I Became The Male Lead's Female Friend

Who would look like a fox if someone else sees this situation, just because I greeted him for his cool and refreshing figure, I’m already sweating.

Was there any juice jar?

In my previous life, I was also a juicer…  I sweat so much that I could be squeezed and produce juice.

However, seeing the true juicer in front of me was more than a surprise, my heart was pounding.

But I slipped out of fantasies, skillfully managing my facial expression. Then Sir River kissed me lightly on the back of my hand, as any knight would.

“How have you been?”

“Oh, I’m fine, and you?”

“I’m okay, thank you for the concern.”

We simply gave short greetings. Since it was only the second time we met, the stories I could tell were extremely limited.

I even asked how the Goldman family was doing before I murmured thoughtlessly.

“I had no idea the wonder was here, if I had known, I would have found it first,”

I asked him out of courtesy, but his reaction was unusual. I thought he was here to show his face instead of his father.

The original book also said that his sociability was not bad, and above all, the Count who held the party was a faction on Goldman’s side.

Usually, when a nobleman under one’s subordinate holds a party, as a courtesy, they send someone or their children to visit.

But why was he so restless?

“Ah, I didn’t think much about it, but I heard that Dahlia was coming…”

“What?”

“Oh, nothing!”

After muttering gibberish, he quickly mumbled his words and gave an awkward smile.

But I heard and saw it clearly. When he said he heard I was coming, he blushed shyly.

“No way…”

I shook my head at the flicker of the green light in my head.

Yeah, it’s not the time yet to eat kimchi soup. (make assumptions)

He said he became close to my father on the battlefield. He might be curious to know that the daughter of the man he idolizes was attending such a gathering.

‘Why do my lips twitch and my cheek feel hot?’

To be honest, I wanted to do something a little greedier if I wanted to, but I just giggled, pretending not to know, because I was afraid that everything would be shattered before it even started.

“Have you been waiting for my father? I’ve heard that you’re close.”

“Ah, yes, yes…! I still have something to tell the Duke… Well, by the way, did the Duke talk a lot about me?” asked River.

Also, it was cute to pretend that he was curious about it or not, and he smiled involuntarily at my words.

Being naive reminds me of someone when I was young.

“Yeah, you’ve always been at the forefront of war, and never been brave enough to fight.”

“It’s…”

“Well…”

It wasn’t a lie that my father talked about him a lot.

But the content was a little different from what I said. His story was mainly about Rudrick.

“… The Duke and I had a bit of a difference of opinion.”

That’s right, when you’re grumbling.

From the start, I thought that they would often bump into each other because of their opposite personalities, but it seemed to be severe that my father used to put on a tired expression just thinking about it.

Then he would not forget to advise me, ‘Never get between the two people.’

And Lord River’s face flushed red again as if he had noticed what I meant. He showed a troubled smile, covering his red face with one hand.

“Even that… I think he said it. It’s a shame, but it’s true. Sir Bouser sometimes doesn’t fit…”

“But I guess you didn’t have a bad relationship. It’s an abbreviation.”

“Because I was probably the same age as the commanders.”

Come to think of it, he said he was only two or three years older than me. Surely he must have been younger when he joined the war.

I nodded quietly, and he spoke again, “Although he seems a bit cold-headed, he is a respectable knight. He has already reached the status of a Sword Master…”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure Rudrick is talented. Haha! Come to think of it, Dahlia, his friend, knows better.”

Seeing him smile softly, I just smiled silently. Then he shook his head slightly and replied in a bitter tone.

“…. I don’t know very well. I haven’t heard from him for 10 years, and we’ve only met recently.”

Everyone thinks I know Rudrick best, but the reality was different.

The Rudrick I know stopped about 10 years ago. We only had half a year of memories. If so, my father or Lord River, who fought the war with him together, would have known him better.

Ten years was never a short time, and in the meantime, I don’t know what kind of experience Rudrick has had and how he has changed.

As I thought about it, I could feel the depressing atmosphere, or Lord River standing in front of me was not sure what to do.

Later, when I tried to change the subject, he spoke first, “Maybe not.”

“What?”

Sir River continued to speak in a serious tone, “Some people dwell on those brief memories all their lives.”

“…”

“10 years is never short, but if Duke Bouser remembers his childhood memories like Dahlia…”

“…”

“Doesn’t that mean that Dahlia’s memories are still there?”

After saying that, he smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck.

“Well, that’s what I’m saying, but…”

I looked at him calmly. I think he knows the woman’s feeling of comfort just by being next to her when I see him smiling affectionately, even though he seems naive.

Furthermore, I smiled heartily and answered,  “No, but that helped a lot, Sir River.”

Then it goes without saying that his face was red again. He looked elsewhere as if ashamed, but his eyes widened as if something had come to mind.

Then, he asked with a puzzled expression, “Oh, by the way, you two…”

“What?”

“Didn’t you already confess your feelings?”

After hearing that, I immediately screamed,  “No!”

Then, as soon as I came to my senses, I couldn’t control my expression, glancing elsewhere and coughing in vain.

“Yeah, but why did you hug him at the party?”

Damn, that’s why the rumors spread like that…!

In the first place, they should ask if we are just dating, but what else does it mean to have a passionate relationship?

‘When Sir River said it like that, I felt like someone that couldn’t live without Rudrick!’

No, come to think of it, did the rumors spread because of that? So that’s why Sir River asked?

I was so embarrassed that I thought it was suspicious and seemed like making a desperate excuse.

It was inevitable to be desperate. ‘Ugh.’

I thought Sir River and I had a good atmosphere for a while, but I guess there must have been a variable like this…!

And, as expected, Lord River looked at me curiously, and when I made a series of excuses until the second, third, and fourth, he burst into laughter and nodded.

“All right, so rumors are false rumors, and they’re nothing.”

“Yes, yes! We’re just friends. How can we…”

“I see, that’s a relief.”

“Uh-huh, that’s right. I’m glad… Yes?”

In bewilderment, my eyes rounded when Sir River spoke. 

He raised my hand and kissed it lightly on the back of my hand and said, “I’m sorry for today. See you next time.”

Then, just like when he came, he disappeared like the wind.

I was the only one standing in the storm he left behind. I couldn’t come to my senses, and was frozen like an idiot, and then I cried out in amazement.

“Wait, what!?”

✿

‘I see. That’s a relief.’

As I looked up at the ceiling blankly, I asked myself, “What had just happened?”

What’s good about it?

Since it’s a false rumor? Or that I’m not in any relationship with Rudrick? But why are you glad we’re not in a relationship?

Did I clear up the misunderstanding so far and say it was all right? Or maybe not…

“Or that maybe because there’s no one special to me?”

Whoa!

I had to clench my fist as I let out a scream that was about to come out of my lips.

It’s been a long time. It feels like my toes are floating, and I feel excited.

This feeling of pondering over what the other person said several times, interpreting various things, and searching for the hidden feelings within.

“Is this what a love story is about?”

I pinched my cheeks, closing my gaping mouth. Then, without realizing it, as if embarrassed, I covered my cheeks with both hands and muttered.

“I think I’m getting sentimental.”

And, so I didn’t know.

The one person left alone, in reality, was my little friend sitting right in front of me.

Rudrick was looking at me with a complicated, subtle gaze.