The Extra Decided to be Fake

Episode 44

“…So, you got permission to play?”

“Yes.”

As Lillian nodded her head, Theo raised an eyebrow with a slightly suspicious expression.

Having become a knight in service of the Maynard Duke, he was now dressed in a gray tunic with a belt. This made him seem even more like a servant following the lady when walking alongside Lillian.

‘We were in the same situation not too long ago.’

When they both wore the stiff orphanage uniforms and sat next to each other, they often looked like siblings. However, now it seemed impossible to imagine them like that anymore. For this reason, Theo was feeling a bit distant from Lillian. After all, the difference in their social status had grown significantly.

‘I should be grateful to the Duke for accepting me into the knights and supporting the orphanage.’

So, even if Lillian ignored him and acted arrogant, Theo was willing to let it slide. However, Lillian actually visited him more often than when she was at the orphanage.

Occasionally, she would loiter around the training grounds and make the senior knights hear things like, “What’s your relationship with the lady?” When there was no one around, she would pull his clothes to discreetly slip a piece of candy into his sleeve.

This time, she came looking for him, saying that some boy named Damien or something wanted to play.

“Why do I have to care about him coming to play with you?”

“Well, it’s better if you join us too. Take a break at times like this.”

Ah, Theo finally realized Lillian’s intentions.

‘This kid is trying to make up for the other day.’

A few days ago, Lillian had thrown a tantrum. She said that he had crossed the line, and it seemed like she was trying to make amends.

Honestly, Theo didn’t think they were a good match, but when he saw Lillian in this situation, there was something cute about her. Theo chuckled and let out a sigh.

“Alright, let’s go. Why don’t we do some more swordsmanship training at times like this?”

“Training, really? Isn’t that your job as a knight?”

“Well, that’s what it means to be trusted, right?”

“A reliable knight, huh.”

“…Tsk.”

Theo, who ended up lost for words, roughly ruffled his hair. However, despite his brusque tone, he continued to walk behind Lillian. He was grateful that the young lady was taking care of him, and it didn’t make him feel bad at all.

‘I should get some snacks out of this.’

And if this prevented Lillian from acting like this in the future, it was a win-win situation.

With such thoughts, when Theo arrived at the tea room, the boy who had been waiting there stood up. With his white hair that seemed to go perfectly with the sunlight, he initially blushed at the sight of Lillian but quickly dimmed the lights when he saw Theo following her.

“Lil… Lillian. You’re not alone? I thought it was just the two of us playing.”

“It’s nice to play together. Say hello. This is Theo. Theo, this is Damien Portier.”

“I’m Theodore. Pleased to meet you.”

When Theo bowed in greeting, Damien waved his hand with a friendly smile.

“We don’t need formal greetings, Lillian. Let’s just sit down.”

“Sure. Theo, sit over there.”

Lillian pointed to a spot at the round table.

Thanks to that, Theo’s greeting was naturally overshadowed, and it became something only he knew.

“Hmm?”

Something felt a bit strange. Maybe it was just his imagination. After thinking about it for a moment, Theo decided to subtly throw out a bait.

“Hey, Lillian. Do you want me to pull out a chair for you?”

“Why are you asking if you won’t pull it out anyway?”

“Seniors all do this. I was thinking of trying it out.”

As Theo said that, he reached for Lillian’s chair. However, someone grabbed his wrist.

Of course, it was Damien. He stared at Theo with a sharp, unfriendly gaze.

“Ever since earlier, I’ve been curious. Are you a servant on that side?”

“I’m with the Maynard Knights, but…”

“In that case, you should be adept at addressing a lady, so why are you using such informal language with a lady? Unnecessarily.”

“Damien? Theo is my friend from the orphanage. I told him to speak freely, so don’t worry about it.”

Eventually, when Lillian stepped in, the situation was resolved. Damien looked at Lillian with a warm smile, as if wondering why she was telling him to do so, and then he turned to Theo with the same expression.

“Lillian, I’ll understand if you say so, but even if you’re a lady and he will be with the Knights in the future, it’s better to pay attention to the visible parts.”

After all, they wouldn’t be friends forever.

With that added remark, Theo had a gut feeling.

‘This kid…’

It was not just his imagination.

It was surprisingly obvious oppression. Growing up in the orphanage meant he could only pick up on social cues, so he was sure of it. This weird-looking fellow was visibly resentful of Theo. He despised him and wanted to separate him from Lillian.

‘Using such childish tactics.’

The problem was, Theo had no argument to counter that statement.

Since they wouldn’t be friends for much longer, the moment he heard those words, Theo felt something stirring in the deepest corners of his mind. It was a sense of inferiority. They were once in the same position, but now he had become a status that he couldn’t even address first, and that was the source of the discomfort he was feeling.

‘Is this the situation?’

He didn’t want to be jealous of Lillian. He didn’t want to hate her even more.

But he couldn’t help but feel sorry for Lillian hearing such words in this setting. Maybe he didn’t want to accept that Lillian had grown distant from him at some point.

‘I have to admit it.’

Trying to act friendly didn’t matter anymore. If he was able to leave this large mansion, it was thanks to the young lady, and that was enough for him.

Theo removed his hand from Lillian’s chair.

“Okay, forget it. I’m—”

“Damien.”

However, Lillian spoke first. Inexplicably, her expression turned cold.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“…Lillian?”

Theo showed his surprise with a perplexed look, appearing over Damien’s uncharacteristically friendly face.

But Lillian remained cold.

“I’m asking. What’s gotten into you? Who are you to say such things?”

“I was just worried about you.”

“No need to worry. Theo and I will still be friends in the future.”

Lillian’s words made Theo and Damien’s emotions intersect.

Brief disappointment crossed Damien’s face, but then it vanished. The boy was very skilled at hiding his emotions.

“…I see. You seem to get along well.”

Just then, maids arrived with a tea tray, bringing an end to the conflict.

* * *

“Why did you do that?”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“Talking to that brat Damien or whatever he is. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

On the way back after seeing Damien off, Lillian stopped walking in response to Theo’s question. When she turned her head, she could see a red-haired young man standing against the setting sun. Maybe it was the change in his attire or the setting, but he seemed more like a young man than a boy.

“It doesn’t seem like you particularly dislike him, so why did you do that?”

“…Did I cross the line again? Why are you asking this?”

“Yeah, it’s unusual for you to be that mean, so I’m curious. Frankly, what he said… wasn’t entirely wrong.”

Theo was using informal language with Lillian because people wouldn’t notice, but if someone saw them, they’d surely comment on it. In that sense, Lillian’s attitude towards Damien seemed overly exaggerated even to an observer.

“I think you should use polite language when there are other people around. In this case, what he said is correct.”

“I’ll handle it.”

Lillian replied sarcastically and turned her head again. Theo followed her slowly and asked.

“So why won’t you tell me why you were so mean to him?”

“…Because.”

“What?”

“He ignored your greeting!”

Lillian yelled and then ran off around the corner, leaving Theo behind.

“…Huh, that guy.”

Theo chuckled unconsciously. His laughter gradually grew.

He wasn’t in a bad mood at all.

T/N: Timeskip in next chapters