The children gathered in a circle around the game board. Sailorus proudly unfolded the still-wrapped game, saying, “This is a game called ‘Knights of Guardia.’ You divide into two sides, one becomes the knights of the lord, and the other becomes thieves. The side with the most gems at the end of the game wins. If the knights have more gems, the lord wins, and if the thieves have more gems…”

“The lord’s territory goes down the drain, right?”

Lucian said provocatively. Sailorus chuckled and nodded.

“Exactly. Well, let’s divide into teams. Since there are six of us, dividing into three each should be just right.”

“How do we divide the teams?”

When Ariante asked, before Sailorus could explain, Lucian rudely interjected.

“These cards are team-dividing cards. It depends on whether the back is black or white.”

Cici’s contemptuous gaze fell on Lucian. Since the previous fight with Ariante and even afterwards, Cici’s attitude, trying to be disrespectful, was not to Lucian’s liking. Stupid cousin-brother!

“Now, let’s draw cards.”

Sailorus said, and the children each took a card from the top.

“One, two, three! Flip it over when I say ‘one, two… three!'”

Six pairs of eyes scanned the cards spread out in a circle. Cici was the first to frown. Swan and Lucian, and Cici became one team, while Sailorus and Ariante, and Umbrose became the other.

Lucian’s expression was not good either. Subtly, he was expecting to be on the same team as Ariante, but everything turned out wrong. On the other hand, Ariante and Umbrose seemed to be enjoying themselves.

“We three are on the same team! Swan, you’re with Cici and Lucian!”

Sailorus said.

“Since we’re black, we’re the thieves. You’re white, so you’re the lord’s knights. The knights throw the dice first.”

The game began. At first, even Cici, who had been playing with an indifferent attitude, soon got immersed in the game, and beads of sweat formed on his small forehead.

Swan, completely engrossed in a game he was playing for the first time, constantly strategized with Lucian on how to get more gems.

The number of gems held by the knights and the thieves was similar. There was only one chance left to roll the dice, and it was Ariante’s turn.

“Ariante! You have to roll well! If the combined total is greater than 6, we win!”

Umbrose shouted determinedly. Ariante, also wearing a resolute expression, rolled the dice from her hand, glancing at the game board. To get a number greater than 6, it should be 7, 8, 9…

“Okay, shall I roll?”

With a cheer, the moment Ariante threw the dice, Cici reached out and smacked Ariante’s hand.

“Hey, Cici! What are you doing!”

Although Lucian protested, the dice was already rolling on the floor. 2 and 4. When Umbrose sighed disappointingly, Ariante said.

“Cici, that’s cheating! I’ll roll again.”

Then Cici twitched impatiently as if he had been waiting.

“What’s cheating? You reached out too far towards my side! So, I hit your hand to move it away, and then you threw the dice! Okay, we won!”

It was an unreasonable and forced excuse. When Cici clenched the fake pile of gems in front of Ariante, Ariante slapped Cici’s hand.

“Why did you hit me!”

“There’s no cheating in games. You were wrong!”

“Who reaches out like that? I thought you were trying to hit me!”

At that moment, Sailorus picked up the dice and handed it to Ariante. Ignoring Cici’s even more distorted expression, Sailorus pretended not to see and said.

“Roll again, Ariante. Lucian and Swan, are you guys okay too? Can Ariante roll again?”
Swan nodded, and Lucian, after glancing at Cici, also agreed. At that moment, Cici stood up, stomping his foot.

“Why does Sailorus always favor him? He always treats Ariante well! He’s not even a real noble! Adults said his mother was just a commoner! And he’s not the daughter of Duke, either! They say she has no parents! But why does everyone keep favoring Ariante!”

After Cici’s intense words swept through the playroom, no one dared to utter a word. Firstly, what Cici said was too shocking, and secondly, Sailorus, Umbrose, and Lucian had heard adults gossiping in a similar manner before.

However, nobody thought it could be true, and no one had even imagined such a twist in reality.

Ariante, holding the dice given by Sailorus, stared blankly at Cici’s face. It seemed as if her thoughts had stopped, and she had even forgotten to get angry. Cici, too, belatedly realized that he had said something he shouldn’t have, but he didn’t want to apologize or admit it. His pride was hurt.

Ariante, whose lips had been quivering, spoke.

“Don’t lie.”

Sailorus felt relieved at the calmness in Ariante’s voice. Just as he was about to intervene between Ariante and Cici, Cici, with all his might, gave a scornful look to Ariante, and his lips twitched nervously.

“Are you saying I’m lying? Should I ask our mother? Our mother knows, and father knows! It’s a fact that everyone in Duke’s residence knows! They just call her a noble lady because they feel sorry for her.”

“Hey, Cici! Can’t you stop! You’ll regret saying that to my stepfather!”