I Was a Supporting Character

At my suggestion, Miranda’s expression quickly returned to its usual nonchalant demeanor.

“I was kidding. Why would I ever wear a dress? And even if I did, it would just be cumbersome. I’d rather take off the lace and jewels attached to it and sell them.”

Though she said that, I could fill her jewellery box with all the accessories I had.

Ignoring Miranda’s dismissive words with a light-hearted tone, I told her again, “Alright then, let’s get ready to go out together anyway.”

Glancing at Miranda’s astonished expression, I closed my eyes again. Perhaps this would be my first and last gift to her, so I wanted it to be something nice.

Before heading to the salon, I actually stopped by Lady Nix’s dress shop. Miranda didn’t know how to react, but I chuckled it off.

Not calling her “Countess” as usual and personally coming to the shop surprised Lady Nix. Since I wasn’t there to have my dress fitted this time, it was only natural to visit the shop.

I ordered a dress for Miranda, using her as the model. Lady Nix looked at me with admiration.

“Lady Uranos is indeed a generous person. A dress for her personal maid!”

“Well, make it well, please.”

Miranda had an uncommonly flushed face. She seemed to really like it. It even made me feel excited. Hmm.

At that moment, the bell sound of the dress shop’s door opening rang out. All of us, including Miranda and Lady Nix, turned our heads towards the entrance.

“Oh, um… the dress…”

The girl who entered the shop with that immature appearance was undoubtedly Leia Saturanos. She would probably become the main character.

As Leia Saturanos walked in, the bustling shop, previously filled with the noise of fitting dresses for me and Miranda, instantly fell silent. Since we were the only customers, and Lady Nix was quite friendly with us, we were making quite a racket. Now that another customer has arrived, it would be impolite if it remained too noisy.

Lady Nix greeted the new customer with a businesslike smile and her sweet voice, which could only be described as melting away.

“Welcome. You seem to be a young lady visiting my dress shop for the first time…”

So, I decided to help Lady Nix a bit.

“Leia Saturanos, the Viscountess, right? You had your debutante ball last week, didn’t you?”

I have a good eye for faces, and I remember people’s faces well. Even though the day before, the ‘writer’ mentioned Leia Saturanos as the main character, I could remember her face right away.

And now I probably won’t be able to forget it until I die.

Perhaps because she recognized herself, Viscountess Saturanos nodded visibly, blushing. Hmm… She looks like a puppy. Maybe a Yorkshire Terrier?

In response to my words, Lady Nix, wearing a noticeably apologetic expression, spoke to Viscountess Saturanos.

“Oh, you were the young lady who debuted last week. I apologize for not recognizing you. Would you mind waiting here for a moment? I need to attend to the dresses of the customer who arrived first.”

At that moment, Viscountess Leia Saturanos hesitated and managed to speak.

“Um, are you Lady Uranos, the Countess, by any chance?”

I smiled softly and confirmed. In response, Viscountess Saturanos pleaded earnestly with eyes like a soaked puppy.

“Could I take a look at the dress chosen by the countess? I’ve just debuted, and I don’t have any friends to help me figure out what to do!”

I was puzzled. Even if she had just debuted, she had lived for a whopping 18 years. She didn’t have a single friend, aside from factional ties?

“No friends, my lady?”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

“Um…”

Viscountess Saturanos looked extremely awkward. With her head bowed and a slightly regretful expression, she answered.

“I do have friends, but they are all busy. I must attend a reception in two weeks, and I don’t know what to do since I don’t have anyone to help me!”

Busy? What a convenient excuse. While her friends might be genuinely busy, it seemed odd that not a single one could spare some time to help a debutante who needed assistance after her debutante ball.

In the capital, could there be any young lady busier than me? Even so, unless they genuinely had unavoidable commitments, I always made time to help my friends when they asked.

Being busy is a phrase that should only be used when you are truly busy.

Perhaps sensing a similarity, Lady Nix looked at me without saying a word. It was a look that clearly asked if I would genuinely help.

In response, I answered with a look of my own.

Help, why not? After all, I’ll die soon anyway, so why preserve and uphold my pride?

I turned my head towards Viscountess Saturanos.

“All right. Let me help you choose a dress, my lady. However, I need to finish my business first. Will you wait?”

“Yes! Of course! May I watch and help you?”

I asked Miranda, “Miranda, is it okay if Viscountess Saturanos stays?”

Miranda nodded vigorously. She had become so generous that she could embrace everything just because Viscountess Saturanos was getting her own evening dress.

Viscountess Saturanos was astonished.

“Oh, it wasn’t Lady Uranos’s dress! Oh my, gifting a dress even to a personal maid…!”

I chuckled softly in response.

“I’ve been through several years of fittings, so I can manage this much. Please make sure Lady wishes to have a generous heart towards her attendants.”

After that, Lady Nix and I rotated Miranda, discussing how to emphasise certain areas and suggesting decorations for the dress.

Saturanos watched this scene with round, widened eyes.

Occasionally, I glanced at her face, contemplating.

Is she aware that she is the heroine of this world? Judging by her current state, it seemed she had no idea. Her friends didn’t value her much, so would she even realise her importance?

However, since I had already decided to explore the truth of this world, I had no desire to reveal it to her. I simply hoped she would gain some confidence in herself.

Lady Nix diligently noted Miranda’s measurements and jotted down the dress specifications in her notebook, finally concluding the order.

After letting the slightly tired Miranda rest for a moment, I turned to Saturanos and said, “Now, it’s your turn, my lady. Before Lady Nix returns, let’s decide on a rough style.”

To become the flower of society, one must have a touch of fashion. How much I had studied to get here, perhaps the other ladies would never know!

Leia Saturanos blushed with embarrassment.

“I’ve always grown up in the Marquis’s provincial estate, so I don’t know much about these things. How does it look for a young lady?”

Ah, my questions about her are somewhat answered now.

She grew up in the provinces and came to the capital for her coming-of-age ceremony and debut into high society. It’s a typical trait of provincial nobles. Perhaps the Saturanos family’s influence is stronger as regional lords than central aristocracy, leading to this situation.

I observed Saturanos silently.

Now, a newly-debuted fledgling aristocrat, she is excessively pure, to the point where her cheerful remarks become awkward, and her mood can quickly turn excessively bright. In short, she seems like a young child thrown into the wild after living in a flower garden.

She still carried an image of a girl rather than a mature woman. It suited her well for now. At this moment, she wouldn’t be able to handle anything more sophisticated. That means I can’t do such things now.

Anyway, I did my best to choose a dress for Leia Saturanos. With Mrs. Nix and Miranda also providing comments, we all ended up working together to fit Saturanos into her new dress.

Once the rough design was completed, Saturanos sincerely expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you so much! Actually, the reason I bothered to visit this dress shop was because there were rumors that Uranos Lady is a regular customer, known for her fame in high society. But now, with Lady’s help, I really don’t know how to repay you!”

Her sparkling eyes seemed incredibly adorable to me. A genuine motherly smile appeared on my face without me realising it.

“Seeing you elegantly dressed in this dress is something to look forward to. I hope you have a wonderful party.”

Saturanos, with sparkling eyes, seemed to remember something and rummaged through her handbag. As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, she soon pulled out a white envelope and handed it to me.

“This is an invitation to the event in a fortnight. It’s none other than our father’s birthday celebration.”

Ah, I see. I hadn’t had much interaction with the Saturanos Marquis, so naturally, I wouldn’t know. They were a noble family that mainly stayed in the provinces.

Well, considering that, there might not be many people attending. I asked her with a concerned tone.

“Are there many nobles who have expressed their intention to attend?”

As I expected, she sadly smiled and lowered her head.

“My father doesn’t have deep connections with central nobility. However, I plan to do my best to entertain the guests.”

I nodded and accepted the invitation.

“Thank you for the invitation. I’ll respond later.”

“I hope you can make it! I should repay you for your help today, but…”

I chuckled and clapped my hands. Helping her choose a dress was enough; there was no need for any further gestures.

“It’s okay. I’m not expecting grand gestures for something as simple as helping you choose a dress.”

“Ung…”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

I smiled cheerfully at Saturanos ‘s awkward expression.

Anyway, my business at the shop was finished, so I stood up with Miranda.

“Mrs. Nix, I’ll Leave the dress in your capable hands.”

“When it’s done, should I send it to the mansion?”

I answered affirmatively, and after exchanging a hearty handshake, I left the dress shop, Leaving behind Leia Saturanos , who was waving goodbye.

On our way to the salon, Miranda looked at me with a really strange expression and muttered to herself.

“This is really strange. The young lady has become strange.”

I raised an eyebrow and countered her statement.

“I’ve always been a kind person! Doesn’t it seem that way when you listen?”

“No, it’s not that. The young lady is kind, especially to close friends. However, today’s encounter with Lady Saturanos, who can’t be considered a close friend, acting like that, is strange.”

Oh, it’s rare for Miranda to speak so much. It made me seriously ponder. Have I been acting strangely? I should have practised my poker face. I made a mistake.

If someone were to ask if I’m afraid of death, honestly, I am. It’s scary. Not knowing how I’ll die because the ‘author’ who knows isn’t revealing it with some spoilers is making it even more unsettling.

She fears experiencing pain and trembling with fear before facing death is undoubtedly present. Personally, the type of death I find most undesirable is the one where I linger in fear for a while and slowly endure a painful death.

However, regardless of the form of my death, it is a foolish choice to do nothing out of fear. I feel the need to spend the remaining time I have with loving people.

Therefore, I have decided to temporarily set aside the fear of my death. Instead, I will wholeheartedly help those who need it, giving generously within the limits of what I can offer, whether it be time or material assistance.