The Queen of Villains - Chapter 17

[T/n: there is a lot of dialogue in this chapter so to make it easier to understand im going to add who’s saying what

E=Emily

M=Marlene

R=Red haired man

U= Unattractive man]

As the card game progressed, various conversations took place among them, easing the atmosphere.

R:”But Miss, you’re a noble, right?”

The man who spoke was a fairly handsome young man with red hair, crimson eyes, and a unique tear shape dot beneath his eye. 

E: “Yes, that’s right.”

Emily didn’t feel the need to hide her background. After all, her noble status couldn’t be concealed by mere words.

E:”Are you also a noble?”

Emily asked the man in return.

R:”Haha, well… you could say that.”

The man laughed and vaguely evaded the question. Since Emily was only playing the game and didn’t care whether he was a noble or not.

Marlene, who was sitting across from them, observed the man suspiciously. She had no intention of letting it slide if she noticed any tricks.

U: “Are you two friends?”

This time, the man next to him pointed to Emily and Marlene and asked.

This man wasn’t extremely unattractive, although he was indeed ugly . Marlene was willing to play games together, but she didn’t want to engage in personal conversations.

M: “What about it?”

Marlene replied coldly.

U: “Haha, beautiful people do go well together, as expected.”

M: “Why did the phrase ‘together’ come up for no reason?”

Ignoring Marlene’s sarcasm, the man spoke in a smooth voice.

U: “You’re so beautiful, so you must already have a boyfriend, right?”

M: “Why do you care? Mind your own business, seriously.”

Marlene became sensitive because she didn’t have a lover.

U: “Judging by your reaction, I guess you don’t have one. How about someone you like then?”

M: “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Why are you prying so much? Let’s just play the game, okay?”

Finally, when Marlene raised her voice, the man finally stopped talking. The red-haired man showed discomfort towards Marlene’s behavior.

R: “Can’t we have a conversation while playing the game?”

M: “Why do we need to talk?”

R: “Playing games without conversation feels so bleak.”

M: “If you’re not satisfied, then you should have gone to another table from the beginning.”

R:”Miss, your words are too harsh…”

Marlene pushed the chips forward and said.

M: “Bet.”

The red-haired man looked surprised at the sudden bet. The unattractive man next to him applauded.

U: “Wow, you’re already raising the stakes? Seems like you have a good hand.”

M: “Yes, I have a good hand, but can you handle it?”

He burst into laughter.

U: “Hahaha, you’re truly an interesting person.”

M: “Don’t try to be funny. Stop bugging me with your remarks.”

U: “Anyway, fine, I’ll call!”

The heat of the game intensified. The red-haired man, too, focused on the game rather than getting to know Emily.

U: “Three of a kind.”

M: “Flush.”

The red-haired man shouted with a wide smile.

R:”Full House!”

When Marlene glared at the man angrily, he responded with a sly smile.

R:”Sorry, but it seems I won this round.”

She thought he was a Casanova who came to flirt with women, but he turned out to be quite skilled at cards.

M: “Do you just eat and play card games?”

R: “Haha, I happen to be lucky.”

As he gathered a handful of chips towards himself, that’s when it happened.

E: “Wait.”

Emily smiled with a triumphant look and revealed her cards.

E: “Straight flush. Looks like I won?”

R: “S-Straight flush came out?”

The man took Emily’s cards to confirm, unable to believe it. It was indeed a sequence of five cards in spades, J, 10, 9, 8, and 7.

M: “Are you sure?”

Emily took back the chips he had taken.

U: “Do you not get a comp? [T/n: The author adds a note saying comp means ‘a small amount of money earned from a person’s share in gambling or betting’, however I wasn’t able to find this term or anyterm with this meaning in poker, So I believe what he is trying to say is closer to U: “Do you not get a share” implying that Marlene helped Emily cheat in exchange for some of the winnings.]

At the ugly man’s words, Marlene turned around and glared at him .

M: “Don’t ruin the atmosphere. If you don’t have money, go to a corner.”

U: “Don’t get angry. I’ll be quiet.”

The waiter, who noticed the tense atmosphere at Emily’s table, smoothly and swiftly approached with a tray.

“Shall I bring champagne, madam?”

M: “Emily, are you going to drink?”

E: “Yeah, I’ll buy it.”

Marlene nodded and placed the champagne under Emily’s name.

***

Meanwhile, “Michael”, the underboss of the Gotio Family, came to meet Killian.

The Gotio Family, primarily involved in drug trafficking, was a notorious family that lived up to their reputation by wearing a viper emblem. It was a distinguisher of the organization that all members had snake tattoos on the back of their necks.

And while a member was active, they grew their hair long to avoid revealing their identities.

Michael, too, had long blonde hair, and in combination with his kind and thoughtful appearance, he was a handsome man who looked like an angel. Nox, mesmerized by his alluring blonde hair, spoke.

“Michael is really my type just from his back view.”

“…I feel like X.” [T/n: Yes it translates to this the author literally put in as X]

Chambers, seeing Michael’s face wrinkling, bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Michael. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to stop Nox’s mouth.”

“It’s alright. Chambers, it’s not your fault.”

Nox scratched the back of his head during the conversation between the two.

“Sorry, I didn’t know it would reach your ears.”

“If you sexualize me one more time, I might gouge your eyes out.”

“Okay, You’re being difficult.”

Michael warned Nox with a glance once more and turned to Chambers.

“Where is the boss?”

“I will take you to Delina.”

Chambers led Michael to Delina House, right next to the headquarters.

Killian was lost in thought as he looked down from the second floor of the club. He was bothered by opposing Emily’s opinion so hastily the previous morning.

He meticulously observed the atmosphere of Delina House.

“It won’t be dangerous if she comes with me.”

Although he was concerned about bringing her to his workplace, if he warned the organization members in advance, Emily could comfortably use the club without any trouble.

Having reached a satisfying conclusion, Killian was about to inquire about Emily’s whereabouts. Just then, Michael arrived on the second floor and greeted him.

“Killian, it’s been a while.”

Killian put out his cigarette and acknowledged his greeting.

“Yeah, what’s the matter?”

The Gotio Family and the Starr Family had a friendly relationship. Moreover, Vito Gotio, the boss of the Gotio Family, had a considerable fondness for Killian.

Seeing how far Killian had come from his humble beginnings, his appearance was similar to Vito Gotio’s past self.

As the boss liked Killian, naturally the Gotio members respected him.

“Our boss has a message for you. He’s not in good health, so he hopes you can visit when you have the time.”

Vito Gotio was suffering from thrombosis at the age of over seventy, and there was no telling when he might die from a stroke.

With a complicated heart, Killian put the letter he had read into his pocket.

“I might be able to make time next week.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else?”

“We have prepared the morphine that you requested, Who should we send it to?”

The Gotio family, which handles drugs, could easily obtain all the kinds of drugs. Most of the materials for the poison salvia that Johann made for Starr were obtained through them.

“Send it to Dr. Payne.”

Morphine was requested by Payne to treat injured members of the organization.

No matter how much money he could earn from drugs, Killian had no intention of delving into that world. He didn’t want to do anything dishonorable in front of Emily.

Running a club was one thing… He rationalized it by thinking that it wasn’t him who was bad, but rather the people who wasted money on drinking and gambling.

“Are you going to stay here longer?”

Michael looked around the club and shrugged.

“It’s a pity to just go, but I have work to do so I have to go back.”

“Then let’s go out together.”

If Emily had gone shopping, there was a chance they could meet in the shopping area.

As Killian hurriedly put on his clothes and came out, the organization members, including Giovanni, quickly followed behind him.

Michael bid farewell to Killian and the Starr members, intending to take the carriage back.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

“Please give my regards to the boss. I’ll come visit soon.”

“He will be very pleased. Take care.”

After Michael left, Giovanni asked Killian.

 “Should we prepare a carriage?”

“No, it’s better to walk.”

He deliberately chose to walk because he was afraid of passing by Emily if he took the carriage.

“Where are you heading?”

“The shopping district.”

Giovanni followed behind Killian, slightly puzzled by his words.

When Killian went out, he carried a cane made of the finest oak wood, which was not an ordinary cane.

Killian’s cane was not only used to strike opponents in a similar manner to a walking stick but also a useful weapon that could be used as a gun.

People doing business and those walking the busy streets recognized him and greeted him politely.

As he passed by the shops, he suddenly looked back at the organization members following him. He thought that if they continued to accompany him, Emily might get scared when they crossed paths.

“You all can return to the headquarters.”

“…Yes, understood.”

Once again, Giovanni found Killian’s command strange and turned his head, but he noticed a familiar carriage. It was the carriage owned by the Starr Marquisate.

“Hey, Ivan!”

Ivan, who was sitting on the coachman’s seat, stood up hastily upon hearing Giovanni’s voice. He quickly approached Killian and bowed respectfully.

“Boss, what are you doing here?”

Killian looked up at the Gallery Molinu, located right in front of the carriage.

“Is my wife inside?”

“Yes.”

“How long has she been inside?”

“It’s been about an hour.”

Giovanni, feeling anxious, nudged Ivan.

“You left Madam alone for an hour?”

“W-Well, it’s broad daylight now, and security here is tight…”

Feeling indignant about the commotion, Ivan wanted to show his swollen feet, which he had after following the madam around all day, to Giovanni.

Killian sighed and extended his hand.

“Alright, both of you wait here. I’ll accompany my wife and come out.”

“Yes, understood.”

Killian stepped into the Gallery Molinu with determination.

As usual, the employee at the entrance handed Killian a pamphlet containing news about the casino opening.

“This is…”

Killian furrowed his eyebrows and headed towards the underground where the casino was located.

‘Somehow he had a bad feeling’

***

Translator note: Lol this was such a fun chapter, Marlene killed me and you can always count on Nox to be the loveable himbo he is  ?

For the poker term comp, I looked through several online poker glossaries and I couldn’t find it but I didn’t want to twist the authors words to much to what I thought the meaning was if I wasn’t 100% sure so I kept it as is and just left a little note to clarify. Sorry If it caused confusion! ~Mae

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