Chapter 451

“I’m not interested,” Shermaine said without hesitation, her tone flat.

She pulled the door open and walked out without looking back.

The woman hurried after her. “Ms. Hanks, please! This tournament is made for someone like you. I’ve never seen anyone gamble the way you do. If you make it into the top hundred, you’ll be on the global broadcast. Win that, and you’re set for life. No more worries about money. Plus, there are all sorts of benefits. Just… think about it?”

Shermaine paused at the mention of the global broadcast. The idea was tempting. If her face showed up on screen, Joshua might see it. But the risk was obvious, and at this point, that wasn’t something she could afford.

Without a word, she kept walking.

To her surprise, right there in the crowded terminal, the woman dropped to her knees and wrapped herself around Shermaine’s leg. “Please, just consider it,” she begged. “I’m really desperate.”

Shermaine’s jaw clenched slightly as curious stares began to turn their way. Her voice turned cold. “Let go.”

The woman hesitated. She could feel the pressure in Shermaine’s voice, the calm but unmistakable threat.

She reluctantly released her grip, but her face was filled with disappointment, on the verge of tears.

She knew it wasn’t right to drag a stranger into her mess, but Shermaine had an energy about her, something powerful, unshakable. Jasmine couldn’t help but reach for it.

Shermaine’s expression eased just slightly. She was about to walk off when the woman suddenly cried out, “Look out!”

The warning came just in time. A maintenance robot, clearly malfunctioning, came barreling toward them across the terminal.

The woman threw herself in front of Shermaine, taking the brunt of the impact with a sharp cry.

Shermaine spun around, arm shooting out to redirect the robot with surprising force, slamming it into a nearby pillar.

The woman winced, holding her side, voice quiet and full of regret. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to drag you into this.”

She turned and started to limp away, clearly giving up. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. She’d just wanted one shot at honoring the legacy her family had passed down. That was all.

Shermaine watched her for a moment, then sighed. Something in her softened. “Wait.”

The woman froze, then turned back, eyes wide with hope.

“You threw yourself in front of a damn robot for me,” Shermaine said dryly. “The least you can do is tell me the real reason you’re so desperate for me to enter this tournament.”

The woman nodded quickly. “Of course. But can we go somewhere quieter first?”

They left the terminal and found a small café nearby. After ordering two coffees, the woman leaned forward slightly, her voice low.

“My name’s Jasmine Farrington, Ms. Hanks.”

Shermaine gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

“Do you know about the royal family?” Jasmine asked.

Shermaine’s expression changed almost imperceptibly. After learning the written language of this world, she’d read a book in the ancient tomb of the cursed queen. At the time, much of it hadn’t made sense, but now it did.

The cursed queen was part of the royal family. After arriving in this world, Shermaine had researched their history. She remembered the totem shed seen on Joshua’s body.

And Judy’s obsession with him wasn’t just about power or charm. Joshua was the last pureblood descendant of the royal family and the only one capable of wielding Apocalypse.

“Go on,” Shermaine said quietly.

“Our ancestors were part of a side branch of the royal family,” Jasmine explained. “Centuries ago, we ruled the wealthiest, most glamorous city in Xyperia, Baykeep. The city was known for gambling, and the royal blood excelled at it. It was in our bones.”

She paused, her hands clenched. “But when the royal family disappeared, the Moreno family moved in. They wiped us out, drove us from our home. We’ve been living in Yorksland ever since, struggling to survive.

“Now… the International Gambling Tournament is back. Winning it means ruling Baykeep again. I thought it was hopeless, until I saw you. That’s why I came to you.”

She looked straight at Shermaine, eyes earnest. “I don’t want money or power. If we win, whatever rewards there are, they’re yours. I just want to fulfill my family’s legacy. I don’t want to see the Morenos in charge for another generation.”

For a long moment, Shermaine didn’t say anything. Fate really did have a strange sense of timing. She never expected to stumble across a surviving offshoot of Joshua’s bloodline.

And Joshua was the last of the royal blood. If she, as his wife, didn’t step up for the branch family now, who would?

She finally spoke. “When does the tournament start?”

“Registration ends on the 28th of next month,” Jasmine said, her voice picking up slightly, “and the regional rounds begin on the first of the month after that.”

Shermaine quickly calculated. By then, she’d be over six months pregnant. The top 100 rounds would take place after she gave birth.

That gave her peace of mind. “You’re in luck. Sign me up.”