KFBRV Ch 109
- Mar 9
- 5 min read
[Karin] "You possess a habit of inflating your stories, Lord Köndel."
Lady Brentano, having quickly composed her expression, pointed this out sharply.
[Damian] "On the contrary. I downsized it. Few casinos offer such exhilaration. It is not merely about the money... well... words fail me. You must experience it firsthand to understand my meaning."
He offered a vague shrug, a gesture calculated to provoke curiosity.
[Damian] "It is a fantastical place. It felt as though I had stepped into a world painted with the very essence of romance and dreams a gambler seeks. Even compared to the Ulrich Casino—ah, forgive my rudeness. I forgot Lady Odette was present."
[Odette] "Pay it no mind."
She shook her head gently at the con artist, their coordination seamless.
[Damian] "If I had to experience a lifetime of depravity, I would choose the Wolfgang Casino. I have already instructed my butler that it would be a suitable place to meet my end."
He wrinkled his nose in a playful smile, adding a touch of exaggeration to his charm. Several people in the room already appeared captivated by his words.
[Vogel] "Good heavens, I must visit."
He swallowed hard, answering as if entranced.
Lady Brentano remained stiff, yet she didn't rebuke the Baron. Instead, a bitter expression crossed her face.
The Brentano Dukedom likely lacks even the meager funds for recreational gambling.
Viscount Gustav Köndel. Contrary to rumors, he possessed fine looks, a gentle tone, and a firm intention to marry. He was also the master of a fertile estate and wielded terrifying wealth.
He was currently the man commanding the most attention in the social scene as a prime marriage candidate.
Ladies considering a union with him would naturally show interest in the Wolfgang Casino. Or, they might visit simply for the amusement.
For any cultural business to gain recognition as sophisticated and entertaining, capturing the female demographic is essential. Where women gather, men inevitably follow out of curiosity.
At that moment, a status window appeared before her eyes.
[▶ The rumor regarding the Arrogant Flower of Society diminishes.]
[30 people → 26 people (▼ Decrease of 4)]
One of those four was undoubtedly Baron Vogel, currently sitting at this table.
She feigned a humble expression and flipped her cards lightly.
[Odette] "I hold only a One Pair."
[Damian] "Haha, you got me. I shouldn't have folded. You have guts."
Since they had promoted the casino sufficiently, the next step was to win the favor of the people in the salon.
Doly’s complexion is worth seeing.
Feigning significant fluster and pretending to be intimidated by the unfamiliar setting upon entry had been worth it. Expectations taste best when popped after being inflated.
By the way, how are these two so atrociously bad at this?
Cheating, swapping cards, bottom dealing. In her past life, while fleeing from the male leads, she had risked her life on a single card just to earn a piece of bread in the filthiest dens.
Continuing to win alone would only sour the atmosphere. Consequently, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to lose to these two.
Damian, a professional gambler, must have felt even more stifled; he was currently bottom-dealing his fifth card just to construct a losing hand.
It was then that Lady spoke.
[Karin] "Let us end the poker here. I wish to engage in a more cultured conversation."
She glared at her as she spoke.
An awkward transition.
As expected... Doly made contact with her.
Since Doly hadn't glanced at Lady Brentano once, Odette had anticipated this. Trying hard not to acknowledge someone is often proof of intense awareness.
If she secured the host on her side just to screw me over, Doly has reason to be confident.
The single rule of the salon—absolute secrecy—was likely Doly's doing as well. Whatever humiliation Odette suffered here must not reach the Count's ears.
Doly must have persuaded Lady Brentano with something like, "If you create a rule of silence, I will bring Odette to you and give you a chance to humiliate her."
Gentlemen who had been pricking their ears while they played poker slowly gathered around their table.
The Brentano Ducal family was famous for its scholarship and culture. Lady Brentano herself had been called a giant of the social world from a young age.
Her suggestion to "have a cultured conversation" acted like a summoning spell for those eager to flaunt their knowledge.
[Odette] "Very well. I was just thinking it a shame only to play poker with someone as learned as Lady Brentano."
Odette met her gaze and smiled.
Lady Brentano bit her lip again. It was a habit she displayed in the game whenever she felt unpleasant.
[Karin] "I wish to discuss theology. Lady Odette, what is your favorite book regarding the subject?"
[Odette] "I—"
Just as a gentleman tried to interject.
[Karin] "No! Please, let Lady Odette speak first!"
Her voice was firm, loud enough to silence the room. She wore the grim determination of a hero facing a calamity.
Attention instantly focused on Odette.
Since she had never spoken in such a setting, many people waited expectantly for the words that would leave her lips.
The rumor of my stupidity probably plays a part, too.
In the distance, Doly wore a vindictive smile, looking as if she might die of happiness at seeing her cornered.
[Odette] "Oh dear... this is troubling. I do not have a favorite theology book."
Doly sneered at the words. She likely assumed Odette couldn't even read, let alone understand theology.
Normally, Doly's petty schemes would be annoying... but in a situation like this, they were practically a gift.
[Current Bad Reputation You Possess:]
[▶ Vicious Villainess (32 people)]
[▶ Selfish Purifier (15 people)]
[▶ Arrogant Flower of Society (26 people)]
[▶ Ignorant Lady with an Empty Head (23 people)]
[Karin] "Do you dislike books?"
Her voice trembled slightly. Was it due to overwhelming joy?
That woman loathed her. Enough that even the oblivious Odette of the past life had sensed it.
[Odette] "No. Books are innocent. It is the theologians I dislike. Faust, Ephraim, Lindheimer, Klettenberg. All of them."
The crowd of intellectuals, who had gathered thick enough to create a buzz, burst into laughter at her words. It was due to the tone filled with genuine hatred toward the authors.
Among those who had graduated from the Academy or endured rigorous home tutoring, not a single person failed to empathize with that hatred.
[Guest] "You listed them in order of authority."
A gentleman replied, full of sympathy.
[Odette] "No. I listed them in order of how much I loathe them."
Light laughter erupted once more at her answer.
[Odette] "So, naming a favorite theology book would be difficult. Would you ask me again? If you ask for the book I hate the most, I can give you an answer with pleasure."
She spoke crisply, facing Brentano.
With this, the atmosphere for verifying whether she knew the contents of the books had vanished. To seriously press a question that had been laughed off was a social taboo. Furthermore, no one could find fault with the scholars Odette had listed.
Among students who had crammed knowledge into their heads for exams, no one existed who didn't hate those scholars. Even Lady Brentano, who had received a stricter education than anyone through private tutors, undoubtedly detested them.
Lady Brentano bit her lip and shut her mouth tight. Seeing this, another gentleman interjected.
[Guest] "I am terribly curious. Which theologian’s book do you detest the most, Lady Odette?"
[Odette] "That would naturally be The Commandments of God."
[Guest] "Heavens."
This time, a gasp rippled through the room.
[Guest] "Albertus? Have you read the work of that eccentric theologian? The Commandments of God?"
It was a book written by the greatest theological genius in history. This meant that a mere Academy student could read it and fail to grasp its meaning properly. One would need to be a scholar on the level of Faust, Ephraim, or Lindheimer to read it with understanding.
As if.
Naturally, Odette had never read it.
To support the original author and publisher, please consider rating the official release on Kakaopage.
Comments