“Are you really okay?”

“Yes.”

Worriedly looking at me was my uncle, Arthur.

Not long ago, when I lost consciousness, he was one of the busiest people.

The Ruelberta Family was in an uproar when they heard I had collapsed. The reason the commotion didn’t last long was entirely thanks to him, Tristan’s guardian, who calmly reassured the family members.

“If something happens to you, the head of the family, our family will inevitably falter. Haven’t I told you repeatedly? The head of the family carries the weight of the entire family on their back. If you fall, the Ruelberta Family falls with you.”

“I know.”

“What do you know? In the history of this country, you’re probably the only head of the family who has fallen into hell and returned. So, how was hell? Did you see any familiar faces?”

In response to Arthur’s sarcastic question, I shrugged my shoulders.

Even if I told them about my experiences in hell, they probably wouldn’t believe me. The fact that the ancestors of the Ruelberta Family were demons exiled from hell.

“Oh my… This is why I can’t quit being your guardian. Don’t you think about letting this old man rest?”

“If you want to rest, you can rest. I’ve never stopped you.”

“You cheeky brat. If I rest, who knows what you’ll do? Just imagining it is terrifying. Seeing you collapse this time, I can’t rest even more. You’re still far from being ready to handle the duties of the family head.”

Arthur grumbled, but he seemed happy.

Always full of nagging and complaints, but it all stemmed from his concern for Tristan. He was genuinely pleased to be needed.

To Arthur, who had no children, Tristan was like his own son. He pitied Tristan, who became the head of the family at a young age after William died early. So, he voluntarily became Tristan’s guardian and helped lead the Ruelberta Family.

Thinking about it, it couldn’t have been easy.

Arthur was William’s half-brother, after all.

Arthur was the illegitimate child of Alfred Ruelberta, Tristan’s grandfather, and a maid.

Alfred Ruelberta, who had a reputation as a playboy since his youth, was notorious for even making advances on the maids working in the family. And Arthur’s mother was one of the maids Alfred had forced himself on during his reckless youth.

Being an illegitimate child, Arthur and William, the legitimate heir, must have had an uncomfortable relationship.

Yet, Arthur took on the role of Tristan’s guardian and protected him, showing how strong his family bond was.

Arthur is also one of the characters I can’t afford to lose. I’ve always thought that the true pillar of the Ruelberta Family isn’t Tristan but Arthur.

He was well-respected within the family and, above all, had excellent business acumen.

“By the way, this place is still thriving.”

The place Arthur and I are looking around is the casino operated by the Ruelberta Family.

Actually, this place on the outskirts of Ludlow is famous for its luxury hotels. It’s known as a place where the empire’s nobles come with their families for weekend vacations… but in reality, most come to visit the casino operated within the hotel.

“Hehe… How is it? Doesn’t the smell of money seem fragrant?”

Arthur said with a confident smile.

As expected on a weekend, nobles from all over were enjoying the games. I watched as their faces showed mixed emotions of joy and sorrow.

It was Arthur who suggested operating a casino alongside the hotel. And his judgment was accurate. Revenue increased several times compared to when only the hotel was operating, and the number of visitors grew incomparably.

“Thanks to them spending money every weekend, even if we wanted to go bankrupt, we couldn’t.”

I nodded and looked around the casino.

Then, as I absentmindedly turned my gaze outside, the extravagant amusement park next to the hotel caught my eye.

Noticing my gaze, Arthur spoke up.

“Ah, starting the amusement park business was a good idea too. While the men are in the casino, we need to provide entertainment for the women and children. To open their wallets, you know.”

I stared at the amusement park.

Unlike real amusement parks, there weren’t thrilling rides, but it didn’t seem to lack in scale or splendor.

Seeing the children and women laughing with their backs to the casino gave me a strange feeling.

Actually, the reason I came here today was because of Wendy.

When she mentioned the amusement park, I thought of the casino Arthur manages.

In the empire, this is the only place that can be called an amusement park.

Under the pretext of inspecting the casino, I brought Wendy to the amusement park.

Since she’s my death flag, I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a moment.

It felt like being an overprotective dad, but it’s all for my survival. Absolutely.

By now, Wendy must be having a great time with her friends.

I lent her my card, so she shouldn’t run out of money.

But then, Arthur suddenly asked me something unexpected.

“By the way, have you thought about marriage? Shouldn’t you start preparing for the next generation?”

Come to think of it, Arthur doesn’t know. The true nature of the curse on the Ruelberta Family.

That any woman who marries me and bears a child will die.

Like other relatives, Arthur probably thinks the deaths of women who married into the Ruelberta Family were just bad luck. Curses aren’t common, especially ones passed down through generations like this.

It’s too late to tell him the truth now, so I had to brush it off.

“I haven’t thought about it yet.”

“There were rumors that you might reconnect with Princess Izakhel, whose engagement fell through before?”

“…Just rumors.”

Even if I haven’t broken the curse yet, I didn’t come to this world to get married.

At my firm answer, Arthur nodded.

“Hmm… I see… Then how about finding a new fiancée?”

“…A new fiancée?”

“Yes. Hahaha. If you want, I can introduce you to someone suitable for our family and you.”

If someone else said it, it would sound like a joke, but when Arthur says it, it feels serious and scary.

As I desperately searched for another topic, something caught my eye.

“I thought he had completely cut ties…”

“Huh? Ah… Speak of the devil…”

Our gazes turned to the game hall in the center. A familiar man was sitting there, with at least 10 million Kael at stake.

He had a hat pulled down low as a disguise, but no one could fail to recognize him.

“Duke Izakhel is as loyal a customer to our casino as they come… In a way, he’s a VIP.”

Even Arthur clicked his tongue.

Usually timid-looking Duke Fred Izakhel was now shouting in the game hall with bloodshot eyes.

Even after being scolded by Bella, he had been frequenting the casino.

He was the one who not only drained the once-wealthy Izakhel Family’s finances but also brought about their downfall.

But with a 5 billion Kael debt to the Ruelberta Family, how did he get the money to come here?

Wait, there’s one thing that comes to mind.

“Did Duke Fred say something about me marrying Princess Bella?”

“Hmm… Sharp. When the Duke first said that, I was suspicious, but at the time, you and the Princess had gotten closer, so I ended up believing him.”

“How much did you lend him?”

“1 billion Kael.”

For a moment, I almost said it was a small amount and a relief. Thinking in terms of the Ruelberta Family’s wealth has warped my sense of money.

I sighed softly and said,

“He’ll probably lose as much as he borrowed. Not that it matters since it’s our money…”

There’s no way to recover the large sum lent to the Izakhel Family. I had no intention of getting it back either…

“…?”

While looking down pitifully at Duke Fred, I noticed a familiar face at the entrance.

Well, it’s not like I was paying attention.

It’s just that she stood out too much among the crowd.

“Uncle…”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll go downstairs for a moment.”

Shining silver hair and striking beauty that she made no effort to hide.

In this country, there’s only one woman with such beauty.

*

Bella strode forward confidently.

She could feel the gazes of those around her.

For a moment, people who were captivated by Bella’s beauty had to avert their eyes.

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could see how terrifying her expression was.

Soon, Bella spotted a man playing a game in the middle of the casino and shouted.

“Father!!”

“Eek?!”

Duke Fred was so startled that he dropped the hat he had been wearing.

“Y-you!? How did you get here…?”

“Didn’t I tell you? If you set foot here again, I wouldn’t let it slide…”

“Y-yes, you did…”

“Then what are you doing here now?”

“Well…”

Seeing Fred’s hesitant attitude, Bella’s anger only grew.

Despite being the head of the Izakhel Family and a Duke of this country, he was in a gambling hall, showing such a pathetic attitude that it was infuriating.

“How much more do I have to be disappointed in you, Father?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Come out right now. Let’s go home.”

“I can’t do that.”

“…What?”

The one who answered Bella wasn’t Duke Fred.

It was a much lower and calmer voice. The owner of that voice made Bella’s eyes widen.

“Count?!”

“Did you come to play?”

“Why are you here?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be in my own casino?”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

This casino and hotel are all operated by the Ruelberta Family.

There’s no reason for Tristan not to be here.

Bella took a deep breath and said,

“Sigh… Sorry for the disturbance, Count. I’ll just take my father and leave. So-.”

“I said no.”

“What?”

“This is a place where everyone has the freedom to play games.”

Tristan continued in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

“So, you have no right to take our ‘guest’ away.”

“…What did you say?”

That statement flipped Bella’s anger upside down once more.