I Became The Childhood Friend of the Obsessive Second Male Lead

It was all too simple for the mind, once conscious, to grow and turn into a dark heart in accordance with its secret desire.

However, his contact with Rieta was as hopeless as it was when they first met.

A relationship that is all about asking how you are doing every time they run into each other.

However, his heart continued without giving in to the lack.

No, he didn’t know that maybe his heart had been feeding on the lack. Insidiously.

While Hugh McLean was feeling bitter, Rieta asked Elisha, who had been quietly following her, for a favor.

“Elisha.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“The sun is hot. I’d like you to bring me a parasol. I think I left it in the carriage.”

“…..”

Elisha looked at Hugh McLean warily for a moment, but then he nodded his head.

Waiting for him to get far enough away, Rieta apologized to Hugh McLean.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Elisha is overprotective of me.”

She blushed a little, perhaps embarrassed by the word ‘overprotective’.

“And I will answer the question from earlier.”

“…What?”

“You asked. Did I misunderstand you?”

“Ah.”

He smiled shyly.

It was because the question made him feel embarrassed again.

But he didn’t stop Rieta from answering. Because he was curious anyway.

“Well, to be honest. I didn’t have time to misunderstand McLean. As you know, my situation is a bit…”

“Special.”

He picked out a suitable word for Rieta.

“Yes, special, it’s special. But it’s true that I felt strange at times.”

“That strange feeling is…”

“Well, you’re so handsome, Hugh McLean. If you show kindness with that kind of face, even I can’t help but feel a little shaken up.”

Rieta replied with a playful smile.

Maybe he was too serious, and he didn’t know if he wanted her to smile a little with him.

But it didn’t have much effect.

He stared blankly at Rieta, then suddenly buried his face in his hands.

“Ah.”

Even making a groan that he doesn’t know the meaning of.

“……McLean?”

When Rieta called, puzzled, he replied, “I’m sorry.”

Still holding his face in his hands.

“Are you okay? Why?”

When she approached him and asked, he was startled and quickly took a step back.

At first glance, his cheeks and ears were extremely red.

“I’m sorry. If you get closer now, I think I’ll do something rude to Princess Rieta.”

“Rude?”

“Well… I’m really happy.”

He muttered, “Really, very…” and turned his head away.

He was now red all the way to his neck.

Seeing him so embarrassed, for some reason Rieta felt a little embarrassed too.

Where she doesn’t know how to react.

However, it was strange that she kept holding his arm, so she let go of his hand.

“I don’t think I will fall even if I don’t hold onto you while standing. Can I…. let go?”

“Well, can you hold me again?”

Then he begged in earnest words.

While he still couldn’t even make eye contact properly.

“It’s okay, even for a moment, because I want to be deluded.”

“Is there something McLean is mistaken about?”

“A lot.”

For instance, he had some hope when he heard that Rieta’s heart was swayed.

“Perhaps, that misunderstanding.”

However, Rieta’s very careful delivery helped him wake up completely from his false hopes.

Perhaps she wanted to ask

‘Is his misunderstanding coming from Rieta’s words and actions?’

The answer to that question is partly yes, mostly no.

So he shook his head.

“No, Princess didn’t mislead me in the slightest.”

Where her gaze was directed was simple and clear enough for anyone to recognize.

Even the distant nobles, who didn’t know her very well, knew the answer.

Only Hugh McLean was looking away from the answer, seeking non-existent sweetness in small courtesies.

“It’s a mind that I raised on my own expectations and misunderstandings. Princess Rieta has no responsibility for this.”

“But somehow, that means…”

“You may think I am strange. It’s insidious, To be like this here.”

He still had a red face.

But he didn’t do anything to cover it with the palm of his hand anymore.

“Isn’t that true?”

“…..”

“Princess Rieta.”

His words paused there for a moment.

Just at that moment the wind blew through the trees, and there was the rustle of the colored leaves.

Even in that tumultuous autumn, he was staring at Rieta.

At this point, Rieta had no choice but to admit it.

That he was trying to tell her his very precious heart.

Regardless of the original story or various situations, the man in front of her right now had that kind of heart.

‘….I’m sorry.’

Rieta apologized to him in her heart.