Amidst the luxurious surroundings of one of the largest casinos in Rhodolite, it was pretty difficult not to be overwhelmed by the sparkling chandelier, a plethora of nobles gathering around different tables, constantly cheering and shouting in excitement under the safety of their exquisite mask. In this casino, there's an unspoken rule: none shall expose their face unless they want to be preyed on by sore losers, so the best way of showcasing one's status within this abode is by how ornate one's mask is.

A small giggle slipped past my lips as I glanced around, noticing the nobles sitting in the same table as mine. The flimsy covers for their identities were rather pretty. Attached with crystals, pearls and some with the finest of Rhodolite jewels - a showcase of extreme wealth in the kingdom of roses. To me, isn't that just a waste of the cover the mask provides you? It is meant to hide who you are, not to show off how much of an easy target you are in a game of gambling.
As for me, I had a simple white mask on with no decorative gems, one you'd find easily in theaters and even by bards who wish to make themselves attractive by anonymity. To put it bluntly, I'm broke. Even if I shell out the lump sum of what I've won so far, I won't be able to afford just a gem on those nobles' masks. Ugh, talking about being salty. Moreover, as I have stated, it is a waste, and that was not sour grapes, at all...haha.
"Hey lady, it's your turn to place your bet."

"Huh?" It seemed like I was too caught up in my thoughts. I quickly took a look at my hand, which was a pair of Kings. Oh, I was definitely betting this round~! I slid some chips over to the pot, my face betraying none of my giddiness. After hundreds of rounds of hiding my emotions, I thought I'm pretty adept.
...
My brain burst with emotions when the handler revealed the river card. It was another K! It was a three of a kind I was having right then, and suddenly all the teasing that made me almost lose my cool from the noblemen in my table rang hollow. I had to lower my head almost to hide my excitement.
"C-call..." I said as timidly as possible, hoping  that it didn't come over as superficial.
"All in!"
I faked a look of disbelief. If my predictions were correct, he must be having a two-pair, which was pretty strong...But not as strong as my Three of a Kind, hehe...
"Alright. Ladies and gentlemen, please reveal your hand clockwise."
Oh, I love seeing how smug the players are when they think they win. And it really lifted my spirit to see how they react to losing all their chips as well.
"A splendid game indeed, my lady~." All of a sudden, a gleeful, almost happy voice could be heard as a snap of fingers attracted the attention of the crowd. Apparently, the man behind me did that to quickly gather everyone's attention. I was slightly taken aback by the ominous clacking of his cane against the marble floor because that sounded metallic, almost.
I carefully assessed him. He has ebony hair that looked fluffy and seemed to hug his face and jawline nicely. He had a black mask adorned with numerous Obsidian jewels on, which made him look like a mystical phantom of some sort. Wait, What!? Obsidian jewel?
This guy must be asking for attention, or maybe just animosity here, in Rhodolite land. Not to mention, this lad right here must be on the top of the pecking order in Obsidian, otherwise there's no way he'd be able to cash out for such a luxurious outfit - or mask.
"Can I have a game with you, little rabbit~?"
"No, thank you, sir. I think I had my fair share of games today."
"Aww, such a shame~ Are you sure you want to refuse my order~?"
"Sir...in this casino, there's no such thing as one's power and authority over another. As you can see...we're all just simple enjoyers of thrills here, under the safety of our anonymity."
He gently raised his cane and tapped my neck. Once. Twice. I felt a shiver running down my spine.
"Fine. Since you asked too nicely." I frowned, not trying to make my expression go unnoticed by the mysterious man. In reality, I was scared stiff, but who am I couldn't back out then. "What game shall we play then?"
"Any, little rabbit. As long as you're confident enough to win against me~."
"Huh..." I don't know why, but my inner voice told  me not to cut him down to size. I had met many opponents with the same type of confidence whom I defeated fair and square, but this man, sitting right there, crossed-legged, was unlike any other. He carried a regal air, almost, and it feels like he can command me too easily. He made me, an ex-diplomat, resemble a shrinking violet. The air around us was  so quiet that I could hear a pin drop, a pregnant silence almost, as the spectators around  me watched with fear and a little excitement. They wanted to see if this cocky newcomer from Obsidian can defeat a regular at the casino who has built quite a reputation for herself here. "How about a game of Blackjack?"
"Blackjack? Oh, and here I thought you'd want something that relies completely on luck like Poker, rabbit~ you'd want to reconsider your choice~"
"Nothing is ever up to luck, my dear. Life is a gamble, yet people find their ways to win within its clutches and web. So Blackjack or Poker, it's still a matter of practice and of course, pure luck as well."
The mysterious man only chuckled. It sounded refreshing yet did nothing to help the growing tension.
"So? Are we playing or..."
"Oh yes we definitely are, little rabbit."
I had a bad feeling about this, but also a bit tempted by the potential surge of adrenaline surging my brain when I was playing with a worthy opponent. My winning rate has gone up over the years, and I only ever lose when I simply fold (to which I lose nothing) or when I'm hit by a stroke of unluck. I sat on the opposite side of the table as the handler, somehow keeping his professionalism, handed out our cards.
...

"Another round, please."
...
"A-another round, ahem."
...
"J-Just one more round of Blackjack, please!"
...
"We should stop here, aha."
Damn it, I hate this! If I lose one or two times, I can put it down to luck, but every single time!? No! This guy is definitely better at this than me! But from what I observe, his actions told me that he can't be a frequent visitor to casinos! Maybe a natural...?
"What's wrong, little rabbit~? Don't you want to defeat me for once~?"
"N-No thanks." I knew better and lost enough money to the loop of trying to win simultaneously. I groaned softly, letting a small pout appear on my face. I can be expressive then - nobody knows who I was after all.
Who would have known that the event of this very fateful day will eventually put me in a sticky situation. Like a goddamn mouse in the glue trap.
-2 weeks later-
"Y-you're...!" Kaleigh gasped when she saw the familiar features of the prince standing in front of her. Their position, or rather the circumstances have changed greatly since their first meeting two weeks ago.
"Nice to see you again, Kaleigh~." Gilbert said with a glint of amusement in his eyes, as if finding a new toy to play with.
That was when Kaleigh Moran knew she was in deep, deep trouble.

-end of prologue-