I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend Chapter 203 - Side Story 3 - Friends or Lovers

It wasn’t until now that I realized that maybe it wasn’t me that was the problem, but Rudrick was fainting…

 

But it’s okay. It’s all for the sake of me and Rudrick’s pink future!

 

‘Wait for me, Rudrick!’

 

Rudrick, I’m coming…

 

Here I come, full of more vitality than even I could handle!

 

The Duchy of Bouser, in the northern part of the Hyperonian Empire.

 

Rudrick Bouser, the current Duke of Bouser, ruler of the vast territory and protector of the north, stood on the small dock at the eastern end of the city.

 

‘They should be here soon…’

 

Rudrick gazed out at the distant horizon.

 

The northern part of the island was mostly mountainous, with rugged terrain adjacent to the Dark Forest.

 

The only place with water was Corsica, a town on the eastern edge of the country, which was being revitalized as the north’s only marina after the last Duke Bouser cleared out the demons and stabilized the town.

 

But no matter how improved it was, it paled in comparison to the docks at Leven, the best in the south, and perhaps the best in the Empire. 

 

That’s why Rudrick had first urged Dahlia to come north via the Corsican docks.

 

— “Come to Leven. I’ll be in the capital when you arrive.”

 

— “Rudrick.”

 

Dahlia nudged him gently.

 

— “You can’t always leave the North at will, and it takes quite a while to get to the capital from the North.”

 

— “But…”

 

— “It’s because I’m impatient.”

 

Dahlia smirked.

 

— “I want to be with you, Rudrick, just a little longer.”

 

How could he say no to that?

 

Rudrick felt the same way as Dahlia, maybe even more so. He’d often wanted to leave his job to be with her.

 

So in the end, Rudrick had no choice but to nod. But on one condition.

 

— “Then I’ll pick you up.”

 

— “Huh?”

 

— “Just let me know the time before you arrive. I’ll be right on time.”

 

The truth was that I was waiting for the entire day for you to come, even if she didn’t tell me the time.

 

He didn’t bother to tell her. Dahlia gave him a look that said, ‘Why?’ but she accepted. The way she smiled and hugged him was adorable.

 

“Okay.”

 

After that, Rudrick greeted Dahlia every day she came to visit.

 

It was better than sitting in his office waiting for her, of course. It wasn’t as bad as taking the whole day off work to go to the dock and wait for her.

 

But the reality was… Rudrick was regretting it a little.

 

“I never thought waiting would be so hard.”

 

He’d told Dahlia he could wait forever, but if he had it to do over again, he wasn’t sure he’d say the same thing.

 

Because, unlike the past, he knows so much now.

 

He realizes how beautiful Dahlia looked beside him, how adorable she was in his arms, how she closed her eyes and pressed a kiss to his lips, how her back shuddered when their lips touched…

 

“…Wake up.”

 

For a moment, Rudrick wanted to slap his cheek.

 

It was like this lately. He wasn’t an animal cub in heat, but just thinking about Dahlia made him feel like an adolescent boy.

 

I don’t know how many times I’ve crushed myself with my hands in my lips, trying to get out of the way whenever I’m in physical contact with her. 

 

Even as his flesh grew tattered on the inside, he couldn’t stop his filthy desires, and later, his fingertips became numb just being around her.

 

What would happen if Dahlia found out about his filthy thoughts? Would she freak out and run away… or not?

 

No, she’d laugh at me to death.

 

She’d probably giggle and come running to me, asking me what I was thinking. Unaware that 

 

I’m holding on for dear life. If it really hits like I imagined, I would panic and not know what to do.

 

‘He is surprisingly shy.’

 

Rudrick still remembers what the Duchess of Avery said as she passed by. 

 

Of course, Rudrick knows. Dahlia acts like she doesn’t, but when it comes down to it, she’s just as shy as he was.

 

Each time, Rudrick feels a strange sense of satisfaction and thirst. 

 

The fullness of being new to each other, and the impatience of not being able to cross that line.

 

‘Will it be the same for her?’

 

Sometimes he wished he could see inside Dahlia’s head as she sat there, looking so innocent, and with that thought, Rudrick turned his gaze back toward the sea.

 

Just then, he heard someone shout.

 

“A ship! I see a ship!”

 

A ship loomed in the distance.

 

There’s Dahlia on that boat. Soon I’ll be able to see her face to face. Rudrick’s heart began to race with the realization.

 

‘Yes, it doesn’t matter.’

 

Whatever thoughts come to mind. Anything would be good, because I just want to spend time with her.

 

Rudrick started walking, a smile dangling from his lips. 

 

The ship docked in the harbor, closer and closer, and the bridge lowered, and people began to descend.

 

Looking around, Rudrick searched for the person he’d been waiting for all this time. 

 

But no matter how long he waited, Dahlia never appeared. Suddenly, Rudrick’s anxiety grew and he frowned.

 

“Ru, Rudrick…!”

 

Rudrick looked up, his face brightening. Then he saw.

 

“Dahlia?”

 

Dahlia, giddily approaching him from the distance.

 

💫

 

A marina in the eastern part of the North, just hours before we arrived in Corsica.

 

I was deep in thought, ‘To wear or not to wear.’

 

The naughty lingerie lined up in a row on my bed.

 

Deep in thought about whether to wear one of them, and if so, what to wear with it.

 

‘Honestly… I don’t think it’s right, I don’t think we should do it today, no, I think it’s good. But then again, it’s delicious when it’s made right, and I’m a good cook, right? Just looking at me makes one’s mouth water…’

 

In truth, I didn’t plan to show Rudrick my overnight transformation right away.

 

Even though I had come in my lingerie ready to seduce him, I needed time to prepare myself. 

 

Ready to not be embarrassed… ready to not want to jump out of my skin with self-hatred…

 

‘You’re beautiful.’

 

Every time I felt small in the presence of so much amazing lingerie, I reminded myself of Olivia’s response.

 

‘Yes, I am pretty. I look good in those, or those… or whatever.’

 

I’d brainwash myself into thinking I looked good.

 

‘Why don’t I just wear it now?!’

 

On a whim, I grabbed one of the undergarments I’d listed, the lacy lingerie that seemed the most wholesome. 

 

Even as I slipped it on, I realized that the silk on my chest was parting and fluttering like a curtain.

 

Even after I had put the lingerie on, I didn’t dare look at myself in the mirror. 

 

Only after I’d slipped my clothes on over them did I feel a surge of pride that I’d made it.

 

‘What the hell, it’s no big deal, Rudrick. You’re in real trouble today!’

 

It was nice to walk out of the door looking so confident…

 

“What are you doing? Why don’t you get off?”

 

“Huh? Uh, no, it’s just…”

 

“Oh, come on, when you’re the one that sang about wanting to get here early, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Come on, hop off!”

 

“Uh, okay… wait, stop, just a second!”

 

‘I’m in trouble, I’m in trouble!’

 

Finally, I got off the boat, and it turned around.

 

As I was wiggling around in the front of the boat, I was stopped by Jeron.

 

Not knowing the full story— no one, but Olivia, would ever know— 

 

Jeron was bewildered and urged me on repeatedly, until finally, when I refused to get off, he grabbed my arm and started dragging me down.

 

I was at the point of panicking that I was being dragged down by Jeron, who had been sitting at his desk with me, even though I had neglected to work out.

 

“Hehe, heh…!”

 

In the distance, I saw Rudrick.

 

One word dominated my mind at that moment.

 

‘X–ed.’

 

As I thought about why I had done this, why I couldn’t even find the gates, why one night was so important, and why I shouldn’t just stop now. 

 

I couldn’t help but look him in the eye.

 

It made me want to cry.

 

“Ru, Rudrick…!”

 

But I’d rather pretend I didn’t care than be caught and publicly humiliated!

 

Remembering Olivia’s ‘I’m pretty’ mantra once again, I straightened my back and walked over to Rudrick, but that was probably a pretty bad idea.

 

“Dahlia.”

 

Rudrick looked worried when he saw me.

 

“Are you hurt?”

 

A cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.

 

‘Ugh, Rudrick. Perhaps I’m a little cold.’

 

Cause these aren’t my usual underwear, they’re a little less fabric. And it’s translucent, so it’s split in half in the front, so it’s very airy. 

 

‘It’s kind of chilly, you know, hahaha!’

 

“No, not really, I’m fine, perfectly fine.”

 

“Your face is red…”

 

But my quivering voice didn’t seem very convincing. 

 

Rudrick, who was now closer, lifted his hand and pressed it to my forehead. The coolness of his touch sent goosebumps all over my body.

 

“You don’t have a fever.”

 

Oblivious to my pounding heart, Rudrick shook his head. Then he knelt on one knee in front of me, exposing his back.

 

“Get on.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You don’t look too well. Do you want me to hold you, or do you want me to hold you differently?”

 

Differently? How? A princess hug?

 

Okay… I hastily shut the words that were about to come out of my mouth. 

 

Rudrick, do you know what would happen if I cuddled up to you… my chest against your back?

 

‘There’s not much fabric there anyway, huh? Would you be able to handle it, I wonder?’ 

 

But my soundless exclamation didn’t reach him.

 

“You must be motion sick. You must be tired, so let’s go.”

 

Poof!

 

Jeron pushes my body.

 

‘Jeron, you bastard…!’

 

Before I could yell, my tilted body landed squarely on Rudrick’s back. 

 

As if that weren’t enough, he didn’t seize the opportunity to scoop me up.

 

The momentary heightened vision made me let out a short scream and wrap my arms around his neck.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

For a moment, my heart sank as my chest pressed against his back, but then I remembered that I’d pulled on a few layers of clothing over my underwear in the cabin.

 

‘Yes, I was that dressed, but no way.’