The Second Male Lead is Actually a Girl

lso for the first time…Cr, Cr…”

Crow?

[Actually, Vivian repeats “황” which is also the first character in Crown Prince.
In response, Rosenta says “sulfur” which is another way the character can be interpreted.
I’ve taken the liberty of translating into an equivalent exchange for flow and context]

After gaping her lips, Vivian pressed her cheeks tightly.

I felt like I didn't have to listen anymore.

Because there was only one person who started with 'Cr-' that would lead to such a reaction.

Above all, since the person in question opened the door of the mansion and came out of the house, there was nothing to check.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

He slightly bowed his head and greeted Theodore.

“I was waiting for Prince Estella.”

Waiting for me?

Did Vivian tell him I was coming here?

“Why don't we go inside and talk?”

He didn't even give me time to answer.

He quickly opened the door behind him and guided us naturally.

For a moment, I thought that this place was the imperial palace.

It was so natural that even Vivian was idly chasing after him.

*

I carefully lifted the teacup that was in front of me.

The warm and savory aroma of chrysanthemum filled my mouth. I returned the teacup to the saucer with a satisfied smile.

And then I looked ahead.

I saw two eyes staring at me.

“Why is everyone looking for me…”

At my words, Vivian pretended not to know anything and drank the hot tea while lowering her head.

Then, as if she had burned the roof of her mouth, she trembled and dropped the cup.

The teacup fell to the floor with a sharp sound and shards spread around the area.

The hot tea water even burned the back of Vivian's hand.

“Kyaaak! Wahhhh…”

Reflexively, I jumped up from my seat.

After asking if I could touch the back of her hand, I brought Vivian into my arms and I held her tight.

It was the hand of an aristocratic lady who had never done any strenuous work. Maybe that's why the back of her hand turned red even though she had only lightly grazed it.

Vivian hiccupped.

“Heeep!”

It was a signal.

I pulled Vivian closer. I hugged her crying face to my chest.

“Wahhh.”

Again. Vivian burst into tears.

Having heard these cries, her maid ran into the drawing room.

It was a sequence I naturally became familiar with after meeting with Vivian a few times.

“Miss!”

“Donna.”

In place of Vivian, who had burst into tears, I sorted out this situation I had become accustomed to.

“Hot tea splashed on the back of her hand. You need to give her first aid and move her to another room. As you can see, the floor here is a mess.”

As I finished speaking, I pointed to the floor with my finger.

“Oh.”

Seeing the sharp shards of pottery that had fallen everywhere, Donna stepped back in surprise.

“Sorry. Please wait. First of all…Helena!”

Donna left the room for a while to call for another lady-in-waiting.

We couldn't move because of the pieces on the floor.

I patted Vivian, waiting for Donna to return quickly.

“Ugh, uhhhh. It hurts so much.”

“Yes. Of course it hurts. Let's be patient. Donna will be back soon.”

“Heuuu…Yes.”

Vivian seemed a little settled but was still in my arms.

But I didn't stop holding her.

As I continued to soothe Vivian, her eyes met Theodore's.

This.

I did it like I always do.

For a moment, I forgot that the prince would be watching us.

While I blinked and panicked, the door opened again.

It was Donna's reappearance.

“Vivian-sama, I will help you with treatment from here on.”

The lady-in-waiting, who came in after her, bowed her head to us.

“I will guide you both.”

A new maid took us to another location.

In fact, there was not even a need for a guide because it was right next door.

“Then I will excuse myself.”

The maid left the room after finishing her work, leaving only the two of them in the new room.

When the two of them were left, Theodore spoke to me as if he had been waiting.

“Isn’t it too much to accept? It would be hard to accept constant behavior like that.”

“…We are friends.”

Theodore grinned as if my answer was amusing.

I didn't have anything to say, so I stayed silent. Waiting for Vivian to come back.

All I could do in this silence was to secretly peek at the person facing me.

Is that why?

As I continued to look at him, it seemed that Vivian's feelings for Theodore's kindness and beauty could be understood a little.

Even at the age of 16, Theodore had a graceful beauty, as if drawn with a brush.

When he grows up, he will be the epitome of an elegant and aristocratic handsome man.

“You’re a really curious kid. I told you to avoid leeches like that…instead you tame leeches. What the hell did you do?”

Did you just call me a kid?

I was furious, but there was nothing to refute.

After all, it's true that I'm younger than Theodore.

Instead, I answered bluntly.

“How do you tame a friend? We just got to know each other.”

“Hmm. That can’t be it. There's no way that Lady Vivian would come to apologize to me just because you became friends.”

“…What?”

Did I hear correctly? It was a completely unexpected story.

Vivian apologized to Theodore?

Perhaps reading my confusion, the smile on Theodore's lips grew thicker.

Theodore leaned slightly toward me and whispered.

“She came to me a while ago and said “It must have been hard for you because I chased after you even though you didn't like it. I'm sorry…..”

I stopped talking. I tensed up.

I gulped. I had no idea what Vivian could have said next.

And soon, Theodore began to speak carefully about what he had not been able to say.

“'Please be my friend.'”

A strange feeling of déjà vu passed through my head.

It must definitely have been that day.

The day I became friends with Vivian. I did nag her a little bit.

About how that kind of behavior is stalking and how hard it will be for the person who suffers it.

And I asked her to be friends from now on…

Oh my God. That's why you went ahead and said it. And to Theodore too!