Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 49

As Jack danced and celebrated his latest win, his gaze drifted—and a few tables away, he spotted someone holding cards.

Unbelievable. How long has it been since Lady Calliope cornered him? And he’s already back in the gambling den? That takes a special kind of shamelessness.

The man in question was none other than Erben, Isaac’s older brother and the heir to House Esteban. To see him glowering at the table like this, just days after Calliope had turned their estate upside down, made one thing painfully clear: this man was beyond help.

Jack cleared his throat and stepped down from the table, calmly taking a seat again.

“Hey, you calling it quits already?”

“No way! I’m betting everything I just won!”

“That’s more like it!”

Jack grinned. Or at least, he believed he was pretending to grin—it was all part of the act. He kept betting and, surprisingly, won three rounds in a row without much trouble.

While Jack laughed like a man discovering hidden gambling talent, the other men around the table exchanged discreet glances. He’d won enough—time to let him lose a bit. Not that it mattered—Jack easily caught on to their signals. He clicked his tongue in mild disappointment.

“Oh hey, that game looks fun.”

“What, that one? But you’re on a winning streak here. Why not stay a bit longer?”

“Nah, I’ve always liked card games better than anything else. Been that way since I was born.”

Jack quickly grabbed his coat and moved two tables over—right where Erben was playing. The card game area was thick with smoke. Erben had something in his mouth too, and it definitely wasn’t just a cigar. The stench alone confirmed that.

Jack forced his face into a neutral expression as he casually stood behind the players, observing. Small sheets of paper sat in front of each gambler—the same kind of notes used in place of chips. In this illegal gambling den, paper was used instead of real tokens because it could be burned easily to destroy evidence.

The system was simple: hand over cash and get notes of equal value. Frequent visitors were sometimes extended credit—also recorded on those papers—making them quite important.

No one paid much attention to Jack hovering nearby. The players were deep in their game. Cards shuffled. Bets placed. And then—

“Damn it.”

BANG. A heavy thud echoed as someone slammed the table. Erben. He had clearly lost the round, and with a scowl, he threw a bundle of his notes at the man across from him. The man didn’t care—he grinned, scooping up the winnings without a second glance at Erben’s attitude.

Lady Calliope specifically told him to return every coin to its rightful place. So where the hell did he get this money?

Jack absently rubbed at his fake mustache, genuinely puzzled.

Erben stood up abruptly, as though ready to leave. But instead of exiting, he stuffed the remaining papers into his pocket and began wandering around, looking for a new table.

Clicking his tongue, Jack followed him quietly and bumped into his shoulder—“by accident.” In the same motion, his hand slipped across Erben’s pocket with practiced ease.

“Oh—sorry about that.”

Jack lowered his voice and dipped his hat low, preparing to walk away like nothing happened. But Erben’s hand clamped down on his arm.

“You,” he said coldly.

“Well, now,” Jack replied, feigning surprise.

Apparently, Erben recognized him—likely from his time at Calliope’s side. Had he noticed the swipe, too? Their eyes met. Jack hesitated for only a second… then flashed a wide, carefree grin, like someone with nothing to hide.

Erben’s face twisted in fury. He yanked Jack’s arm hard, looking like he was about to shout—

But then, before he could open his mouth—

“Everyone, freeze!”

A sharp yell rang out from the entrance.

It was the capital’s City Guard. The gold badge gleaming on their uniforms confirmed it—this unit was funded by House Glayderth. Erben saw the insignia, and his face turned deathly pale. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted in the opposite direction.

Jack didn’t even have time to grab him.

“I’m not one of them! I swear, I’m not—!”

While dodging through the chaos, Jack ran in the same direction as Erben. Illegal gambling dens always had secret escape routes. A regular like Erben would know exactly where to go.

Sure enough, Jack spotted him slipping through a curtain and disappearing inside. Determined not to lose him, Jack kicked off the floor and sprinted after him.

Erben finally slowed, gasping for air once he reached a narrow corridor known only to a few. He looked back, shaking.

Why did it have to be Glayderth’s guards? Of all the ones who could’ve shown up…

In the capital, there were two types of security forces: one controlled by the royal palace, and one controlled by powerful noble houses. The latter came about when the royal authority lost control of the City Guard two kings ago. In particular, the eastern district was effectively owned by House Glayderth—so much so that trying to reclaim it would be nearly impossible now.

But this isn’t even the east. Why are Glayderth’s guards here in the north?

Erben ran faster. He’d figure it out later at the estate. The important thing was getting out of here. He couldn’t afford to be caught now—not in this gambling den, of all places.

He’d stayed away ever since Calliope uncovered his secret. But, like a moth to flame, he couldn’t stay away. His fingers had been itching, and he convinced himself that one last time would be fine.

So here he was. And now, everything was falling apart again.

Erben had thought that as long as he didn’t touch Isaac’s money, Calliope Anastas—that arrogant little noble girl—would never notice. So the money he brought today? Just a small slice from the family’s operational funds. Any shortfall could be borrowed directly from the gambling den. Easy.

But then… what was that girl’s attendant doing inside?

His head began to spin as he kept running. The thick smoke from all the cigars in the gambling hall was catching up to him. The cigars weren’t that addictive, but in a sealed space with barely any ventilation, they were more than enough to dull his senses.

Up ahead, he saw light—finally, the end of the tunnel. He just needed to make it out and return to the estate. Then he could figure out the rest…

But instead of freedom, Erben was met with something entirely unexpected.

“…He really showed up.”

“Told you he would.”

Several people had already been caught and forced to their knees at the exit, hands bound by the city guard. And standing tall among them—two figures he recognized immediately.

“You—how do you even know about this?”

“I could say it’s because I know the future. But really, it’s just good research and thorough background checks.”

“I swear, that ability of yours… I envy it every time.”

“Oh dear. Plotting to steal my family secrets now? How shameless.”

“Forget it. Why do I even bother talking to you?”

“But you’re doing it right now,” Calliope said sweetly.

Otis Glayderth let out a sigh of utter exasperation. He may have been younger, but among the nobility, Otis was ranked far higher in reputation than Erben. Seeing Calliope standing beside Otis here, in front of this illegal gambling den’s secret exit, made one thing immediately clear to Erben—he was well and truly screwed.

“You should’ve just quit when I gave you the chance.”

Calliope spun her parasol with a delicate flourish, all elegance and charm—but the place she stood was still the back door of a criminal den.

“Lord Glayderth, what do you suppose will happen to the nobles who were caught today?”

“Well, unfortunately for us all, nobility tends to avoid serious punishment. But… notifying their families? That’s unavoidable.”

“Wait, hold on—!”

Erben called out in panic, but the guards had already moved in, respectfully but firmly arresting him and pushing him toward the carriage. The other men were divided up—nobles and commoners—and loaded into separate carriages. From there, they’d be taken in for questioning. Most would end up in jail or sent straight back to their families like unwanted parcels.

Calliope watched the entire scene with a peaceful smile and even danced a few small steps, as though moving to a silent rhythm. Otis, standing beside her, glanced down at her feet with an incredulous look.

“He is your fiancé’s older brother, you know. Was it really necessary to go this far?”

“Oh? You were the one who signed off on this plan so eagerly. Having second thoughts now?”

“It doesn’t hurt me. House Anastas has joined the royalist faction, and that side’s been getting more arrogant lately. Having something on the heir of one of their leading families? Not a bad card to hold.”

“I assume you plan to leave his name out of the official list of those arrested? That way you have room to negotiate.”

“You really do know everything.”

“I try.”

Otis narrowed his eyes at her and let out a long sigh.

“So what do you plan to do next?”

“Just giving my fiancé a little strength.”

Otis went silent.

He remembered the look in Calliope’s eyes when she spoke about Isaac Esteban—tender, serious. By all accounts, the two had never met before their engagement, which was arranged through political ties. But she looked at Isaac like someone who meant the world to her.

He couldn’t understand where that affection came from.

“…I truly don’t understand you at all.”

“That’s my charm,” she replied with a wink. “Anyway, I’ll be going now—”

Before she could finish her sentence, someone came running, gasping for breath, from the gambling den’s back exit.

“Everyone freeze!” the guards shouted, lunging forward again.

Naturally, they assumed it was another gambler trying to escape—and quickly tackled the man. But—

“Lady Calliope! It’s me! It’s Jack!”

Despite the armored guards trying to force him to his knees, Jack held his ground with surprising strength.

Calliope’s eyes widened in surprise—then she burst into laughter. Honestly, that man has all kinds of talents.

She didn’t immediately correct the guards. Instead, she looked him over with amusement and asked,

“Jack, what’s that sticking out of your ears?”

“Oh, these? Just gambling chips well, paper chips, really. Worthless now, I suppose.”

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