Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿
CHAPTER 20
“You should consider yourself lucky, Tessa.”
Vicente’s smile remained in place, effortless and unshaken.
“Even after pissing me off that much, you’re still alive.”
“…I won’t make the same mistake again.”
The food he had brought was already gone.
But Tessa was still hungry.
Three days without food—there was no way a few pieces of bread could truly satisfy her.
“Um.”
She hesitated, and Vicente met her gaze expectantly, as if amused by her struggle.
Finally, she forced herself to say it.
“Could I… have some more?”
“More?”
“I’m still hungry.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
At that, Vicente exhaled slowly, leaning back against the couch.
Tessa felt small.
Like prey caught under the predator’s gaze.
Which, in all honesty, wasn’t far from the truth.
“Anything in particular you want to eat?”
If Alex had asked, she would have answered instantly.
Meat! Anything—rare, well-done, I don’t care.
But this was Vicente.
And she was always hesitant around him.
She had spent over a decade without a Guide—only to finally find one in the last person she would have ever wanted.
The injustice of it all made her want to cry.
Before she could find the courage to answer, Vicente spoke first.
“Tessa.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t we play a game?”
A game.
She told him she was hungry, and he responded with that.
Just like at the hotel.
Did he enjoy games that much?
She didn’t want to agree.
But if there was one thing she couldn’t do in front of Vicente, it was say no.
She had no choice.
Tessa was someone who had always been meant to obey.
“…Alright.”
* * *
Vicente took Tessa to a casino deep in the heart of Saint Leroi’s pleasure district.
For most people, Saint Leroi was a place to avoid.
But for gamblers, it was paradise.
There were no other gambling dens quite like the ones in this city. Especially in an empire where such vices were generally frowned upon.
People from all across the country came here, either to win big or to lose everything.
So many lives had been altered by this place, their stories swallowed into the neon lights and thick smoke.
Tessa had never placed a bet in her life.
She had never even been near a casino before.
This might as well have been her first visit.
The building was massive—big enough to pass for a department store—draped in dazzling lights, tempting people in like the city’s most sought-after showgirl.
As soon as Vicente entered with Tessa in tow, the staff who recognized him immediately stiffened before bowing their heads.
“Mr. Zermo, what brings you here…?”
“Wouldn’t it be a bit much if I came here just to kill someone instead of playing a game?”
A grim joke.
But all they could do was laugh.
“It’s an honor to host you, sir. Of course. Would you like us to escort you to a table?”
“We’ll look around first.”
“Understood. If you need anything, just let us know.”
Judging by their reactions, it wasn’t often that Vicente personally visited the casino.
Tessa followed him inside.
The casino was part gambling den, part nightclub.
Women danced on a central stage in the main hall, while patrons sat at tables drinking and smoking. Beyond that, the gaming floor stretched toward an upper level.
Loud, chaotic jazz filled the air, grating against her senses.
She already felt drained.
“Don’t worry.”
Vicente leaned in, speaking close to her ear.
“I’m not leaving you out here. We’re going somewhere quieter. More private.”
Tessa nodded.
As they moved, people kept recognizing Vicente, stumbling over themselves to greet him.
He waved them off impatiently and then—
He took her hand.
And led her through the crowd.
It was the first time Vicente had ever taken her hand first.
Tessa froze for a second but didn’t dare pull away.
What is he thinking?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—
“Do you really need to think so much? It’s just a hand.”
His tone was so cold, so impassive, that it made her feel foolish.
Could he read her thoughts?
She had heard of such things before—Guides and Sentinels with high compatibility sometimes developed such a connection.
“I don’t trust you not to bolt on me.”
Vicente’s voice was low, laced with amusement.
“If you don’t like holding hands, should I put you on a leash instead?”
He would.
He absolutely would.
Tessa looked away, saying nothing.
That earned her a quiet chuckle.
“No need to be so tense.”
He cast a sidelong glance at her, expression unreadable.
“It’s just a game.”
* * *
The room Vicente led Tessa into was far more breathable than the chaos outside.
There were no raucous shouts of gamblers, no clinking of glasses or brash conversations. Even the music was muffled by the thick walls, reduced to a distant hum.
But the room wasn’t empty.
Unlike the common gamblers outside, the people here had a presence.
Even without social awareness, anyone could tell—they were VIPs.
But Tessa quickly realized they weren’t just VIPs.
A woman with messy black hair, draped in a red dress, spotted Vicente and instantly lit up.
“Vicente! It’s been forever! What brings you here in such a good mood?”
“Carmen.”
Unlike anyone Tessa had ever seen address Vicente, the woman approached him without hesitation and greeted him with biz, pressing her cheeks lightly against his in the traditional foreign manner.
Tessa froze.
Not only did this woman call him by name—she spoke to him casually.
Who was she?
His… sister?
The idea was absurd, but Tessa had never seen anyone interact with Vicente like this.
Before she could dwell on it, the woman—Carmen—peered past Vicente and spotted Tessa standing behind him.
“You even brought an attendant today?”
It was a reasonable assumption.
Tessa was dressed in an all-black suit—far from anything that suggested she was his companion.
For a brief moment, she debated whether or not to correct the misunderstanding.
But Vicente answered first.
“She’s not an attendant.”
“Then?”
“Just here to unwind.”
Carmen raised a brow, then flashed a teasing grin as she nudged Vicente’s arm.
“Vicente, did you finally find someone you actually want to impress? I was starting to worry you’d die alone.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Oh, sure it’s not. Anyway, what’s your name, sweetheart?”
Vicente didn’t answer for her this time.
Instead, he simply looked at her.
Expecting her to speak for herself.
Tessa straightened slightly.
“Tessa. Tessa Ambrose.”
“Tessa? Sounds like a noble lady’s name. I’m Carmen Espinosa. I doubt we’ll be seeing each other often, but nice to meet you.”
Carmen had an unmistakably foreign look, yet her Imperial accent was flawless.
If she hadn’t introduced herself, Tessa wouldn’t have even suspected she was from another country.
Vicente spoke up again.
“Tessa’s never played before.”
“Seriously? You’ve never gambled? That’s no way to live.”
Carmen looped an arm through Tessa’s and started dragging her off.
“Come on, I’ll show you something fun.”
Instinctively, Tessa glanced back at Vicente.
But he had already lost interest.
Then why did you bring me here in the first place…?
“First time in a casino?”
Carmen’s question pulled her attention back.
“Yeah.”
“I figured. Listen, Tessa, there’s only one rule here that no one breaks. Do you know what it is?”
“…No.”
“Everyone speaks casually. No matter who they are. Even if the Empress herself showed up, we’d treat her like an old friend. This is a place to enjoy yourself, so that’s the rule. That means you don’t have to be so stiff with me, either. Since Vicente brought you here, you belong here.”
So that’s why she spoke to him so casually.
It made sense now, but that didn’t make it feel any less surreal.
“I… actually thought you might be his sister.”
“Me?”
Carmen burst into laughter.
It wasn’t just a small chuckle—she laughed loudly, drawing attention from no one because, in this place, nothing was out of place.
“What made you think that?”
“Well… you called him by his name so easily. I’ve never seen anyone do that before.”
“It’s the rule. Outside of here, I wouldn’t, either. But me, his sister? Oh, I love that.”
Carmen laughed for so long that Tessa started to wonder if she’d actually said something that funny.
She had never expected to meet someone so lighthearted in Saint Leroi.
She had always thought of this city as nothing but decadence and filth.
She had always kept her distance from its people.
But now, she wondered—
Was it really so different from anywhere else?
When Carmen finally caught her breath, she turned back to Tessa with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes.
“I’m really curious about you, Tessa. Be honest—you work for Vicente, don’t you?”
Before Tessa could react, Carmen tugged lightly at her jacket, revealing the outline of a holster.
Tessa always carried her sidearm when she went out.
Tonight was no exception.
Realizing there was no point in denying it, she answered truthfully.
“Yeah.”
“That’s so surprising. Vicente doesn’t treat his subordinates like actual people.”
Tessa knew that better than anyone.
She was about to nod in agreement when Carmen leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just a little.
“But you… seem different.”
