The Story of How I Pretended To Be A Boy and Ended Up Being Loved By A Mafia Boss - Chapter 8

Ray’s Point of View → Ryu’s Point of View

Lord Ray’s POV:

I never imagined my older brother could be so foolish.

To harm his own wife and child… it’s unthinkable.

Fairis and I were born the same year, so we grew up as childhood friends.

As the eldest daughter of a marquis family, Fairis often visited the royal palace from a young age, since her father was a key member of the royalist faction.

She had admired my older brother, who was six years her senior, for as long as I could remember, and I had witnessed their love story all along.

I had truly celebrated their marriage from the bottom of my heart… and yet…

After he met Lady Cecilia, everything changed.

He began inviting Lady Cecilia to the palace more and more while pushing Fairis away.

Even after Fairis became pregnant, he showed no concern for her.

I thought he might change once the child was born… but I was wrong.

Fairis died giving birth, and the child was declared dead as well.

****

A few days later, while I was resting in my estate, a royal decree was issued accusing Roanne of murdering the Queen.

I immediately felt something was off.

I had also been close to Roanne, who was Fairis’ cousin.

There was no way such a kind person could ever harm Fairis.

There had to be something behind it all—I felt it in my gut.

But there was no evidence to prove her innocence, and after that, Roanne disappeared.

I never expected to see her again, 18 years later, here in Nailden…

Ten years ago, I gave up my claim to the throne and became a duke, building an estate here in Nailden.

This unexpected reunion—it might just be a gift from the gods.

A chance to atone for my failure to protect Fairis.

I won’t let my brother take anything else away.

I will protect Fairis’ child—no matter what.

Ryu’s POV:

I was summoned to the estate of Duke Fury (Lord Ray) on short notice.

Though the duke keeps out of politics, in Nailden, he’s the most powerful figure. As someone running the Silver Dragon Den in the underworld, I wanted to stay on good terms with him.

He occasionally invited me out for a drink, but today seemed different.

He gazed at me intently while swirling his wine glass.

“There’s something I want you to do.”

“…What is it?”

“I need you to prepare a house.”

A house…? What does he mean?

“Understood… Where should it be?”

“Somewhere not too close, but not too far either. Ideally, a place where people won’t notice.”

In that case, the vacation homes at the base of the eastern hills might be best…

“I’ll take care of it. When will it be used?”

“Immediately.”

“Got it.”

****

Once I left the estate, I loosened my tie at the collar.

Duke Fury, asking me for a favor…

Could it be that he has a secret lover he wants to hide?

No… The Duke’s still unmarried, isn’t he?

I don’t care much for his personal life—but things might get interesting from here on out.