Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

"I came to the Friedrich Mansion to see you, but to think something like that was happening again..."

In the drawing room of the Friedrich Mansion, Daphne looked utterly distressed as she reached across the table toward Richard's reddened cheek.

"Are you really all right, Richard?"

Her voice sank gloomily. Her pale hand gently stroked Richard's cheek.

"Yes, yes!.."

Richard's cheeks flushed a deep red. His watery eyes sparkled like stars as he gazed at Daphne.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"You're truly all right?"

"Yes! Of course!"

A voice more excited than usual spilled from Richard's lips.

Hooray!

Richard felt so elated he could fly.

Not only had Daphne saved him, but she had even said she had come to the Friedrich Mansion to "see" him!

It felt as though the entire world had become beautiful. Even the sky, thick with dark clouds today, and the curtains and sofa embroidered with the damned Friedrich family crest!

He felt as though he could °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° happily take Cailus by the hands and spin around with him!

"Richard..."

But unlike the blissful Richard, her face remained dark.

"..."

A brief silence passed. A heavy sigh escaped her.

"?.."

Just as Richard slowly blinked...

"What do you mean, you're all right?!"

Snap!

Raising her voice, Daphne seized his hands and wrapped hers around them.

"Wha, Daphne?"

Richard's eyelashes fluttered. He felt his face grow hot as he looked at her.

"This shouldn't become normal! You have no reason to endure such things."

Her jade-green eyes, tinged with anger, were resolute.

"I'm angry that you've gotten used to this. Richard, aren't you angry? Why, why do you have to keep suffering like this..."

Her voice began to tremble with distress. Soon, her face contorted.

"Daphne."

Richard looked at her with gently curved eyes.

Truly.

How could she be like this?

Always stepping forward as though it were her own problem, kind and affectionate. Unlike those who would coldly turn away and pass by simply because it wasn't their concern.

Could there possibly be another person like her in the world?

Such a perfect heroine...

How could anyone not love her?

"Richard, promise me. If something like this happens again, you must tell me."

Daphne tightened her grip on Richard's hands.

Her expression made it clear that she would not let go until he promised.

"Haha."

Richard unconsciously let out a small laugh.

"Richard?"

"I understand, Daphne. I promise."

He couldn't win against her.

Not only could he not win, he didn't even want to. When it came to Daphne Beatus, Richard Friedrich had always been the loser.

That was the way of a second male lead, after all.

"All right, Richard. You promised."

Only then did her expression relax slightly.

"Yes, Daphne."

Richard answered like a well-behaved puppy and smiled sheepishly. Meeting and talking with her like this was something that happened in every regression. Yet each time, it made him incredibly happy.

"Ah, come to think of it, Daphne."

Richard suddenly remembered something and let out a small gasp.

She said she came to the Friedrich Mansion to see me.

"Why did you come to see me?"

Richard blinked slowly. Although the Friedrich Mansion and the Beatus estate were nearby, they weren't close enough for her to visit merely to see his face.

"Ah."

Daphne hesitated, her gaze hardening.

"There's something I want to ask you."

Something she wanted to ask?

Richard rolled his eyes.

...Ah.

That must be it.

Something immediately came to mind.

"It's..."

After moving only her lips for a long moment, she cautiously opened her mouth.

"At the banquet hall last time... why did you do that?"

It was a question she couldn't help asking.

Cailus le Regnantia was her former fiancé, and Richard Friedrich was the man who had attended the banquet as her partner.

And yet her partner had suddenly confessed his hidden love to her former fiancé?

How absurd must that have seemed?

For an ordinary person, it would have been surprising if she hadn't become angry on the spot.

In any case, it was something he needed to apologize for at least once.

Well, now that the opportunity had come...

"Ah, Daphne. That was..."

Just as Richard was about to explain...

"By any chance..."

With an enigmatic expression, she propped her chin on her hand and asked,

"Do you truly like His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, kghk?!"

He nearly choked.

"W-Wait a moment, Daphne..."

"I-I mean, whether it's a man or a woman, I support your love..."

She spoke with a genuinely worried expression.

"His Highness the Crown Prince... doesn't seem like a very good partner. You know what happened to me before..."

She seemed to genuinely believe that Richard truly liked Cailus.

She was even worried that Richard might have his heart broken if he liked him!

"Ah, no..."

"But if you truly do like him, then there's nothing to be done..."

No! That's not it!

That son of a... No, why would I like such a bastard?!

I'd rather date a clump of dust rolling across the floor!

And above all, I don't like that man!

The words rose to the tip of his tongue, but his mouth merely twitched, and nothing came out.

Daphne...

No, he almost felt like crying.

Daphne... I already knew it, but I truly am not even under consideration...

Richard shed tears inwardly.

BANG!

At that moment, the door was roughly thrown open, and a tall, middle-aged man stepped into the drawing room.

"Richard Friedrich! Come out at once."

It was his biological father, Albert Friedrich.

"I've given you enough time to whisper sweet nothings. I have something for you to do, so come with me at once."

Albert looked down at Richard with a face full of irritation. He appeared so displeased that he might start shouting at any moment.

"..."

Sure enough, when Richard remained seated despite being summoned, Albert raised his voice.

"Now!"

At that, Daphne shot to her feet.

"Lord Marquis, that's enough!"

Daphne raised her voice and confronted him.

"What are you planning to do to Richard now? Even if you are his father, this is unacceptable!"

Her stance and gaze were firm, refusing to yield to Albert.

"..."

Albert's brow furrowed deeply in irritation.

"I would like Lady Beatus to return to her residence now."

His tone softened slightly.

Daphne Beatus was the Crown Prince's former fiancée.

Moreover, she was the woman the Crown Prince had recently knelt before and begged for forgiveness. Albert couldn't treat her recklessly.

"You're going to do something to Richard, aren't you?"

Daphne lifted her chin stiffly and glared at Albert.

"..."

Richard, who had been quietly observing the situation, obediently rose from his seat.

"Daphne, I'm fine."

He smiled gently and took hold of Daphne's left arm.

"Richard..."

Daphne frowned worriedly.

"I'm truly fine."

Richard spoke in a composed voice. From what he could tell, it didn't seem as though anything serious was about to happen.

I've given you enough time to whisper sweet nothings. I have something for you to do, so come with me at once.

Albert had clearly said he had "something for him to do." From Richard's long experience, it didn't seem like a simple lie to lure him away.

Richard looked up at Albert.

"Nothing will happen. You'll promise Lady Beatus, won't you, Father?"

"..."

Albert bit his lip tightly, his expression displeased.

After a moment, he reluctantly nodded.

"Fine. I promise."

Daphne's jade-green eyes wavered.

"Then I'll see you again next time, Daphne. I'll take my leave now."

Richard bowed his head to her and left his seat.

She should be reassured now.

His father, Albert Friedrich, was strong before the weak but always shrank back before the strong.

The likelihood of him breaking a promise made to the woman the Crown Prince had been begging for forgiveness was not high.

"..."

"..."

Albert walked silently down the long corridor. Richard followed three steps behind him. Only the sound of heavy footsteps against the deep navy carpet echoed through the stillness.

How long had they walked like that?

Albert stopped.

A grand arched entrance adorned with elaborate relief carvings came into view.

The banquet hall?

This was the entrance to the Friedrich Mansion's banquet hall.

"Richard Friedrich."

"Yes."

Without turning around, Albert addressed Richard.

"Once inside, offer your apologies immediately."

"Yes?"

"Open the door."

Creak.

Before Richard could ask what he meant, the guards stationed on either side of the entrance pulled open the doors.

The spacious interior of the banquet hall was revealed.

A long rectangular table stood inside, with a row of windows lining the wall. The carpet was embroidered with the Friedrich family crest.

Seated on the left side of the table was Richard's half-brother, Derek.

And at the head of the table...

"Ah, Your Highness the Crown Prince! My apologies for the delay."

Eyes as red as blood.

Those unpleasantly colored eyes passed over Albert and fixed precisely on Richard.

Cailus le Regnantia.

"..."

The moment he saw him, the corner of Richard's mouth curved into a chilling smile.

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