Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill Chapter 19: Time to Bet

After an hour, the door to the magic classroom opened.

Elanor stepped out first, her cheeks still faintly flushed, a rebellious lock of hair falling across her face. Behind her, Sophie adjusted a few floating books before closing the door.

Max was sitting against the hallway wall, knees drawn up, arms resting on them, staring absently at the stone floor.

The mont he saw her, he stood up.

"Ela..." he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry about earlier."

Elanor stopped short.

"I-it’s fine," she replied quickly, looking away. "You just... caught off guard."

Max noticed the blush. He also noticed the glare Sophie shot him before walking away without a word.

The silence between them was brief, but uncomfortable.

"We need to talk," Max finally said. "About our walk the other day."

Elanor pressed her lips together.

"I figured," she murmured. "And... thank you. Really. But Max, it’s not that simple."

He took a step closer, careful not to invade her space.

"You don’t deserve to be locked in here all the ti. Not you. Not anyone."

She looked up at him, surprised by the firmness in his voice.

"That’s exactly why..." she sighed. "I was thinking of telling my father the truth. Sooner or later he’ll find out. He always does."

Max frowned.

"The truth?"

"That I want to go out. Even if it’s only sotis. To see sothing other than these walls," she said softly. "But he won’t take it well. And if you try anything strange..." she swallowed, "...he’ll probably order your head cut off."

Max blinked.

"That’s extre."

"It’s not an exaggeration," she replied, eting his gaze. "That’s how he is."

Max let out a small, nervous laugh.

"Relax. I’m not going to do anything strange."

Elanor raised an eyebrow.

"That doesn’t reassure ."

"Because I’m going to do sothing worse," he continued. "I’m going to bet with your father."

Her eyes widened.

"Bet?"

"Yes. He likes bets."

She looked at him, confused.

"How... how do you know that?"

Max shrugged with a crooked smile.

"You can see it on his face. He’s a born gambler."

She studied him for a few seconds, as if searching for a logical explanation... and finding none.

Max, anwhile, thought silently about the ga’s side quests. Absurd challenges. Optional rewards. And a king who always smiled when sothing was at stake.

Yeah... he definitely likes bets.

"Max," Elanor said at last. "My father doesn’t bet small things."

"Perfect," he replied. "Neither do I."

She wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved... or even more worried.

"Is he free to talk now?" Max asked.

"I think he’s in his chambers, about to take his nap," she answered.

"Perfect. Let’s go before he falls asleep."

***

Max and Elanor headed down the corridor that led to the royal chambers.

Two royal guards stood watch before the large door carved with symbols of the crown. When they saw Elanor approaching, both straightened imdiately.

"Your Highness," one of them said. "The king is resting. His royal nap is about to begin."

Max noted the emphasis on royal. As if it weren’t just a nap, but an inviolable law of the kingdom.

Elanor stepped forward, serious.

"I need to see him," she said. "It’s important."

The guards glanced at each other, uneasy.

"Princess..." the other began. "The king left clear orders—"

"Call him," she interrupted, her tone firm and unquestionable. "Please."

There was a brief silence. Finally, one of the guards sighed and opened the door just enough to slip inside.

Max leaned slightly toward Elanor.

"We still have ti to run," he murmured.

She shot him a warning look, though the corner of her lips trembled slightly.

"Don’t even think about it."

"Just a joke," he replied.

Minutes passed. Long minutes. Too long.

Max began to wonder if the guard had been silently executed for interrupting the royal rest.

Then the door opened again.

The guard stepped out first... followed by the king.

The man wore a loose robe, his hair slightly disheveled, eyes half-closed. He yawned openly before fixing his gaze on them.

"What is it now...?" he grumbled. "Is the castle collapsing, or did soone set the stables on fire?"

"No, Father," Elanor replied, clasping her hands in front of her. "It’s just... sothing I need to tell you."

The king blinked a couple of tis, as if his brain were still starting up.

"I hope it’s worth it," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "I was having an excellent dream."

Elanor swallowed.

"Before I say anything... I want you to promise you won’t take it badly."

The king looked at her in silence for a few seconds. Then he shifted his gaze to Max, scanning him from head to toe with a tired expression.

"That depends greatly on what you’re about to confess," he said at last. "And on why that boy is standing there looking like he’s about to lose his life."

Max smiled, tense.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty."

The king sighed.

"I definitely should’ve slept five more minutes."

"I want you to be less strict with ," Elanor finally said. "With my duties as a princess. I want to... go out. To see the world outside the palace."

"You know how things are," her father replied wearily. "It’s not a whim. It’s your role."

"I know!" she shot back, raising her voice slightly. "But I don’t want to spend my whole life locked between these walls."

She took a determined step forward.

"Besides... I already went out."

Max felt even the guards hold their breath.

The king opened his eyes slowly. He didn’t look surprised. Not even angry.

"I know," he said.

Elanor froze.

"What...?"

"I’ve known since the first day," he continued. "And I was waiting for you to tell yourself. Because, honestly, I didn’t want to believe it until I heard it from your mouth."

She clenched her fists.

"And nothing happened," she insisted. "No one got hurt. There were no problems. I just... walked. I saw the city. I felt free, even if only for a little while."

The king watched her for a long mont. Then he sighed.

"Even so, you disobeyed," he declared. "And that has consequences. You’ll be punished."

"Father, I just—"

"This conversation ends here."

Elanor opened her mouth, her eyes shining, clearly about to say more.

"Then you’re a bad father," Max said, cutting in.

The king snapped his head toward Max.

"What did you say?"

Max stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest, but he didn’t lower his gaze.

"That beyond being a princess... she’s your daughter."

The king narrowed his eyes.

"And who do you think you are to speak to like that?" he growled. "You’re nothing more than a pet. Sothing I had summoned to entertain her. To please her. That alone makes a good father."

Elanor turned toward Max, alard.

"Max—"

"Then let’s bet."

The king blinked.

"...What?"

"Let’s bet her freedom."

For a second, no one spoke.

Then sothing changed in the king’s expression.

His eyes lit up.

"Bet...?" he repeated.

Max swallowed, but didn’t back down.

"If I win, Elanor can leave the castle from ti to ti. With rules. With conditions. But without being locked in."

The king smiled slowly.

"And if you lose...?"

"I’ll accept any punishnt you deem just," Max said. "For alone."

The silence grew thick.

The king stroked his beard, thoughtful. Then he let out a short laugh.

"It’s been a long ti since anyone proposed sothing interesting before my nap."

He fixed his gaze on Max.

"Very well, boy. I like your audacity."

A dangerous smile spread across his face.

"Tell ... what do you have in mind?"