I Was A Supporting Character

I wanted to meet the ‘author’ to solve this very question. I was thinking of asking the ‘author’ to recite the text of the novel as it is. I also need to know what she wrote, and why it’s developing so unpredictably. 

Maybe she was out of ideas. She may have just written the incidents as a filler chapter. But according to the ‘author’, the world in this novel was so perfect that she wanted to come in here, so this novel may have been her life’s work, and she might remember every detail.

Today as well, after sitting for half a day at the tea house, I ended up failing to meet the ‘author’. A few days had passed, and I was getting tired of it.

‘This damn ‘author’! Why doesn’t she show up? I had been waiting for days at the tea house to buy you tea and sandwiches.

‘Haa, I’m tired.’

I sighed helplessly and opened the door of the tea house as I stepped out into the street. The sun had completely receded as it was about to set. I’m completely exhausted today as well. I don’t have much time left to live. 

I looked up blankly at the orange sky. Should I just give up on everything and become a villain naturally?

But it was then. There was a sound of someone screaming.

“Move! It’s dangerous!”

Huh?

Looking down from the sunset, I turned to the side where the shout was heard.

Clop, clop.

I could gradually hear the thundering sound of horseshoes. And from the distance, I saw a horse tied to the carriage running fast towards me, it seemed as if time was slowing down and I was frozen.

People were rolling down the sides of the road, avoiding the horse and carriage. But for some reason, my legs were stiff, I was rooted to the spot and could not move.

The red, bloodshot eyes of the mad horse appeared in front of me. I could also see the saliva mixed with the foam that the horse spewed everywhere. Everything slowly came into my view, so that I could see every single strand of its rough mane.

Still, I couldn’t move.

‘Ah, I guess this is my death.‘

It seemed that my end had come sooner than I expected. As a result of struggling to get out of the path of the villain described in the novel, I didn’t think I would die like this.

If I had known that I would die so quickly, I wouldn’t have stayed at the tea house for a few days to meet the ‘author’. I wasted my precious time.

When I saw my death approaching, I was neither afraid nor sad. Without a second thought, my mind calmed down.

‘Ah, I’ll die soon.’

I watched the mad horse reached me. And I slowly closed my eyes.

But…

“Bianca!”

Along with a loud shout that seemed to tear my eardrums, someone pushed me away. I ended up falling to the side of the road.

“Ouch!” A short scream escaped my mouth.

At the same time as I fell, I realized something.

… I’m not dead. Huh? I’m alive? Shouldn’t I die?

I still couldn’t process what had happened, so my mind was blank. 

The mad horse that pulled a carriage crashed against the wall of a building.

“Bianca!”

It was then that I realized that someone was hugging me. I looked at the person who saved me.

“Are you okay?”

Ahh, it was you Ares Jupiter. His blonde hair was a mess, perhaps from the shock of falling, and his brown eyes, which always looked warm, were staring at me worriedly.

“Yes, I’m okay,” I answered immediately. And I wasn’t really hurt. My mental state was extremely stable, even though I nearly died. It’s because I know I’m going to die in advance. I wasn’t so upset and I wasn’t scared either.

So next time. when I really die, I would experience something like this again. I had no desire to experience it again, but I was relieved at the same time. At least, my parents won’t see my corpse stomped on by a horse.

People flocked to see what happened after the mad horse hit the wall. In the midst of the frenzy, only Ares fell to the floor with me and still couldn’t get up.

‘But why won’t this person let me go?’ 

Ares held me tight and didn’t release my arms.

‘Uhh wait, why is he the one trembling?’

“Ares. I am really fine.” I looked into his eyes until he released my arm on his own. For some reason, his eyes seemed moist. His face, which was filled with worry and surprise, suddenly changed as if he was angry.

“?”

Seeing the expression on my face, he looked furious, kept his mouth shut and let me go. But soon after, he grabbed my hand tightly and led me somewhere.

“Ares! Where are we going?”

He took me to a narrow gap between buildings, out of the public sight. Why did he bring me to this place? Just as I was about to question him, he yelled at me first.

“Why!”

Huh? Ares, why are you so angry?

“Why do you have those eyes!”

My eyes? What about my eyes?

“How are you so calm?”

I couldn’t help but stare blankly at him for a moment. How did he know?

“Why are you so careless!”

I felt it before. His intuition was very sharp. But why was he so angry at me for accepting my death? I was nervous that Ares might’ve found out, and something even more surprising happened.

He suddenly hugged me tightly! In my ears, I heard Ares’s voice full of anger, no, full of sorrow. “You almost died! You almost disappeared from this world! In front of my eyes, I thought I’d lose you forever!”

“Ah, that…….”

“I haven’t even told you that I love you…!”

At that moment, it felt like lightning struck my head.

What? Ares, what did you say?

Why is Ares Jupiter saying he loves me? How did this happen?! 

I opened my eyes wide. And my whole body began to tremble with surprise and fear. Something is wrong! Without realizing it, I pushed Ares away as much as I could.

“Bianca! Don’t do this, please!”

As soon as I got away from him, I turned around and ran straight out of the place. In a state of complete panic, I ran back to the tea house to find the ‘author’. I could hear Ares calling me desperately from behind, but it didn’t matter now.

‘This damn ‘author’! Now explain this situation to me!’

Why me, not the female lead, Leah?!

While panting, I opened the tea house door again and ran up the stairs. I looked at the seat where I usually sat, but like before, the ‘author’ was not there.

No! I must meet her now!

I couldn’t help but stare at the empty space. Not being able to meet the ‘author’ has never been so terrifying as I felt now. As I was staring at the place in disbelief, I heard the sound of urgent footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Bianca!” It was Ares Jupiter. He had been chasing me.

I was so surprised that I had no control over my facial expressions. I just looked at Ares with a foolish expression.

The tea house was empty and everyone had left to watch the commotion a while ago. In this empty space, only the two of us were facing each other.

“Bianca. I’m sorry to startle you.” His face looked very painful. “But I’m serious. I love you. Since a long time ago…”

I have no idea what my face looks like right now. No thoughts popped into my head.

“It’s only natural that you don’t believe me. I was just looking at you from afar all the time. The thought that you were avoiding me was so frightening that I didn’t dare to think about it.”

All that I’ve been through for the past two years or so has also been foolish.

“I wanted to approach you little by little as friends. Then I hope that one day you will open your heart to me.” Ares lowered his head. “But the moment I saw you standing blankly in front of an oncoming carriage, I have never been more afraid in my life than that.”

“……”

“So my body moved without me knowing. And……I’m sorry for yelling at you.”

I couldn’t say anything. His words echoed in my head. I’m losing my mind. 

I stuttered and asked him. “Uh, since when……like me… Did you like me?”

“…From the first time I saw you.”

Seriously, I never have felt so stupid.

All this time, Ares and I had an unrequited love for each other, and we acted like idiots for over two years! If one of us have the courage, we wouldn’t have to hide our feelings… No, rather, if I had been courageous a little sooner, just like when I had the courage to die a while ago, everything would go smoothly.

I was terribly disappointed in myself. However, his confession doesn’t make me happy.

… Why do you love me?

Amidst my chaotic feeling, a question came into my mind. He is set to fall in love with Leah Saturnos, the female lead. Later on, after meeting and kissing, their feelings will grow.

No way, they acted differently from the settings?

It couldn’t be. Knowing the truth, I also failed to overcome the setting and shake off Ares, so how could he do it! My head felt like it was going to explode because of the questions. With a headache that overcame me, I sat down on a chair.

“Bianca.”

“…….”

Ares called me. But I didn’t have the energy left to look back and deal with him now.

Please, my head hurts so much so just go away!’

‘But despite the cry of my heart, he opened his mouth and spoke to me.

“I will not force you to accept my heart. It’s okay if you just treat me like usual.” His voice felt powerless. “I didn’t mean to confess. It came out accidentally.”

“…….”

“I was so worried when you almost got hurt. So, please just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

‘You want me to forget about it? When your confession is the cause of my turmoil?’