Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

I have to avoid Richard... as much as possible.

For the past few days, Derek had been deliberately avoiding Richard.

Well, he had no choice.

Nothing good ever came from getting entangled with him!

A few days ago, that bastard had spent the night with His Highness the Crown Prince. Everyone in thStupid Derek.

Having come out onto the shopping street, Richard wandered around with a considerably lighter step.

Well, it’s easy because he’s simple.

Defining a human being like Derek Friedrich was truly easy.

A third-rate villain who was rotten to the core, but equally stupid and thus easy to handle.

He was a character perfectly suited for the minor role of merely tormenting the secondary male lead, Richard Friedrich, in this story.

I don’t dislike you, Derek.

Richard recalled the words he had spoken to him just moments ago.

If you called it a lie, it was a lie; if you called it the truth, it was the truth.

One might say it was nonsense, but...

It’s because I neither like nor dislike him.

Richard glanced at the leather pouch that jingled as he moved and curled the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.

It was true that he was a person who had persistently tormented him since childhood.

A very long time ago, he had feared him, hated him, and wished for him to disappear from this world.

But...

That was in the past.

Richard interlaced his fingers and stretched leisurely.

After repeating forty-nine regressions, Richard had ceased to fear or hate him anymore. After all, he was just stupid Derek.

Even though he was the one who made his childhood life hell...

Anyway, thanks to that, I got to meet Daphne.

That was enough. The corners of Richard’s eyes curved beautifully.

He harbored no particular ill will towards him anymore.

Not that he liked him either, though.

After wandering the streets for quite a while, Richard stopped. The capital’s high-end tailor shop, Bellinod Atelier.

Curling his lip slightly, he stepped inside the shop.

Fitting for the banquet attire required a long and arduous process.

Selecting the fabric, taking measurements, confirming the silhouette, adding decorative details...

Only after going through that entire lengthy process was he able to escape from the tailor. Richard slumped his shoulders as he emerged into the atelier’s main hall.

"Phew..."

He leaned back weakly onto a sofa.

The clothing will be ready in three days...

Richard rolled his weary eyes.

With the attire prepared, the next thing to secure was a partner.

Having a partner to attend a ball with was a fundamental of fundamentals. The only things that fell upon a noble attending alone were the piercing gazes and indifference of those around.

As for a partner to accompany him, it was naturally...

He was just sinking into thought.

Oh my. It’s Young Lord Friedrich.

Did you hear that rumor? The other day at the mansion...

Of course I heard! The rumors were rife, weren’t they?

The nobles who had come to have their suits and dresses fitted began to buzz upon seeing him.

I heard last time he even snatched and drank His Highness the Crown Prince’s poisoned tea.

The hall was instantly swept up in a restless atmosphere.

Poisoned tea?

You haven’t heard? A few days ago, at the tea party...

The nobles exchanging stories kept stealing glances at Richard.

Huh, did he know? No, then what was the reason?

I don’t know. How about we ask him?..

Several of the whispering nobles exchanged glances among themselves and then approached Richard.

Among them, one young lord stepped forward.

"Young Lord Friedrich. Fancy meeting you here."

He looked down at Richard, who was leaning back on the sofa as if half-lying down.

"Have you come to have your banquet attire fitted?"

"Well... I suppose so."

Richard straightened his limp body and answered.

However, his body immediately slumped back down again.

"There are several rumors circulating about you, Young Lord..."

The noble young lord’s eyes narrowed.

"Might they be true?"

"Which ones are you referring to?"

"First, the rumor that you snatched and drank His Highness the Crown Prince’s poisoned tea."

Eyes gleaming with implication swept up and down Richard.

"Ah, if it’s that, then yes, well..."

Richard rubbed his drowsily drooping eyelids and replied.

"It’s true."

Because it was a fact.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"I’m asking why you did such a thing."

The noble young lord’s gaze turned cold.

A small flame of curiosity was burning within that gaze. As if determined to uncover Richard’s true intentions.

"Hmm..."

Why did he snatch it and drink it...

Richard fell into contemplation. So, because if Daphne drank that tea, romance would bloom between the two, he had to stop it somehow...

No, to put it simply...

Well, because that tea was mine...

"Because I had to protect it."

Because I had to protect my tea.

Richard answered in a nonchalant tone.

"!..”

At those words, the faces of the surrounding nobles stiffened.

Had to protect it?

Protect what?..

Could it be... His Highness the Crown Prince?

The nobles whispered among themselves, holding their breath. A single misunderstanding bloomed among them.

Young Lord Friedrich drank the poisoned tea to protect His Highness the Crown Prince!

"Had to protect it... Why..."

The noble young lord let out a hollow laugh and asked.

"Well, because it was mine."

An indifferent answer flowed from Richard’s lips.

Because it’s my tea.

It was the same reason.

Good heavens!..

However, the nobles began to misunderstand once again.

He says His Highness the Crown Prince is his.

Oh my, how romantic...

Are you in your right mind, Young Lady? They’re both men!

Of course, it was a sound that didn’t reach the ears of the weary Richard.

He averted his gaze from the noble young lord, who was retreating with a strange expression. Propping his chin on one hand, Richard sank back into hisown thoughts.

A partner...

A partner to attend the Chesika Dukedom’s ball with.

Naturally, she would be the best.

Richard pictured her in his mind.

It would be difficult to make Cailus my partner...

It was obvious that if he asked him to be his partner, he would be rejected, as he was still wary of him.

Richard decided not to challenge an impossible task unnecessarily.

More than anything...

To be honest, he also wanted to be her partner...

"..."

Right, that was indeed his true intention.

He wanted to stay by her side a little longer.

Just as he had resolved to ask her to be his partner, the moment Richard was about to rise from the sofa.

"Richard?"

Pure jade-green eyes stared intently at him.

"!..”

Richard’s cheeks immediately flushed red.

"Daphne?"

He nearly took a step back instinctively.

No, he actually took a step back before realizing the sofa was blocking his way.

Richard opened his mouth with a foolish expression.

"When did you... arrive?"

"Hmm, just now."

Seeing Richard’s flustered face, she burst out laughing. Then, after scanning the spacious atelier hall slowly, she spoke.

"Richard, are you also planning to attend the Chesika Dukedom’s ball?"

She was asking if he had come to have his banquet attire fitted for the ball.

"Ah, yes!.. That’s right."

Richard took a deep breath to cool his heated face.

"I just finished having the clothing fitted and was about to head back..."

Choosing his words carefully, lest he misspeak, Richard suddenly closed his mouth.

Come to think of it!..

Since I’ve run into Daphne, why not ask her to be my partner right now?

"!..”

Realizing this a beat too late, Richard almost slapped his own cheek for his stupidity but barely managed to restrain himself.

"That’s right, Daphne."

"Hmm?"

"There’s something I’d like to ask of you..."

"What is it, Richard?"

She smiled brightly, as if she would grant him anything.

"Would you..."

Struggling to suppress his pounding heart, Richard spoke.

His voice trembled slightly.

"Would you attend the Chesika Dukedom’s ball... as my partner?"

He was instinctively nervous, but Richard knew her answer wouldn’t be a refusal.

At this point in time, she hated Cailus. There was no way she would become his partner. Therefore, the likelihood of her accepting his request was high.

Just as he was anticipating an affirmative answer.

"That’s..."

Daphne rolled her large jade-green eyes awkwardly.

"I can’t, Richard."

"What?!"

Richard asked back, taken aback.

"Why?! No, I mean... Why is that?"

He was genuinely bewildered.

At this point, the noble young lady closest to her was himself.

This was the truth.

After being rejected by Cailus.

It was Richard who had always stayed by her side while she remained secluded from High Society.

Just as Richard’s mind was filled with confusion, an unexpected answer came back.

"I’ve been thinking..."

"..."

"I’m still worried you might get hurt by His Highness the Crown Prince. But..."

She scratched her cheek.

"If you truly... like His Highness, then supporting you is the right thing to do."

"Wait a moment, Daphne..."

"Being a ball partner is an important position too..."

Before Richard could even utter a rebuttal, she spoke as if she had already reached a conclusion.

"I’m not so tactless as to steal that position."

She smiled brightly as if offering to yield.

As if telling him to become Cailus’s partner.

"..."

Damn.

Richard sincerely wanted to cry.e mansion surely knew that did not simply mean they had spent the night together.

The two of them... had done that sort of thing together.

Which means His Highness the Crown Prince also has feelings for that bastard!..

Derek squeezed his eyes shut.

Hadn't he done all sorts of things to that son of a bitch Richard until now?!

If... yes. If Richard and His Highness the Crown Prince truly were involved, and if—unbelievably—Richard later became the Crown Princess...

He... he would!..

He did not even want to think about it!

For now, avoiding Richard Friedrich as much as possible was the best he could do.

That was when it happened.

Knock, knock.

A sound came from beyond the door.

Normally, Derek would have assumed it was a servant and responded haughtily, but for some reason, he felt a sense of foreboding.

"Wh-who..."

Just as he parted his lips, his voice trembling—

Bang!

The door flew open before he could even give permission.

"!.."

Aaaaah!

Derek nearly screamed when he confirmed the identity of the person who had entered his bedroom.

Richard Friedrich!

Why was this bastard entering his bedroom?!

They said you could not even speak properly when you were too shocked. It was true.

"Ah, no, why..."

Derek could only open and close his mouth without uttering a word.

What was he scheming? H-how dare he enter without permission?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.

That was when—

The bastard, smiling brightly like the dawn, opened his mouth.

"Brother, please give me some money."

?..

Derek doubted his own ears.

But from the words that followed, he soon realized he had not misheard.

"Can't you?.."

Richard Friedrich looked at him with a face as pitiful as a drenched puppy's.

M-money?

So right now, "that" Richard Friedrich is asking me for money?

His thoughts slowly began to churn.

As the absurdity faded, Derek felt heat surge through him.

"Huh!.. R-right now!.."

Is "that" Richard Friedrich extorting money from me?!

"Yes, how dare you! Just because I've been going easy on you lately, you don't know your place? You lowly illegitimate son!.."

Once his thoughts reached that point, the words began pouring out before passing through his brain.

It was outrageous, and he was furious.

Richard Friedrich was walking all over him!

The "him" who, as a child, would get beaten by Derek without uttering a peep, then return to his room and cry alone—that was all he had ever done!

"You need to be beaten once to come to your senses, don't you? You're just like your mother, low-class and unable to know your place!"

Derek pushed himself up from the sofa.

"Ah, or are you selling your body to His Highness the Crown Prince? Just because you have that one thing, you're acting all high and mighty! Do you think you're something?! You filthy bastard! You!.."

"..."

"You are!.."

Flash!

Derek, who had been ranting in a fit of rage, suddenly came to his senses.

Ah, oh no!..

What was I just saying?!

Is... is it all right for me to speak to Richard Friedrich like this?..

No, of course it was not!

This... this bastard... I mean, wasn't he favored by the Crown Prince?

Would His Highness the Crown Prince simply stand by and watch?

Derek's face paled as fear took hold of him.

"Ri, Richard. So, I mean..."

"..."

"What I said just now..."

"..."

Is he angry?!

In Derek's mind, the image of the Crown Prince ordering Richard's neck to be cut off, followed by Derek's own neck being placed beneath the guillotine, flashed past.

I'm... I'm going to die by order of His Highness the Crown Prince!

"Ri, Richard..."

"Haha, ha."

Richard laughed. The broken, staccato sound sent shivers down Derek's spine.

"Brother."

Richard, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, took a step closer to Derek.

"!.."

Derek flinched and trembled.

Richard Friedrich's mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

"D-don't come any closer!.."

Without realizing it, Derek stammered and took a step back.

"Brother."

"I said d-don't come closer!.."

Before he knew it, his back struck the hard wall. There was nowhere left to run.

"Brother."

Richard continued approaching, still smiling unnaturally with only his mouth.

"Brother."

"Brother."

"Brother?"

"Hyung?"

"Derek?"

Bang!

Gasp!..

The bastard planted one arm against the wall, trapping Derek beneath it.

Looking down at Derek with cold eyes, Richard spoke.

"Derek, is it really all right for you to treat me like this?"

For a moment, Derek wanted nothing more than to apologize and beg for forgiveness.

But without realizing it, he reacted to the one part that irked him.

"Uh... uhhh... no, but why are you speaking informally..."

Ah, even so, wasn't this going too far?

Thinking that, he summoned his courage and glared at Richard.

"Why? Don't you like it?"

At that moment, the lake-blue eyes turned as cold as the winds of the northern lands.

"Ah, n-no, it's fine..."

Derek quickly lowered his gaze. His shoulders hunched pitifully.

"Derek."

Richard smiled coldly.

"Y-yes..."

Derek could not bring himself to meet his eyes.

Was... was this bastard always this frightening?

Even though his appearance was no different from usual, Derek's entire body began to tremble.

He's definitely two years younger than me...

The sight of him skillfully cornering Derek without uttering even a single ordinary threat was like that of someone who had lived for decades.

"You dislike me?"

Richard reached out and brushed the dust from Derek's bangs as he asked.

"Huh, huh?"

At the unexpected question, Derek's mind went blank for a moment, and he blinked.

"Hmm?"

Richard's lake-blue eyes remained cold despite his gentle voice.

"..."

Derek could only open and close his mouth without saying anything.

He could not fathom the intention behind the question at all.

Wh-what am I supposed to say?!

If he said he disliked him, it felt as though Richard would strangle him and tell him to die. But if he lied and said he liked him, it felt as though Richard would strangle him and demand to know where that lie had come from!

Just as Derek was about to bite his tongue hard, wishing he could faint on the spot instead—

"I don't dislike you, Derek."

Huh?

Derek's eyes widened.

"I..."

Richard opened his mouth in a low voice.

As he spoke, he slowly removed the hood of the robe draped over his head.

What's this? The atmosphere suddenly...

Flustered, Derek froze in place.

Stunning platinum hair fell loose in disarray. His fair cheeks came into view. Lake-blue eyes steeped in desolation lowered toward the floor.

"I..."

Derek noticed the bastard's voice beginning to tremble.

"Derek, I want to get along with you..."

The corners of Richard's eyes reddened.

"Why are you treating me like this?.."

His voice was unsteady, as though he were swallowing back rising emotion.

"Huh?"

"Do you dislike me that much?"

Plop.

A clear tear slid down his fair cheek.

"Hic!.."

Finally, tears spilled dramatically from the corners of his averted eyes, like those of a tragic heroine.

Huh? Huh?..

For a moment, Derek thought—

Wh-what? He's... pretty?

Even though the person who had cornered him just moments ago had changed his attitude in an instant, that was the only thought that entered Derek's head.

"Derek... You... why do you dislike me?"

"Huh, huh?"

"Is it... because I'm a filthy illegitimate child?"

"Ah, no... that's..."

For some reason, Derek felt a sharp pang in one corner of his chest.

Did... did I go too far with what I said?.. Wh-what is this? Was I wrong? B-but... ah, no. It kind of seems like I was...

Bringing up his mother might have been a little too much...

"Th-that's enough, you..."

Without realizing it, Derek lightly patted the bastard's shoulder.

"Hic, hic..."

The bastard finally buried his face against Derek's shoulder and began to sniffle. Each time his shoulders shook, his fine platinum hair swayed.

"!.."

Derek could not push him away, nor could he say anything more after what he had done, so he remained frozen in place.

"Derek..."

The bastard spoke in a sobbing voice.

"Y-yes..."

"I have one favor to ask..."

"Wh-what is it?.."

Derek was overcome by the strange feeling that he had to grant whatever Richard asked.

Still sobbing, Richard spoke.

"Just give me two hundred gold coins..."

"Huh... huh?"

T-two hundred gold coins?

Derek stared at him in shock and stammered. S-suddenly?

Two hundred gold coins was enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a year.

Th-that much money, all of a sudden? Why...

S-surely this was some kind of trick, wasn't it?

Just as Derek's reason belatedly began to return—

"I'm counting on you, Derek..."

Richard, who had buried his face against his shoulder, lifted his head.

His lake-blue eyes, their corners reddened from crying moments ago, sparkled like °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the morning star. His delicate beauty only heightened the sense of pity.

"Huh? Huh, al-all right..."

The answer slipped out of Derek's mouth before passing through his thoughts.

"Really?"

As if he had never cried so pitifully, Richard smiled brightly.

"Thank you so much, Derek!.."

His cheeks flushed rosy, Richard clasped both of Derek's hands tightly.

"Ugh, yes..."

For some reason, Derek felt his ears growing hot.

"Then, just a moment..."

He walked toward the cabinet. He turned the key in the lock, and the drawer opened with a clunk, revealing a mountain of gold coins.

After sweeping a heap of them into a leather pouch, he handed it to Richard.

"Here. B-but... why do you need the money?"

"Ah!.. I have some business to attend to at the ball."

Richard smiled happily as he accepted the leather pouch.

"Ball?"

Derek's pupils widened.

"Yes! Anyway, thanks, Derek."

With that brief explanation, the bastard turned his back.

"Huh, huh?.."

He says he's going to the ball?..

Father told him not to wander around recklessly...

Derek was bewildered, but he waved at the bastard, who was already about to leave.

Thud.

The door closed.

Left alone in the room, Derek stared blankly at the closed door.

Thump, thump.

"?.."

For some reason, his heart was pounding rapidly.

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