hereditary? Be careful with that boasting, or you might end up losing your own capital!"
Ansu gave a mysterious smile. "Then just wait and see, Lady Witch."
Celia suddenly found herself looking forward to it. She rested her chin on her hand, watching the confident Ansu, and smiled. "So what do you want to bet on? And where are we going?"
"I'll come to the manor to pick you up at this time tomorrow." Ansu winked at Celia.
"I'll take you out for a stroll; it'll help improve your mood. Miss Witch, would you care to accept my invitation for a date?"
Celia froze for a moment.
Then, with a soft smile, she nodded.
"Of course~"
...
The next morning, Ansu arrived at Lawrence Manor right on time.
After the gates opened, Celia, who had already meticulously prepared herself, reached out her delicate hand to Ansu.
"Let's go, then. Let's see how our God of Gamblers intends to get his hands on two hundred thousand pounds~"
Ansu looked at Celia's outfit. The noble lady version of Hailey Lawrence never failed to dazzle him.
The Witch was dressed in an elegant, pale pink lady's gown with a matching sun hat. Although she looked conservative and reserved, the gown's cinched waist accentuated her slender frame and graceful figure.
Ansu couldn't stop 'appreciating' her from head to toe—from the curve of her hips to her waist, and then to the beautiful lines of her chest. Every angle of the Witch was breathtakingly beautiful.
In particular, the hem of the long skirt would occasionally reveal her snowy-white legs as she walked, a tantalizing peek-a-boo effect that was truly distracting.
Mm, she looked good.
Ansu's overly blatant and unfiltered gaze made Celia roll her eyes in exasperation.
"Can you stop staring at my legs? We are outside!"
"Haven't you touched them enough at home?"
Ansu shook his head honestly. "Not enough."
Celia instinctively glanced at the expressionless maid waiting for her to board the carriage, then shot Ansu a sharp glare.
"Stop being so cheeky! If you don't want me to punish you, then hurry up and help me into the carriage!"
"If the punishment is more leg-rubbing... then please, Lady Witch, feel free to punish me as much as you like." Ansu teased. Seeing the Witch's expression grow increasingly unfriendly, he finally took her hand and pulled her up into the carriage.
Celia's outfit was indeed ill-suited for movement. Once inside, she began tidying her skirt. Ansu tried to reach out to help, but the moment his hand brushed against her fair ankle, he was driven back by a cold, sharp glare.
"Lady Witch seems to be in high spirits today~"
Ansu studied Celia's face. The bloodshot streaks in her eyes had diminished significantly. Although she still looked preoccupied, that lingering sense of exhaustion from yesterday was gone.
It seemed she really was looking forward to this 'date'.
"It's rare for me to get a good night's sleep..." Celia sighed, casting a resentful glance at Ansu. "Because of your business, I haven't slept well in days. Ansu, how are you going to compensate me?"
"I'm compensating you with two hundred thousand pounds, Lady Witch!" Ansu said with a laugh.
"I give you a few compliments and you really think you're some God of Gamblers?" Celia hadn't even considered the possibility of him actually winning money at a casino today; she just wanted to humor him.
She crossed her arms huffily. "Even if you really do win money, that doesn't count as compensation!"
Ansu said seriously, "Then what if I make you feel super happy today and make sure you don't suffer from insomnia anymore? Would that count?"
"Well..." Celia stole a glance at Ansu, thinking to herself that her mood was actually already quite good...
But she immediately let out a cold snort.
"It's not that easy to make me happy!"
"Since you're so confident..." She crossed her arms. "Then I suppose I'll reluctantly cooperate with you!"
"Don't worry, just leave everything to me today." Ansu's mood improved along with hers.
The feisty version of the Witch was finally back. This was much better...
He didn't want an obsessive psycho!
Ansu absolutely, positively did not want to see the yandere version of Celia again! He would do whatever it took to keep her from slipping back into that state!
He was going to freaking win!!
...
An hour later, the four-wheeled carriage came to a stop in a bustling, crowded downtown area.
Ansu was the first to step down, then he gallantly opened the door and took Celia's hand as she lifted her skirt to exit.
The surrounding crowd looked toward the carriage with curiosity, wondering which noble lady had come to experience how the commoners lived.
Upon stepping out, the distinctively murky air of the Black Harbor District and the chaotic atmosphere all around made Celia frown slightly.
She leaned in and whispered into Ansu's ear, "I heard you say... you were best at horse racing. I thought we'd be getting off in a more respectable part of the city..."
A place as mixed and messy as the Black Harbor District certainly had plenty of casinos, but she had never heard of it having a racecourse. After all, such venues were almost exclusively associated with the wealthy and the nobility.
"I don't care for those ordinary horse racing tracks. The horse racing in the Black Harbor District is where the real excitement is!"
Ansu smiled and said, "Come on, my Lady. Today, I'll show you what real horse racing looks like!"
"I'm not some 'Lady'." Celia gave a helpless smile.
After getting off, she looked down at her long gown, thinking that if she had known they were coming to the Black Harbor District, she wouldn't have dressed so much like a noble.
Fortunately, Ansu remained gallantly by her side, shielding her like a knight guarding a princess.
The corners of Celia's mouth curled up slightly as she intimately took his arm. "Then let's go~"
Rate on N.U.
