I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

   I only need to dress up as a woman once, but I couldn’t call her by a nickname. If Dahlia calls me by a nickname, I should call her too… Rather, I thought I’d rather keep my eyes closed and endure the shame just once. He thought that if he only had to endure this time, if he only fulfilled Dahlia’s goal, if he dresses up as a woman, then nothing worse would come out. But the situation really got worse. He was wrong for thinking that the game would be the same. Dahlia was more extraordinary than I thought. She suggested that we play ‘the newlyweds’ game, rather than our usual small play. The problem was that he couldn’t escape because he was caught up in the bizarre setting that Dahlia arranged one after another. When he came to his senses, he was thrown into the middle of a role play, and then… “How could I say such a thing…!” He couldn’t overcome his shame and ran away crying. It was then that Rudrick first met him. The fact that when the shame reaches its peak, his head turns blank and tears well up. I should have nailed it from the beginning. When Dahlia lays out some unheard-of settings, when she asks to play as newlyweds, when she told me to dress up as a woman for the role and brings out a dress. No, before that. Right before we decided on who’s the wife and husband. [Am I prettier or are you prettier?] -When Dahlia asked. But Rudrick, who buried his head in his lap, still couldn’t speak. How could I say those? Words like ‘Of course, you’re prettier’ that I’ve barely been able to say even alone. “I couldn’t.” Rudrick closed his eyes tightly. ‘That’s what I wanted to say later.’ Really later, a little bigger… When he grows bigger than Dahlia, like the Dahlia who dressed up as a man he saw today, or even more neat and handsome than Dahlia… I wanted to tell you then. ‘Could I tell you…?’ Somehow, Rudrick had a hunch that he would not be able to say it easily in the future, or even as an adult. But he couldn’t admit it, so he had no choice but to look up at the sky… The sun, which had been in the center of the sky, had already set for a long time. Rudrick, who was chasing the trail blankly, opened his eyes wide. “Oops.” He just tried to hide for a bit until he calmed down, but as the time to think became longer, the amount of time he was hiding increased considerably. Wouldn’t Dahlia be looking for me by now? Rudrick, who was unconsciously worried, burst out laughing for a moment. When I ran out, I was so angry that I didn’t want to see her for a while, but I laughed even though it was unfamiliar, thinking that Dahlia was looking for me I felt better. ‘But I still have to go back.’ If it’s too late for Dahlia to worry about it, I don’t think she’d like it. After patting his legs for a moment, Rudrick immediately got up and went to Dahlia. If only some thug hadn’t stood in his way. “Fairy?”  ✤ Jeron Hayward. He was not the precious youngest son of the prestigious Earl Hayward… he was the family’s punching bag. His parents were upset every day when they saw him who was less than his two older brothers, and the older brothers were more devoted to tormenting their younger brother. And the family’s easy-going sandbag had no choice but to be dragged away without being able to resist his parents’ words, ‘Let’s visit the Duke of Averine together’ today. He protested a little bit, asking why it was him rather than his great older brothers, but the reason his parents said was simple. ‘The Duke’s daughter was the same age.’ In short, Princess Averine was the same age as him, so they wanted to take him to meet her. Besides, it was not only Princess Averine. Apparently, other visitors were also there at the time that his parents were aiming to visit. “The Duchess of Bouser was also here.” “Right? That’s great. The Duke of Bouser doesn’t interact with other nobles, but it’s good for us to introduce ourselves.” “Right? It’s just that my son also came. They’re about the same age as Jeron.” “With Jeron?” While he was eating happily, he had to receive the burdensome gaze of his parents at once without knowing what was happening. Jeron didn’t know what to do. Why does he have to follow his visiting parents on business and why his parents keep pressuring him and say, ‘Our Jeron’s friendly?’ Anyway, he’s only visiting another noble’s house, so why was he trembling like this nervously… ‘It’s because of Bouser.’ Yes. It’s all because of the Duchess of Bouser, especially the son of Duke Bouser. Had it been for Princess Averine, he wouldn’t have been so scared. Rumors about Princess Averine in the capital were good. She’s the only daughter of a family with such a high-status, and unlike him who’s beaten every day at home, she’s loved by everyone. Some people say that she has a good personality, some say that she’s kind and friendly, and some say that there was no such beautiful and elegant young lady like her. I didn’t know which rumors were true, but it was also true that the more I heard the rumors, the more my fantasies about the princess grew. But Jeron Hayward was also a pessimistic boy who realized the harshness of reality early on at a young age. ‘Heh, it’s all just an image…’ Wouldn’t it be like that when you were originally from a Duke family? It’s easy to spread good rumors in advance before the princess enters society, or people who want to look good to the Duke of Averine voluntarily spread good rumors. There’s nothing good to believe in the world. Just like Jeron’s older brothers are good older brothers who think of the youngest brother terribly. ‘But the Duke of Bouser was a little different.’ Unlike the Duke of Averine, who has been rumored to be good in the capital, the Dukes of Bouser had the exact opposite. For example, it’s notorious for being more terrifying than a monster’s den. What do you mean, a family without blood or tears? A world of jungle where only powerful people could survive. Because in itself, no matter how close it was to the Duke’s blood, it was said that the Duke of Bowser was merciless and cut down if it fell short. Even that great Duke was said to be cruel, which was one of the great Dukes of all time. He wondered how a son grew up under such a Duke. Jeron heard that the Duke was also the same age. ‘They say he had great swordsmanship skills, he might already be a big man and looked pretty ugly. I heard you also don’t have a good personality either. Wait, then if I go against him wouldn’t he pull the sword first? Or would he cut his opponent down without mercy?’ In Jeron’s head, the son of Duke Bouser had long since turned into a monster like no other in the world. I felt sorry for Princess Averine, who had to face such a monster often just because he was close to her family. ‘I’m gonna save you…!’ But Jeron Hayward was as realistic a boy as he was also pessimistic. Though he was delusional for a while, he clearly understood his situation. If he complained that he felt sorry for the princess, he would have been in a more pitiful position. ‘Let’s just stay still.’ In the carriage on the way to the Duke of Averine, Jeron made that decision. Let’s sleep quietly until we arrive at Duke’s house, and then run away while my parents are busy. I’ll be scolded by my parents later, but I know something. Anyway, I’d get scolded no matter what I do, doing what I want and being scolded would have left me with less regrets. ‘Well, it’s not because I’m scared of the son of Duke Bouser!’ Brainwashed himself, Jeron began to plan his escape before arriving at the Duke of Averine. And when the carriage reached the front gate of the main entrance, it went a long way after the gate opened, and only reached the front of the magnificent mansion, and he immediately started planning. While his parents were busy talking to the person who came to greet them, he slipped out of the way. As a result, Jeron managed to escape. He sneered as if it wasn’t a big deal because he thought he could easily escape. After moving away from the mansion so that no one could find him, he decided to return when the right time came. No matter how big it was, the structure of the mansion was all the same. Jeron believes he would remember everything he’s been through, and he walks triumphantly… “Huh?” That’s how he got lost. It was strange. He clearly left a mark in the middle to make it easier to find the way back, but at some point he was spinning around the mark. And now, when he went around exactly the same place the tenth time, he subtly felt it. ‘I’m screwed.’ Jeron was just trying to go to a place where no one could find him, but he could end up dying alone. No, even if I say that I won’t die, wouldn’t even my parents be able to find me if this happens? So should I be homeless here on this cold night? ‘I couldn’t!’ Jeron’s jaw trembled at the series of negative thoughts. ‘No, I’m still too young to die here! I haven’t gotten recognition from my parents yet, and I haven’t hit the back of my brothers’ heads. I’ve never been in a relationship…!’