The Story of How I Pretended To Be A Boy and Ended Up Being Loved By A Mafia Boss - Chapter 7

Anis must be so worried about me…

Ever since the day I visited the Count’s mansion, I had been confined in a servant’s room.

The shutters were closed, no sunlight came in, and I had lost track of how many days had passed.

Occasionally, a female servant would come in, but no matter what I asked, she remained silent.

She only took me to the restroom or let me bathe.

The Count visited several times to bring me meals, but when I rejected them, he never forced me.

Is he waiting for my spirit to break?

He’s persistent and patient… I might never be able to leave this place.

Just as that fear crossed my mind, I heard someone running down the hallway in a hurry.

What’s going on??

As I froze in the corner of the room, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

“Found her!”
“She’s here!!”

Several soldiers burst into the room and called out toward the hallway.

Then came the sound of high-heeled boots approaching—click, clack, click…

And someone I had known very well from long ago walked into the room.

The moment he saw me, his eyes widened in surprise.

“It really is you,” he said with a smile.

His glossy blond hair and clear blue eyes sparkled like glass.

Even after 18 years, he still shone as brightly as ever.

“Lord Ray… why are you here?”

“We can talk later. For now, come with me to my estate.”

Lord Ray grabbed my arm and led me out of the mansion.

Outside, Count Royden, drenched in sweat, was kneeling in front of Lord Ray’s carriage.

*****

“Duke Fury! What is the meaning of this? Do you know this woman??”

“Yes. She’s an old friend of mine.”

“What!?”

“We’ll soon find out what you’ve done to her.”

“W-Wait! I only lent her some money…”

“I see. Then I’ll pay that debt for her. That’s acceptable, isn’t it?”

“Y-Yes, of course…”

Count Royden fell silent, clearly frustrated.

Lord Ray helped me into the carriage and sat across from me as it began to move.

Why would Lord Ray be in a place like this when he lives in the royal capital?

Did he move to Nailden?

“Roanne, it’s been a long time.”

“Y-Yes…”

“You haven’t changed much in the last 18 years ago.”

“That’s… a bit long, I think.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

To think I’d meet him again like this…

I never imagine I’d never see him again.

Lord Ray’s mansion wasn’t far from Count Royden’s.

After getting out of the carriage, I was guided to the study room by one of his attendants.

A short while later, Lord Ray came in, now dressed more casually after removing his coat.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Once I sat down on the sofa, a maid brought out tea and some sweets.

What a lovely aroma…

How many years has it been since I last had a tea?

It’s a luxury I can’t afford now.

After the maid left the room, Lord Ray looked at me with a serious expression.

“I searched everywhere for you after you disappeared.” Lord Ray muttered.

“I’m sorry…”

“Right after Fairis died, you vanished. Do you know you’re suspected of murdering the queen?”

“Yes…”

I had served Queen Fairis as her lady-in-waiting until 18 years ago.

“But I don’t believe you were the one who did it. Can you tell me what really happened?”

“That’s…”

As I tried to tell him the truth, my hands started to tremble.

I was afraid of dragging him into something like this.

“It’s okay. Tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Lord Ray…”

The Queen died a few days after childbirth due to heavy bleeding.

But she had been feeling unwell long before the delivery.

She realized someone was poisoning her about a month before she was due.

A few days later, a maid who had mixed poison into the Queen’s medicine was caught and interrogated.

She confessed everything to save her life—including the name of the person who gave the order.

“Who was it…?”

Saying the name might change everything.

Because Lord Ray would never forgive that person.

“Please tell me.”

But I felt he had the right to know the truth.

He had loved Queen Fairis more than anyone else.

“It was… His Majesty.”

Lord Ray’s blue eyes trembled.

“Roanne… what are you saying?”

“It was all orchestrated by His Majesty and the current Queen.”

The King had fallen in love with Lady Cecilia and wanted to make her Queen.

So he and Cecilia plotted to eliminate Queen Fairis and her unborn child.

After giving birth, Fairis realized she wouldn’t survive, so she entrusted the baby to me.

She asked me to run away with the child.

“Then… that baby is…”

“He is living with me now.”

The royal family had announced that the child died with the Queen.

“Then… that boy really is…”

“That boy?”

“I met a young man yesterday who looked just like Fairis…”

“That must be Anis! Where is he?!”

“Don’t worry. I brought him to my house last night.”

“What?”

Lord Ray told me what had happened the night before.

“I see… Thank you so much for saving Anis.”

“It was just luck that I passed by with the carriage. But now I know—he really is Fairis’ child.”

Anis really does look just like Queen Fairis.

And since I’m her cousin, our facial features and eye color are also similar.

“So, you’ve been hiding in Nailden all this time?”

“Yes. It’s far from the capital and easy to blend into the crowds.”

Still, there was always the chance of meeting a noble who knew me, so I avoided noble society and chose to live in the western district.

“It must’ve been hard living in hiding for 18 years.”

“Yes. But it passed in a flash.”

Living with Anis made every day joyful. It never felt like a burden.

Even though we struggled with money…

“About the debt to Count Royden—please don’t worry about it. We’ll manage it ourselves. There’s no need for you to pay it, Lord Ray.”

“What are you talking about? We’re old friends. Of course I’ll help you in times like this.”

But Lord Ray shouldn’t be involved with someone like me, a criminal…

“Really, there’s no need to worry. Please forget about us.”

“Roanne…”

“Anis is waiting for me, so I will leave now.”

As I stood up, Lord Ray let out a resigned sigh.

“Very well. Then at least let me send you back by carriage.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll walk.”

“Haha. Just like before.”

Even though I refused many times, he still sent the carriage for me.

As I sat in the carriage on the way home, I regretted telling Lord Ray the truth.

Because… Lord Ray is the King’s younger brother.