The Queen of Villains - Chapter 27

The next day, the day of the promise, arrived.

Kilian, dressed in a black jacket and snug white riding pants, exuded an air of elegance and nobility.

His silhouette, hinting at a well-toned body, revealed how diligently Kilian had trained himself.

“Have you ridden a horse before?”

Emily, still in a somber mood, responded meekly.

“I’ve learned the basics.”

Dr. Pain had done everything possible this morning to prevent Emily from skipping her riding lesson.

From how constipation affects the skin to how it shapes the body, and even how it influences one’s personality! Emily wanted to shout that her constipation wasn’t that severe, but the words got stuck as Kilian whisked her away to the stable.

A horse, recognizing Kilian, was approaching. Even at first glance, it looked strong and handsome.

“What’s its name?”

“Lois.”

Upon hearing its name, the horse nuzzled Kilian’s hand affectionately, displaying its charm.

“I’ve found you a horse to ride.”

“Already?”

“Giovanni arranged for a good horse to be brought in as soon as possible.”

It was said to be a gentle mare with a good lineage inherited from its parents. Giovanni, who found a suitable horse within a day thanks to Kilian’s constant persistence, abandoned his other duties to bring the horse.

“That’s fortunate.”

After a brief silence, Emily asked the question that had been on her mind.

“But when did you learn to ride?”

Emily was greatly surprised by Kilian’s riding skill, which she had witnessed at the Duke’s estate.

Ordinary commoners didn’t usually engage in horseback riding, so they weren’t familiar with riding techniques or rules. However, Kilian was exceptionally skilled and experienced.

“Johann’s father owned the Granville Racecourse, and I worked there managing the horses.”

Now she understood why he could handle a horse so well.

The Granville Racecourse was situated in the Granville Forest and was famous for its expansive ‘turf track’. Rumors circulated that the horse competitions held there were highly popular and lucrative.

“I had no idea. Johann’s father was the owner there.”

“Currently, I’m managing Granville until Johann comes of age.”

Johann’s father, Claude Powell, had risen from the slums to become a wealthy self-made man who acquired the Granville Racecourse. He also played a significant role in Kilian’s journey to becoming a mafia boss and attaining power, offering much assistance along the way.

Taking care of Johann in place of the deceased Claude was part of Kilian’s commitment to loyalty.

Kilian was accumulating income from the racecourse toward Johann’s future savings, intending to hand over the reins once he came of age. In his heart, he wanted to pass it on immediately, but he held back.

After petting Lois a few times, Kilian gracefully mounted the horse.

“Please, join me.”

Kilian reached out his hand toward Emily.

“Will we ride together?”

“Since your horse didn’t come, there’s no other choice.”

Emily glanced at the other horses in the stable. Understanding her thoughts, Kilian firmly stated.

“Those horses aren’t suitable for you to ride alone.”

Emily stared at Kilian, who was atop Lois, with uncertainty.

“The horse is too tall.

“Can you reach the stirrups?

“…Yes.”

With one foot on the stirrup, Emily hesitated, so Kilian used his strong grip to pull her hand and help her mount by holding onto her waist.

In an instant, Emily took her place in front of Kilian.

“If you want to dismount, let me know.”

After some contemplation, Emily slowly nodded.

Being on the horse wasn’t as bad as she thought. Kilian was securely supporting her from behind, and the breeze coming towards them was refreshing. The breath that had been caught in her chest was finallyreleased.

Kilian signaled the horse after helping Emily hold the reins steadily.

Lois began to run at a considerate pace, not too fast, possibly mindful of Emily. As Kilian’s warmth from behind and the sound of their rapidly beating hearts reached her, Emily’s ears grew flushed and stuffy.

They were closer than she had expected. Had they ever been this physically close since their marriage?

Emily’s ears turned redder by the moment.

Kilian was equally tense. He tightened his grip on the reins to steady his racing heart.

His hand was clenched so tightly that the tendons on the back turned blue, yet the palpitations didn’t seem to subside.

“Have you been to Lake Evette?”

Kilian initiated a calm conversation, pretending not to be nervous.

“No. I’ve only heard stories about it.”

Lake Evette was known for its pink waters. However, access to the lake required passing through the Starr family’s woods, so it wasn’t easily reachable.

‘How long has it been since we got married?’

Perhaps, if Emily had engaged in social activities more vigorously, she would have been asked by now, “Have you been to Lake Evette?”

It was only now that Kilian was taking Emily to Lake Evette. He turned the horse’s head in that direction, feeling remorseful.

However, it wasn’t that he hadn’t been mindful of Emily. He simply didn’t know how to treat her properly.

Standing in front of Emily made him feel small, like a fool. She could have lived a happier life if he hadn’t gotten involved with her. 

In the quiet atmosphere, the two had arrived at Lake Evette without realizing. They found a suitable spot nearby to tie the horse and sat down.

“It’s much more beautiful than I anticipated.”

“Most likely, this is the only lake with such colors in Bancent.”

Kilian felt a sense of accomplishment at Emily’s admiration.

“If someone charged an entry fee and opened it to the public, they could become wealthy quickly.”

“In return however, anyone could easily enter this forest.”

“That’s true.”

Kilian was cautious to an extreme degree when it came to unfamiliar people. He especially dreaded anyone trespassing into his territory.

‘What kind of dark past could he have?’

“When I read that book in my past life, the author had even written a spin-off about Kilian… Would it have been better to read that episode?” Emily pondered these unnecessary thoughts as she skipped stones onthe lake.

“Please sit down.”

In the meantime, Kilian had taken off his jacket and spread it on the ground.

“I can just sit without…”

“Your clothes will get dirty.”

“Your jacket will get dirty too.”

The state of his jacket being dirtied was hardly a concern. Kilian shrugged lightly, as if to say it was fine, and sat down beside the spread jacket.

“Why are you sitting on the ground when you went to the trouble of laying out the jacket?”

“Well…”

Well, if they both sat there, their thighs would touch… Emily gazed at the suddenly blushing Kilian, tilting her head in amusement.

“It’s just more comfortable here.”

Emily found Kilian’s evasive response suspicious. Anyway, he had made an effort to lay out  the jacket… Ah, that’s why he sat there.

Once seated, Emily’s cheeks turned red as she understood Kilian’s actions.

The sunlight was warm, and the breeze was cool. Birds chirped happily, and the lake was tranquil. Kilian and Emily, though seated apart, felt that their hearts had grown closer, following their desires.

The horseback riding session, which felt both long and short, came to an end. When they walked back to the mansion together, the distance between them seemed narrower than when they had departed.

Alvin, Cézanne, Chili, and Roxy, and the others who had been observing the couple from afar hurriedly hid in the bushes.

“How do they look to you?”

“I see a pink aura.”

“Is that so?”

Alvin and Cézanne chatted, and Ivan chimed in with a sigh.

“But in my opinion as a specialist in romantic scenes, this seems lacking.”

Upon hearing that, Alvin, who had worked the hardest on this, flared up in frustration.

“And when did you come back here again?”

Ignoring Alvin’s words, Ivan continued expressing his opinion.

“After all, embracing means two hearts must connect… It’s not that they didn’t embrace, but they didn’t even hold hands… Anyway, it needed a bit more dramatic flair.”

“Is that why you destroyed a perfectly good bathtub? Do you even know how much the repair cost?”

Ivan shook his head at his words.

“You’re worrying about such trivial money now? That’s why Alvin can’t succeed in romance.”

Cézanne, Roxy, and Chili watched as the situation escalated beyond their control. Alvin’s face turned red from head to toe.

“How would you even know that? Whether I’m in a relationship or not!”

Ivan absentmindedly took out an envelope from his pocket.

“The mailman came and went a little while ago.”

The recipient was Alvin, and the sender was a woman named Tina. Alvin snatched the envelope from Ivan’s hand and read the letter.

[Alvin, I’m not interested in you.

You forced me to confess to you, so feel apologetic towards me for the rest of your life.

You’re nothing more than a guest to me.

Bye for now.]

Alvin’s hands holding the letter slowly dropped.

“…Ivan, did you happen to read this letter?”

“Is that a letter? Even if I were to write a note, it would be more sincere.”

Cézanne, Chili, and Roxy looked between the two and discreetly moved away.

Behind their backs, they could hear Ivan’s scream echoing.

***

Translator note: Poor Alvin ( • ? • ? ) I feel like breakup by small note is the equivalent to the modern day break up by text message ~Mae

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