I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend Chapter 112

 

“Mmm, it’s cold.”

 

I bundled the fur around my body tightly.

 

The chill in the air was palpable even though we were inside, the frost on the windows, the tall trees densely packed against the white landscape outside.

 

“It’s the North.”

 

Technically, it was still early in the day. But we had traveled here in just three days, a journey that would take at least a week even on a tight schedule.

 

All thanks to a portal owned by the Magic Tower.

 

“It’s all thanks to you, Princess!”

 

“Ha, but are you sure you don’t mind, you paid for it all…”

 

“For my lady, this is the price of chewing gum.”

 

At the same time, the people’s gazes toward me changed.

 

When I first suggested using the portal on the Magic Tower portal. Not only the division commanders, but even the imperial knights were not pleased.

 

One of the reactions was, ‘Where are you going to get such a huge amount of money?’, which made me, who hadn’t thought about it until then, feel uneasy, ‘How much is it?’

 

I knew that the cost of the portal was beyond the reach of most commoners.

 

However, I didn’t know the exact amount because I had never been restricted by money while using the portal before.

 

Eventually, against their wishes, I convinced them to give it a try, just once, and was surprised when they accepted the fee.

 

‘Eh? How much is it?’

 

I wasn’t bluffing, I was serious, it was less than the salary I paid Hestia.

 

Of course, it was an amount that ordinary people couldn’t easily afford, but I’m not an ordinary person.

 

As soon as I saw the amount, I paid for the portal to the northern gates on the spot.

 

Not to mention that the eyes of the people who had been looking at me like an immature young lady changed in an instant.

 

Reactions ranged from admiration and adoration to concern.

 

People’s reactions were mixed, but mostly in a good way. The portal in the Magic Tower had saved them from having to march all that way.

 

“…”

 

However, there were still some who were not pleased.

 

Most notably, Rudrick Bouser, the leader of the Trailing Corps and the commander of the entire expedition.

 

‘No, why?’

 

He was also one of the most outspoken opponents of my proposal to use the portal in the tower.

 

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. I expected him to say yes, of course.

 

For a man who hated to ask for favors, I couldn’t help but think that he was in a rush to get the Emperor’s permission to use the portal.

 

The original plan was to travel to the northern entrance in a week, a distance that would have taken a month if traveling slowly by wagon.

 

But in reality, he made every excuse in the book to avoid using the portal.

 

By the time we reached the entrance to the north, three days later, the air was already heavier down there than when we left.

 

‘What’s wrong?’

 

At first, I wondered if he was upset because I had ruined his best-laid plans, but the reactions of the other knights suggested that wasn’t the case.

 

Then I realized that I hadn’t made a very good impression…

 

‘Rudrick?’

 

It wasn’t until later that I heard something that gave me a clue.

 

It was Duke Bouser himself who recommended Lord Goldman as a delegate to the selection committee.

 

‘What?’

 

It wasn’t even just a suggestion. It was ‘highly recommended’ as if Lord River was the only one who could do it.

 

The imperial knight who delivered the news to me praised their friendship, saying, ‘After all, after going through the war together, it seems that they are in good hands.’

 

But when I heard the news, I realized it wasn’t just friendship.

 

I immediately pictured Rudrick’s face, smiling with genuine pleasure as he told me, ‘Goldman left first.’

 

‘No way?’

 

Maybe, just maybe, Rudrick had sent Lord River away first on purpose.

 

This would explain why Rudrick had objected to the tower’s portal, and also why he had been unwelcoming when we arrived ahead of schedule.

 

Perhaps he sent Sir River first on purpose to prevent us from meeting, and my intervention allowed us to reach him sooner.

 

And the last person he wants to encounter is Lord River…

 

“They say the vanguard has arrived!”

 

My thoughts were interrupted. 

 

I scrambled to my feet and headed straight for the window.

 

After roughly wiping off the frost from the window due to the difference in temperature from outside, I looked directly down and saw a group of people halted outside the building.

 

At the forefront of the group, I spotted a gorgeous honey blonde.

 

‘They’re here!’

 

I ran out of the room without a second glance.

Descending the stairs, I saw Hestia and a few other familiar faces standing in the main hall, drinking in the tavern. I didn’t even have time to greet them warmly before heading straight for the front door.

 

And with that, the door swung open, a fierce north wind blowing in my face, and there was…

 

“Lord River!”

 

🌸

 

I hadn’t seen Lord River in a long time.

 

His dazzling appearance was still the same, as was his unique charming demeanor, which seemed to brighten the surroundings even when he stood still.

 

Dressed in the gold-embroidered robes of the Imperial Knights and draped in a cloak, he looked like a prince…

 

When he smiled warmly at me, the fierce wind around me turned into the gentle breeze of a spring day.

 

I walked toward him, basking in the first ray of sunshine I’d ever encountered in the rainy north, and as we turned to face each other, he spontaneously kissed the back of my hand and said.

 

“It’s been a long time, Lord River. Is this the first time since the party?”

 

“How have you been, Dahlia? I should have come to see you before…”

 

“That’s fine, you’ve been writing to me consistently, haven’t you? I’m sure you’ve been busy organizing things, but still, my lord.”

 

I pouted, puffing out my cheeks, “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving first? Lord River was going to the North, too, and I was so excited to see you…”

 

“What? Ah…”

 

Lord River scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

 

“I apologize. I didn’t get word to you until late, when I found out I was in the vanguard, rushing to get ready and set off.”

 

“You heard the news late?”

 

“Yes. So I was hoping to get here as soon as possible so I could greet you first…”

 

He soon broke off with an embarrassed smile, “Looks like I’m late again.”

 

Mesmerized by his soft laugh, I almost blurted out, ‘I can wait forever,’ but I managed to control my response.

 

Then I clenched my fist, thumped him on the chest, and said in a teasing tone

 

“Next time, you have to let me know? If you don’t…”

 

“If I don’t?”

 

At the sudden words of a deep voice, I stiffened.

 

I’d been feeling a hot gaze on the side of my face for some time now, and now I realized something I’d forgotten.

 

Before I came downstairs to find Lord River, I realized I was already talking to someone. In my momentary distraction, someone had also been watching me from the moment I appeared.

 

And that someone was obvious.

 

“Does that mean you’re going to beat me with your fist if I don’t?”

 

“Ru, Rudrick…!”

 

Rudrick, his eyes as cold as ever, was staring at me with his arms crossed.

 

Or more accurately, squeezed between Lord River and me, his face contorted.

 

His face frozen even more intensely than usual as to what bothered him so much, Rudrick spoke in a sarcastic tone.

 

“I don’t know what that means…”

 

“I’ve noticed you’ve gotten a little more violent, threatening me with your fists.”

 

“No, wait, there…”

 

“Now you’re even clenching your fists. You must be really upset, huh?”

 

“Dahlia?”

 

Before I could even respond, Rudrick clicked his tongue.

 

“You’d better behave yourself, Goldman. You look like you’ve been bitten.”

 

‘Hey!’

 

But before I could scream, Lord River turned to look at me, and I had to scramble to keep a straight face.

 

I put on my best innocent face and stretched my hand out wide, covering my gaping lips, while my other hand surreptitiously slipped behind and started to furiously scratch Rudrick’s back.

 

“Ohh, just kidding, jeez. You know, Rudrick likes to joke around like this sometimes.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re kidding, right?”

 

He didn’t answer, but rather averted his gaze so that I could stare at him with burning eyes.

 

This guy, he’s just going to pretend like he doesn’t know?

 

Lord River, who had been watching us silently as I patted his stony back, laughed softly as if he understood.

 

“This is the first time that I have noticed… Dahlia seems to be different after all.”

 

“What?”

 

“Haha, no, of course I know you’re joking.”

 

“Ahaha, of course, there’s no way I’d do that…”

 

“Of course, I’ll behave better in the future, so please don’t hate me too much.”

 

Looking at his smile as he said that, I had a hard time deciding if he was joking or serious. 

 

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wonder for long.

 

“Then will you give me a chance to make amends?”

 

Lord River said wittily, extending his hand to me.

 

Relieved, I decided to play along with his joke, resisting the urge to take his hand.

 

“I’m not such an easy girl, so what are you going to do to make up for it?”

 

“Something to do with our next meeting.”

 

The next meeting?

 

Rudrick’s gaze snapped to Lord River, who kept his gaze elsewhere at the same time, but I shook my head, still unable to make out the words.

 

“What? What’s that…”

 

“I was just talking to Lord Bouser about it.”

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

Lord River didn’t bother to answer, but cut straight to the chase, “I’m afraid we’re not traveling in the carriage you rode in.”

 

“My carriage?”

 

“Yes. The terrain is rugged as we enter the northern realm, and the mana ripples are not good, so a normal carriage would quickly break down.”

 

“I see.”

 

Staring at Lord River, who was surprisingly knowledgeable about the north, I urgently said, as if I had a sudden thought.

 

“Then how am I to get there if I can’t take a carriage…”

 

“Normally, you’d have to walk, or travel on horseback…”

 

‘What, a horse?’

 

My face paled for a moment.

 

Lord River took my hand once more.  He leaned down, kissed the back of my hand, and said, “Will you allow me to accompany the Princess?”