The pale golden glow of the sunset illuminated Osmanthus Street No. 32, yet it couldn't dispel the icy chill permeating the living room.
"Although this is but a game."
"Since such stakes have been wagered, it's no longer a mere amusement."
The Queen of the Empire sat with her legs crossed, her posture indolently relaxed on the arm of the sofa beside her.
Her gaze swept over the several cushions on the sofa beside her. "Which one do you usually lean on?"
Shiayar pointed to the pillow he used most often. "This one."
Isadella nodded and placed that cushion behind her.
Then her pale hands formed an empty grip, and golden specks of light gathered slightly in the air.
"In the name of the Sacred Sword and the Queen of the Fresta Empire, I shall oversee the fairness of this game."
"Throughout the process of the game, divination is forbidden, prophecy is forbidden, using spiritual power to probe the contents of face-down cards is forbidden, and so is spiritual intuition."
