I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

When she answered, I burst out laughing.

 “…Ha.” 

I knew it. Something was odd about the way the woman had acted after realizing the plot, the way she hadn’t been able to stop the kidnapping, and the way she had suddenly offered to help me out.

 

Maybe she meant it when she said she didn’t want me to be in danger.

 

But if she lets me out on her own, she’s thrown her ‘dear husband’s’ plans out the window. In the end, she came up with this appeasement.

 

‘You want me to give up the position of heir apparent.’ 

 

If I do, they’ll spare my life.

 

Seeing how tightly I clamped my mouth shut, the woman rushed to explain what was going through her mind.

 

Things like the marchioness had no choice, or that it was the best thing to do, or that she knew how dangerous the forest was at midnight, or that we’d come too far to turn back.

 

They were all plausible arguments, but they all meant one thing.

 

To give up.

 “…Okay.” 

I shook my head helplessly.

 “Nothing is more important than my life, and I don’t want to risk it by being stubborn.” “…” “I’m so scared and hurt that this is happening right now… Are you sure you’re going to let me go home safely? I thought those men were going to sell me to another country, but that’s not happening, is it?” “Princess…” 

The woman’s face brightened at the sound of my trembling voice, but she cleared her throat as if it weren’t, and answered earnestly.

 “I’ll be sure to send you home safely by daybreak.” 

Hearing her assurance, I bowed my head deeply.

 “Thank you, thank you so much, my aunt, and you too…” 

Then I squinted at her and gritted my teeth.

 

‘Thank you so darn much.’

 

She wouldn’t know. Her words only strengthened my resolve to escape.

 

‘What does she have up her sleeve that makes her so sure?’ 

 

Perhaps the Marchioness had already tipped off the people looking for me so that they would only find me when the time was right after the final meeting was over. 

 

She claimed it was none of her business and attempted to cut her tail off.

 

Or maybe she’d say she found me, and then she’d brag about it.

 

As imaginable, I gnashed my teeth, but at the same time, I felt hopeful.

 

‘All I have to do is get out of here.’

 

Maybe then I could meet up with the knights who were looking for me.

 

Hiding my true feelings, I took my chances. Luckily, my act seemed to work, and the woman didn’t seem to suspect anything.

 

Instead, she was delighted and offered to heal my wounds. I leaned into her graciously, and then, as if I didn’t know any better, I asked.

 “But it looks like there are quite a few people… Do you think we can escape safely? If we get caught again on the way…” “It’s okay, only a few people are patrolling, and some of them have been bought off beforehand.” “Okay, but this place looks like the woods, and I don’t know how we’re going to find our way…” “There’s a path behind the warehouse. It’s a little rough, but if you follow it, you’ll be out of the woods in no time.” 

The woman smiled confidently as she said, ‘I’ll show you around’, and I laughed along with her. I was impressed with her ability to spout information on her own.

 “You’re a good girl, I’m sure my aunt would trust you.” “You’re welcome. Oh, by the way, come on, look at this. You didn’t have dinner, did you? You must be hungry, I’ll bring you some.” 

She finished and turned to leave. I hastily grabbed her.

 “Wait a minute.” “What?” “Well, I need to talk to my aunt in private, and it’s kind of important…” 

Looking at her standing at a distance, I motioned for her to come closer. She shook her head and walked obediently towards me, soon bending down and pressing her face close to mine…

 “What happened… Ow!” 

With my head, I slammed into her jaw with all my might. At the same time, her body, and mine, collapsed together.

 

She was crushed beneath me. Judging by the blood at the corner of her mouth, she must have bitten her tongue when I slammed my head into her.

 

With all my strength, I held her down as she struggled. 

 

As if that wasn’t enough, I smothered her with my weight. I felt a flesh-crunching pain in my arm, but I gritted my teeth and held on.

 

Soon, her limbs went limp, and I slowly pulled myself up. My ragged breathing was the only sound in the silent room.

 

‘No, no…’ 

 

My eyes trembled as I examined her. Thankfully, she was still breathing. She’d only fainted for a moment.

 “…You signed up for this.” 

Muttering words I didn’t know to whom I was speaking, I searched her arms urgently. 

 

My hands were tied behind my back, but I didn’t stop, and finally, I found what I was looking for.

 

A small knife.

 Zap— 

Quickly, I cut the cord that bound my wrists together. As I rubbed my wrists, which were stiff from being bound for so long, I looked away urgently.

 

‘We have to be quick. Hurry…’

 

Straight away, I switched clothes with the woman. I dressed her in my clothes, cleverly decorated her, and stood up. I pulled on my hood, hid my face, and tugged on the doorknob.

 

To my surprise, the door opened smoothly.

 “…!” 

Stepping out, I paused for a moment at the scene.

 

It wasn’t quite night yet, but there were a few people outside. 

 

As the woman had said, there weren’t that many of them, and they were all minding their own business, but it made my toes curl.

 

‘It’s okay, calm down. No one will know.’

 

I pinched myself a few times and locked the door.

 

When I heard the click, clank, and snap of the latch turning, I thought I saw a few eyes turn in my direction, but thankfully, no one was looking. 

 

Gaining a little confidence from that, I casually walked on as if nothing had happened.

 

My destination was the back of the warehouse.

 

According to what the woman had said, there was a path this way. 

 

And since it was supposed to be an escape route, no one would recognize me, and if I could just casually wander into the woods as if I were out for a walk…

 “Hey.” 

My heart sank for a moment. I turned around slowly, my face stiff and rigid.

 

Then, as if on cue, a man leaned against the wall of the warehouse. It was the same man who had dragged me there in the first place.

 “Are you done with your errands?” “…” 

When I didn’t answer, his eyebrows shot upward. I hastily opened my mouth.

 “Yes, I’m done.” “I heard a loud bang, I hope it wasn’t a suicide attempt. Your client told me not to kill her, and I had a hell of a time stopping the others.” “… Not a thing.” “Well, that’s fine, but where are you going at this time of night? There are no roads.” “Well…” 

After a pause, I answered quickly,

“I’m just going to run a few errands… I’m feeling a little queasy from eating too much dinner.” 

The man shook his head, thankfully catching my meaning. He chuckled, not doubting me, but adding.

 “You don’t mean I have to go with you, do you? I’m a little sensitive.” “No… that’s not necessary.” “Well, just don’t go too deep. It’s darker in there, and I don’t want you to get lost.” 

Nodding, I turned away, but I didn’t hear him as I stumbled along. 

 

A moment later, behind me, the man tilted his head and muttered.

 “By the way, did we have dinner together…?”  

‘Forget it.’ 

 

I scurried out of the woods.

 

My slow pace to avoid arousing the man’s suspicions quickened as I gained distance.

 

When I couldn’t see any sign of him, I began to run faster than ever. My breath was in my throat and my body was throbbing and aching, but I didn’t stop.

 

By then, I was ecstatic.

 

‘I made it!’ 

 

I escaped. I succeeded in surviving.

 

Things went so smoothly that I thought to myself,

‘How easy? I subdued the woman easily, and no one suspected me.’ 

 

This would at least buy me some time until she woke up. In the meantime, I could make my way through the forest. 

 

Then I need to find the knights she mentioned and ask for their help.

 

Honestly, my anxiety hasn’t completely dissipated, but I’ve made it out safely.

 

Now I could relax a little bit…

 “Stop!” 

Suddenly, I gulped at the shout from behind me.

 

Turning quickly, I saw a man running after me. It was the same man I’d met earlier behind the warehouse.

 “ Darn it, I didn’t think you’d eaten dinner, so I followed you, but it turned out to be someone else!” “…!” “Don’t you stop! I’ll kill you if I catch you!” 

My face turned a deep shade of blue as I heard the man’s threatening voice. But instead of stopping, I picked up my pace. 

 

I didn’t know where I was going, I just kept running, thinking,

‘I can’t get caught!’ 

 

We hadn’t even left the forest yet, and if they caught me here, it would be the end of me. This time, I might die.

 

But contrary to my desperate wishes, the distance between me and the man only grew closer. 

 

The shadows behind me grew larger and larger, until finally, I felt something in my arms.

 “Argh!” 

The man grabbed me by the hair. At the same time, I swung the knife.

 

My long hair was cut, sending the man stumbling backward. I was also bounced by the recoil and had to roll forward.

 

There was a slope right in front of me, and once I started rolling, I couldn’t stop. I hit a rock here and there, and when my body hit a jutting stone, my vision went black.

 

When I came to, I was on the ground.

 

‘I have to get up.’

 

But my body wouldn’t listen. I could hear a man coming down from above, but I could barely push myself up, let alone run.

 

‘Move!’

 

 

I stumbled, taking one step, then another. I couldn’t feel my feet anymore, so I couldn’t tell what I was standing on.

 

All I could do was look frantically ahead and think.

 

Even if I run this desperately, won’t they catch me? And even if I manage to make it out of the woods, I’m doomed unless the knights find me. 

 

How long could I last? Would I make it back in time?

 

No, I wonder if I could survive in the first place. If only I could make it back alive…

 

Suddenly, a voice spoke in my ear.

 “Do you think you can make it?” “…” “If you can’t even protect yourself, how can you protect anyone else? “…” “What’s the difference between then and now? When it comes down to it, you can’t do anything, you’re powerless. “…” “Give it up. If you’ve lost your life once, how hard can it be twice? If you’re going to lose someone you care about right in front of your eyes again, it’s better to die and start over…” “Don’t be ridiculous!” 

I screamed anew.

 “What if I die, what guarantee do you have that I’ll come ba

ck?”

 ‘…’ “Yeah, maybe the first time. I was so scared to be alone, and I hated myself for not being able to do anything, so I ran away.” ‘…’ “But it’s different now. I realize that running away isn’t going to solve anything and that it’s more painful to sit and watch.”  ‘…’ “The truth is, I’m still anxious, and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of difficulties in the future, but…” 

I leaped out of my spot and started running.

 “I’m not running away anymore!” 

And now I know.

 

This place wasn’t a novel, it was real, and I was living and breathing it.

 

If the universe took pity on me and gave me one more chance, I wasn’t going to miss it anymore.

 

I ran, relentlessly, forging ahead. My face burned, and my body ached like it was going to break, but I didn’t stop. I kept moving my legs until I found my way through the darkness.

 

Finally…

 “Dahlia!”