Chapter 1: Prologue

A supporting role in life.

Is there any phrase that describes my life more accurately?

The daughter of a family close to my parents, my childhood friend. And that friend is the one and only. The real daughter.

Can you guess what this means? What it’s like to be close to a friend who’s beautiful, accomplished, smart, and even kind! Can you imagine what it’s like to be friends with someone so popular?

It feels like the leading role of life has been stolen from me! All the spotlight is always on her, and I spent my days desperately trying to catch up!

Staying by her side—gentle and elegant, that was my role.

I thought, at least if I stayed in that position, someone would sincerely recognize me!

But it was all a delusion!

“Cecilia! Hurry, find Cecilia!”

The desperate cry of Hawkins, the gentle bookworm who never once raised his voice.

“If Cecilia dies, I will hold you responsible for the crime!”

The furious voice of Crown Prince Evan, who never killed for his own gain.

“Cecilia, please… please!”

The earnest prayer of Benjamin, who cared for nothing but plants.

Not one of those words was directed at me.

Even so, after all we went through together at the Academy! Isn’t this too much?

I blinked.

So much blood was flowing from my head, I could barely see. Through my fading vision, I caught a glimpse of Cecilia, her eyes closed. She didn’t have any notable wounds. She must have fainted from shock when the carriage overturned. Even now, Cecilia shone. Her face looked as if it had been crafted with moonlight itself. Her softly glowing white skin and hair, blue as the deepest sea, captivated my dimming gaze.

“Cecilia!”

Ah, the light is coming in.

It’s fine. I’m used to everyone only looking for Cecilia.

The carriage shook, and then three familiar faces tore open the wooden panels and peeked inside. Their faces were a mess of worry, sorrow, and anger. It seemed our eyes met. Then maybe, just once, they would call my name too. No, even if they didn’t, it was fine. As long as they saved me.

But, contrary to my reasonable expectations, they…

Immediately turned away from me, rushed to the collapsed Cecilia on the other side, and, shouting in outrage, saved her. I thought they would come back for me, but their voices, calling for Cecilia, only faded further away.

So, now… I’ve been abandoned?

No way, even so, leaving me behind… Damn it!

I’m done.

I’m done being Cecilia’s friend.

I’m done living as a supporting role!

Who do they think they are, anyway?

As my vision faded, I made a vow.

Chapter 1

“Miss! Miss Liana!”

Ah. Is this my funeral?

It was the voice of my cheeky maid, Olly.

Judging by the way she’s screaming my name, she must be pretty shocked by the state of my corpse.

Of course… I died with blood streaming from my head, so my body can’t be looking pretty.

Ah, am I really dead? After living as ‘Friend 1’ or ‘Best Friend 1’ next to Cecilia, am I just going out like this? Isn’t that too sad for me?

‘Olly, don’t be too sad. Maybe it’s better to die than live as someone’s sidekick forever.’

I ground my teeth.

Even so! We were kidnapped together, how could they just leave me behind? Rage bubbled up like a volcano.

Ah! I felt like I was even crying. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but still, listen! I’m already dead, right? Listen to Olly’s voice screaming for me! Yes, at least there’s someone crying for me, so maybe my life wasn’t so… Who am I kidding.

‘A good life!? My life wasn’t good at all!’

All the effort I put in just to stand by Cecilia’s side.

To stand tall next to ever-radiant Cecilia, I felt like I needed to excel at something too. So I always fretted over finding things Cecilia couldn’t do. But everything I was good at, Cecilia was better at. And the things I struggled with, she mastered with ease.

It was like she was the main character of the world.

The only thing she didn’t have was a higher ‘status.’ But even coming from a poor countryside territory and having a lowly title seemed to just make her brilliance shine brighter.

“Miss! Wake up! Mi-ss Li-a-na!”

Olly, don’t call me.

Would a dead person come back to life just because you call them?

Don’t interrupt my reflections. I’m in the middle of mourning my own death.

How do I even explain this? The feeling of being a thorough supporting character. Once, I studied etiquette with a fervor that would have disgusted Cecilia. At last, people around me praised me, and I was overjoyed.

‘Lady Liana, you are so elegant!’

‘Wow, do you even master ancient etiquette?’

‘Lady Cecilia must have nothing to worry about! Lady Liana handles everything!’

Hearing the compliments usually meant for Cecilia directed at me made me so happy.

But all of that, in truth, was just praise meant to get closer to Cecilia. Only I, only I didn’t realize it.

No, maybe I did know, and just pretended not to. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to endure it.

Can you truly imagine it? The feelings of a supporting character. The utter despair of having no control over your own life! But it was no one’s fault.

Maybe the real mistake was being Cecilia’s friend in the first place.

“Mi-ss!”

“Eek!”

I shot up in bed.

“Wha—what’s going on!? What is this!?”

My pajamas were drenched in sweat. Was it a nightmare? Did I have a nightmare?

“W-water!?”

No, it was water.

Unbelievable. This shameless maid Olly had poured cold water on me.

“Olly, you brat! What do you think you’re doing!”

Gasp.

I shouted without thinking and then froze in shock.

Wait a second, that can’t be right. Ever since I started at the Academy, I’ve never raised my voice like that! All my old habits kept me in check.

No, but why is Olly in front of me?

As I clamped my hands over my mouth, Olly looked at me with a stern face. Her olive-green eyes, always so strong. Eyes I’d always liked.

“Miss! Today is the Academy entrance ceremony, and you’re going to sleep in again? And to think you’d shout like that! Didn’t you decide to become more ladylike?”

Then she pointed to the notebook I’d hidden at the head of my bed.

Startled, I glanced between Olly’s finger and my pillow.

“H-how did you know!? How did you know my notebook was there!?”

“How could I not know, Miss! You always slip your hand under your pillow before you sleep! No matter how many times I warn you you’ll get cramps, you never listen, so I have to sneak your arm out when you’re asleep. And every time, you’re clutching that notebook, which is a real nuisance. I tried to pretend not to notice, but with you writing in it so boldly, it’s impossible to ignore!”

Maid Olly is fierce.

She never backed down, not even to the daughter of a Duke like me. She’d glare and scold me every time.

What an impudent maid.

“…Fine. Don’t be so mad!”

But I always lost in the end.

When I drooped my head, Olly sighed and hugged me. Her embrace was as warm as ever. As I fussed, she squeezed me tight before letting go.

“Miss, you have no idea how much you talked in your sleep. About becoming the most gentle and elegant lady. I half agree, you know. You’re so lively and bright—almost too lively!—and it’s so adorable, but if you’re worried about etiquette, I just don’t want you to be insulted. So just be a little bit more proper, okay? If you want, you could become a perfectly elegant lady, but wouldn’t that be too hard for you?”

It was Olly’s usual scolding voice, but something was different. This wasn’t the same Olly who woke me with cold water and sometimes secretly spanked me.

Her voice was soft as a silk blanket and warm as a shawl, soothing me. Somehow, the situation felt familiar… Deja vu.

That’s right! This happened before. On the day of the Academy entrance ceremony, Olly grabbed my arm, bent down, and quietly said something just like this. What did I say back then?

My lips trembled.

Maybe…

‘Olly. Don’t say such things. I’ll become the most elegant and proper person. It’s the only way I can stay by Cecilia’s side.’

Olly had such sad eyes as she looked at me then.

My heart ached.

This time will be different.

I don’t know what’s going on right now.

With trembling lips, water dripping from my face and hair, I spoke.

“Mm…”

“Oh my, have you turned into a baby? Why are you crying?”

Even as she spoke, Olly gently wiped my face with care.

“You need a bath, right? Or do you want breakfast first?”

“…Mm.”

“Why are you so down? Are you worried you won’t make friends? Lady Liana, you…”

Olly, uncharacteristically gentle, trailed off.

“I’m what? Why?”

“What?”

“What is it! Just say it!”

Why—why—why—! What is it.

I shook my head violently, nearly having a fit. Water splashed everywhere.

Olly grabbed my shoulders, trying to calm me, but I thrashed, shouting.

“Miss, calm down!”

Her voice was sharp.

It was always like this before!

Back then, I didn’t ask further. I thought an elegant lady never pries into someone else’s words. Plus, I thought it made me look cool.

A lady who doesn’t ask about unfinished words. I thought if I didn’t, others would eventually tell me everything first—but that wasn’t the case.

Maybe my method was the problem, or maybe I was. Maybe I just wasn’t interesting.

As a result, I never heard all those things people left unsaid.

Is that why?

Even now, I knew it wasn’t like me to tremble and throw a tantrum like this.

But I couldn’t stop.

I was dying of curiosity!

Instead, I gripped Olly’s arms even tighter. The water in the washbowl splashed onto the floor. I stared straight into Olly’s eyes, full of confusion in her olive gaze.

It had been a long time since I’d seen that look. Flustered, Olly regained her composure and spoke slowly.

“Miss, I’ll tell you, so please let go of my arms! Goodness, you startled me.”

Weren’t you the one who was flustered? Calm as ever, she patted my disheveled clothes as if spanking me, fixing them.

Why does Olly love spanking me so much!

Olly, you’ve already made me a mess with your cold water, anyway!

Olly sighed as she wiped my feet.

Just hurry and tell me, I don’t need my feet cleaned!

But Olly couldn’t stand seeing me like this.

She couldn’t stand seeing even a speck of food on me—it had to be examined up close to be noticed. With her sharp eyes, she always changed my clothes whenever she spotted a stain. Whether it was my face, my feet, my hands, or the back of my hand, Olly hated anything being on me.

Before, I liked how attentive she was, but now… Olly…

Aren’t you being a bit obsessive?

After drying my feet, Olly slipped on my slippers. The cozy warmth made me wiggle my toes.

“Lady Liana, you suppress yourself too much. So just be yourself, and you don’t have to worry about not making friends.”

“…Really?”

No, Olly. I’ve felt it standing by Cecilia’s side. What people see in me is just the shell—my title. I’ll never be loved by everyone or make friends like Cecilia.

Whenever I hung out with other ladies or young men our age, the spotlight was always on her, and any questions for me were only about her.

No one was ever curious about me, Liana, for my own sake. Thinking back now, I bet those people can’t even remember my name.

‘Why? Why is that?’

I’m the daughter of a Duke, and Cecilia is the daughter of a Viscount. Shouldn’t they try harder to get on my good side? Or were they just too honest before entering society? They were always only curious about Cecilia, always wanting to be with her.

“Miss, why are you crying? Really, Miss, you’re the loveliest young lady I’ve ever known. Look at this golden hair of yours—how brilliant, warm, and beautiful it is! It practically sparkles. See, Miss?”

Olly held up my shoulder-length hair.

With the seriousness of a jeweler presenting a rare gem, she held my hair up to the chandelier’s light.

She was right. My hair sparkled beautifully. Of course, Olly’s hard work oiling and brushing it every morning helped.

I nodded, unable to resist. The accumulated resentment made my shoulders shake as I wept. I caught my breath and spoke.

“Olly. You’re right.”

But I can’t compare to Cecilia’s mysterious blue hair.

I found myself making the comparison without thinking.

“Of course. So please listen to me, okay? Oh! Miss, you have to hurry now. I’ve packed your things already, but you can’t be late on your first day at the Academy. Lady Cecilia will be coming soon, too.”

“Cecilia…?”

“Yes, you were supposed to leave together, remember?”

My heart pounded.

“…”

“Miss?”

Are you feeling unwell?

Olly touched my forehead, looking concerned.

No, Olly.

I’m not sick…

I’m afraid.

Afraid that, once again, I’ll end up as ‘that young lady next to Cecilia’ and not ‘Liana’…

I didn’t want to see Cecilia.