The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 190

Noella’s choice didn’t seem out of the ordinary. It was just a piece of stone Gary had discarded earlier, nothing noteworthy at first glance.

Gary let out a sigh of relief, his laugh tinged with contempt. “I thought you picked something special, but just like what you said earlier, this stone is just junk.”

It was one he had overlooked.

Noella gently wiped the stone in her hand and weighed it thoughtfully. “Your failure to find treasure is your own shortcoming. If I succeed, it’s simply good luck.”

Gary, still hoping to ride on the coattails of his moniker “Gemstone Gambling King,” saw Noella’s novice demeanor and hatched a plan.

He had studied all the raw stones before the game, convinced that this particular rock harbored nothing of value, not even a mediocre peony jade.

“Ms. Schnabel, if you fail, you owe me an apology!”

Noella met Gary’s gaze with disdain. “You, the self–proclaimed Gemstone Gambling King, fail to find anything of worth and expect an apology from a novice like me?”

Yasbel chimed in with mockery. “It’s laughable. The Gemstone Gambling King comes up empty and demands an apology from Ms. Schnabel. How childish. You should just go home to your mommy.”

Gary’s face tightened, but he was certain Noella’s stone was junk. “If Ms. Schnabel’s piece turns out to be something, I’ll never gamble on stones again!”

Noella shook her head lightly. “No, you’ll have to admit you’re a fraud. According to the Northstone Quarry tradition, you’ll have to leave a hand behind.”

There had been impostors claiming to be the Gemstone Gambling King in the past, and losing a hand was getting off easy.

Gary shuddered under Arthur’s menacing look. “Fine! I agree!”

After all, he was sure the girl’s stone was worthless.

Yates offered his assistance with a smile. “Ms. Schnabel, need a hand?”

Noella didn’t even glance at him, instead passing the stone to Palmer, “Help me out. I’ll guide you on where to cut.

“Happy to assist my fiancée.”

Noella, dressed in a form–fitting strapless gown, found it impractical to bend over the cutting machine. After handing the stone to Palmer, she didn’t miss the joy twinkling in his

eyes.

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elated? His

a small smile to grace her lips.

Yasbel shuddered. “It’s still a bit unsettling to see

whispered, “Noella and this guy seem well–matched. What’s his line of work? Looks like a businessman,

positioned Noella’s chosen stone on

along this line.”

he removed his suit jacket and draped it over Noella, saying considerately, “It’s going to get dusty. Wait for me

be a shame if

she stepped back as instructed.

and Yasbel shivered in mock

right. If I had a fiancée that beautiful,

went numb for a moment. “Wait, you want

Malvina was speechless.

a better view

the hall, Palmer’s hands steady, betraying

grinding wheel stopped, everyone held their

as he stared at the freshly cut surface, “That’s… that’s

most shocked; how could there be Glassy Type

been cut open. How could Noella’s

a vibrant green, translucent

on it, downplaying her success.

from the batch, and finding such quality Glassy Type was a stroke of luck for

10:55

to the

raised. “Yates, this Glassy

for the Gemstone Gambling King…

collapsed to the ground, his face ashen,

Type while he

Gary away, then turned to the crowd with a grin. “Ms. Schnabel, I truly apologize. The Gruber

selling that

her, this Glassy Type wasn’t particularly precious. She turned to Palmer, meeting his gaze. He was impeccably dressed in a black shirt, now dusted with the residue

you like

fiancée picks out,

chose it was what mattered. It was also the first time she had reached out to him for

that, at the very least, his fiancée was trying to accept him in her own

After it’s cut, it’ll