I Became The Childhood Friend of the Obsessive Second Male Lead

The story seemed to be going similarly to the original story.

Noel, who returned after meeting the female lead, looked somewhat dazed.

He just met the person he fell in love with at first sight, so in a way, it was a natural reaction.

In addition, unlike the original story, they don’t fight and seem to communicate well.

Rieta tried to show off, saying, ‘The reason she and you can talk so well is because I’ve been helping you for a long time.’

But she couldn’t really say anything like that.

So, the day before Princess Gabriella’s welcome banquet.

As promised with Rieta, Hugh Mclean came to the duchy.

He looked very nervous, but in the end he clearly expressed his intentions in front of the Duke.

“I ask to be allowed to attend the banquet as Princess Rieta’s partner. Duke.”

Unbeknownst why, the matter made the duke break his pen.

“…..”

And he looked back at Rieta, holding on to the broken pen.

“Princess Rieta.”

“Yes?”

“I would like to know if Young Mclean’s request has been agreed upon with you.”

“Of course, it’s a perfectly agreed situation. Duke.”

The broken pen in his hand fell on the desk with a snap.

“If Princess Rieta accepted it, there is no reason for me to step out and oppose it. But.”

The Duke looked back at Hugh Mclean.

“Hugh Mclean. Princess Rieta is a precious guest that the emperor takes care of himself.”

Rieta thought she was not suited for such a great position.

But the Duke’s face was so serious that she couldn’t bear to say, ‘It’s not that much.’.

“She is also a family member with an important meaning in Duchy Mayer…. So I hope you understand what I am saying.”

Hugh Mclean, who properly understood the Duke’s intentions, nodded his head.

The duke’s soft and friendly words were, in fact, a warning.

In the name of the imperial and the duchy, he would not let it  go unnoticed if there was any behavior that crossed the line with Princess Rieta.

“I have never forgotten about that… from the beginning to the present.“

”Excellent.“

“Thank you for the permission, Duke.”

Hugh Mclean and Rieta left the office after greeting.

The duke stared blankly at their backs, then leaned his forehead on the cold desk.

‘What did I just say?

Did he just threaten a young man of Noel’s age?

And to a young man who honestly came to him saying that he would go to a banquet with Rieta.

He sighed heavily as he clutched the broken pen.

Come to think of it, around the time Princess Gabriella’s fiance was decided, his older brother broke the pen like that.

‘This was the reason.’

He didn’t want to understand his older brother’s pointless point.

The duke smiled bitterly and lowered his gaze to the papers he had been examining a moment ago.

For some reason he couldn’t concentrate, so he sighed again.

***

Hugh Mclean drank a cup of tea in the parlor for a while and stood up straight away.

“I might not be able to sleep today because I am nervous.”

He said that as he climbed into the carriage.

Rieta thought it was neither exaggeration nor a bluff. In fact, his voice was shaking.

“But it’s all over now. Talking with the Duke is something that makes even older adults nervous.”

“No. It’s not because of that…”

Mclean shook his head and smiled with a red face.

“It meant that I was nervous about standing by Princess Rieta.”

“Ah.”

Rieta’s eyes widened slightly. She doesn’t know what to say.

“Maybe it’s because I always thought it was Lord Noel’s spot.”

“No way. That’s nonsense!”

Rieta strongly denied this. Because that’s definitely not the case.

“Noel doesn’t bother standing next to me.”

“I want to tell you the answer is, ‘No way.’”

“It’s true.”

Hugh Mclean gave a slight smile at the stubborn reply.

For him, it was better if Rieta didn’t realize anything about her relationship with Noel.

Of course, digging such a loophole was somewhat making him guilty.

“Anyway… it’s strange that someone is nervous about being with me. Shouldn’t I be a little nervous?”

“Please stop doing that. It’s not right for Princess Rieta to be nervous over someone like me.”

He waved his hand, so Rieta tilted her head in a puzzled way.

“Why? Mclean is very.”

….. nice.

Rieta quickly stopped the complement that she was about to say unknowingly.

It must have been because she had talked with him about ‘misunderstanding’ some time ago.

Then he raised his hand and replied in an oath.

“Well, I will work hard. Desperately.”

“Work… hard?”

Rieta asked cautiously, feeling as if her thoughts had been caught.

“It means that I will do my best so that Princess Rieta can unintentionally say that I am cool.”

It seemed like he noticed it too.