Once Upon The Life of The Wise King

The Prince was Gambling

ONCE UPON THE LIFE OF THE WISE KING

Volume 2

The Fall of The Royal Family

Chapter 33 - The Prince was Gambling

In one of the pubs found in the town of the Luciel Kingdom, the men were enjoying the after-hours. They were drinking alcohol, singing, and dancing. In the corner, people were crowding. They were cheering as they watched the two young men arm wrestling. There were silver and gold coins placed on top of the table. It was the money the two young men bet. The people around them also bet, placing more money on the wealthy-looking young man.

"Go on, Jules! You can do it!"

"Go! Go! Beat him!"

"I bet all my money on you! You can not afford to lose! You hear me!"

"Defeat him!"

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Your Highness! Don't you lose!"

As it turned out, the young man was the white-haired Third Prince of the Luciel Kingdom. He was out to play at night and he chose to try the pub to play arm wrestle. Both him and his opponent, Jules, were doing their best to defeat one another.

Jules was an eighteen-year-old young man frequenting the pub to earn extra money by defeating his opponents in an arm wrestle. He was the champion for the past week, and now a new challenger came. At first, he refused to play against the Third Prince, but he was presented with not only silver coins but also gold. He was kind of short on cash because of his bad debt, so he took on the opportunity to gain from the Third Prince.

After a while, Jules defeated Prince Luciel. "I won! Woohoo!" he exclaimed joyfully and took all the money on the table. There were more men who placed their bets on the Third Prince, so they were disappointed when he lost. But, the men who bet on Jules were delighted to have more money on them.

"Let's do it again! This time, I will surely win," Prince Luciel said.

Jules was more than happy to accept the offer, and as expected of the arm wrestle champion, he won again. But then again, Prince Luciel did not seem to stop anytime soon. He was losing money, but he did not care. All he wanted was to win at least once. Therefore, he asked for another rematch.

After the fifth rematch, Jules was ready to go home as he was getting tired since it was almost dawn, but the Prince did not have any plan to go home a loser. "I want a rematch!" he yelled. He reached inside his pockets but found he had no more money on him.

"Your Highness," Jules said, "I know you really wanted to win this match, but it is already dawn. I think it is time for His Highness to go-"

"Don't you order me around, I am a Prince of this Kingdom."

"But, I don't think you-"

"I have money. It's at home."

"Then perhaps, His Highness can go home first to get the money?" Jules suggested tentatively, afraid that the Prince will be angry at him.

Prince Luciel thought for a while, then he finally relented. "Fine." He sighed. "I'll go home for now, but later, let's have a rematch."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Third Prince finally left the pub, giving everyone a sigh of relief. It was good to spend some after-hours, but it was too much with the Prince around. They were only watching the game between the teens but they felt more tired.

When Prince Luciel arrived at the entryway of the palace, he was surprised to see his older brother Alphonse, who stood up with his arms crossed.

"It's already early morning. Where have you been?"

"At the town." The Third Prince walked around his brother but he was blocked.

"I'm not done talking yet."

Rolling his eyes, Prince Luciel said, "Seriously, brother? I'm tired. I want to sleep. Can't we just talk later?"

"Tell me what you did in town and I'll let you go."

"I played."

"Played what?"

"Just arm wrestle." The white-haired Prince walked past the Second Prince.

"Just arm wrestle?" Prince Alphonse followed his younger brother inside.

"Yes, so stop pestering. I'm sleepy."

The Second Prince stopped following his younger brother and sighed. He heard of the game in town called arm wrestle and knew that they use the money to bet. He once played it for fun but was defeated, and never played again. He knew then that Prince Luciel must have lost in the game terribly. If he lost some money, it was fine. But if he lost all his money, then that was different.

He can not let his younger brother become addicted to gambling.

When night fell upon the Luciel Kingdom, Prince Alphonse decided to stalk his brother. He waited near the palace gates, hidden behind the bushes. When he saw his brother riding a horse and went in the direction of the town, he quickly followed, rising his horse as well.

Prince Alphonse observed his brother's activities. The white-haired Prince bought some snacks before going to a pub. The Second Prince was familiar with the pub as it was the place where he also played arm wrestle before.

"I knew it," he said to himself and went inside.

Prince Luciel was already sitting opposite Jules. The focus of the people inside the pub was on the two young men who were about to arm wrestle, so they did not notice the arrival of the Second Prince.

For a while, Prince Alphonse only watched. He was amused whenever Prince Luciel lost. No, I should not be happy. I must reprimand him. The money he receives is from the national funds. He should not waste his money like that! He shook his head.

The Second Prince stepped forward. "Luciel," he called, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. Upon seeing him, the people all bowed down to him. "Stop gambling and wasting your money here," he said.

"No! I have not won yet!"

"So, what? You will only keep losing, either way, so stop this now this instance!"

"No way! I want my money back so I have to play against him and win!"

"You will lose anyway! Why do you keep insisting!"

Back and forth the two Princes argued. Jules on the other hand did not know what to do. "Uhm..."

The two Princes stopped arguing and looked at Jules, who looked like he was going to lose his head from the pressure of two Royalties in front of him.

"Speak," Prince Alphonse said.

"Sha-shall I give the money back?"

"No. You can keep it. I'll be taking my brother away. Excuse us." With that said, the Second Prince grabbed his brother and dragged him out back to the palace.