I Was a Supporting Character

Let’s calm down.

These two were still unaware of their destinies and the truths of this world. I couldn’t blame them. There was no point in twisting their intentions with convoluted judgments.

I let out a sigh, as if acknowledging the futility of my internal struggle. Then, I nodded.

“With both of you saying that, resisting Saturonos’s proposal seems difficult.”

“Ah, thank you! Bianca!”

If the other person had allowed the use of their name, it was only proper to reciprocate.

I spoke with a smile that never fully formed.

“You can call me Bianca, Leia.”

“Then, can I call you Bianca too?”

Sigh, this man would be calling me by my name now, indeed!

As he said my name with his pleasant baritone, I felt a tingling sensation in my heart. But along with that excitement, a wave of sorrow surged.

“…Of course.”

‘Right. Anyway, I’m going to die soon. Just before that protagonist couple reaches their happy ending, I’ll be leaving this place. There’s no point in trying to uphold my pride. What good is my pride that I can’t take with me when I die? Let it go.’

My chest tightened as I heard Ares’s bright laughter. I knew that his radiant laughter would not be directed at me forever.

I decided to avoid situations where he would call me by my name. I couldn’t guarantee that my voice wouldn’t tremble when I uttered his name.

But still, I needed to meet the ‘author.’

Was this situation written about in her original novel? Were the protagonist couple and I, the villainous supporting character, becoming so familiar that we called each other by our names as the original work progressed?

I couldn’t grasp the development of the ‘author’s’ novel. Why were the villainess and the protagonist becoming friends? Wasn’t I supposed to be a ruthless hindrance, enough to die in the middle of the novel?

Until I met the ‘author,’ I decided to stay in the Aphrodite Tea House for a while. When I meet her, whether she spoils the plot or not, I’ll shake her and force her to reveal all the details of the novel!

Lost in my own thoughts, Ares cautiously called my name.

“Bianca?”

As he said my name, I snapped back to reality. Only then did I realize that Leia and Ares were looking at me with puzzled expressions.

Apologizing, I sighed, “Ah, sorry. I was lost in my thoughts while you two were here.”

Leia quickly clapped her hands.

“No, it’s okay! I just thought you might be upset because Lady Stanley suddenly didn’t speak.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Not at all. Just some unnecessary thoughts popped into my head.”

I glanced at Ares, and he too had a worried expression fixed on me.

“Um… Anyway, excuse me.”

“It seems you’re not fully recovered yet.”

As my gaze reached him, he suddenly said this.

No, that’s not it. I’m not physically unwell.

I wanted to go to the tea house as soon as possible. I didn’t know when the ‘author’ would arrive, so I needed to be there now, waiting.

“Please continue your conversation. I’m still not fully recovered, and I’m tired, so I should go back. I need to rest.”

Leia and Ares both stood up at the same time. However, I gestured with my hand to stop them.

“Just stay seated. If there’s another opportunity, let’s meet again. It was a pleasure today.”

They both said goodbye to me. Fortunately, I managed to bid farewell without losing composure. They also expressed a desire to see me again.

After a light hug with Metis, I told her I had to go. She expressed regret.

“Still, thanks to you, those two famous figures in society came to this salon. It’s good.”

“Hehe. If you’re grateful, how about buying me something delicious later?”

After parting with her with a smile, I walked briskly to the tea house.

Please, please, I hope I’m lucky enough to meet you today!

I arrived at the tea house Aphrodite and quickly secured my usual spot by the window.

Oh, what luck! Fortunately, the ‘author’ was sitting there!

I approached the ‘author’ with a somewhat discreet pace.

“Long time no see.”

“Oops! Is this how you usually walk without making a sound?”

The ‘author,’ who was munching on a sandwich, looked genuinely surprised and scolded me.

How did they know it’s quite tasty?

“Well, when you’re a noble lady, walking silently is a basic skill. Anyway, it worked out. I really wanted to meet you today.”

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

“Oh…”

The ‘author’ squinted their eyes and stared at me. I met their gaze without flinching.

“What do you want to ask?”

“A lot. Answer slowly.”

“Excluding anything that’s a spoiler.”

Oh, that again. Nevertheless, I started pulling out questions one by one.

“How old are you?”

Oh, don’t misunderstand. It’s just that I’m curious about the age of someone who writes a novel with a plot that deviates from the typical, rather than asking like an old-fashioned person who cares about age during a fight.

The ‘author’ seemed puzzled by my question.

“Why are you asking that?”

“Is it difficult to answer?”

“I’m in my twenties.”

If it’s aged tea, doesn’t it have a bitter taste? I asked about the age, but the ‘author’ gave an unrelated answer. I was curious about what was going on in that ‘author’s’ head, but I decided to leave unnecessary curiosity aside and ask the important questions first.

“Weren’t the main couple supposed to fall in love from the very beginning when they met?”

In response, the ‘author’ grimaced and replied, “No, who starts a romance so unrealistically?”

Well, the world you stepped into is already ‘unreal.’

“Why? There are cases where people fall in love at first sight, especially when it’s the main couple!”

I directed a childish look toward her, defending myself as if it were unfair.

“That’s not my fantasy.”

‘Alright. Got it. So, dying is your fantasy for the villainess, right?’

“Haha, oh, you’re really persistent, aren’t you?”

“It’s a matter of life and death; can it be reduced to mere persistence?”

Once again, I realized. I was nothing more than a disposable supporting character for this ‘author.’ The taste in my mouth was bitter.

The ‘author’ chuckled at my words.

That laughter sent shivers down my spine. No matter how much of a fictional character they created, was it so nonchalant to see me, who is alive and breathing, die right in front of them?

It might be a good idea to stop unnecessary confrontations here. That person wouldn’t even bat an eye if I spilled blood and collapsed right here.

The ‘author’ spoke with a deep voice.

“Is that all for the questions?”

“No! I have more. Is it right for me to become friends with the main couple?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you agree to call each other by name?”

“…Right.”

“Well, it seems like the story is still unfolding according to my novel.”

My head started to spin.

Is there really anything that changes just because I’m not becoming a villainess?

“Aren’t the protagonists who are harassed by someone becoming friends quite pitiful?”

“Enemies are usually the closest, you know.”

…This ‘author’ has quite a cynical side despite her frivolous appearance.

Whether she knows that I’m cursing her in my mind or not, she continued talking with a sandwich in her mouth.

“I mean it! I think overcoming hardships and adversities to achieve love is really cool and beautiful! Some might call it trash, but anyway, that’s my taste.”

Blood, trash? What’s that supposed to mean?

However, judging from the context, it seems like intentionally giving hardships to the characters in the novel is the ‘author’s’ preference.

I muttered to myself.

“How much is supposed to change, and not change?”

“Hmm. I’m curious about that too. The extent of change will completely depend on how much you struggle.”

I asked seriously.

“What does the unchanging ‘pillar’ in the novel specifically refer to?”

“They are the events that make up the most crucial turning points in the novel. The first ‘pillar’ has already appeared.”

“Ares and Lea’s first meeting.”

“Exactly. That’s what it refers to.”

I pondered for a moment.

For this ‘author,’ the most important ‘pillars’ in the novel must signify crucial points in the romance between Lea and Ares. There will be several events that serve as turning points.

Trying to mimic Lea’s puppy-like eyes, I pleaded with the ‘author.’

“Can you tell me about the next ‘pillar’?”

“No. I said it’s a spoiler.”

Damn. She won’t tell me no matter what.

Maybe I should just live as the villainess and not bother changing the plot! It’ll make it less interesting!

“Anyway, I’ll emphasize it again. The crucial ‘pillars’ of this novel won’t crumble. They will never change. However, depending on how you act, the direction of the story in the novel can change significantly. Even the parts I’ve described can change.”

“In other words, if you didn’t directly describe it, actions could change even without separate movements.”

“Yeah. Things like that can change even if you don’t move separately. Since I didn’t describe them at all, That’s probably because the characters in this novel influence each other as they live their own lives.”

“Ugh…”

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

Anyway, the conclusion was that no matter how much I struggle, I will eventually die, and Ares and Lea will have a happy ending. That fact will never change.

Before I turned into the villainess, the event of becoming friends with the main couple had already progressed in the novel. Thinking about this, I asked the ‘author’ again.

“How much has the event of me becoming friends with the main couple progressed in the overall development of the novel?”

“It’s still in the early stages. The main couple will go through a lot of trials and tribulations in the middle and eventually have a happy ending. Of course, you’re the one causing those trials.”

“Ah, I see.”

The role of the villainess is indeed crucial! Maybe I should insert myself as a protagonist by this point?

“But what if I don’t become the villainess, and hardships don’t befall the main couple?”

“Well, then it wouldn’t suit my taste, but it would probably flow smoothly like a sweet beverage.”

‘Oh, what does that even mean? The term’sweet beverage’ is incomprehensible no matter how you look at it.’

Seeing my bewildered expression, the ‘author’ chuckled and explained, “It’s just a story of loving each other comfortably, sweetly, like honey, and reaching the ending.”

Oh, sweet and sweet, like honey…! It’s driving me crazy. Who came up with these terms!

Anyway, after meeting her today and having some of my doubts resolved, I felt a bit more relaxed.

“Can’t you really tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“How I die.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Ugh!”

I glared at the ‘author’ with an irritated expression, and she responded with a snicker, looking back at me.

At that moment, an unexpected person appeared in the tea shop.

“Bianca?”

The ‘author’ and I turned our heads simultaneously, looking towards the person who called me.

Oh my goodness!