Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 57
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57
“There’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee in gambling. How could you possibly—”
“That’s strange. You should know what my ability is.”
The fact that I had become the second adopted child of Duke Papiope’s Household had not yet been made public.
However, anyone who served in Duke Papiope’s Household knew of my existence.
Only then did his eyes flutter as he recalled that my ability was foresight.
Lena paid no mind to whatever he said and turned to ask me.
“Miss, what shall we do?”
I skimmed through the betting slip she had brought and spoke.
“Place a trifecta bet on horses 1, 2, and 3 in that exact order.”
“Understood!”
There are various types of horse racing bets.
The win bet—the most basic form, where you win if your chosen horse finishes first.
The place bet, where you select two horses and win if both finish in the top two positions regardless of order, and so forth.
Among these, a trifecta bet means selecting the exact order of the top three horses from among twelve competitors—
It is the most difficult type of horse racing bet to win, but it offers proportionally higher payouts.
At my absurd betting choice, Lucian’s Attendant widened his eyes as though he had misheard.
“…Pardon? You’re throwing away money like that?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with it?”
“I certainly do! The horses you’ve selected aren’t even contenders for victory—they’re ranked in the lower tier. And you’re not even joking about it; you’re betting on them in that specific order…!”
I pulled one corner of my mouth into a crooked smile.
“You, who said gambling was bad and that I shouldn’t corrupt the young master—you seem to know quite a bit about it.”
“That is to say…”
It was at that moment.
Someone gently tugged at my sleeve. It was Lucian, his expression growing increasingly anxious.
“Tania, it’s not that I don’t trust you…”
The moment I heard his opening words, I realized he didn’t trust me at all.
In this world, there exist three classic lead-ins people use to safely establish their position before contradicting someone.
1. Don’t take this the wrong way, but listen.
Translation: I’m about to say something offensive to you.
2. I’m not trying to hint at anything.
Translation: I’m clearly hinting at something, so you better catch on.
3. It’s not that I don’t trust you.
Translation: I absolutely cannot trust you, so stop this at once.
According to this translation guide, what Lucian would say next was…
“The horses you picked—their previous records were really terrible. Are you sure that’s okay? Did you really see the future correctly?”
Bingo.
I answered with serene indifference, stifling a yawn.
“Yes. I clearly confirmed which horse will place in which position.”
“Really…?”
“Brother, my ability is foresight. Why don’t you trust it?”
“But it’s strange that children who were always in the bottom ranks are suddenly in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. And in numerical order at that.”
“If the horses have terrible records, isn’t that actually a good thing?”
“…Why?”
“The payout is enormous.”
The trifecta payout for this race that I’d learned from the future was approximately 864.3 times the bet.
It meant that even 1 Gold would multiply into 864 Gold.
It was truly a sum that could reverse one’s entire life.
Considering that a commoner earned only 3 Gold for an entire month of labor, this was an astronomical figure.
In truth, my remaining allowance for maintaining my station was now barely enough for one more month.
Fortunately, I had a wealthy mother, which meant my pocket money was higher than other noble children’s.
Other nobles my age seemed to receive around 50 Silver to 3 Gold.
Of course, that was the average, so depending on circumstances, some children received nothing while others received several times that amount.
Fortunately, my allowance was a full 10 Gold.
If I placed this amount on a trifecta bet and succeeded?
I made a cynical expression and clicked my tongue. No wonder I found it so easy to earn money.
This was what it meant to know the future. To navigate life with such effortless ease.
I tapped Lucian on the back and opened my mouth.
“Just wait and see. No matter how impossible something seems, it all comes down to probability.”
Having said that, I entrusted the betting to Lena and entered the Horse Racing Track with Aiden.
✦ ✦ ✦
As I settled into my seat, the rough voices of gamblers echoed around me.
Most of their conversations were coarse, punctuated by curses at the beginning and end.
Apparently bothered by it, Aiden quietly covered both my ears with his hands.
I slowly lifted my head and looked at him.
Seeing his face upside down made me smile, and I raised the corners of my mouth slightly.
“Covering them won’t help—I can still hear everything.”
Then Aiden lowered his hands with a somewhat embarrassed expression and murmured softly.
“…I had no choice but to come, but as expected, this environment isn’t good for a child’s sensibilities.”
“Come now, this is all experience too. Raising children like delicate flowers in a greenhouse isn’t ideal either, is it?”
How many people had failed at raising their children by treating them like hothouse flowers?
I harbored some skepticism about letting children see only good things and wear only fine clothes.
But Aiden seemed to think differently.
“Tania, you… it’s time for you to grow in a greenhouse for a while.”
“Ha, who tries to raise a wildflower in a greenhouse?”
“I do, right here.”
He gently stroked my hair with affection.
“There’s no law saying a wildflower can’t be cultivated by human hands. In fact, with proper care, it can grow far healthier and more beautiful.”
I closed my eyes and quietly savored the sensation of him running his fingers through my hair.
“So the gardener is the Old Gentleman?”
“Well, I’d say… perhaps pesticide would be more apt.”
“Pardon? Pesticide, all of a sudden?”
The sudden shift in tone left me bewildered at what he meant.
“Puhaha! Don’t tell me—you’re comparing yourself to pesticide because as my escort knight, you protect me from pests?”
The Old Gentleman gave a small nod of affirmation.
“That’s far too harsh a self-assessment, isn’t it? Especially when you’ve committed to nurturing me like a delicate flower in a greenhouse.”
“That degree is precisely appropriate.”
“…Pesticide, then. It’s certainly necessary to prevent disease and infestation. But pesticide in excess becomes poison to the plant itself.”
The Old Gentleman didn’t understand.
My greatest weakness wasn’t external—it was him.
“…One simply needs to regulate the dosage.”
How absurd.
In both timelines, he had devoted his entire existence to raising me.
I deliberately exaggerated a shrug and changed the subject.
“Still, when I focus on talking with you, I barely hear the insults.”
“An unexpected benefit.”
As I continued conversing with the Old Gentleman about this and that, the rest of the group gradually took their places around me.
But Lucian’s Attendant, who had been with him, was nowhere to be seen.
I nudged Lucian, who sat beside me, with my elbow.
“Did you place a bet too, brother?”
“No. I didn’t have the money.”
“Then why did you arrive so late?”
“My attendant said he’d urgently borrow some money, so I waited, but then I just came in first.”
“I see.”
The moment you borrow money to gamble, you’ve crossed a bridge from which there’s no return.
I tilted my head slightly.
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“…Eh? Should I have stopped him?”
Watching Lucian blink innocently, I raised my eyebrows as if to make him think it through.
“Well, gambling during work hours is absurd, isn’t it?”
“But he was betting on your behalf?”
“He wagered his own money, so why would he give you borrowed funds?”
“Huh?”
“When he borrows money, he borrows it in his own name. By what authority would he borrow in your name? Of course it’s his personal money.”
Lucian then spoke with a flustered expression, as if he hadn’t considered such a thing.
“Since he knew my circumstances, wouldn’t he be trying to help?”
“He knew all about your situation…?”
If he knew everything, it meant he had neglected to report it to Duchess Papiope.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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