I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend - Chapter 49

「To the little Duke Bouser, who’s in vain delusion.

 

Did you forget that we were a span apart before we separated?

 

If you want to catch up with that, you can only reach it next year or two years later.

 

Well, if you want to be like me, you can drink a lot of milk.

 

For your information, I’m already drinking every breakfast and dinner.

 

Anyway! Let’s stop talking nonsense and get to the point.

 

Do you like this summer…?

 

Good! Don’t worry.

 

Do you know what I was best at since I was young?

 

Whining!!

 

It’s been a while since I’ve grown a bit mature these days, but if I want to, I’d like to lie down in bed after a long time.

 

Can my parents do anything if I struggle and go on a hunger strike?

 

In the end, they would have surrendered their hands and feet and let me go to the North.

 

Also, if I can’t visit on my own, I can ask my father to make a formal visit request.

 

Yes, it would be nice to go on a family trip to the north.

 

Wouldn’t it be hard for your father to reject the visit?

 

So, you’re not the only one doing the effort!

 

I’ll find a way to meet you, too.

 

If it’s hard, take a rest, and sometimes play around.

 

You don’t have to work too hard. Because you’re doing well enough.

 

Look forward to summer!

 

If it’s difficult at that time, I’ll visit you even in winter.

 

In the meantime, should I know even if you grow up a lot?

 

Just don’t feel awkward because we haven’t seen each other for a while. I’m going to get upset.

 

So, if I have any good news, I’ll write to you right away.

 

Have a good day!

 

ㅡDahlia, who can’t sleep because she’s already looking forward to it.」

 

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「Dear Dahlia Averine,

 

You must have already received the letter by now?

 

My father rejected another request for a visit from the Duke of Averine.

 

You kept your promise to come meet me…

 

I’m sorry, I really wanted to meet you. We can’t even spend this birthday together.

 

Happy 12th birthday, Dahlia…

 

I’m sending a birthday present in advance in case the next letter is delayed.

 

I’m glad you didn’t come in winter though.

 

This winter has been exceptionally cold. No matter how strong you are, it must have been difficult.

 

I wish I could have gone down to the capital, but… Like you said, there will be opportunities next summer and later.

 

But I can’t wait to meet you. I think your face is already blurry in my memory.

 

I’ll try my best to get permission for you to visit.

 

Take care until then…」

 

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「To Dahlia Averine,

 

I’m sorry, Dahlia.

 

I think this summer will also be hard.

 

The situation at home is a bit… Not good.

 

Before that, I used to send letters through my mother often. I think that’s also going to be hard.

 

My mother is having a hard time… I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the details.

 

Just… I don’t know. Will I be able to meet you? What will happen?

 

I’ll write to you again when the situation gets better.」

 

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「Dear Dahlia Averine,

 

Dahlia…

 

I don’t think I can even send you letters anymore.

 

I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep one promise in the end.

 

I’m so sorry…

 

Still, I want you to always be happy. Sincerely from my heart.

 

You have to be well. And…

 

Sorry…」

 

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「Dear Sir Chapman

 

Rudrick, are you okay?

 

It’s Dahlia. Are you surprised that I sent it under someone else’s name?

 

But if I send it in your name, it keeps getting sent back in the middle.

 

I’m trying out a trick right now.

 

Write me a letter because you have something you want to say.

 

I’m fine…

 

Don’t be so sorry. It’s not your fault.

 

If you are having a hard time right now, we can meet later.

 

We have plenty of time. Even next year, the year after, or 10 years later.

 

I won’t forget you. So don’t forget me, either.

 

Then we can go and meet when the situation gets better.

 

If we meet after a long time, we may feel awkward with each other.

 

Still, we can talk as much as we did when we were young.

 

We may be surprised at how we have changed from each other, and joke around like we used to.

 

If we spend time like that, we can still become close again like before.

 

Just… I’m worried about you.

 

Do you remember what I said on the last day?

 

If it’s too hard, don’t hold back and cry, and pour out your feelings.

 

I don’t want you to put up with it too much.

 

It’s not your fault.

 

Don’t blame yourself.

 

Because you’re a good kid.」

 

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「Rudrick,

 

Rud…

 

Really…

 

Are you okay?」

 

 

The letter with Rudrick, which had been going on for about two years or so, ended like that.

 

In fact, I had been roughly aware of the situation since Rudrick’s letter became scarce.

 

Rudrick said he couldn’t tell me the details…

 

Of course, even if it’s me, I don’t think he can tell anyone about it, but since I was a reader, I had no choice but to know.

 

‘The suffering of the male lead.’

 

The content of the original that I had guessed before meeting Rudrick.

 

In other words, the misfortune of the male lead’s childhood is about to take place in earnest.

 

No, maybe the misfortune is going on for a while now.

 

That was around the time I turned 12.

 

…’The Duke of Bowser impregnated his lover?’

 

…’This time I heard that he’s making a fuss to bring his lover into their house… ‘

 

…’It’s not just that. There have even been rumors that he’s trying to pass on the direct family name of the Bouser to his illegitimate child.’

 

…’Oh, how could that be… ‘

 

This is due to rumors that have spread to society since at some point.

 

No matter how isolated Duke Bouser was on the border, he had no choice but to attract people’s attention as he was the only Duke in the Empire.

 

And above all, the rumors were too provocative.

 

‘The Duke’s affair’. Even if someone wasn’t in the social circles, it was a topic of discussion that could be circulated among people, and eventually came to the capital.

 

At that time, I was familiarizing myself with tea parties and small banquets with my parents little by little.

 

I also heard rumors shortly after.

 

‘Rudrick…’

 

I was just worried about Rudrick’s letter because it became less, and as soon as I heard the rumor, I could realize it in an instant.

 

Why was his reply getting delayed?

 

What he said in the letter, ‘My mother is having a hard time,‘ meant.

 

But things will never get better.

 

As rumors say, if Duke Bouser had announced that his lover is pregnant, and if he told the Duchess that he would bring her, it would be like a declaration of war, not a request.

 

Eventually, the Duke will bring his mistress into the mansion.

 

It will also be placed near the embankment in the main building to drive the Duchess crazy.

 

And the Duke’s actions were faster than I thought.

 

「I don’t think I can even send letters anymore.」

 

It was only after I received Rudrick’s last letter that I realized it.

 

In the previous letter, I already saw Rudrick wandering and guessed that the friction between the Duke of Bouser and the Duchess was getting worse.

 

Because the short letter that finally arrived after a long time said it’s farewell.

 

Maybe Rudrick would have noticed too.

 

That the situation would gradually turn into catastrophe, that his wish would never come true.

 

He must have decided to send me one last letter, as he never knew how or when he might lose contact.

 

If we suddenly lose contact, I’ll worry. While acknowledging the reality that we can’t really meet anymore.

 

With my resigned heart that oozes from his letter, I forced myself to lift this pen.