I Became The Male Lead's Female Friend

I thought as I stared at them blankly as they began exclaiming at each other.

“Even if I don’t tell them, the medicine will promote itself well on its own.”

Perhaps the moment they drank the medicine, they felt refreshed not because their energy recovered, but because I added herbs that tasted refreshing as soon as they drank it.

But I didn’t have to tell them that. Originally, the more a person feels a strong stimulus, the longer the memory lasts.

For example, division commanders who had previously been hesitant changed their minds in an instant.

As if they wanted to tell the whole world about this good medicine right away, they couldn’t keep their body still.

Dahlia said to them with a satisfied smile, “I’ll send you an entire box soon. I’ll give it to each division commander, so you know what’s behind it, right?”

“Yes!”

“Leave it to me, Princess!”

“And as long as things go well…”

I covered my mouth with one hand and smiled shyly, while the other gave a sneaky money sign.

“I will also pay you a small bonus.”

Not to mention that I received enthusiastic support from Division Commanders after that.

Having finished all my business, I got up to go back. 

I had only chatted with the Division Commanders, but before I knew it, the sun was tilting quite a bit.

As soon as I got up, Rudrick got up too. And mentioned that I had become close with them, and even the Division Commanders followed to see me off.

Before I knew it, the Averine Family’s carriage had arrived outside the mansion.

It’s time to go back. I turned to Rudrick to say goodbye as usual but hesitated for a second.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Come to think of it, there was one more thing left.

“Even if it’s going as planned, it’s already been made the other day. The effect is wonderful, so try it when you’re tired. Then…”

“…?”

“By any chance, can you make time soon?”

At my question, Rudrick narrowed his eyes as if he was puzzled. Before he could ask why, I continued talking.

“I was going to tell you last time, but I forgot because we separated like that. You might get busy in earnest if you get a title. I think it would be best when we are free.”

“…?”

“Well, Rudrick Bouser.”

I asked, holding his hand, “Do you want to play with me?”

Rudrick’s eyes widened slightly.

“No, let’s play. We were supposed to hang out?”

“…”

“We decided to go shopping, eat delicious food, go to good places, and rest while having fun together. Don’t you think so?”

“…”

Rudrick was silent for a long time.

The unintended silence made me a little uneasy.

Do you not like it? But when I said that, the atmosphere was good, and I thought Rudrick would say yes.

Are you still very busy? When I looked at Rudrick with all those thoughts.

“I don’t remember making a promise.”

“What?”

Rudrick was smiling lightly.

I said with relief at that hard-to-see smile, but that smile was more familiar to me than anyone else.

“Okay. Should I clear some time?”

“Can you decide?”

“Don’t you know the saying that silence is an affirmation, Duke?”

“It could mean the other way around.”

Why are you like that until the end? I put on a troubled expression and asked softly.

“So you don’t like it?”

And, as always, Rudrick looked at me and said, “All right.”

✿

“Oh, I’m getting goosebumps on my arms.”

“Wow… Did you see him smiling earlier? It’s crazy…”

“I lose memory when I see something shocking. Please understand if I don’t recognize you tomorrow.”

“But wasn’t it nice to see that they’re sweet?”

Rudrick, who was watching Averine’s carriage leave, glanced behind him at the voice he heard immediately.

Standing there were Dahlia and the Division Commanders who had been watching him from afar.

Rudrick sighed secretly as if tired. Then he looked at the medicine bottle in his hand.

It was the medicine Dahlia gave him a while ago. 

‘Didn’t she tell me to drink it when I’m tired?’

Dahlia’s face looks like a… I think it’s a bit hazy when I have the urge to see her again.

“Look at that. Am I right?” Ethan’s words came from behind.

“It’s clear that he has a heart for the Princess.”

“They must like each other. If not, she wouldn’t care about s and give the medicine herself.”

“Oh. Wasn’t it strangely different from what she did to us?”

“Isn’t that because those two are childhood friends?”

“No, does anyone put medicine in a childhood friend’s hand with their hands gently touching? Then I don’t have any friends.”

“Surely, besides, what she said at the end…”

Ruth Fedex, who could be said to be the most objective, had the last words.

“Wasn’t she asking him out on a date?”

Rudrick was completely frozen.

“Date?”

Maybe the subordinates might think that way because they saw Dahlia for the first time, but it was a little different to him.

Dahlia was just saying let’s play together like they did when they were kids.

In those days, it was natural for the two of them to play together every day.

Now that we are grown up, we’re not always as close as it was then, but it meant that we should spend time together and relax at least once.

But why do those words stay in my head like this?

“Asking for a date?”

“Shopping, eating, and going to nice places are usually called dates.”

Seeing his subordinates unfolding delusions in their brain following the second and third verses, Rudrick couldn’t help but turn around.

Thinking that if he listens to them more, He might be brainwashed.

But once their mouths burst, they followed behind Rudrick and kept talking.

“Sir, I liked the medicine!”

“Me too!”

“She’s a little unusual, but… But she seems kind of considerate.”

“When are you going to meet a woman who likes you like that? Grab this opportunity!”

“Oh, so you’re going to be a Prince?”

“I, I want to escort you! Leave it to me, Your Excellency!”

In the meantime, they were thrilled to see Rudrick dating Dahlia as the Duchess.

Do they already like her? What do they know about the subject of our meeting?

What do they even know about the topic of why we met in the first place, and they already like her?

Rudrick shook his hand when he arrived at his office, having already considered and discussed the situation in which Dahlia would be served.

“Get lost.”

At that word, the Division Commanders scattered in a hurry, as if they were exiled.

A moment of silence struck.

It was a familiar silence to Rudrick. He would find his peace and calm himself as he faced the stillness where no sound could be heard.

But today was a little different.

Knowing that Rudrick was uncomfortable, it seemed that the Division Commanders had even been bitten by the escort. Because they knew that, even without an escort, Rudrick was a great man and won’t easily be defeated.

Rather, it was something that had been done for some time for his comfortable rest.

The surroundings were no different from usual. Now he would open the door and enter the office, and he had to feel strangely comfortable with the familiar and stark scenery he had seen yesterday and the day before.

After sitting in the chair for a while and taking a break, Rudrick turned to look at the documents…

‘Why am I being like this?’

Rudrick pressed down on his chest, which had been beating non-stop since earlier.

At some point, the heart, which had begun to beat, was gradually changing its beat.

When did I start doing this? Whether it was because of the Division Commander’s delusions, someone mentioned a date, or because I saw Dahlia…

—“Play with me.”

Was it because of her smile?

Rudrick, unable to calm down, leaned on his chair and closed his eyes. 

The only thing left in his darkened world was the sound of his heart beating.

Rudrick said without even realizing it, “Time is running slow.”

✿

Things were going smoothly. Indeed, it was not in vain that I saw the sprout of the salesperson in them, and it was not long after I entrusted them with the promotion that news began to spread to the public.

At first, it started with a rumor that ‘Averine has developed a new medicine’.

Rumors such as… 

“I heard it’s not a normal fatigue reliever.”

“I heard that recovering in an instant is like a stimulant.”

“I heard there aren’t many side effects.”

Began to spread sequentially.

As expected, entrusting it to the Knights of Bouser, especially the Division Commanders, was a godsend.