The Story of How I Pretended To Be A Boy and Ended Up Being Loved By A Mafia Boss - Chapter 19

“Hey, look over there, that’s Duchess Anis.”
“I heard she’s the stepdaughter of her remarried partner.”
“Such a Cinderella story.”

Since earlier, I could hear the young ladies gossiping about me here and there.

Today, I was at the castle to watch the equestrian tournament with Lord Ray and my mother.

The two of them were talking to a couple sitting next to us, so I secretly slipped out of the viewing area and headed to the standing buffet.

I was wondering if I could eat all the sweets here…

As I stood there holding a plate, trying to decide what to eat first, someone spoke to me.

“The social scene is all about Anis right now.”

It was Prince Set, who was leaning on a cane.

“Prince Set!”

I hadn’t seen him since the dinner three months ago. His silver suit looked great on him.

“So, how’s the equestrian tournament? Are you having fun?”

It’s not like watching horses run around is fun…

“I’m not having fun.”

“Ha ha! You’re blunt, huh? Well, how about betting some money?”

“Money?”

“Yeah. You bet on which horse will come in first.”

“Is that a thing?”

“Yeah, follow me.”

I followed Prince Set, and we found a group of noblemen holding papers and pens, seriously observing the horses that would race.

“This is the paddock. You check the horses here, then predict which one will finish first.”

“Wait, can you really tell just by looking?”

“You can tell by the shine and muscle definition of the horse.”

“To me, they all look the same…”

“If you don’t know, you can just pick one randomly based on the horse’s name or color.”

Prince Set handed me a paper and pen, so I wrote down the number of the white horse.

“How much will you bet?”

“Oh…”

Come to think of it, I didn’t have any money.

“You don’t have any? Then I’ll lend you some.”

And Prince Set handed me 10,000 Regin.

“Such a large amount?”

“Ha ha! It wouldn’t be fun if you didn’t bet this much.”

We bought a betting ticket at the window and then went to the front row of the viewing area to wait for the race to start.

“Look, it’s about to start.”

A trumpet sounded, and the horses entered the starting gates.
As soon as a pistol shot echoed, the gates opened, and the horses started racing.

I had bet on that white horse!

I wondered what place it was in now.

With my heart pounding, I watched the race carefully.

“They’re turning the final corner!”

The jockeys were giving their horses a final push toward the finish line.
Here it comes!
The white horse is in the lead!

“Go!”

Prince Set clenched his crutch tightly.

Three horses crossed the finish line, and it was too close to tell which one had come in first.

One of the horses was the one I picked.

I waited eagerly for the results to be announced.

The announcer called out the name and number of the horse that came in first, but I didn’t remember it.

“Anis! Number 8! Your horse came in first!”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah! Amazing! What a big win!”

I wasn’t sure what “big win” meant, but it must mean I won, right?

“I did it~!!”

Without thinking, I hugged him, and Prince Set stumbled.

“Oh, I’m sorry! Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine.”

We went to cash in our winning tickets, and the 10,000 Regin had turned into 100,000 Regin.

Prince Set tried to give it to me, but…

“No, I don’t need it! I don’t usually spend money!”

“Huh? Don’t you go out anywhere?”

“Sometimes to buy ingredients, but that’s it.”

“Are you serious? You live in the capital, and you don’t go anywhere?”

“Yes.”

“Anis, you’re wasting your life!”

“Really?”

“I’m taking you out next time. Let’s use this money to have a grand time.”

“Heh, is that so? Well, I’m looking forward to it.”

Since our dinner, I had thought that Prince Set was so easygoing and approachable, much like an ordinary person rather than a royal.