A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 23
Sezare watched Kiana in silence, his gaze unwavering. Ranaq blinked repeatedly, his eyes fixed on her as well.
With her small frame, she sat casually at the blackjack table, placing chips with practiced ease—click, click, click.
The yellow lark doll with a checkered ribbon perched on her lap made her look even more childlike than usual. Yet what impressed them most was how she proceeded through the game without the slightest hesitation.
Sezare hadn’t expected Kiana to be here at all, so his eyes narrowed with intrigue.
“…What exactly is that game?”
Ranaq, completely unfamiliar with card games, asked carefully.
Sezare explained the game of blackjack in the most minimal terms.
“It’s a gamble where whoever’s card total gets closer to 21 wins.”
“How do you get the cards?”
“The dealer randomly distributes them until one deck runs out.”
That was when it happened.
Until now, Kiana had been betting modest amounts and playing the game normally. But suddenly, she pushed an enormous stack of chips onto the table. Then, with a bright and clear voice, she declared cheerfully.
“I’m going all in.”
In an instant, every eye in the Club House turned to the blackjack table. It was an astronomical sum—perhaps rivaling all the money circulating through the entire establishment. Even for a lady of Prelai, betting that amount was essentially wagering her entire fortune.
Even Sezare and Ranaq, who had a mission ahead of them, held their breath.
“Right now… Lady Kiana doesn’t even know what cards she received, does she?”
“That’s right.”
“Gasp…”
Normally, players place their bets before confirming the final card dealt by the dealer. This was pure gambling in its truest form.
Betting such an enormous sum on a game where she didn’t even know her own cards… Everyone stared at Kiana as if she were mad.
In that tense atmosphere, Kiana opened the card she’d received from the dealer.
* * *
The Spy Maid behind me looked ready to burst into tears.
For good reason. Before coming here, I’d scraped together every last coin of my allocated budget. Then I’d converted all that money into chips at this illegal Gambling Hall. When I sat down at the table without a care, the Spy Maid nearly fainted.
I’d instructed Piyak earlier: “Stay quiet and pretend to be a doll so things don’t get noisy.” He hadn’t moved an inch since.
In the meantime, I’d even offered the Spy Maid some advice.
“Don’t be so frightened. After all, what’s the difference between a reckless fool and a reckless gambler? They’re essentially the same thing.”
In any case, I kept playing by betting small amounts, all while carefully observing how the dealer distributed cards from the deck.
And then…
‘Now’s the moment.’
When certainty struck me, I smoothly pushed all my chips onto the table.
“I’m going all in.”
I felt all eyes turn toward me. And no wonder—the amount I’d wagered was truly staggering. While everyone stirred with excitement, I simply smiled quietly.
“W-well then… I’ll open the cards.”
Once all bets were placed, the dealer revealed the cards. The table erupted in chaos instantly.
“No, what is this?”
“I-is this even possible?”
“This doesn’t make any sense…”
While everyone who saw the result gasped in shock, I alone remained composed.
My card total came to twenty. It was closer to twenty-one than anyone else’s hand at the table.
There were no surprises. I rose from my seat with an unperturbed expression, moving with practiced ease.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Spy Maid, gather up all these chips for me.”
Since everyone had to match my bets, the pile was truly enormous. And just as the Spy Maid was scooping up the chips with wide eyes, still processing what had happened—
“Wait a moment.”
One of the men at the table suddenly stood up, his face flushed with anger.
“What’s going on here?”
Spittle flew from his lips—he was clearly worked up.
“Some girl we’ve never seen before shows up, plays casually for a bit, then suddenly sweeps the entire pot? That doesn’t make sense!”
I regarded him with a composed expression. Yes, someone like this needed to appear right on cue. I couldn’t have asked for things to unfold more perfectly.
So I answered him with genuine courtesy.
“If it didn’t make sense, this situation wouldn’t have happened, would it?”
I gave the middle-aged man a slight shrug. He was clearly drunk. A pathetic wretch drowning in gambling debts, by the look of him. Still, I was a well-mannered noblewoman, so I maintained my composure and courtesy.
“Is there any particular reason why it shouldn’t make sense? Why are you making trouble over something that’s already happened?”
“This is cheating! Cheating, I tell you!”
Hmm. It seemed the middle-aged man felt quite comfortable with me. If that was the case, I should return the favor and make him feel at ease.
“Considering you’re calling me a ‘girl you’ve never seen before’ when I’m wearing a mask, you must be quite the gambling hall regular.”
I looked him over from head to toe. He was large and broad-shouldered, and his hands were covered in calluses—he’d clearly wielded a sword quite a bit. But years of dissolute living had left his body in terrible condition.
‘Just your average gambling hall wreck.’
So I offered him some sincere advice, speaking with genuine warmth.
“How can you accuse me of cheating when I’m still clumsy with cards? At this rate, I’d suggest you quit gambling altogether. Keep living like this and your life will be over before you know it.”
“What? You barely look old enough to have any sense!”
“Old enough or not, I’m speaking from the gambling hall. And no one should have their mind made up yet. Why does a loser talk so much?”
“Hey! Do you know who I am? Do you know where I came from back in the day?”
“How would I know when you’re wearing a mask, loser? Besides, I’m a high-ranking noble in active service, so I have no interest in anyone’s past glories. Why does a loser like you presume to speak at a gambling table? I don’t think losers should behave that way.”
“You, I’m actually—!”
“What? I can’t hear you over the sound of the chips clinking. The loser’s voice is too quiet.”
“This is ridiculous!”
He lunged to his feet and grabbed my wrist, the one holding the cards.
“You definitely did something to these cards!”
Emboldened by his outburst, the people at the other tables began to murmur among themselves.
“It does seem a bit odd, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. The way she suddenly bet big amounts…”
“And she seems like she’s never been here before?”
Good, good. Keep talking. The more controversy, the better. I remained calm, my wrist still in the middle-aged man’s grip, waiting patiently without any rebuttal.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, the person I’d been waiting for finally appeared.
“Now, now… please, compose yourselves.”
The man who glided forward had a smooth, refined voice.
“Violence is not permitted here, sir.”
He gently separated the middle-aged man from me, removing his iron grip from my wrist, and spoke with measured politeness.
“I am the owner of this establishment.”
A sudden silence fell over the room. The middle-aged man gripping my wrist froze as well.
“If there’s a problem, we at the Club House naturally need to look into it.”
All eyes turned toward the Club House Owner.
It was no wonder. The owner himself had appeared—not anyone else. A man shrouded in mystery, one who revealed himself only when truly grave matters arose.
Every night, shadowy money flowed into the Club House in abundance. In places where gambling occurred, the person who earned the most was never the gambler. It was always the house owner. So it was certain that he had accumulated tremendous wealth here.
“Hmm, but…”
I regarded the owner quietly.
The ornate mask he wore bore a prominent designer logo, appearing to be a custom commission. Even his clothing was emblazoned with logos of renowned luxury brands. His blonde hair, well-maintained and lustrous, fell long and gracefully.
“From what we’ve observed, this young lady doesn’t appear to have employed any deception. In fact, it’s quite clear she’s inexperienced with cards.”
The owner spoke gently, his voice dreamlike in quality.
“She seems to be visiting the Club House for the first time, and it appears beginner’s luck has favored her. And isn’t that precisely what makes gambling so fascinating?”
The powerfully built owner subdued the middle-aged man with ease, then seated him once more. Turning his face toward me, he spoke with courtesy.
“Our house has lost considerable money because of you, young lady. But let us accept this gracefully.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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