𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝟕 | 𝐌𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐘 & 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐘

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐀

You shouldn't work hard, you should work smarter. Totoo nga talaga ang kasabihan na matagal ko nang naririnig. Now that I can manipulate time, of course, I won't waste it.

The moment I woke up, I instantly went to the casino to try my luck at cheating. Of course, I came here as Morgana. What's the point of hiding it behind that pale-ginger-haired woman? I'm not afraid of the public seeing Morgana in a gambling house. Kahit naman ano'ng gawin ko ay pag-uusapan pa rin ako.

"Thirteen black. I'll bet everything." I grinned when everyone went pale the moment they saw me smirking.

Kung kanina lang ay simpleng audience lang ako para manood ngayon ay ako na ang lalamas ng lahat ng pera rito. May mga tao nga na sinasabi na kukunin daw nila lahat ng gusto nila sa department store kung kaya nilang patigilan ang oras. Utak-utak lang talaga ang buhay. What would you do If you can make the time stop? Cheat your life to the fullest.

''Have you made up your mind? Are you sure?'' The casino announcer asked. He was a tall man, with pale skin, and wore a suit. Nakangisi kong tinaas ang isang kilay ko.

''I'll add two more. Fifteen blacks in total.'' I crossed my arms, tilted my head, and gave him a confident smile.

Napasinghap ang ilan sa mga kasama ko't dahil karamihan sa kanila ay taliwas ang ginawa. Napangisi ako habang nakatitig sa mga mukha nila. I can see some of them bet in red. Poor them. They better change their bets in black, or better not. Ayaw ko kasi ng laging may kahati, malas nila. This is for me. This is my fortune.

People in the gambling house were probably wondering why Morgana was there, and I'm willing to bet that some of them had already confirmed their suspicions about the rumors linking Morgana to gambling, just like her father, Count Kheelagor Whitlockes. Wala akong paki sa mga opinyon nila dahil hindi ko ikakamatay ang opinyon ng iba.

''Fifteen blacks!'' I couldn't help but grin wider as the announcer started the Roulette. In this gambling house, they use European Roulette.

The basic idea is to guess whether the ball will land on a black or red slot. To play, you place your chips on the squares you think the ball will stop. Then, you wait for the wheel to stop spinning and see if your bet is right.

I narrowed my eyes as I noticed that the ball was going to stop on the red color. Time seemed to freeze. I made time stop. I stood up on my chair and snatched the ball, swiftly spinning it to land on my chosen color and number. Fifteen, black. Thank you for your power, Kleio. Until next time?

Bingo. This is the true embodiment of working smarter, not harder.

I came back in my chair. Nakangisi akong umupo't sa isang iglap ay bumalik sa dati ang daloy ng oras. Everyone went wild because I was the only one who placed the correct bet.

Everyone went wild because I was the only one who placed the correct bet. The announcer began congratulating me, and I gasped in surprise. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

''Oh, my! I won?!'' I dramatically clutched my chest, gasping once again. I slumped in my chair as if I were about to faint.

Typically, after the dealer or croupier announces the winning number and color, they proceed to pay out the winning bets. They then collect the losing bets and clear the table for the next round. Since I won the bets, I have the option to either leave my winnings on the table for the next round or collect them directly from the dealer.

''I'll collect them.'' Nakangisi kong saad. Meron naman akong choice kung maglalaro ako o wala. However, my time is running out because I need to meet the Eisten after this.

When I choose to collect my winnings, the dealer or croupier will count and verify the amount I have won. They will then proceed to hand over the chips or cash equivalent of my winnings. After collecting my winnings, I can choose to continue playing or leave the gambling table. I looked around. Nakita ko ang pagkadismaya sa mukha ng iba kong mga kasama. Hindi ko na problema 'yon.

"Wow! How did this auntie win on fifteen black in just one shot? Is it the work of magic, Mr. Butler?" My eyes widened as I heard a familiar child's voice.

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata dahil ang dali niyang lumusot sa mga mataong lugar. The butler attempted to chase him, but the child chuckled in response. My eyes widened in horror as he had the audacity to sit on my lap. Hindi sapat ang mang-mamata ko sa kaniya dahil tumalon-talon pa siya habang nasa kandungan ko.

"Don't worry, Auntie. You'll sit on my lap when I grow older and bounce too!" The brat exclaimed with a mischievous grin as he glanced at me.

''Stop sitting on me or I'll put you in a meat grinder.'' Nanggigigil ko siyang kinurot ngunit humiyaw siya't suminghot-singhot.

"Aw, Auntie, it hurts! Why? Do you want me to bounce on top of you instead? Can I bounce on this old lady when I grow up, Mr. Butler?"

Lumingon siya sa direksyon ng kasama niyang butler. I gritted my teeth and my fists clenched.
I narrowed my eyes at the butler, and he immediately cowered in fear, quickly bowing down. But this leech isn't afraid of me.

This kid scares the living shit out of me.

Ginala ko naman ang paningin ko sa loob. I looked at everyone, and they were all facing the same direction. None of them could meet my gaze.

However, this brat, this leech sitting on my lap, grinned even wider when I stared at him.

''You.'' The word rolled over on my tongue when I stare at the dealer as my patience is wearing thin. Namutla rin ang kaniyang mukha nang titigan niya ang batang nakaupo sa kandungan ko. When he stared back at me, his entire body trembled.

''Y-yes, Your Highness—''

''Do something about this leech.'' I greeted my teeth. Sa isang iglap ay pakiramdam ko'y umakyat lahat ng dugo ko sa mukha. The brat titled his head as he stare at the dealer. Lalong namutla ang mukha ng dealer nang titigan siya ng bata at agad siyang nakayuko.

''I-I'm afraid this kid is Mag—''

''Let's play! Let's play!'' The leech bounced on my lap again. Pinandilatan ko ng mga mata ang dealer ngunit nakayuko lang siya sa akin.

I didn't know why, but my guts told me that he wasn't afraid of me, but rather afraid of this kid bouncing on my lap.

"How did you do that, Auntie? Show me! Show me!" He bounced on my lap again. Hinawakan ko na lang ang braso niya para lang tumigil siya't para siyang kiti-kiti.

My forehead remained high yet when the leech glanced at me, I saw him narrowing his eyes. I scoffed. Ang lakas ng loob ng batang ito't ako pa talaga ang trip niya. I dug my nails into his flesh yet he didn't flinch.

''State what you want.'' Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang gigil sa sistema ko dahil nagawa niyang palitan ang facial expression niya agad.

This leech is something else. Umurong pa siya't diniin ang puwetan sa akin. He leaned in and rested his head on my chest.

"What do you mean, Auntie? I'm just a curious kid who wants to know how you managed to win on fifteen blacks in just one shot.'' Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata. He sounded sarcastic. Tinitigan ko siya nang masama dahil hindi ko siya puwede sakalin.

I gritted my teeth in frustration as he began picking up the black chips. Nangatal ang mga kamay ko. I stared at him while absentmindedly playing with my nails.

''Don't you dare touch those—''

"Six black!" His hands moved so quickly that when I blinked, they were already raised in victory. Nanggigigil kong binaba ang kamay niya ngunit huli na ang lahat. I gave the dealer an icy stare as he began collecting the chips.

''Come on, Auntie. Show me how you won fifteen chips.'' Lumingon siya sa akin at hindi na inalis ang tingin. Nakipagtigasan ako ng tingin sa kaniya dahil nagpipigil akong baliktarin siya. The dealer rolled the ball on the Roulette wheel again.

"How could I show it? It's luck, a kid like you shouldn't be in gambling houses," I scoffed at him, raising my eyebrows in disapproval. To my surprise, he scoffed back. Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata nang ibalik niya ang tingin sa mesa.

"Sure, Auntie. Luck is such a mysterious, complex concept that only wise adults like you can comprehend. I'll patiently wait until I reach the ripe old age of 18 to unlock the secrets of luck.'' He grinned and narrowed his eyes. Kulang na lang ay baliktarin ko siya't isubsob ang mukha niya sa mesa.

This leech probably thought that I didn't catch the sarcasm in his tone. The dealer announced that this brat's bet didn't win. As a result, he took my six chips, leaving me with only nine. Napasapo ako ng noo't napakalmot sa anit dahil sa inis.

''Oh, no! What do we do, Auntie?'' The leech exclaimed. Sarkastiko siyang lumingon sa akin sumimangot. Nangangatal akong hilain ang dila niya palabas.

''I'm out of here.'' Walang sabi ko siyang tinulak paalis sa kandungan ko dahilan para matumba siya't mapasubsob sa sahig.

Everyone exclaimed as he started crying. I was about to help him stand, but as I leaned closer, I saw him smirk. My eyes widened in horror because, before I could assist him, he stood up on his own and pointed at me instead.

"This Auntie is mad because her lover's dick is only 3 inches!" he shouted and quickly ran away.

Narinig ko ang ilang halakhak at bulungan ng mga tao. Napasabunot na lang ako ng buhok dahil kahit gusto kong hilain pabalik ang bata't isubsob sa mesa ay nakalayo na siya at sayang lang ang oras ko. That's right, I shouldn't waste my time. I need to deliver what I won to Samuel to help the Copper Knights.

That kid is insignificant... he's just a side character. I am the Villainess.

"I'll take everything. Give me the money. Now," I demanded firmly as I swiftly made my way to the payout area. The payout area is a designated section located near the gambling tables.

Naging diretso lamang ang lakad ko sa dapat kong puntahan. Once you have won the right bet of chips, you can approach the payout area and present your winning chips to the dealer. That's what I did. I presented my winning chips and requested to receive the payout in cash.

The staff counted the chips to confirm how much I had won, and then they gave me the corresponding amount of cash. Nine chips are equal to 90,000 gold. With that much money, I could buy the complete set of new armor for the Copper Knights.

My plan is to win as many money but that leech destroyed my plan. It's near lunch and Kleio's power is only effective for 24 hours. Hindi na ako makakabalik dito't gawin ang ginawa ko kanina kung wala na sa akin ang kapangyarihan ni Kleio. Lumipad ang isip ko habang papaalis ako sa gambling house.

What should I do? Should I invite Kleio into my bedroom again, and kiss him to gain his power for another 24 hours?

"Auntie! Auntie! Do you own an orange cat?" Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang ginawa ko bago lumingon sa likod. I caught sight of the brat hugging a chubby orange cat behind my back, accompanied by the butler. Pinandilatan ko ng mga mata ang butler at agad siyang yumuko sa akin.

''Wala ako sa mood, bukas ka na,'' gigil kong sabi. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad at hindi na lumingon sa kaniya. Yet with every step I took, I could hear the brat's little footsteps.

''Why does this orange cat have a black hat, Mr. Butler?'' I heard him say. Hindi ko siya pinansin at patuloy lang sa paglalakad. When I said that I needed to meet Samuel and the Eisten to this day, I was deadly serious.

"Auntie, aren't you worried that a noble like you is seen inside a gambling house? Count Niccolo is now in the slums, isn't he, Mr. Butler?"

Natigilan ako sa narinig at dahan-dahang lumingon sa bata. Nasa bisig niya pa rin yakap ang kulay orange na pusa. I saw a mischievous gleam in his eyes when he realized he had finally captured my attention by mentioning Niccolo. Nakipagtigasan ako ng tingin sa kaniya bago magsalita.

''What did you say? The Count is in the slums?'' I asked. Imbes na sumagot ay may kinuha siyang nakapastil sa pader at inabot sa akin nang malawak ang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

''Yes, Auntie! Look!'' Mukhang proud na proud pa niyang sabi. Hinablot ko ang papel sa kaniyang kamay.

My eyes narrowed as I stared at the paper. Nangatal ang kamay ko habang hindi kumukurap sa papel. I read it numerous times, and I am indeed reading it correctly. I crumpled the paper as my blood started to boil.

"What's wrong? Why does this old lady look so mad, Mr. Butler? Is she the Count's former Countess?" the brat asked. Hindi ako lumingon sa kaniya't napasabunot sa aking buhok. It seems that Count Niccolo actually listened to the advice of the ginger-haired woman, huh?

''What is the Count doing in the slums?'' Nanggigigil kong pinunit ang inabot na papel sa akin ng bata.

''Can't you read, Auntie? The posters said the Count is doing a donation to the slums! Why don't you do the same?''

Natawa na lang ako sa sinabi ng bata't umiwas ng tingin. Napasabunot ako ng buhok dahil nanginginig ang buong katawan ko sa gigil.

It was a poster about a petition by their beloved Niccolo to donate to the slums. He had the audacity to create a petition after being responsible for the deaths of these families' relatives in war? Ang kapal naman ng ambog mo, Niccolo.

I threw the paper on the floor and stomped on it multiple times. Pati na rin ang mga nakadikit sa pader ay kinuha ko lahat at pinagpupunit. I laughed sarcastically. Ako pa talaga ang hinamon niya?

Hindi ako makuntento sa pagsira ko sa lahat ng nakapastil sa pader. I wanted to destroy the whole slum area. Did he take it seriously? When I sarcastically suggested that he should visit the slums in the Empire?

Napasabunot ako ng buhok habang ramdam ko ang pamumula ng mukha ko sa inis. Is he doing this so that the townspeople would think I'll use the budget for my own selfish purposes? Napakagaling niyang pagmukhain akong masama. This man is really testing my patience.

You dare to use my advice against me, Niccolo? Well, then, see you in hell. See you later.

𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝘿...