I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend Chapter 200

With everything else going on, time flew by, and before long, I had to start preparing to leave.

 

Some of the people who heard about my study abroad expressed interest in joining me. 

 

One of the most enthusiastic was none other than…

 

“Me, I want to come with you!”

 

“Hestia?”

 

Puzzled, I looked at her. I had given her a healing center in her name, as I had promised her earlier. Of course, I’d hired all the staff, so she could run as the boss.

 

But Hestia’s enthusiasm soon turned to depression. She wasn’t making enough money to support a single clinic.

 

“I suppose so. I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of the fatigue remedy.”

 

When I agreed quietly, she rambled on.

 

“I think I’m just more comfortable working with you, developing medicine. I’m better suited to research, and it’s more lucrative…”

 

Somehow the last part sounded like she meant it. I nodded coldly, knowing it would be better for me if she came with me.

 

“Okay.”

 

Then I glanced back at Cecile and asked.

 

“So, Cecile, do you want to come?”

 

“What? Oh, I…”

 

But she gave me an awkward smile that I didn’t expect. Then she spilled the beans.

 

“You’re dating someone?!”

 

Stunned, I thought Cecile was exceptionally well-adjusted to the capital, but before I knew it, she was in a relationship.

 

The guy was a knight in shining armor, she told me. I was delighted and wished her happiness.

 

And when a few more days passed.

 

[Dear Princess Dahlia Averine.]

 

A letter came to me.

 

Few people would write to me in such a private manner, unless it was someone of business importance, or someone with whom I had a personal relationship.

 

As soon as I recognized the sender, I accepted it.

 

[River Goldman.]

 

The letter was simple. It starts with a greeting, asks how I’ve been, tells me what’s been going on, and says he’s heard from me and hopes I’m safe.

 

But at the end of the letter, he wrote this

 

[…thank you for letting me know.]

 

There was only one reason he would have written that.

 

‘O’Neill.’

 

Because I was the one who told him the news.

 

Not that I gave him any tidbits of information about her, just one word: ‘O’Neill is gone,’ I told him.

 

It was just a courtesy, and he thanked me sincerely, adding, “I don’t want any trouble if you come to the capital and find her.”

 

[I don’t mind, but I’m going to try and find her again, for I think I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I let her go, and your reminder has made me determined…]

 

For a long moment, I stared at the words with mixed feelings. Maybe she’d disappear before he could find her, and he’d have to spend the rest of his life wandering in vain hope.

 

Thinking about telling him, I decided against it.

 

Instead, I wrote in my reply, [Good luck.]

 

Whether that was the right choice, I still don’t know.

 

When I was done writing to Lord River.

 

The day of my departure arrived.

 

💫

 

“Shall we just go?”

 

Before boarding the ship, I muttered nervously to Rudrick.

 

Rudrick had come to see me off to the harbor.

 

At first, I stopped him, thinking that he wasn’t the kind of person who would take the time to see me off, and that I wouldn’t want to part with him until the end.

 

And, as it turns out, I was right.

 

“No matter what I think about it, it’s still too soon, and I should have done it when Father said we could delay…”

 

“…”

 

“No, maybe it’s not too late, and I’ll lose some money for all the preparation, but I’ll make up for it…”

 

“Dahlia.”

 

Rudrick, who had been watching me ramble, interrupted.

 

“You’ve already made up your mind.”

 

“But…”

 

“You said we could see each other every once in a while, not as often as before, and the transportation is good, so we can keep in touch.”

 

“…”

 

But he looked more relaxed than I was, far from sad, so I spoke bluntly, feeling unnecessarily grumpy.

 

“You can’t cheat.”

 

“That’s ridiculous.”

 

“You have to write back and forth.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Don’t get sick, don’t get hurt.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“And…”

 

I paused for a moment, then muttered in a small voice.

 

“If you can’t wait… just tell me.”

 

“…”

 

“Well, you’ve been waiting all this time, and now you have to wait again, so I can understand if you’re getting tired…”

 

“No. 

 

Rudrick said firmly.

 

“It’s not going to happen.”

 

He glared at me. The way he said it, his mouth was set in a hard line, and at first glance, he looked like he was about to lose his temper. 

 

I smiled bitterly and tried to think of something to say to him.

 

“Then…”

 

“Dahlia!”

 

But my words didn’t get through. Jeron shouted from right behind me. I spun around, realizing the urgency in his expression.

 

“I guess we’re leaving.”

 

It was time to say goodbye, for real.

 

With that, I let go of his hand. For a moment, his gaze followed mine. I forced the corners of my mouth upwards and said.

 

“Bye.”

 

With those words, I turned away from Rudrick.

 

I stumbled up the stairs, trying not to fall. In the center of the ship, Jeron was waiting for me, and I was about to climb aboard.

 

Just as I was about to climb aboard, I glanced back.

 

Then I sprinted down the stairs toward Rudrick. I could hear Jeron shouting something in panic, and I could see Rudrick’s surprised expression right in front of me, but I didn’t stop. 

 

I stopped at the top of one staircase, looked down at him, and shouted.

 

“No, actually, I don’t understand!”

 

“What?”

 

“I know you don’t care because you say this all the time, but I know you’re going through something again…”

 

“What…”

 

“Wait.”

 

Taking his hand where I’d let go, I held it again.

 

“I’ll be back as quickly as I can. I’ll do whatever it takes to speed things up.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll take all my vacations and come see you. I’ll come see you once or twice a year, maybe twice or three times that.”

 

“And if I get kicked out.”

 

“I don’t care. There’s no one else to succeed me, so who cares?”

 

“Well…”

 

Rudrick burst out laughing. But I was as serious as ever.

 

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, but I need you to wait one more time. I swear, if I come back this time, I’ll jump at your side…”

 

“Dahlia.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I looked at him questioningly.

 

“It’s never been hard.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t know what you’re mistaking, but I’m better at waiting than you think, and I’ve never had a hard time waiting for you.”

 

“I…”

 

Before I could reply, I heard what sounded like Rudrick talking to himself.

 

“And I’ve been waiting for you for more time than you know.”

 

“What?”

 

But Rudrick said no more; he simply took my hand in his and gently pulled it toward him.

 

Before I knew it, my body was leaning toward him, and for a moment, his face was close. The soft touch of his lips on mine.

 

“…!”

 

But his lips parted quickly, and he grabbed my shoulder and smirked.

 

“Go.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll be waiting here.”

 

I was unable to form any response.

 

My lips burned against his, even if it was only for a moment, and for some reason it tickled my heart.

 

And then, suddenly, I remembered something.

 

In the white space before the spell was broken, I saw the former Rudrick. His body was crumbling, but he was looking in my direction, and he must have muttered something.

 

Perhaps his words to me were…

 

“Be happy.”

 

Blinking slowly, looking at him. Then I laughed out loud. Maybe it was just my imagination, but the moment I remembered those words, it felt like this was really the moment…

 

“I’m happy.”

 

“What?”

 

“Haha.”

 

I hugged him tightly.

 

He frowned at me with an expression I didn’t recognize, then let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh and hugged me back.

 

Feeling his strong arms around me, I closed my eyes. To remember this body temperature for as long as possible. I squeezed the hand that held him, and said to myself.

 

‘Yes, I will be happy.’

 

Recalling every version of Rudrick in my memory.

 

‘With you.’

 

Now he and I would part.

 

We won’t see each other again for a long time, and I’m sure we’ll miss each other more than we ever have before, and we’ll struggle with it often.

 

That’s okay. Because now we’d be together for a lot longer than that.

 

Pulling myself away, I stared at him.

 

Rudrick’s gaze followed mine. I smiled, looking into my favorite blue eyes in the world, the kind that sparkle so beautifully in the sunlight.

 

“Shall we go today?” 

 

《I Became the Male Lead’s Female Friend ~ COMPLETION 》