Chapter 56
If I’m going to make money at a racetrack, I have to milk it for all it’s worth before my ability becomes common knowledge.
After all, they’ll likely ban me specifically—"Tania"—from entering.
A gamble with a 100% success rate? That’s not really a gamble anymore, is it?
Of course, since it’s a "Precognition" ability, I could pull some tricks, like telling others the results, but at the very least, the people around me wouldn't be allowed to enter the racetrack.
I spoke in a light tone, as if to tell him not to be scared.
"It’s legal, so there’s no need to feel guilty. Besides, we’re minors, so we can’t place bets ourselves. Someone else will do it for us."
"Who’s going to do it?"
"Well..."
It would be the servants who assist Lucian and me from close by.
"Anyway, I can take care of the money, so why don't you just speak your mind? What’s going on?"
"Just drop it! I can handle it on my own."
When Lucian couldn't bring himself to open up, I decided to use my last resort.
[Overwriting the current timeline with Save Point 1.]
I call this the "Crazy Bitch" tactic.
I slammed my hand onto the desk with a bang and began to act out, wearing a different expression and tone than usual, as if possessed by a demon.
"You crazy idiots! Don't tell me an escort knight or a servant has gotten hold of my brother's weakness and is blackmailing him?!"
"...Ta, Tania?"
"Should I tell the Duchess right now and have their heads?! Hey! Who’s out there?!"
As I rolled my eyes back as if I were ready to kill someone, a flustered Lucian hurriedly waved his hands.
"N, no! They’re all good people, I swear!"
"So it’s your biological father, then."
"..."
He had been so quick to defend the servants, but now he just kept his mouth shut and hung his head.
Hmm. As I thought, the root cause was indeed his biological father.
After identifying the cause, I quickly dropped the act.
However, since I had already screamed at the top of my lungs asking who was out there, the door swung open.
It was the servants and escort knights who had been waiting outside.
"Young Lady!"
"Young Master!"
I gave them a quick glance and waved my hand.
"Ah, it was nothing. You all can leave now."
Once I confirmed the cause was his biological father, I quickly turned back the timeline.
[Loading Save Point 1.]
After calmly rewinding time, I took his hand with a serious expression, as if nothing had happened.
"Actually, I know that you’re drowning in debt because you lent your name to scammers."
"Uh...?"
A question mark appeared on Lucian’s face, as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
"Tania, what kind of misunderstanding are you having? It’s true that I need money, but scammers? I’ve never lent my name to anyone..."
"Huh. This isn't it either? I guess you aren't at the stage of being swindled by scammers yet."
Thank goodness.
If he had already lent his name to scammers, it would have been difficult to clean up, but I was glad I could resolve it before that happened.
Perhaps thinking I was looking down on him, Lucian bristled and spoke up.
"Tania, no matter how desperate I am for money, I’m not stupid enough to get caught by scammers."
"Yeah. I know you’re not stupid. You’re just a little... innocent."
"I’m telling you, I don't fall for cheap tricks!"
"Save your excuses for your future self."
[Loading Save Point 1.]
This was already the third attempt.
This time, too, I acted as if nothing had happened, took Lucian’s hand, and said calmly.
"Actually, I already know that you’re being pressured for money by your biological father."
"H, how did you..."
"Already know" my foot—I didn't know a thing. I was just testing every possible scenario, like playing a game of Twenty Questions.
But I soothed him with a reliable expression, as if I knew everything.
"I have the ability of Precognition, remember? I’ve seen it all, so tell me slowly. I want to hear it from your own lips."
"Y, you saw it with Precognition..."
Lucian hesitated for a moment before finally opening his mouth.
"Actually, ever since I was adopted into the Papiope Duchy, my biological father has been demanding money from me every month."
"You mean he’s demanding more than just the allowance you get from the Duchy?"
"What is this? You said you knew everything..."
I shrugged my shoulders and answered shamelessly.
"I just asked to confirm. Think of it as me just going along with you."
"Uh, okay."
"So?"
"So, I’ve been giving him the Dignity Maintenance Allowance I receive every month... but he recently said he lost a lot of money gambling and started demanding even more."
He sells his son to another family and then extorts money from him on top of that?
He was a senseless, wicked man, not even worthy of being called a father.
Now I understood why Lucian had jumped up in surprise when I mentioned making money through gambling.
"But why have you been dutifully handing over money to that guy?"
Lucian’s expression was colored with subtle suspicion, as if wondering if I really knew everything after all.
"Ah, you’re right, I don't know this part. My ability costs me my lifespan, so it has its limits."
Only then did he let go of his doubtful expression and answer honestly.
"Actually, that man is blackmailing me, using my late mother’s keepsake as collateral."
"...What?"
"It’s a pendant with my mother’s portrait on it. I just couldn't bring myself to give that up."
Lucian finally broke down, shedding tears like large drops of rain as he confessed what had been happening.
"Tania, I entered the Talent Academy to get away from my father."
"..."
"That man, my father, was in debt from gambling, drank every day, and would raise his hand against my mother at the slightest provocation. It was a horrific life."
"...How did your biological mother pass away?"
"My mother was caught trying to run away with me, and he beat her mercilessly. After that, she just withered away and died."
He hadn't killed her directly, but it was a death close to murder.
"Tania, I thought that if I could just get adopted into the Papiope Duchy, I could take revenge on him. But look at me now. What am I?"
Lucian wiped his tears roughly, huffing in frustration.
"Brother, why didn't you tell the Duchess or anyone else?"
"How could I say that and be so embarrassed? If they find out that such a man is my biological father, everyone will point fingers at me and call me low-born."
"What are you talking about...!"
I thought he was worrying about nothing, but it seemed to be a serious problem from Lucian’s perspective.
He trembled all over, as if the mere thought was terrifying.
"Everyone will wonder if I’ll end up like him when I grow up. What if that label follows me for the rest of my life?"
Lucian twisted his face and grabbed my hand tightly, as if I were his only ray of hope.
"...I, I’m really scared, Tania."
A small shock hit my head. I never expected the proud Lucian to show such a weak side.
At the same time, a bitter feeling washed over me.
They were the parents I had longed for my whole life, yet to someone else, they were a presence better off not existing.
"Brother, listen to me. If the Duchess were the kind of person to think like that, she wouldn't have adopted commoners like us in the first place."
I firmly resolved to inflict unforgettable pain upon the man who had made Lucian this way.
"First, let’s go make some money tomorrow. We’ll need it to catch that trash."
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, I took Lucian to the racetrack.
Lucian looked around with anxious eyes, as if he truly hadn't expected to end up at a racetrack, and asked,
"Tania, is this really the right thing to do?"
"Yes. It is."
Since I had already explained the situation to Sir Aiden and Lena yesterday, they had followed along without any complaints.
In fact, once they found out what kind of man Lucian’s father was, they were so filled with rage that they were even more enthusiastic than I was.
However, it didn't seem to be the case for Lucian’s side.
When his servant realized where they had arrived, he wrinkled his face and protested.
"Young Lady, what is the meaning of this? I would prefer it if you didn't corrupt our Young Master with such speculative gambling."
"Speculative gambling?"
I tilted my head and retorted.
"Speculative gambling is bad, but how can it be gambling if you win money with a 100% success rate?"
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