Chapter 18
A brief silence passed.
The pink-haired man looked at me with quite a confident expression.
“What do you think? Would you like to participate in the bet, my lady?”
“Against you?”
“Yes. If the young count succeeds, I’ll be bankrupt, but you and the many others here will earn some pocket money. Perhaps you’ll even need to hire a penniless man like me as your servant.”
A few people who had been listening to the conversation behind us let out chuckles. I thought to myself—he’s quite the speaker. The type of person who can easily gain favor, not only with women but with men as well.
“Of course, if the young count fails, everyone here will have to empty their pockets, and I’ll become a rich man. So, what do you think? Will you join in?”
“……”
Leaning against the fence with my chin resting on my hand, I pondered. I couldn’t recall any mention in my past life of the Morin Count family making achievements by riding a Pegasus.
There had been some minor rumors, but everyone treated them as nonsense, myself included.
In other words, the only person who correctly predicted today’s outcome was the young man standing before me.
Should I refuse?
As I glanced around, my eyes landed on the child still standing beside Anthony, wearing a tearful expression.
“Peggy…….”
The child looked at the Pegasus with a trembling face, softly calling the name he had given it.
At that moment, the Pegasus also turned its gaze in the child’s direction, and their eyes met.
My eyes widened slightly as I watched them.
That child… the second son of the Morin family.
Seeing the child desperately reach out to the Pegasus with a water bucket, my mind began to spin.
Could it be… that I was wrong in my past life?
“My lady?”
“I don’t think the young count will succeed.”
I finally answered after a long pause. I wasn’t fully certain, but based on what I had seen, this much was enough for a rational guess.
“Really?”
The pink-haired man spoke as if surprised.
“Then finally, someone agrees with me?”
“Not exactly. The young count said it would be impossible for anyone here to tame the Pegasus.”
“Then, do you mean…?”
“My guess is someone other than the young count will tame it within six months.”
I spoke clearly. I had seen the Pegasus hesitate as it tried to approach the child but stopped at Anthony’s harsh voice.
“Huh… I hadn’t considered that possibility.”
The young man looked intrigued.
“A rider more skilled than the young count? He’s said to even surpass the First Imperial Prince in horsemanship.”
Our conversation seemed to pique the interest of the surrounding crowd, and a few people began to listen closely. Some scoffed, clearly thinking that a shut-in like me wouldn’t know anything.
“I’m not denying that.”
I replied.
“But strictly speaking, a Pegasus isn’t a horse. It’s a magical creature with a horse-like appearance and temperament.”
“……”
“Taming it might be harder—or easier.”
“Interesting. You have a similar yet different conclusion from mine.”
The young man laughed heartily.
“Shall we make a bet? If you’re right, you could win big.”
“That sounds like fun! I was getting bored with the current bets anyway.”
Before I could answer, a lively young lady standing behind him cut in.
“Do you have any gold coins? You wouldn’t come to a horse appraisal event without money, would you?”
As she sparkled with excitement, I smiled awkwardly. I didn’t have money on me, since I had used it as a bribe last time.
“I didn’t expect to bet today…”
“I’ll lend you some! How about 100 gold?”
I had expected the usual noble sarcasm, but she pulled gold out of her purse without hesitation.
“I’m Rubiette of the Viscount Bieze family. You’ll pay me back with interest, of course.”
“The Viscount Bieze’s daughter?”
Once I heard her name, her behavior made sense.
The Bieze family had long succeeded in the moneylending business. As relatives of the Gideon family, they had taken a similar path but had been far more successful.
Even a figurehead like myself wouldn’t dare default on a debt in Apellemyon. She, clearly carrying her family’s blood, had spotted an opportunity and grabbed it.
“Alright.”
I agreed.
After all, there was no chance I’d lose this bet.
As Rubiette turned and threw a victorious fist into the air, the young man leaned toward me.
“At least I won’t be alone if I lose. That’s comforting.”
I let out a chuckle, and he asked again.
“Would you like to make a separate bet with me? Any amount is fine. If someone tames that beast within six months, I’ll consider myself the loser.”
“Is it common to make bets at horse appraisal events?”
“Not really. Only when I’m involved.”
“And does Lady Rubiette always accompany you?”
“Not always, but having her around helps raise the stakes. She’s quicker than anyone at spotting people worth lending money to. Actually, she’s the one who walks away with profits from every gamble.”
He winked.
“For your reference, our family has always enjoyed betting—and we rarely lose.”
“And your family is…?”
“David! Even Baron Dan is betting 100 gold that Anthony will win!”
As I tilted my head to ask, Rubiette called out from a distance to the pink-haired young man.
Instead of answering, he gave a thumbs-up.
David…?
The name rang a bell. Now that I looked closely, his light pink hair reminded me of something too.
“My lady? Something wrong?”
“David… Adelon?”
As the name flashed through my mind, I muttered it aloud, and he gave a charming smile once more.
“I’m honored you know my name. I am the third son of the Marquis of Adelon.”
As he bowed playfully, my eyes widened.
David Adelon. It really was him.
The legendary man I had only heard of through rumors in both of my past lives.
As soon as he entered society, he was showered with affection from countless women—a flirt destined to go down in history.
At age five, he was so charming that even household servants adored him like their own child. At fourteen, he received a proposal from a princess of a powerful, militaristic nation.
By fifteen or sixteen, he was already seducing numerous young ladies with sweet words, building connections with influential families. At eighteen, he dominated the capital’s social circles, and by twenty, he was making a fortune selling the intel he gathered through those connections.
A gambling genius and a master strategist in business. A man who seduced others but never got seduced himself.
His actions mirrored the habits of the Adelon Marquisate—experts at gathering intel while tightly guarding their own.
In my first life, I had once done business with him through written correspondence.
Yes, the paper he used was a distinct pale pink. The unique material made it impossible to forge, ensuring the accuracy of his information.
“I won’t bet money with you.”
I said firmly.
“Pardon? Then what will the bet be?”
“If I win, grant me a favor. If the young count wins and I lose, I’ll grant you one.”
“……”
David pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright. If I win, I’ll ask you out on a date.”
He took my hand and placed a light kiss on the back of it.
“Time spent with a beautiful lady is the most precious of all.”
What beautiful lady? What he really meant was building a connection with Apellemyon was the most valuable.
Even if Julius kept him in check now, the future was uncertain, so this was his way of investing in potential.
Still, I didn’t voice any of that. After all, I had more to gain from this encounter than he did.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“You’re not going to watch Anthony’s ride? He’s up next.”
“You can tell me the result, Lord David.”
As I turned away, I saw another young knight being kicked by the Pegasus and sent flying over the fence. I had already gained what I came for, and just now, I saw Carciel reappear in the distance—at the entrance to the forest trail that extended from the rear garden.
