I Became The Male Lead's Female Friend

To make a little more excuse, I was going with my parents.

However, it was natural to say that my father had something to gather with important people first, so I headed to the Imperial Palace early, and that my mother accompanied him.

In the end, I was left alone, and I had to urgently find someone to go with, and Jeron was a very good option.

I couldn’t take my father’s place where only the families of people who distinguished themselves in the war gathered, but Jeron’s brother, Hayward’s eldest son, had served in the war, so he had a reason to attend the banquet.

And it’s sad, but… There was no one else I could get to attend with.

So, I hurriedly brought the person who was working next to me to the Imperial Palace, and I ran into an unexpected situation.

The person who started a fight, “What’s with that bastard?”

It was Rudrick Bouser.

“Huh?”

In fact, I had no idea until we entered the hall.

Especially about Rudrick.

In the first place, I didn’t think of attending the banquet with Rudrick, and I thought that it would be the same for Rudrick. 

From what I’ve seen so far, it seemed that he would be more embarrassed to accompany me as a partner.

After all, Rudrick, a war hero, had no choice but to attend this banquet. So I thought we could greet each other at the banquet hall…

‘I guess that wasn’t it.’

Jeron and I walked into the hall, exchanging simple jokes. Then we felt a terrifying gaze piercing from somewhere.

I felt a chill and turned my head naturally.

“Oh my!”

Then I made eye contact with Rudrick.

‘What, what?!’

I screamed silently and stiffened in place.

It was because Rudrick’s gaze, looking at us at some point, went beyond just staring, and was like a devil’s stare.

That’s weird… When we met recently, that was, when we played together, it seemed like we parted amicably. 

Of course, we haven’t met at all since then, but did something go wrong in the middle? Did something bad happen?

‘Why does he look so angry?’

I was embarrassed because I had never seen him so openly angry after he had been amazingly hiding his emotions after growing up.

But before I could do anything, he strode toward me. Then, in an instant, he reached in front of me and looked at me with eyes trembling.

No, to be exact, he was glaring at the person next to me.

Then I followed him and found Jeron, who simply stood trembling, he almost fainted.

“Jeron…!”

I’m also scared to death, but what if Jeron passes out first?

In any case, I tried to jump at the sacrifice of Jeron, but I looked devastated. 

And how I mistook myself again, Rudrick spoke dismally, “… Strangely no contact.”

“What?” asked Dahlia.

“I guess you’ve been busy meeting him all this time? Goldman seems to have given up early, right?”

Why does Lord River’s name appear again? I had to break out in a cold sweat at his stinging glare, as if he was looking at a cheating wife. It was all more so because I couldn’t even figure out why he was looking at me with those betrayed eyes.

‘Are you jealous? No, but does Rudrick usually get so jealous that his friend got close to someone else? Are you saying I should live alone for the rest of my life?’

I wanted to argue because it was ridiculous, but I tried to make excuses with a smile because I know he was stronger than I was.

“Well, meeting…! It’s a misunderstanding. It’s just, uh… An attendant secretary, an attendant secretary at my office!” cried Dahlia.

“An attendant secretary?”

“Um… Uh! Didn’t I tell you before? In our family, when you become an adult… we choose a secretary ourselves…?” explained Dahlia.

Rudrick didn’t answer. I don’t know if he really remembers or if he doesn’t— even he can’t remember… but as if he understood, the bloody look in his eyes softened a little.

However, the expression of dissatisfaction still did not go away, so I decided to introduce Jeron while I was at this stage.

If he stares at Jeron like this every time Rudrick sees him, I may soon lose a competent attendant, so I took a deep breath and spoke again.

“Do you remember what I said I have a lot of people I want to introduce to you?”

“…”

“Didn’t I say, Hestia, Jeron, and so on? One of them. The third son of Count Hayward… Jeron Hayward.”

“…”

“It’s nice to meet, you too…”

Then, I hope Jeron would come to his senses, and as soon as I look back at him, he was still in shock.

He was out of his mind and was looking at Rudrick with trembling eyes. That’s not all, suddenly Jeron’s eyes were filled with tears.

I looked at it in dismay and thought.

‘Is he really crazy?’

But before I could say anything, he opened his muttered,

“For a moment…”

“What?”

“I need to go to the bathroom for a moment…”

Then he lifted his mouth with one hand and ran away without looking back. The appearance of his back was like that of a tragic heroine, so I stared blankly at him. 

And Rudrick, who was watching the whole thing, asked quietly.

“Is he okay?”

✿

Still, thanks to Jeron’s bluntness, the situation naturally worked out.

I couldn’t think of anything to explain Rudrick’s ridiculous question, so I just agreed with him.

— “Hmm, he’s a bit lacking, but he’s a good boy.”

Rudrick, though still dissatisfied, withdrew his hostile gaze. And then he mutters like this.

— “I don’t like him.”

In particular, the words he added, ‘hair color’, and I felt salty at the moment.

‘Still, thanks to you, I met a talented person. He had lived with only genuine love for you…’

If Rudrick knew the truth about Jeron, he would go beyond hatred and pull out his real sword this time.

I just chose to keep my mouth shut, and fortunately, the Emperor appeared before the awkward silence continued.

Next to the Emperor was a ceremonial officer holding a long document.

The ceremony went simply.

When the ceremonial officer calls for a noble who has contributed to the war, he steps forward. 

Then, when the ceremonial officer lined up his achievements and says, ‘I will give you this reward,’ then the Emperor steps forward and presented the sword.

Countless aristocrats made merit, so they couldn’t praise each one of them. 

Therefore, this show-style event was held only for a few specific people.

Among them were my father and Lord River.

Among those who participated in the war, my father, who had the highest rank, was the first to rise to the podium. 

Then, with a serious expression like no other in the world, he took the sword from the Emperor and came down.

Goldman’s second son, Lord River, took this opportunity to receive the land and became an earl. Dressed in a white uniform, he looked stunning like a Prince.

And finally, Rudrick…

Originally, it was said that the main character appears at the very end. As Rudrick walked in front of the Emperor, everyone was silent and looked at him.

It was also due to his intimidating appearance, but it was also because everyone had become tired of his peculiar air of superiority.

I also held my breath and watched Rudrick.

Seeing Rudrick kneeling before the Emperor, the Emperor himself congratulated him, then he gestured to the officer in charge and showed the sword to be brought down on him.

“That’s…!”

The people who watched the scene burst into admiration for a moment. It was because the sword held by the former officer was one of the treasured swords passed down from generation to generation in the Imperial Family.

People’s humming intensified with the appearance of the sword, which was mainly reserved for members of the Imperial Family. 

They ranged from concern that the real Emperor wanted him to become a member of the imperial family to concern that the Bouser Family would also become an Imperial dog.

The Emperor made the surroundings quiet with his hand gesture and then raised the sword. 

Then he patted Rudrick on the shoulder twice with a sword on it, and said,

“— I hereby bestow the Duke’s throne.”

As soon as he finished his words, thunderous applause erupted.

Rudrick was now one of the three Dukes of the Empire, in name and reality. There was a look of admiration in people’s eyes.

I also looked at Rudrick proudly receiving the sword with a strange feeling. Of course, I already knew that Rudrick would become a Duke at a young age. 

However, there was a big difference between knowing and seeing it in person.

Rudrick, who was obviously in a similar position when he was young, seemed to have gone far away alone.

While I have not yet been recognized as a successor and cannot even be referred to as a small duke, I already become the head of the family.

“I have to work hard, too.”

So I secretly clenched my fists, thinking that I would be able to stand with him there someday.

After Rudrick’s conferment ceremony was over, the Emperor stepped forward. Then, with the words that he had suffered so far, he gave a congratulatory speech about the future of the Empire, and then he raised his wine glass and declared.

“Enjoy yourself to the fullest today.”

At the same time, people began to move in unison.

It was a little different from the Victory Banquet.

At that time, there were nobles of all ranks, so if they mainly gathered around those in power, now we gathered with people who were originally close or who had built friendships on the battlefield.

Perhaps that’s why no one approached Rudrick.

No, to be precise, there were one or two people who wanted to talk to him. 

However, if they say, ‘Congratulations on becoming a Duke,’ a normal person should always answer something like ‘Thank you’ or say something special, but instead of replying, Rudrick clearly ignored their words.

Even if they talk to him, he won’t answer back, so people get tired and fall off first. 

In the end, Rudrick, who naturally shook people, headed straight to one place.

‘Straight to me.’

“It’s really burdensome.”

Seriously, it was a composition in which the social world had no choice but to circulate.

The cold northern Duke, who doesn’t talk to anyone, only hangs out with his childhood friend, the Princess.

But even if I tell Rudrick, ‘You should do some social activities now,’ it won’t work. 

Unlike when he was young, even if he became a swords master, he wouldn’t have to interact with the people of the capital when he returns to the north.

‘Come to think of it, now that you’ve been awarded your title, do you want to go back to the North right away? But he said that for the time being he will remain in the capital…’ Dahlia thought deeply.

While I was lost in thought, Rudrick was right in front of me. Feeling his gaze watching me, I finally came to my senses, then he slightly frowned and opened his mouth to say something.

“Is there something wrong—?”

“Your Excellency, Duke of Bouser.”

But his words didn’t continue. Someone called Rudrick, we both looked in the direction where the voice came from at the same time, and I was implicitly convinced.

‘Something has come!’

He was the servant of the Emperor.