I Was A Supporting Character

The salon started to get quite crowded. I hurriedly went past them like a wind.

As soon as I got out of the salon, I headed to the Aphrodite Teahouse. 

If I’m lucky enough to meet the ‘author’, I will interrogate her again.

But something really unexpected happened.

“Bianca!”

I stopped walking. How does it sound like Ares’ voice?

I turned around slowly to see who had called me.

Indeed, Ares was rushing towards me.

… … How did you, without Leah come alone?

As I stood still, staring at him, Ares approached me at a quick pace. 

A look of surprise appeared on my face. 

… … You, why?

“Today, I must hear why. Why are you avoiding me like that!”

I kept my mouth shut. 

I didn’t run out to avoid him, but I couldn’t deny it completely. 

However, I could never say that I had a crush on him and wanted to avoid him. 

His voice was so loud that I could feel passers-by glance at us. 

I didn’t want to draw attention to this extent. 

I answered calmly. 

“There are many eyes here. How about moving somewhere?”

But he was not in the mood to move.

“Did you know that you never once called my name?”

“… … .”

Of course, I know. I have deliberately avoided calling his name. 

The moment I called ‘Ares’, my feelings could be revealed. 

His face now even felt sad. 

… … He’s sad that the villainess didn’t call his name once. 

Then how about me standing in front of him? 

How did I feel when I don’t want to get closer to him because I’m going to die soon?

I turned my head away from him. 

To his question, I had nothing to answer. 

“Bianca!”

He walked over and blocked my way.

I looked up at him expressionlessly and spoke to him in a monotone voice. 

“Just go. Lady Leah is alone.”

“Why do you think I should always be with her?”

“You’re already together, but you’re talking like you’re not. If it feels like you are lying to me, is it my mistake?”

I replied to him in a calm voice.

You will always be together from now on for the rest of your life while loving each other.

“As I said, I’m not feeling well. So I’m just going to go back. Have a nice tea party.”

You have to go back and get to know Leah more deeply as the ‘author’ described. So please go now.

I headed back to the tea house, avoiding Ares, who was standing in the way. 

I intentionally acted coldly in case he would follow me.

The joy of moving not according to the ‘author’s will was short-lived, and soon my heart was filled with sorrow for my fate. 

Can’t I prevent my death? 

Just like the scene where three people were supposed to be sitting together at a tea party was changed, can’t I prevent my death?

Just now when he followed me, I had the urge to the salon with him.

Before I knew it, I arrived at the teahouse and, as usual, went to the usual seat. 

The ‘author’ was not there.

Fufu. Leaving the glamorous tea party aside and coming to a teahouse like this, whoever hears it will say that Bianca Uranos is absolutely insane. 

I quietly sip my tea and reflect on my unexpected situation today. 

I’m not sure if the scene where I left the salon will be in the novel. 

However, I thought that it might have some kind of influence on future development.

Because Ares came after me.

I still wondered why he had to leave Leah and follow me, but I decided to put that aside and reflect on the incident itself.

Every time I mentioned the two together, Ares kept dismissing Leah as just friends.

So what about Leah? Does Leah still think of Ares only as a friend? 

Emotions do not necessarily arise simultaneously and grow at the same rate. 

Now Ares may really think of Leah as a friend, but Leah may not. 

So when he came out with me today, what was Leah thinking as she was left alone in the salon?

Did she tell him to hurry up and bring me, or did she feel angry for Ares who left her behind?

If Leah felt angry with Ares, did I really become a ‘villainess’ to her? 

Would it have been such a hindrance to their romance?

… … I am not a villainess. I shouldn’t be.

There is still very little information given to me. 

I was afraid that if I made a mistake, I would really become the villainess the way the ‘author’ wanted. 

I have to make up my mind and act in a direction that is advantageous for the two of them.

Even if I need to see someone I love holding another woman in their arms, I will not die as a villainess.

If there is one thing I want the most, I want the people I left behind when I die to live happily until the end.

I hope that my parents and Metis will find happiness even after I leave. 

I also hope that Ares Jupiter will not be sad and regret that a person like me passed away. I wished him eternal happiness with Leah Saturnos who will be by his side. 

However, I hope that you do not forget my existence and that you remember me for a little longer. Not as a villainess, but as a person who supported them.

When I got home, I wrote a letter to Metis, apologizing for leaving the tea party so suddenly.

Fortunately, a reply arrived soon, consoling me that it was good that I did it because I looked really sick. The kind Metis always warms my heart like this.

Metis added her concerns that the head of the free food in the slums, which I had sponsored under the name of the salon, was suddenly gone. 

As the manager disappeared, she said that even if the donation was delivered, it would not be managed properly.

It is no surprise that I sponsor such a thing.

All the nobles of the Solar Empire had to do things like that as a noble. 

Nobles have many advantages in this social structure, and those who were born to a noble had the privilege to live comfortably. That’s why as a noble, it is our duty, responsibility, and honor to help those in need.

Doing so will help us earn respect even among nobles.

Of course, there are those who don’t do it. Such people were pointed out at once for being irresponsible. 

Naturally, Metis also had a list of such people and banned them from entering the salon.

Anyway, Metis is so worried that I think I’ll have to go and see the situation as a supporter who provides a substantial amount of money to the free food in the slums.

I had the messenger send a letter announcing my visit.

I won’t go to a social gathering, so I don’t need to be fully armed, but still, as the flower of the high society, I need to dress well no matter what the occasion is.

After dressing up in beautiful yet comfortable clothes, I rode the carriage alone.

It has become a habit for me to travel alone these days. I don’t know how I will die, so if I get involved in an accident and lose my life, I don’t want others to also be affected by the accodent.

It is not usual for a noble girl to go to the slum alone, but I went to the slum alone without an escort.

Hopefully the ‘author’ won’t kill me here.

The place was at the beginning of the slum.

I sponsored in the name of the salon, but I would occasionally visit and serve food too.

Because the person who was in charge suddenly disappeared, the staff weren’t at the best mood.

When my carriage arrived with a loud noise, Mimas, who was helping me manage the situation, came out and greeted me.

“Lady Uranos, I have been waiting for you.”

“Yes, you seem to be having a lot of trouble, so I stopped by to see if there was anything that could help. How is the situation now?”

“All have come to a standstill. People stopped coming here today.”

“What is the most urgent?”

“It’s the appointment of an official manager. First of all, I’m in charge of this temporarily, but I need to get official approval from the government office. But it’s… … .”

Anyone can build a social relief facility, but the person in charge must have a powerful person’s endorsement before being given permission from the government office. 

This was to suppress the sprawl of low-level facilities and to secure the financial stability of non-profit facilities to some extent.

The former manager, who had disappeared to his hometown, also had the wife of a powerful family as a guarantor.

However, Mimas has not yet been able to find a guarantor, so he has come to this point. 

It was only by meeting him in person that I quickly realized why he couldn’t easily find a guarantor. More than half of his face was covered with burn scars.

In this society, appearance is everything. 

It is better to be pretty with an ugly personality rather than the opposite.

So, every day I treat my skin well, do massages, and do everything that is good for my beauty. 

In order to become the flower of high society, appearance matter the most.

Does that sound too arrogant? Hehe, good looks aren’t a bad thing. 

Isn’t it very natural for everyone to have a longing for a beautiful appearance? 

And there’s nothing wrong with being praised as the flower of society because of my face.

However, in the case of Mimas, I think it is a bit frustrating and unfair. 

Unexpected accidents can happen to anyone. 

And there are many cases where it is difficult to blame someone. 

Mimas really only went through something that could happen to anyone. 

It wasn’t that he intentionally ruined his face because he wanted to be ugly, nor that he had committed a serious crime and was hurt by his karma. 

It was only by chance, extremely by chance, that he got a look he didn’t want.

Fortunately, Mimas did not blame others for his misfortune and accepted that it was truly inevitable. Like I had accepted my destiny given by the ‘author’.

So, despite the hideous burn scars that covered his face, his sincere and responsible character remained intact.

The problem was that, before seeing his wonderful personality, the first thing that caught my eye was his burnt appearance. 

Therefore, there were many people who did not realize his great personality and were reluctant to guarantee him.

It wasn’t just the nobles. 

Rather, the poor people who received the help too. 

Among them, there were those who were reluctant when Mimas approached them.

Despite such insults, Mimas was still guarding this place. 

I acknowledge that he was a responsible person, so it was regrettable that he is now the temporary manager because he has no guarantor.

I decided without hesitation.

“Then let me be your guarantor. Please bring the relevant documents now.”