A Fairytale for Nobody : Knocking Down Rapunzel's Door

1st Tale: Tryst

        1st Tale: Tryst

          As the deep sky donned a cloak of night, a deep cry resounded in the air.

         “Don’t cry, accept your defeat,” a young man sporting a flat cap snickered.

         “N-no, please spare me!” A man with an Italian accent begged as his shoulders trembled in fear.

         The young man didn’t reply. With teeth bared into a cruel smile, he raised his right hand into the air, wielding a deadly weapon above him.

         “W-wait please! I have a family!” The Italian cried as its sharp edges glinted dangerously at him.

         “Not a chance,” The flat-capped individual smiled with bloodlust in his eyes. “This is the end!”

“Nooooo!!!!” The man screamed.

“Call! Maximum Straight Flush!” The young man declared and slammed 5 cards down onto the table.

“Augh!” The defeated Italian cried. He cursed in Italian before forking over a hefty payment of 10 pounds.

“ That was pretty close! Thanks again,” The young man smiled while the whole room roared with laughter.

“Stop being so modest now Trystn!” One of the men who were watching the game chortled with a slap on the back.

“It seems our Trystn beat you again! How many times has this been? Nine?!” Another man laughed and downed a whole glass of beer. He gave a sympathetic pat to the Italian before swooning over as a drunkard.

“Ah, I give, at this rate, I won’t even have enough left for the train!” The Italian sighed. “It’s as if Lady Luck’s on your side!” He mused to the young’un.

“Oh no, I’m not lucky at all,” The young man referred to as Trystn smiled. Yet, beneath his convincing pokerface, he was readily slipping in another deck of cards up his sleeves.

This was a piece of cake! By simply trading the cards in his hand for the ones in his secret deck, he was unbeatable. Plus, even though a whole crowd was carefully watching their every move, there was no way they could even tell he was cheating.

 “Yeah right! For you to not even be beaten once in this worn-down pub, you’re practically a legend!” Another bystander grinned with his arm over Trystn’s shoulder.

“Not at all,” Trystn responded in a bit troubled yet modest manner. Although a rowdy scene full of drunk men was mundane to a pub, today’s volume was unusually loud. He could not really blame them since it’s very rare for a small village like this to receive foreign visitors.

Therefore, it was one of those nights. It was a night where all the men attempt to swindle every penny off the newcomer.

Of course, Trystn was no exception either. With a dubious grin hiding under his flat cap, he was ready to make the most of this unfortunate traveler.

“Ahahaha, but your reactions were hilarious Monsieur Traveler!” The drunkard hiccupped with an Italian accent. “W-wait please! I have a family!” He mimicked with mockery.

In response, another wave of hearty laughter erupted in the pub.

“Ah yes, I’m just a bit high when it comes to gambling, and for the last time, I’m Italian!” The man corrected, a bit irked by the drunkard’s comment.

         “Spiacente, Signore” Trystn apologized in perfect Italian and passed 5 pounds over to the man.

         “What’s this?” The Italian asked while his waxen visage lit up with confusion.