I Became The Childhood Friend of the Obsessive Second Male Lead

unedited

In fact, what Rieta witnessed was just an accident. It’s a somewhat obvious accident that would happen in a romance novel.

The modest Victorina wore the shoes her brother had bought for her in her hometown, but the heel of the shoes broke at the banquet.

The moment she lost her balance and fell, only Noel, who was with her, was quick to help her.

Afterwards, Victorina headed to the parlor, assisted by Noel.

A highly skilled doctor examined her and, fortunately, concluded that there was nothing wrong.

It was only at this time that Rieta was able to hear all the circumstances from Victorina.

‘… I see.’

Rieta was unknowingly relieved, but she was soon horrified.

“Princess Rieta? Are you worried about something?”

Could she have noticed Rieta’s ever-changing expression? As Victorina looked at her worriedly, Rieta shook her head quickly.

“It’s nothing. No, that… I was thinking if I had shoes to lend to Victoria. You won’t be able to come home like this.”

Rieta’s hastily invented excuse was quite plausible, so she asked a maid to bring some shoes.

Fortunately, among Rieta’s possessions, there was something that would suit Victorina well.

“Thank you, Princess Rieta. You are kind.”

Rieta shook her head vigorously at Victorina, who had always thanked her.

It wasn’t that Rieta gave the shoes with a good heart enough to deserve such kind words.

Afterwards, Rieta saw off Hugh Mclean and just quietly returned to her room.

She asked the maid to change her clothes, and after she had finished washing her face, she  bid goodnight and went into her bed.

Lying on the bed, Rieta struggled with her arms and legs in all kinds of embarrassments.

Little by little her heartbeat quickened and she jumped up and cried out with her mouth buried in the cozy pillow.

Stupid Noel Mayer! Fool!

As she shouted at random, she felt a little relieved.

Rieta let the tips of her lips move on their own.

Most of the talks were about blaming Noel.

The words he said, the actions he showed. All of that was dissatisfaction with Rieta.

He even sent a helping hand to Victorina a moment ago.

“You didn’t want to help me like that!”

Of course, to catch someone who is about to fall, it didn’t seem like there was any other way.

…..She didn’t like it.

Rieta knew now that there was another thorn in her heart.

No, she actually knew from before.

Yet she did not even try once to admit it.

[“If you’re confused, look at your actions. Where the princess’s eyes follow and what you hold. Maybe there’s an answer there.”]

Rieta recalled Mclean’s words and removed her face from the pillow.

“……….I.”

And she whispered softly.

“I was jealous.”

Words she had never imagined pierced her heart.

She wanted to stop looking into her mind, but Rieta shook her head.

There was still something.

Something she couldn’t admit at all when she talked to Hugh Mclean a little while ago.

The heart she wished was gone. Rieta moved her quivering lips.

“…I like him.”

Yes, that’s right. She nodded.

There is no other way to explain all this phenomenon other than that.

“Noel Mayer.”

In the strange order of words that flowed without her knowledge, she remembered Noel’s nagging.

[“Is the Empire still difficult for you?”]

‘What to do?

She acknowledged her feelings, but the only thing left was vagueness.

Of course, Hugh Mclean had given her hope.

Noel is always looking out for Rieta.

But can it be said that it is necessarily evidence of his heart?

Besides, even if Noel thinks Rieta is special, that’s it.

“…..”

It may not be very different from a feeling towards family.

Just like Darrell to her.

Just like the Duke does to her.

Rieta thought that her short time remaining in the Duchy might be ruined.

She’d either hurt herself or be pleased with whatever Noel did.

‘Maybe I had better not realize.’

She thought about that for a moment, but it probably wouldn’t be.

If so, she struggled to avert her eyes from the truth.

She must have been upset for no reason as she shifted the responsibility.

‘How did this happen?’

Rieta lay down again to try to figure out the cause of all this.

She naturally recalled Noel from the past one by one.

Noel, who helped Rieta hide in the academy.

Noel, who came to visit Rieta late at night on her birthday.

And time passed more and more into the past.

Noel applied glue to the portrait and attached a note to Rieta’s back.

She was annoyed because they couldn’t communicate, and they made up their own way of talking…..

So Rieta went back to the day she first met him, but she couldn’t find out what caused her to fall in love with him.

‘Perhaps… ’

Then, suddenly, Rieta remembered another fact.

‘Maybe all of that was the cause.’

Rieta hugged her pillow tightly, leaning her head against it deeply.

It felt like the exceptionally long night never passed.

***