Crimson Hearts: The Mafia Queen & The Ice Violet King

The world feared two names.

The Valentine Family.

The richest and most powerful mafia family in existence.

Then came the Volkov Family, only second to the Valentines, yet just as terrifying.

No one dared challenge either family.

But there was one person whose face remained a mystery.

The youngest Valentine.

The legendary...

Mafia Queen.

Ice Crimson Queen.

Rumors spread through every mafia organization.

> "She defeated an entire syndicate at sixteen."

> "She's the No.1 hacker."

> "She's the deadliest assassin alive."

> "She owns Angel Network."

No one knew which rumor was true.

The only thing everyone agreed on...

Never become her enemy.

---

Inside the enormous Valentine mansion...

A girl lazily lay upside down on the sofa.

Long crimson-red hair spilled onto the cushions.

Bright crimson eyes stared at the ceiling.

Hazel Valentine sighed dramatically.

"I'm bored."

Ivan Valentine looked up from his paperwork.

"You've been bored for exactly... three minutes."

Emily laughed.

"You'll survive."

"I won't."

"You will."

"I absolutely won't."

Marcus smirked.

"Want me to assign you fifty reports?"

Hazel slowly turned toward him.

"Marcus..."

"Yes?"

"I hope your coffee betrays you tomorrow."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Marcus blinked.

"...That's oddly specific."

Oliver laughed so hard he almost dropped his drink.

Alex shook his head.

"Our little sister is roasting people before breakfast again."

Killiam grinned.

"She's improving."

Thevan folded his arms.

"She's always been like this."

Hazel proudly placed both hands on her hips.

"Talent."

Ivan rubbed his forehead.

"I raised a menace."

Emily smiled.

"We raised a masterpiece."

Hazel dramatically pointed at her mother.

"See? Mother understands true art."

---

Meanwhile...

The Volkov Mansion.

Lucian Volkov was quietly reading mission files.

Arthur entered.

"Hazel roasted Marcus again."

Lucian smiled without looking up.

"What did she say this time?"

Arthur chuckled.

"She wished his coffee would betray him."

Lucian finally laughed.

"Classic Haze."

Cassius walked in.

"Brother."

"Hm?"

"When are you confessing?"

Lucian froze.

"..."

Layla appeared behind Cassius.

"Exactly."

Arthur crossed his arms.

"It's been years."

Lyra nodded.

"We're waiting."

Lucian calmly stood up.

"I have business."

Cassius laughed.

"He escaped."

Layla sighed dramatically.

"The strongest assassin fears one girl."

Lucian muttered while leaving...

"...She's different."

---

A few hours later...

The Volkov family arrived at the Valentine mansion.

Before anyone knocked...

The door opened.

Hazel stood there with crossed arms.

"You're late."

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

"By..."

He checked his watch.

"...thirty seconds."

Hazel nodded.

"Exactly."

Lucian sighed.

"Unforgivable."

Hazel nodded again.

"I'll forgive you."

Lucian smiled.

"How generous."

Everyone inside exchanged amused looks.

Emily whispered,

"They're already acting like an old married couple."

Both Hazel and Lucian answered at the exact same time.

"We heard that."

Silence.

Everyone stared.

Hazel blinked.

Lucian blinked.

Then both looked at each other.

"..."

"..."

Marcus laughed first.

Then Oliver.

Then Cassius.

Soon everyone was laughing.

Hazel looked at Lucian.

"Lucy."

"Hm?"

"They're weird."

Lucian nodded seriously.

"Very."

Arthur sighed.

"We're surrounded by two idiots."

Hazel gasped dramatically.

"Excuse me."

"I have an IQ of 298."

Lucian added,

"And mine is 296."

Cassius shrugged.

"Yet somehow neither of you can confess your feelings."

The room instantly became silent.

Hazel nearly choked on her juice.

Lucian coughed into his fist.

Both avoided eye contact.

The adults hid their smiles.

The siblings tried not to laugh.

Mission accomplished.

---

Just then...

A phone vibrated.

Hazel looked at the screen.

Her playful expression disappeared.

Lucian noticed immediately.

"Haze?"

She stood.

"Angel Network detected human trafficking connected to the Black Serpent Organization."

Lucian's violet eyes turned icy.

"Shadow Company found the same target."

Ivan slowly stood.

Arthur did the same.

Every smile in the room vanished.

The atmosphere became freezing.

Hazel's crimson eyes glowed with determination.

Lucian loaded his pistol.

Hazel smirked.

"Lucy."

"Yes, Haze?"

"Wanna ruin some criminals' day?"

Lucian returned the smirk.

"I thought you'd never ask."

The Mafia Queen...

And the Ice Violet King...

Were going hunting.

End of Chapter 1

Crimson Hearts: The Mafia Queen & The Ice Violet King

Night blanketed the city.

Far from the glittering skyline, an abandoned shipping port sat in complete silence.

Dozens of armed men patrolled the warehouses.

None of them realized they were already being watched.

On the roof of a nearby building...

Hazel Valentine adjusted her earpiece.

Behind her stood Lucian Volkov.

The moonlight reflected in their crimson and violet eyes.

Hazel smirked.

"Lucy."

"Hm?"

"I hacked every camera."

Lucian checked his tablet.

"I disabled every alarm."

Hazel grinned.

"Race?"

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

"To clear the warehouse?"

"Loser buys dessert."

Lucian smiled.

"You're on."

---

Inside the command vehicle...

Ivan, Emily, Arthur, Lyra, Thevan, Oliver, Alex, Marcus, Killiam, Cassius, and Layla watched the live feed.

Marcus sighed.

"They're betting again."

Emily smiled knowingly.

"They always do."

Killiam chuckled.

"They're impossible."

---

Hazel counted softly.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One."

The two disappeared.

Like ghosts.

A guard blinked.

"...Did you hear something?"

A gentle voice answered from behind him.

"You."

The guard slowly turned.

Hazel smiled sweetly.

"Wrong answer."

Thud!

He collapsed unconscious.

At the same moment—

Another guard pointed his rifle.

"Who's there?!"

Lucian appeared behind him.

"You should've looked behind you."

Thud!

Down he went.

---

Inside the warehouse...

More than fifty criminals rushed forward.

"Kill them!"

Hazel sighed.

"So loud."

She spun gracefully, disarming one man before sweeping another off his feet.

Lucian fought beside her with calm precision, knocking weapons away and disabling opponents in seconds.

Within minutes...

The warehouse floor was covered with unconscious criminals.

Hazel dusted off her sleeves.

"Forty-three."

Lucian glanced around.

"Forty-four."

Hazel frowned.

"...You counted?"

"I always count."

She crossed her arms.

"Show-off."

Lucian gave the tiniest smile.

"So are you."

---

Meanwhile...

One criminal hid behind a crate, trembling.

He whispered into his radio.

"T-They're monsters..."

Another whispered back,

"Who are they?"

Before he could answer—

A voice echoed from above.

"You talk too much."

Both looked up.

Hazel was sitting casually on a steel beam, swinging her legs.

She smiled.

"Hello."

The two men screamed.

Hazel sighed dramatically.

"Seriously?"

"I'm not that scary."

From behind them, Lucian spoke in his calm voice.

"I think you are."

The criminals nearly fainted.

---

Back in the command vehicle...

Cassius laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes.

"She scared them just by saying 'hello!'"

Layla wiped away a tear from laughing.

"Poor criminals."

Arthur shook his head.

"I almost feel bad."

Ivan answered immediately.

"I don't."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

---

Hazel opened a reinforced steel door.

Inside...

Several frightened children and adults were locked in cages.

Hazel's expression softened instantly.

She knelt beside a little girl.

"You're safe now."

The child looked at her with tearful eyes.

"A-Are you an angel?"

Hazel blinked.

Then she smiled warmly.

"No."

She pointed toward the door where Lucian was carrying an injured boy.

"That's the angel."

Lucian looked over.

"...What?"

Hazel grinned.

"I own Angel Network. You're the angel tonight."

Lucian sighed.

"You make no sense."

"I rarely do."

The rescued children giggled.

---

One little boy tugged on Lucian's sleeve.

"Mister..."

"Yes?"

"Are you and the pretty lady married?"

Lucian froze.

Hazel froze.

Outside the room...

Their families had just arrived in time to hear the question.

Emily bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Arthur looked away, pretending to inspect the wall.

Cassius whispered loudly,

"Answer him, brother."

Layla nodded innocently.

"We're waiting."

Hazel cleared her throat.

"...No."

The little boy tilted his head.

"Oh."

He smiled brightly.

"You should be."

Silence.

Lucian looked at Hazel.

Hazel looked at Lucian.

Both turned bright red for the first time in years.

Marcus burst into laughter.

Oliver nearly fell against the wall.

Killiam was holding his stomach.

Even the usually stoic Thevan let out a small chuckle.

Ivan folded his arms with a faint smile.

"It seems even the toughest mafia legends have weaknesses."

Hazel groaned.

"I'm never trusting children with questions again."

Lucian smiled softly.

"I don't mind the suggestion."

Hazel glanced at him.

"...Lucy?"

"Hm?"

"You've become bold."

"A little."

For just a moment, the fearsome Mafia Queen smiled—not the cold smile that terrified the underworld, but a gentle one reserved only for the people she loved.

None of them noticed, however, that from the shadows outside the warehouse, a masked figure had been watching the entire operation.

The stranger whispered into a phone,

"So... the Crimson Queen and the Ice Violet King are even stronger than the rumors."

"They've become a problem."

The call ended.

A new enemy had set their sights on the two legendary heirs.

End of Chapter 2

Crimson Hearts: The Mafia Queen & The Ice Violet King

The next morning...

The Valentine Mansion was unusually peaceful.

Until—

BANG!

Killiam slammed the dining room door open.

"I HAVE IMPORTANT NEWS!"

Hazel looked up from her pancakes.

"...Did the world end?"

"No."

"Then why are you yelling?"

Killiam grinned.

"Because it's fun."

Hazel took another bite.

"I hope your pillow is warm on both sides tonight."

Killiam gasped dramatically.

"...That's evil."

Marcus nodded.

"She chose violence before breakfast."

Lucian, who had arrived with his family a few minutes earlier, quietly sipped his coffee.

"Haze wins."

Killiam sighed.

"Lucy, whose side are you on?"

Lucian answered without hesitation.

"Hers."

Hazel smirked triumphantly.

"Good choice."

The entire table laughed.

---

After breakfast...

The atmosphere turned serious.

Ivan activated a holographic screen in the meeting room.

A single symbol appeared.

A black crown with crimson flames.

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"I haven't seen that emblem in years."

Emily frowned.

"They're back..."

Hazel leaned against the table, arms crossed.

"The Crimson Crown."

Lucian's expression became cold.

"They disappeared ten years ago."

Thevan spoke calmly.

"They've resurfaced."

Oliver looked at the reports.

"They've taken over dozens of criminal organizations."

Alex added,

"And someone is funding them."

Marcus adjusted his glasses.

"They've already infiltrated several international companies."

Cassius whistled.

"They're ambitious."

Layla frowned.

"They're also stupid."

Hazel smiled faintly.

"I agree."

---

Ivan looked at Hazel and Lucian.

"This mission belongs to the two of you."

Neither of them hesitated.

"We'll handle it."

Arthur nodded.

"You'll attend tomorrow night's charity gala."

Cassius blinked.

"...A party?"

Marcus smirked.

"A disguise mission."

Hazel sighed dramatically.

"I have to wear a dress."

Emily smiled.

"You always look beautiful."

Hazel looked at Lucian.

"And he gets to wear a comfortable suit."

Lucian shrugged.

"I see no problem."

Hazel narrowed her eyes.

"I suddenly remember why I roast you."

Lucian smiled.

"I survived every time."

"For now."

---

Later that afternoon...

Emily and Lyra dragged Hazel upstairs.

"We're choosing your dress."

Hazel looked horrified.

"...This is kidnapping."

"No."

"It feels like kidnapping."

Meanwhile...

Arthur took Lucian shopping for a tuxedo.

Cassius folded his arms.

"Brother."

"Yes?"

"If Hazel says you look handsome..."

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

"I'll note the date."

---

Two hours later...

Hazel finally stepped out of the dressing room.

She wore a long crimson gown that shimmered like liquid fire.

Her long crimson hair flowed over her shoulders.

Even her brothers were speechless.

Oliver blinked.

"...Our little sister?"

Marcus nodded slowly.

"She's going to terrify people... elegantly."

Killiam wiped away an imaginary tear.

"They grow up so fast."

Hazel rolled her eyes.

"I'm literally standing right here."

---

At the same time...

Lucian walked out wearing a perfectly tailored black tuxedo with a violet tie.

Cassius stared.

"...Brother."

"Hm?"

"You actually look like a prince."

Arthur smiled proudly.

"You clean up well."

Lucian sighed.

"It's just a suit."

---

That evening...

The two families gathered in the main hall.

Hazel walked down the staircase.

Lucian looked up.

For the first time in years...

He completely forgot what he was about to say.

Hazel tilted her head.

"Lucy?"

"..."

"Lucy?"

"..."

Cassius elbowed him.

"Your brain stopped working."

Lucian blinked.

"Oh."

Hazel smiled teasingly.

"I look that scary?"

Lucian shook his head.

"No."

"...You look breathtaking."

The room fell silent.

Hazel froze.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Emily smiled knowingly.

Lyra covered her mouth to hide her grin.

The five Valentine brothers stared at Lucian.

Ivan slowly looked at Arthur.

Arthur coughed into his fist.

"...He's brave."

Killiam cracked his knuckles dramatically.

"So... should we chase him now or after dinner?"

Hazel quickly stepped between Lucian and her brothers.

"Nobody is chasing anybody."

She looked at Lucian.

"...Thank you."

Lucian smiled softly.

"You're welcome, Haze."

Their families exchanged amused glances.

Neither Hazel nor Lucian noticed the warm smiles around them.

But elsewhere, in a dark office lit only by a single lamp, the masked leader of the Crimson Crown watched footage from the warehouse.

He leaned forward.

"So the Mafia Queen and the Ice Violet King are finally moving."

A slow smile appeared beneath his mask.

"Excellent."

"It will be far more entertaining to destroy legends than ordinary people."

The game between two legendary families and a mysterious enemy had officially begun.

End of Chapter 3