The Side Character Turned Villainess - Chapter 296

Seri would go to her underground gambling den once a week to meet with clients who were looking for information or for help with other illegal matters. Although Dante and Millie handled most of the work, she still wanted to feel some sense of control over her illegal society.

Mathias who wore a cloak and rabbit mask rushed into the room with a panic, “W-We have a problem!”

Seri, Millie, Dante, and Bertram looked at him while wearing masks and cloaks to hide their identity. Seri spoke behind her sinister mask, “What’s wrong? Did the client not come?”

Mathias shook his head quickly, “It’s not that.”

“Is he causing problems?”

“Worse.”

“What can be worse than that?”

Mathias paled as the blood drained from his face behind the mask, “Our next client is Lucius…”

Seri jumped up in surprise, “L-Lucius?!” He nodded nervously. She clicked her tongue, “Did he recognize you?”

“I’m not sure. I ran away before I greeted him.”

Seri thought seriously while facing the others, “Do you think he will recognize our voices?”

Millie giggled, “Why don’t we just turn him away?”

Seri looked at her behind the mask, “Aren’t you curious why he came here?”

The room was silent. Dante broke the silence, “I’m curious.”

Millie nodded, “I am too. Just what is the son of a Duke want with the Black Death? Most people only come here asking for us to murder someone or to get information to blackmail someone with. Could he want one of these things?”

Seri nodded, “He must. Which makes me really curious.”

Mathias spoke, “He probably wants the target to be Seri.”

Everyone turned to look at him. He flinched and started visibly sweating under their stares. Millie agreed, “I don’t think you are wrong.”

“Wait?! What!?” Seri looked at all of them nodding in agreement, “Why me?! What have I done!?”

Millie giggled, “What haven’t you done?”

Seri crossed her arms in irritation, “Well now we will definitely need to see what he has to say. But who will speak to him? He can probably recognize all of our voices.”

Everyone thought for a moment before turning to look at Bertram who was sleeping while standing up. Seri giggled, “Bertram~”

He snapped out of his slumber, “Huh? What?”

“I need you to be my voice.”

After everyone double checked to make sure their hair and faces were covered completely, Mathias left to go collect Lucius. Mathias was so afraid Lucius would recognize him, that his aura became dark. Lucius gulped as he followed him down the stairs.

He had heard that the Black Death organization triggered fear in everyone’s hearts. However, he didn’t think it would be this scary. He had a feeling that he was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. As the door was opened, he felt his heart stop in dread.

In the room overlooking the gambling den was a person sitting at a desk with an evil villain kind of pose. Lucius knew immediately that this was the person in charge of the organization. The so-called rumored apprentice. The apprentice was supposedly the only one who could listen to the Black Death and carry out his evil desires.

Behind the apprentice was a large man who looked older and just reeked of violence. There were also two more people standing to the side with frightening auras. One held a sword who barely even seemed to be breathing while the one had a gentle smile that sent shivers up his spine.  Essentially, these people wouldn’t hesitate to kill him and there was most likely nothing he could do to stop them either.

Lucius couldn’t make out anything about their identities which made him panic even more. He began to contemplate the reason why he chose to come here in the first place. His “guide” pushed him into the room before quickly closing the door behind them.

The man beside the apprentice spoke, “For what purpose have you came here for?”

“Oh… Uhm… Well… I…” Lucius stuttered anxiously as he looked at all of their faces in a panic. Seri got irritated and motioned.

Bertram translated, “The Black Death’s apprentice does not have patience. If you do not spit out what you came here for, then I fear you won’t be able to return.”

Lucius gulped from the threat and looked to the two people at the side of the room who were clearly the ones in charge of disposing those whom the apprentice found annoying.

“I…” Lucius took a deep breath, “I NEED YOUR HELP GETTING MARRIED!”

Seri nearly fell out of her chair. She turned to the side and covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming out in laughter. Millie let out a snicker. Everyone turned to look at her and she quickly closed her mouth, but she continued to give a creepy smile.

Bertram cleared his throat, “Marriage? We are not a dating agency.”

Lucius shook his head, “No! I am not looking for a wife. Rather, I want to get married to someone that my family is against. I was hoping that the Black Death could give me blackmail against my own father so that I can convince him to allow me to marry that said person.”

Seri tugged on Bertram’s cloak and he bent over. She whispered in his ear quiet enough so no one else could hear. Lucius looked at the two of them anxiously. Bertram stood back up, “The Black Death’s apprentice would like to know what kind of person it is you wish to marry.”

Lucius frowned, “Why is that important?”

Bertram spoke in an ominous voice, “Dare you question the Apprentice?!”

“N-No! I will share.” Lucius blushed slightly as he turned his head to the side, “S-She is an amazing woman… I have spent my entire childhood growing up alongside her. She is so cute and small it makes you just want to hold her in your arms and never let her go. Although she is constantly nagging me, I know she is always willing to help me when I need it. I can’t help staring whenever I see her face light up when she is doing the things she loves. Despite other’s shaming her for her love for sewing, she continues to do it. I just want to keep her at my side until the day I die.”

Hearing this, it was clear just who exactly this “woman” was. Who else was childhood friends with Lucius, who nagged him constantly, and who also liked to sew? Seri began to tremble as she tried not to laugh at the obvious answer.

Bertram frowned, “Then what is the issue exactly? Just propose.”

Lucius looked away with a guilty expression, “She is just a lowly woman with no title. As a Duke’s son, I can’t marry someone who doesn’t have a title.”

Bertram, who didn’t know who he was actually talking about, asked, “Why don’t you just tell your father she is pregnant? As the Duke’s son who impregnated a woman, it is only natural you take responsibility.”

This reply made Lucius blush even more, “N-No… It is impossible for her to get pregnant…”

Seri began to shake uncontrollably as she covered her mouth to refrain from bursting out into laughter. Even Millie was having a hard time trying not to laugh.

Bertram frowned, “Can’t have children? Is she old?”

“No!” Lucius shouted with pride, “She is young and beautiful! No one else in this world could possibly hold a candle to her! Her beauty could destroy civilizations and bring anyone to their knees!”

Bertram was shocked by his sudden outburst.

“BAHAHAHAHAH!” Finally, Seri could contain it no more. She fell to the ground laughing while holding her stomach, “WOMAN! IT IS A WOMAN HE SAYS! HAHAHA!”

Lucius blushed as he thought that the apprentice was suddenly making fun of him. He stood up quickly, “Oi!”

Millie began to laugh as well, “Did you see how protective he got?!”

Seri bellowed out with laughter, “IT IS SO OBVIOUS WHO HE MEANS! BAHAHAH!”

Lucius heard the two laughing and a light when on in his head. He shook with anger, “Wait… SERI?! MILLIE!?”

Seri stood up wiping her tears as she removed her mask, “Ah… We got caught…”

The others began to take off their masks as well. Lucius looked at them with a blank stare. His mind frantically began to figure out what was happening, “Ah… Dante too?!… MATHIAS!?”

Mathias glanced away with a dark expression, “…Sorry.”

Lucius fell to his seat with a despondent look, “What… What is going on…”

Seri chuckled as she leaned forward, “Who would have thought I was right all along~”

Lucius glared at her, “WAIT?! What is happening here!? Are you impersonating the Black Death’s apprentice?! Do you have a death wish?!”

Millie smacked the back of his head, “You idiot! It has been her all along.”

“Huh?!”

Millie crossed her arms, “How do you think she got your father to rescind that marriage proposal and fix your reputation that one time?”

Lucius blinked in disbelief, “But… The Black Death has been around for over 10 years…”

Dante spoke, “She came up with it when she was a child. It’s true.”

“H-How…”

Seri shook her head, “That doesn’t matter. Do you want me to help you get married to Artie or not?”

Lucius immediately leaned forward with a determined look, “I do! Please!”

Then he froze once he realized his slip up.

Millie chuckled, “He finally admitted it.”

Lucius jumped up instantly, “IT’S NOT ARTIE! IT’S NOT!”

Seri smiled teasingly at him, “We all know it’s true. Stop denying it.”

Lucius collapsed and hid his face behind his hands, “Urg…”

Seri leaned back ignoring his embarrassed state, “If you want an official marriage, I will have to talk to William about creating a law to allow it. There would certainly be push back on a law like that. Not everyone is as open minded as we are.”

Lucius looked up with a twitching expression, “I don’t need it to be official. I just want my father to allow me and Artie to live together without constantly bringing up how I need to find someone to settle down with and have kids…”

Seri nodded, “So that’s why you want to purchase blackmail.”

He nodded, “I thought that if I had blackmail, it would shut him up. Just like how you managed to shut him up that one time.”

“If it’s blackmail you want, I can find more than enough. However, he will most likely resent you for it. But didn’t I already blackmail him into letting you marry whoever you want?”

Lucius sighed and swept back his red hair, “I think my father is just mostly concerned with the family Duchy. If I don’t have a son, it won’t be able to continue.”

Seri tapped her chin, “Then… If you had a son, perhaps your father wouldn’t care as much?”

Lucius blinked in confusion, “Uh… Yeah. He would probably be satisfied knowing the Duchy would still continue in our name.”

Seri gave an ominous chuckle, “Then just sit back and wait. Watch and see just how great I truly am.”

Lucius had a worrisome feeling in his chest when he saw Seri’s malicious smile.