I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend - Chapter 98

Rudrick was rushing to the reception area.

 

He intended to return right away after hearing only a brief matter, despite pleading with Dahlia to wait.

 

However, it was impossible, since the Emperor set up a conference on his own and kept extending the duration.

 

The Emperor, who was seated next to the Imperial daughter, repeatedly boasted about his daughter, to the point when grew irritated and bored.

 

He might be encouraging Rudrick to respond the way he desires, but likewise.

 

Rudrick failed miserably to live up to the Emperor’s expectations and had to fight against the impulse to immediately flip the table.

 

The Emperor, who was spending the entire day talking exclusively about himself, departed the location with the princess, saying, “The old man seems like a fool among young people for no reason.”

 

Only after the Emperor departed was Rudrick able to flee the room. Even the princess, who up until that point had been smiling politely, did not appear to be trying to capture him.

 

Just before rushing out the door, she said a kind remark to the person behind her.

 

‘Please greet the Princess.’

 

Rudrick briefly pondered what that meant. However, he angrily fled out of the door before he could even ask the princess.

 

Rudrick didn’t care if the princess had intended it or not. Dahlia, who had left the dinner hall earlier, was the only thing that was important at the moment.

 

“Is it okay?”

 

Strangely, Dahlia’s face, which he had seen before parting ways, kept flickering in his mind.

 

The Dahlia was distinct from the previous one, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. No, she had really dropped a little more weight than previously, and she had a less-than-ideal complexion.

 

‘Since then, I’ve been worried.’

 

I’m curious as to why you haven’t been in touch with me previously, or why you haven’t invited me along. If you were ill somewhere, I kept wondering.

 

But Rudrick made no inquiries. The Emperor was being obstinate, and Dahlia noticed that he was ashamed. She first remarked, “It’s okay.”

 

Does everyone realize that she doesn’t have a great complexion whenever she says that?

 

I’m positive people were unaware.

 

She must have attempted to fake a smile, even though he was obviously embarrassed.

 

Finally, Rudrick returned with the same uneasy smile that he had when he had first left as if he had been pushed.

 

“I shouldn’t have gone.”

 

The water has already been spilled, and he regrets it after the fact.

 

Rudrick commented, “Let’s find Dahlia when it’s time to blame oneself, and then let’s hear a rebuke or explain the circumstance.”

 

However, Dahlia was nowhere to be found. She was nowhere to be found when I requested her to wait in the banquet hall.

 

The Averine couple was still there when I first assumed she had returned, so there was no way she could have gone by herself without her family.

 

“Then where did she go?”

 

Rudrick grew uneasy. He poked around the banquet hall, explored the palace, and questioned passing personnel, but no answer came out.

 

My heart was thumping quickly instead of slowly. I didn’t run much, but when I did, I was exhausted and started to perspire heavily.

 

Rudrick quickly glanced around him after leaping from the imperial palace as a last line of defense.

 

Then… As soon as he saw the sight before him, he went perfectly frozen.

 

Rudrick walked to where two recognizable figures were standing. No, to be precise, only one was standing, and that one was holding the other. And Rudrick was fully aware of whom the two were.

 

Dahlia, for whom he had been searching so long, was the one, while the other was…

 

“River Goldman.”

 

Dahlia was being held in Goldman’s arms.

 

No matter where he went, River Goldman was only wearing a shirt and was carrying an unconscious Dahlia as he made his way to the Imperial Palace.

 

There were other factors as well. Rudrick experienced an unexplained annoyance because of how tenderly he looked down on Dahlia constantly.

 

Rudrick eventually gave in to his emotions and started to walk. The first to detect the signs approaching them was Goldman.

 

“Lord Bouser?”

 

Goldman’s eyes widened in amazement when he saw him. Rudrick stared hastily at Dahlia, since he didn’t have time to worry about River Goldman.

 

Dahlia, who was in his arms, was sound asleep, so he didn’t think he had been harmed.

 

Unknowingly, devastated but relieved by her appearance, Rudrick instantly reached his hand.

 

“Give her to me.”

 

Goldman gives a blank look to him. He noticed that his eyes were on Dahlia, and rarely hardened his face.

 

“The Princess is not an object.”

 

“What?”

 

“I mean, I’m not the kind of person to tell you not to give up.”

 

“…”

 

Rudrick closed his eyes and attempted to contain his rage. Then, with a much colder expression on his visage, he spoke softly to him.

 

“Even so, you’ve said it from yourself, but I don’t think you’ve heard it from me.”

 

However, it seemed that he was not the only one who felt emotional. Goldman, who opened the door as if trying to refute something, sighed quickly.

 

“No. You should listen to me first. It’s better than being hurt by the princess knowing first.”

 

“What qualifications do you have…”

 

“She’s having a hard time.”

 

Rudrick hesitated.

 

“She doesn’t feel very well either. She seemed to have a lot on her mind,” said Goldman.

 

“…”

 

“If you think about it, would you like to share your worries with me, whom you’ve only met a few times? Besides, she fell asleep like she fainted and still can’t wake up.”

 

“…”

 

“What did Sir Bouser do until she reached this point? A childhood friend?”

 

Goldman, who was constantly retreating, finally uttered his last words.

 

“Isn’t I more qualified to have comforted her for a moment?”

 

Even compliments fell on deaf ears for Rudrick. Because, despite his desire to deny it, none of Goldman’s statements were untrue.

 

He emphasized Dahlia’s worries rather than paying attention to hers. He left the seat even though he couldn’t safeguard Dahlia, even though he was aware of how awful her figure was in advance, and ended up discovering this.

 

“I shouldn’t have gone.”

 

Rudrick clenched his fists in silence. Goldman, who was watching him, uttered the words in a calmer tone.

 

“I’m sorry. I said it like I was arguing for no reason. But…”

 

Blurring the end of his speech, he approached Rudrick and held out Dahlia.

 

Rudrick inadvertently accepted Dahlia. Rudrick couldn’t take his gaze away from Dahlia, who seemed lighter after holding her for the first time in a long time.

 

Goldman’s voice came into his ear, looking still at her.

 

“How many times have I told you before? If you keep pushing away, you will regret it in the end.”

 

“…”

 

“I mean, you’d better think about it.”

 

With those last words, Goldman turned around.

 

Rudrick was forced to remain there for some time, even after he had left. Dahlia was still not showing any indications of waking up, so he gave her a firm embrace and stared at her tired complexion.

 

‘I’ll regret it in the end?’

 

Rudrick was still at a loss.

 

I thought it was right to stay friends like this, but I don’t know if it wasn’t, and whether her heart was real. If that’s the case… What the hell do I really want to do?

 

I’m not sure about anything, but the only thing I knew was that I want this warmth in my arms to continue.

 

‘In that case, I’d rather.’

 

After being silent for a while, he raised his head. Then he took Dahlia in his arms and began to walk.

 

In the cold wind, Rudrick suddenly thought.

 

“I’d rather go first.”

 

✿

 

When I first opened my eyes, I was very embarrassed.

 

‘Where am I?’ thought Dahlia.

 

Up until I closed my eyes, I was outside. I even received a lap cushion from a man for the first time, and I just relaxed into a sound sleep.

 

I was lying in my room when I opened my eyes.

 

“When did I return?”

 

But after taking a nap in the garden, I was unable to recall anything. How could the entire process of leaving the Imperial Garden and heading home not interrupted my sleep when I haven’t even had a drink?

 

And I quickly realized why.

 

It was because Hestia, who dropped by to see how I was doing, was truthful with me.

 

“I, therefore, warned you not to consume more than two bottles.”

 

In other words, I didn’t fall asleep, but I passed out.

 

In the meantime, whenever I had a hard time, I took Hestia’s medicine, and at some point, the aftermath seemed to have hit all at once.  I eventually slept off in the garden and was taken back to the mansion.

 

“Who brought me here?”

 

Before I knew the answer, someone rushed into my room.

 

“Dahlia!”

 

It was my parents who cried out my name.

 

My parents’ faces were filled with worry as if a gunshot had caused me to pass out and collapse outdoors.

 

My parents expressed a variety of concerns, so I had to work up a sweat to comfort them. After telling them that I wouldn’t touch anything for a while and would solely concentrate on my recovery, my parents were finally at rest. They then left this message behind.

 

“Be sure to contact Rudrick. He seems to be worried about you a lot.”

 

“Rudrick?” asked Dahlia.

 

“Yes, it’s him who brought you home.”

 

Those words should have shocked me.

 

Lord River was the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes. I thought it was Lord River who brought me out of the garden right now.

 

But it’s Rudrick who brought me here?

 

‘Did you two meet in the middle?’

 

What the hell happened while I was asleep?

 

I asked my parents, but neither of them seemed to know, and I had no way of guessing, so I had to think about it for a long time even when I was left alone in the room.

 

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out.

 

Eventually, I gave up and ended up laying on the bed.

 

‘I’ll know when I ask them later.’

 

Whether it’s Rudrick or Lord River.

 

‘Lord River…’

 

When I thought of Lord River, I remembered what had happened yesterday. I thought I was a decent person, but yesterday I felt consoled that I had never thought of.

 

Even though I didn’t say anything properly, he took it seriously, as if it were his own, and said I could see him at any time.

 

“Isn’t this a line of a player?”

 

When I remembered it, I had to cough and manage my expression as a laugh came out without my knowledge.

 

‘River Goldman.’

 

His fine. He has a good family name, a good personality, and a great appearance.

 

Above all, it became the warmth that covered my eyes in my sleep and was reliable, so I wiped my face thoughtfully.

 

Then muttered, “Should I seduce him first?”