I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

 

‘Rudrick has changed.’

 

I just couldn’t understand this situation.

 

To be precise, the fact that Rudrick was standing in front of me with his arms crossed, even pouting in annoyance.

 

‘How on earth did this happen?’

 

The origin of the incident goes back a few hours.

 

After receiving the message that Rudrick had returned, I headed straight to Bouser’s mansion.

 

 And not long after, I was able to meet Rudrick in person.

 

In the past few days, Rudrick had seemed a bit more subdued. He was in the final stages of his expedition, and his already thin face had become more haggard, as if he had a tight schedule.

 

I’d been living and playing in the capital, and it was getting to me. I looked at him, noticing that he was looking a little more alert today, and asked.

 

“

Are you busy?” “What?” “Huh? No…you just look more tired than usual. Something happened in the North, right?” “What happened…” 

It was actually just a casual question, but Rudrick’s reaction was strange.

 

Rudrick’s expression, which had been strangely slurred, turned murderous for a moment.

 

It was so fierce that I almost spit out the tea in my mouth at once.

 

But instead of telling me what was going on, Rudrick quickly composed himself and said calmly.

 “It’s nothing.” 

The look on his face convinced me.

 

‘Something has happened.’

 

However, based on my experience so far, the probability that he would speak obediently was extremely unlikely not to tell me. 

 

In the end, I had no choice but to guess for myself.

 “Isn’t the operation going well?” 

Because usually, he often bumped into the imperial knights while planning the operation.

 

Later on, the imperial knights realized that Rudrick’s personality was not normal and took care of it, but this time they may have clashed greatly again.

 

Or maybe it’s because things aren’t going well in the family, and finding the “

Ring

” wasn’t easy.

 

If that’s not the case…

 

And then I thought to myself.

‘It’s not related to O’Neil, isn’t it?’

 

I felt a little self-conscious that I was doing this in front of Rudrick after all the trouble he’s been through alone.

 

But it was true that O’Neill was starting to bother me.

 

I knew they were both in the North, but I didn’t know what happened there, and I couldn’t help but ask.

 

Torn between reason and instinct, I finally spoke on impulse.

 “In the North.” “…?” “Is everything okay?” “What?” “Just. I haven’t seen you for a few days…” 

Rudrick trailed off, staring at me as he spoke.

 “Do you need to see me?” “Oh, huh?” 

But Rudrick didn’t answer, he just turned away, and I was the one who was more puzzled than he was.

 “It’s a bit chilly.” 

I wondered if I was imagining things, but his stony face and oddly cold aura didn’t seem like a bad idea.

 

And now that I think about it… from the time I came here until now, haven’t we made eye contact once?

 “…?” 

As I blinked nervously, a bland voice came from right in front of me.

 “Is that the end of your business?” “Huh?” “I was looking for you in a hurry, so I thought there was a problem….” 

He snorted, and my mouth dropped open.

“So why did you come to me if it’s not a big deal, is that what you’re doing?” 

‘Is this the Rudrick I know? Slowly, he was trying to chase me away.’

 “If you’re done here, why don’t you go home?” “What?” “What’s wrong, I don’t think there’s anything more to say…” “No!” 

As I saw him immediately trying to stand up, I shouted in panic.

 “There is, there is, what’s going on? So that’s…” “…” “That, Cecil. I was wondering how she’s doing since I left Cecil in the north… and I was wondering how the other division commanders are doing, like Lord Leona and Sir Ruth. And I was wondering about the Bouser people and the imperial people and Lord River.…” 

When Lord River’s name was brought up, some emotion flashed over Rudrick’s face, but I had no time to take a closer look.

 

I was just busy fluttering around and saying random things. I had been reciting a list of people I knew, but when I had no one to talk to, I trailed off.  

 

Then, I quietly brought up that person’s name.

 “O’Neill too…” “…” “Oh, by the way, how’s O’Neill? I should have asked that first, but I was distracted. I feel a little guilty that I left it up to you, since she’s been such a big help to us…” “…” “Do you… do you know how O’Neill has been?” 

The moment the words came out of my mouth, I felt a rush of regret.

‘Did I sound too revealing?’

 

What if I just ask him,

‘How are you doing? How are you two doing?’

I’d rather just ask him how he’s doing.

 

But I felt like Rudrick would just say,

‘I’m doing fine,’

and that wasn’t the answer I wanted.

 

More than O’Neill’s well-being, I wondered what she was doing there.

 

What she’d been doing up north, who she’d been talking to, if she’d been with Rudrick…

 

And then Rudrick’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, as if he sensed my tension. Slowly, his neat lips parted.

 “That’s…” “Rudrick!” 

Someone burst through the door. I reflexively turned towards the door, and there was someone I recognized.

 

O’Neill, smiling beautifully, her long silver hair pulled into a loose braid and falling to one side.

 “Rudrick, I told you to wait, not to leave first, and if you keep this up, you’re going to make me cry…” 

O’Neill, who was grumbling in a very charming tone, suddenly stopped when she noticed me.

 

Then she rolled her eyes for a moment, but then greeted me as if nothing had happened.

 “Oh, it’s been a while, Princess! How have you been?” “…” 

But I couldn’t bear to give any answer. This was because one word that O’Neil had calmly uttered a moment ago lingered in my ears.

 

‘Rudrick?’

 

No way, she’d called him by his first name?

 

Did O’Neil call Rudrick by his first name from the beginning? But the last time we met, she definitely called him Excellency.

 

‘So when did she decide to call him by his first name? Did Rudrick… give her permission to call him by his first name?’

 

At that moment, a million things went through my head, and I wondered how I could have misunderstood his silence, and O’Neill raised an apologetic eyebrow.

 “Are you upset? I’m sorry, you were talking to His Excellency, and I interrupted…” “What? Oh, no, I’m not, I’m just a little surprised…” “Never mind, we’ve just finished.” “What?” 

I’m not finished! I stared at him in disbelief, but he wasn’t looking at me, his eyes were fixed on O’Neill.

 

Likewise, I was about to call out to him when I heard a cheerful voice next to me.

 “Really? That’s a relief. I was so anxious to be with Rudrick…” “What?” “Oh, no, not that… Please pretend you didn’t hear that, Princess.” “What?” 

O’Neill fidgeted, covering her mouth with both hands.

 

Then she blushed like a girl in love, and it was so adorable that it caught my eye.

 

As if I wasn’t the only one who noticed, Rudrick suddenly stood up from his seat.

 “Anything else?” “Huh?” “As you know, I’m busy.” 

And with that, he stalked away, heading straight to O’Neill.

 

O’Neill smiled brightly as she saw Rudrick approaching her. 

 

Rudrick naturally stood next to O’Neil, and O’Neil grabbed his arms as if it were natural.

 

Before I knew it, there were only two people left in the world. They looked at each other affectionately, as if they couldn’t even see anyone else…

 “Bye, then.” Bang—! 

The door slammed shut.

 

I was left alone, staring at the closed door in a daze.

 

My mind was blank, and I couldn’t think of anything. Only the sight of two people drifting played in front of me.

 

Soon enough, my mouth opened wider and wider.

 “This, this…” 

I exclaimed in a shaky voice that crawled out of the chilly room.

 “Hey, this…!” 

I shouted in a trembling voice in the chilly room.

 “What’s this?”  “Can you please stop making that disgusting expression?” “What do you mean disgusting, do you have bad eyes?” “What?” 

The woman, who had now moved away from Rudrick, looked at him and raised her bearing lips.

 

Rudrick’s brow furrowed by the words.

 “Anyway, I guess it worked, huh?” “…” “It worked?” 

Rudrick recalled Dahlia’s face that he had seen a moment ago.

 

Dahlia certainly seemed more surprised than usual. Perhaps it was because she felt that the relationship between him and the woman was unusual.

 

If that’s true, then it’s natural. He’d played it up on purpose.

 

The first time, when she went to visit him. She told him her plan right away, as if she knew she was coming.

 “You’ll have to be cold to her first.” “Cold?” 

Rudrick didn’t understand. It wasn’t enough to get Dahlia’s attention by barging in on her right away, but cold?

 

‘It shouldn’t be hard. Just treat her like you would treat me or anyone else…’

 “And what if it doesn’t work?” “Don’t worry. They’ll just think it’s weird because they’re used to it, but it won’t happen.” 

He went still and cleared his throat, but his face crumpled again at her next words.

 “And pretend to be in a relationship with me.” 

Rudrick answered straight away.

 “I don’t want to.” “Okay. Then let Goldman hurt her.” “…” 

He was silent for a long moment, conflicted, before finally answering.

 “…How do I do that?” 

The woman smiled and told him what he needed to do, step by step.

 

The role wasn’t much.

 

Just stay still.

 

When he heard that

‘I can’t do it even if I just have to act anyway.’

he was a little emotional, but he closed her mouth because it was true.

 

No matter what she does, she said,

“You should never show off what you don’t like.”

 

 

Then he added, “

I don’t want to.” “When I show up, you must never take your eyes off me.” 

After that, Rudrick looked at the woman straight ahead, according to his promise, but only now he had a little regret for his stately behavior.

 “I should have taken a look.” 

Because he didn’t see Dahlia’s reaction properly.

 

So there was nothing more unsettling.

 

‘What if she’d been surprised, but that was all? What if she’d been happy for him to have a lover and be supportive?’

 

The Dahlia he’d known up until now might have been. He was just a good friend to her.

 

Maybe if he didn’t try to make it sound like he was helping her find love, or making her feel good about herself.

 “… I wonder if I did the right thing.” 

He froze in place, his stomach churning at the thought of such a future. Then the woman he knew like a ghost looked back at him.

 

She studied him for a moment, then gave him an uncertain smile.

 “Are you nervous?” “…” “May I make a prediction?” 

Looking up at Rudrick, she said confidently.

 “Dahlia, from now on, she will be in and out of the mansion every day.”