I Was A Supporting Character

Chapter 1 – The World is Turned Upside Down (1)

TL/Editor: Alcatraz/Latte

My name is Bianca Uranos.

Two years have passed since my debutante in high society, the coming-of-age ceremony—my 20th birthday.

I am the only daughter of Count Uranos, who is well known as a prestigious noble of the Solar Empire.

My personality? I think it’s quite good. I am not sure of what others think  

of me. But I tend to be a bit bold and straight-forward, maybe that’s the reason why I’ve accumulated hate from some girls in the society. Of course, the feelings are mutual.

My appearance? Heh. What should I say? My hair was woven from the black heavens, fine strands of spacetime and starlight. There is no one here that does not admire my beautiful black locks. Furthermore, no one could resist my enchanting eyes. My orbs were violet, glowing and unique in its own beauty.

To put it simply, I am confident of my appearance.

Both of my beloved parents are living happily as well.

My tutor has assured me of my mastery over various liberal arts and etiquettes. It was the least I can do as part of the nobility. Intellectually speaking, there’s no big difference between me and an academy graduate.

As for why I am introducing myself, I must first explain. I have lived as Bianca Uranos for 20 years. I have no doubts about my life and identity.

That is… until I met this mad woman with dark hair and dark eyes standing right in front of me!

My hand, under the weight of the parasol, trembled greatly upon hearing her nonsense. What kind of gibberish was this woman spouting?

“Hey! So, you’re Bianca Uranos! My God, even though I’m the one who made you, you really are gorgeous! A masterpiece!”

The woman circled me for a long time, as she sang praises over my looks. If this was a simple compliment, I could easily overlook it, however such words were no compliment.

“…What do you mean you made me?”

“Ah, I’m an author! Well, I did roughly describe you in my story, but you’re prettier than I imagined!”

As usual, after having a tea party with the noble ladies of my age, I was taking a leisurely walk in the midst of the spring breeze. Suddenly, I heard someone calling me, “Isn’t that Bianca?”

I don’t know who she was, but she obviously recognized me, so I kept my silence and observed her cautiously. 

What did she say? She’s an author?

“You said you’re a ‘author’? You? Are you referring to an author who writes stories?”

“Yes! I’m the author of this world, the one who made you!”

“Shut your nonsense!”

It was the loudest voice I ever used in my life. Everyone, not only this ‘author’ in front of me, but even the bystander, were stunned into silence.

“Ah….”

The ‘author’ in front of me gave me an apologetic expression.

I laid down the parasol in my grasp, but my hand still pointed toward her.

“I’ve been the only daughter of Count Uranos for 20 years! My parents are the one who gave birth to me! How impudent of you to claim that you’ve made me?”

“Well, if you calm down. I’ll tell you what I meant.”

“If you were me, would you be able to calm down? Would you be able to get a hold of yourself if a mad woman suddenly shows up and tells you she’s the author of this world?!”

My words came to a stop after I poured out my vexation. The ‘author’ nodded as she muttered with a moderate expression, “Well, is it really that surprising? It’s not as if I’m changing any major plot in the story…”

“What are you saying? I don’t understand.”

The ‘author’ replied with a carefree smile and a playful tone.

“If I tell you, you’ll think I’m lying to you.”

“..….”

I couldn’t fathom what this ‘author’s’ motive, nonetheless my gut feeling told me that she wasn’t lying.

“…I won’t reprove you, so tell me.”

The ‘author’ let out a laugh at my answer.

“It’s going to be time consuming, so shall we search for a place to rest? Oh, we can go to the Aphrodite teahouse! Wow, I know I wrote it down, but I can’t believe I’m going to visit it!”

My favorite teahouse, Aphrodite. How did she know that?

However, whether she reads my mind or not, her steps came to a halt before she glanced back at me and spoke with a reminiscing tone.

“It’s your regular tea house! From your seating arrangement, you can frequently see Ares Jupiter entering the wine bar across the street….”

I feel light-headed at her words. It was supposed to be a secret that no one knows! The fact that I have a crush on Lord Ares Jupiter!

“Who are you?”

I stopped, nailed to the spot and asked her. However, she still remains nonchalant. It’s really annoying.

“I will explain everything to you, but first, let’s go to the teahouse.”

I unconsciously followed her, as if I was possessed. She seems to know everything about me. Even the feelings I’ve kept hidden from everyone.

She takes the lead confidently, as if she knew the exact way to the teahouse.

‘How could this be?’ I thought to myself as I followed her blankly.

Only then did I notice her attire. She was wearing an uncommon dress that was distinct from the trends today. The fabric was peculiar as well and it had a design that emphasized practicality.

“That outfit…”

For me, who never missed any of the fashion trends, that dress was unfamiliar. Maybe I should call my exclusive designer, Mrs. Nicks, to recreate it.

When I unconsciously muttered my thoughts, the ‘author’ paused and asked anxiously.

“Ah, does this dress look out of the place? I’ve tried to choose something as similar as possible to the current trends of this world.”

“This world…?”

“Whew, if I explain it to you right now it will take a long time. I’ll tell you all at once when we arrived, so let’s go to the teahouse first. I’m craving for a drink.”

Before long, I entered Aphrodite, still trailing behind the mysterious woman. Numerous questions occupied my heart.

The ‘author’ seemed to know me very well. As soon as we entered Aphrodite, she headed towards the window on the second floor, my usual seat.

“Is it right here? Your favourite seat.”

“…That’s right.”

“Huff,” the ‘author’ exhales.

I sit across from her awkwardly. Out of habit, I peeked at the wine bar, Dionysus, from the corner of the window.

“I’m the one who named that wine bar as well. In the world where I came from, the name means ‘the God of Liquor’.”

“Who are you?”

I asked the ‘author’ coldly.

She looked at me sheepishly and continued to speak in a relaxed manner.

“Yes, yes. Maybe it’s better to start with what you’re curious about? As I said before, I am a ‘author’. This world is my novel.”

This world which I lived in, this empire, was all a figment of her imagination?

“Of course, I didn’t write this world to its minute details. But, the important plots in this novel are being carried out as I wrote it. For example…”

Her relaxed expression turned into a thoughtful one, as if something had piqued her interest.

“You fell in love at first sight when you saw Ares Jupiter at your debutante.”

“…!”

Indescribable shock was written all over my face.

She knew my secret! Was she telling the truth? Was the land I’m treading on merely a fantasy written on a piece of paper?!

“And I know what will happen in the future.”

“What will happen in the future…?”

“Yes, because this novel is the work that I’ve perfectly planned. The ending was also decided by me.”

Her words disorient me. 

This world was organized by her? So what was the meaning of the life that I’ve been through? What were these emotions I possessed? What were all these moments in my life? Weren’t they all meaningless after all?

The ‘author’ stared at my ashen face and clicked her tongue.

“Tsk, even if I tell you the truth, it’s useless.”

“You….”

“?”

“Aren’t you, aren’t you aware of how shocking the things you said just now are?”

“Is it so shocking?”

I couldn’t stand her thoughtlessness and stood up.

“Because of your nonsense just now, my existence, the land where I stand, this world, all feels foreign! Who in the world am I? What about my family? Are you saying that my whole life was just a lie? That it was just a world written on a piece of paper!”

The ‘author’ paused for a good second and  a close look at me.

“I am only a ‘author’, and not an omnipotent god. I didn’t design the lives of everyone here. I simply said that everyone is living in the world I’ve built.”

My mind was in utter confusion. So, if this ‘author’ did not make everything, how much of it was under her control and how much of it was autonomous?

I decided to ask the most important question.

“Then, does my life fall within the bounds you created?”

I didn’t know about the others. However, the most important thing to me was my life.

The ‘author’ replied with a light smile.

“Of course! Because you are a very important person in my novel!”

I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad, but there was a more important problem.

So, did she mean that all my life went according to the ‘author’s’ will? When I was born, how I grew up, and what I learned?! And did it mean that the sentiments I’ve felt were all under the ‘author’s’ plans?

It was absurd.

I thought I was in control of my life. I thought that I could decide my future. I… I thought the affection I held towards Ares Jupiter stemmed from my own feelings.

Wasn’t it all meaningless? All this time, I was simply a puppet of the ‘author’.

Tears filled quickly as my eyes became hot. I didn’t want to admit it. My life, which I have lived so far, was not mine.

I lost sight of what to say and plunged into my seat. I didn’t want to think about it anymore. I didn’t even know what to do.

The ‘author’ spoke as if she was trying to comfort me.

“I didn’t write every moment of your life. What I’ve written is the kind of family you are born into, your personality, who you will love, and your ending.”

I quietly raised my head. What she wrote were actually the most important things that defined me. When I fell asleep and woke up, what I ate every evening. In what way did they not constitute my identity? She created me.

“So my existence is completely made as you’ve designed?”

“……”

“Answer me!”

“……”

“Then, you mean that the feeling I held towards Lord Ares Jupiter is because of you?”

“…That’s right.”

I laughed in a dull motion. Tears streamed down my cheeks, yet I only managed to let out a self-deprecating laughter. My heart was empty.

What was the purpose of my life? Why did the ‘author’ make me?

“Why did you make me? Why did you make me fall in love with Lord Ares Jupiter?”

The moment I asked this question, the ‘author’s’ expression immediately turned grim. She seemed to be having a difficult time telling me the truth.

“Tell me. What role do I play in your novel? Why did you say I hold an important position?”

“That’s….”

The ‘author’ stared at me for a while. Moments later, she forced herself to speak and uttered the harsh truth.

“Because you are a supporting character… Or rather, you are the antagonist of the story. The villainess.”