I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend Chapter 116

🌸

 

The rest of the journey was more comfortable than expected.

 

This was thanks in part to the fact that Rudrick had slowed the march for me.

 

Unlike in the beginning, when we were pushing the carriage to its limits, we would slow down and rest at intervals that made me think, ‘Already?’

 

To be honest, I expected to survive such a slow march, but the other knights did not.

 

It delayed our march and slowed us down even more, covering a distance we would have covered in two days at a normal pace.

 

Needless to say, I was deeply troubled by the disgruntled glances I saw everywhere. But I couldn’t ask them to speed up, which made me feel even more guilty.

 

Finally, with nothing else to do but throw money at them, I decided to do so again.

 

Each time I rested, I gave the knights a small amount of pocket money, or whenever I stopped in town for a short time, I gave them a large sum.

 

Each time, the knights stopped me, saying it was unnecessary.

 

— ‘Princess, you don’t have to do that.’

 

— ‘Yes, it is our duty to ensure your safety.’

 

— ‘I’m sorry, please let it go.’

 

— ‘Aww, you didn’t have to do this. I’m sorry…’

 

But I knew it. The pockets were getting deeper and deeper with each rest, and I was strangely looking forward to the next one.

 

With that tacit agreement with the knights, I didn’t have to look any further.

 

What this meant was that I had no hesitation in visiting Sir River between breaks.

 

After the first break, our lessons continued.

 

I was the first to actively seek out Lord River, clutching the string like a lifeline and searching for him with eager eyes, and at first glance, I looked like an overzealous student burning with academic fever.

 

But the reality was quite different.

 

Burning with desire to learn. I was blinded by the thought of how I could casually flirt with Lord River.

 

Luckily, he didn’t notice it. On the contrary, he would greet me whenever I came to visit and would teach me with even more enthusiasm.

 

“Lord River, look at this, don’t you think it’s about right?”

 

“Ah, Dahlia. This is… well…”

 

Of course, I’ve been tying knots in all sorts of grotesque shapes with every ounce of uncreative skill I have.

 

Lord River laughed uncomfortably, but never gave up on me.

 

“I think you’d better fix this one like this.”

 

“Like this?”

 

“Oh, no. Hold this one like this.”

 

“Oh… This is hard. Can you try this side too?”

 

“Sure. Now, hold it with both hands like this…”

 

And my smile widened with the interaction.

 

At first, he was awkward about touching me, but…

 

He seemed to have gotten used to the idea of reaching out to me and holding my hand, so I had to push down my excitement.

 

‘Isn’t this progressing faster than I thought?’

 

I thought it would happen when we returned, but… If this happens, I wonder if it could be possible even before we arrive at the ducal residence. 

 

‘But aren’t love affairs in other people’s houses a bit of a mess?’

 

I was immersed in a blissful dream as I made plans for the future, wondering what if there were three of us when we returned, and what would be a good name for a grandchild.

 

But it didn’t last long. It was interrupted by an unexpected intruder.

 

“Goldman? I don’t know, something urgent needs to be done.”

 

” Well, you need to discuss the schedule with me.”

 

“Well, that’s not a very creative way to put it. If it’s impossible to get through to him, shouldn’t you just give up?”

 

That’s exactly when Rudrick started getting in between us.

 

After Rudrick exposed some of my tricks, somehow Lord River became busier. At first, he’d come to me first, but then I had to find him on my own.

 

It wasn’t just that; when he was finally free, if I tried to approach him, he’d say he had urgent business to attend to, or that he had a meeting to attend to.

 

And when he finally had time after all that crap… I’d find him sitting in class, shoved between Lord River and me.

 

“Ooh, I’m not sure, so if this is how it works…” (Dahlia)

 

“No, not like that…” (River)

 

“Of course, you’re supposed to turn it the other way, what are you doing with your left hand?” (Rudrick)

 

“…Oh, right, so I turn it like this?” (Dahlia)

 

“Why are you turning it the other way when I told you to turn it to the left? Have you finished the whole thing now?”  (Rudrick)

 

You, you bastard…!

 

I couldn’t bring myself to scream, and I had to struggle to keep a straight face. However, the corners of my mouth twitched as anger surged inside me.

 

If only Lord River would disappear. I’ll pound that broad back of yours with all my might.

 

As I was huffing and puffing, Lord River, who had been smiling awkwardly between us, spoke belatedly in a comforting tone.

 

“Everyone’s good at different things, I understand.” (River)

 

He was referring back to my lack of talent.

 

“Well, of course, how can anyone be good at everything?” (Dahlia)

 

“Haha, you’re right. With a little more practice, Dahlia, you’ll be…” (River)

 

“But I was wondering.” (Rudrick)

 

Again, why, oh, not again!

 

I glared at him with resentment and agitation, wondering what he was trying to do to get me in trouble again…

 

“Why do you keep saying Dahlia, Dahlia, Dahlia?” (Rudrick)

 

I was stunned by his unexpected question. But unlike me, Lord River was sincere in his answer.

 

“Dahlia has given me permission to call her by name before, so that’s what I have been doing.” (River)

 

“Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable, though, to be so constantly addressed with such polite titles?” (Rudrick)

 

“It’s not uncomfortable…”  (Dahlia)

 

“No, of course, it’s uncomfortable, because if you’re close to someone, you should always call them by their nickname to show your closeness.” (Rudrick)

 

His impudence in proceeding with this matter without listening to others almost made me click my tongue. But at the same time, I understood his point.

 

Surely, if you’re close enough, you should be able to call someone by a friendly nickname.

 

Sir River’s name sounds like a pet name to begin with, so I don’t think it’s necessary, but still, it seems a bit stiff to keep calling him ‘Sir’, doesn’t it?

 

‘Should I drop the ‘sir’ next time?’ I paused in thought.

 

Now, wait a minute. Nickname…? My nickname…?

 

“I’m just wondering why you keep referring strictly to Dahlia, when I’m sure she has a nickname.” (Rudrick)

 

No!

 

I snapped out of it, realizing what he was trying to get at.

 

But Lord River, oblivious to my feelings, looked back at me innocently and asked inquisitively.

 

“Do you have a nickname?” (River)

 

“Oh, well, I…” (Dahlia)

 

“I see. We used to call each other by our nicknames when we were younger.” (Rudrick)

 

When did that happen?

 

This guy, you were shocked and even fainted when you heard my nickname as a child. Even now, you couldn’t possibly think it’s so abominable to call me by my nickname and still try to make a show of it.

 

As I glared at him, demanding that he either leave immediately or take responsibility for what he had said, the crisis came from another direction.

 

“In that case, can I… Can you tell me?” (River)

 

It was Lord River.

 

“What? My… nickname, you mean my nickname?” (Dahlia)

 

“Yeah, unfortunately, I don’t have a nickname, so I don’t have anything I can tell you, but…. I’d love to call you that if you’d just let me know…” (River)

 

“Well, I see.” (Dahlia)

 

“Ah! Of course, if you don’t mind, you don’t have to tell me.” (River)

 

Why are those eyes sparkling like that for someone who says it’s fine?

 

He was right, I was embarrassed.

 

I was embarrassed, like crazy embarrassed.

 

Regardless of whether my nickname was embarrassing to the person calling me or the person hearing it, it was just too much to call me that.

 

‘Darling’ seems like such a sweet name. Could I use that as a punishment if we’re not even dating yet?

 

Of course, when we get married, he’ll say, sweetheart, darling, sweetie, and honey, but maybe it’s too soon when we’re just flirting.

 

Still, if he calls me ‘darling’ in a sweet voice, that’s pretty…

 

‘Don’t be harsh, Dahlia Averine!’

 

It’s a magic word that stunned even the young Rudrick. If spoken out loud, it’ll be sweet or awkward again.

 

Although I had to do a lot of tricks to make the kissing feel natural, I couldn’t go back to the way it was.

 

Okay, no matter how much I think about it, this simply hasn’t worked, so there’s only one thing left…

 

I looked up, determined, and managed to get the words out in a shaky tone.

 

“Well, I wish I could tell you, but… I haven’t been called since I was a kid, so it’s a little awkward.”

 

“Oh, if it’s too much trouble.”

 

“No, but still, it is Sir River, and I’d like to tell you.”

 

I lifted my hand and clasped his.

 

Whether or not Rudrick’s face contorted beside me, I tightened my grip on his hand and said in a firm voice.

 

“Just wait a minute.”

 

🌸

 

With the most serious look in the world, I glanced around. Before me sat familiar faces. Lord Leona, Lord Ethan, and Hestia.

 

We were crammed into a crowded carriage as a group.

 

Not only that, we were all sitting hunched over at the waist, exchanging earnest glances as if in some kind of secret conspiracy.

 

“What do you think will be good?”

 

The reason we’re here was pretty simple.

 

It was to create my nickname.

 

After all, Rudrick had already blurted out that I had a nickname, so I was determined to give it to him.

 

To top it all off, Lord River had laughed so happily at my ‘prepare yourself, and I’ll tell you!’ comment that I couldn’t help but bite my tongue.

 

Instead, I decided to give him a fake nickname.

 

No, there was an obvious mistake in the word fake. I’m about to abandon my original nickname and be reborn with a new one.

 

To do that, I needed a plausible nickname. Something that would be as natural as possible, something that would be easier to call me and not feel weird.

 

“So, tell me, what do you think?”

 

Lord Leona was the first to answer.

“Why don’t we go with something simple, two syllables, after all?”

 

“That’s what I was thinking, too, but…”

 

I trailed off, sighing heavily, “I just don’t have the right combination of words.”

 

Hestia, who had been listening to us from the side, spoke up and began listing all the possible nicknames for my name.

 

“Dali, Dal, Liddal, Lia, Ali, Adal… Definitely some…”

 

“I guess the only one that’s decent is ‘Lia,’ but what do you think?”

 

I shook my head firmly, “No. It’s too common.”

 

If I could gather all the young ladies in society with that nickname and put them on the streets, they’d wrap around the palace. Lord Leona nodded in agreement.

 

“That’s right, there are several people around me with similar nicknames, so…”

 

“Yes, we need something else, something not too common, but not too unusual, something with a lovely ring to it…!”

 

My rambling wish was met with incredulous stares from those around me, but seeing my sincere intent, they lowered their heads again.

 

A heavy silence descended, and everyone was troubled.

 

Suddenly, Sir Ethan spoke up, “Come to think of it, wasn’t it once fashionable to repeat a letter twice to form a nickname?”

 

My head snapped up at his words, “Yes, that’s it!”

 

I remembered that from the cartoons I’d seen in my previous life.

 

Dodo, Lele, Mimi, etc… The names are simple, but they have a nice regularity to them through the repetition of syllables, and they’re pretty cute.

 

Ethan scrunched his nose in pride at my positive response. Once we had some direction, they started to come up with these run-of-the-mill alternatives.

 

“How about Lili? I mean, it’s not like we’re in a hurry.”

 

“Yeah, we could use some coffee.”

 

“That’s okay. Lili is kind of common, but…”

 

“Or maybe a variation, like ‘Lili’?”

 

“Wouldn’t that be too far from the original name?”

 

Amid our enthusiastic conversation, I heard a sullen muttering from somewhere.

 

“Daldal…”  (달-Dal is a word for sweet)

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“Daldali…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

I looked at Sir Ethan, who was silent for a moment, and then replied calmly, pointing to the door.

 

“Get him out.”