In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 42

After finishing the script reading, at a barbecue restaurant.

It was a dinner gathering where all the main and supporting cast and production staff had assembled.

Sizzle—

The sound of meat cooking didn’t register in my ears.

I stared blankly at my phone screen.

[(On-Set Sketch) How Will Han Sena’s Palace Flower Be Different?]

In the end.

Articles with clearly loaded titles started going up.

Other tabloid media outlets were busily copying and pasting that article, spreading it around at the same level as plagiarism.

Seo Jaeyeon and Lee Nara’s fans are going to lose it when they see this.

A laugh escaped me.

Unlike the worried glances people sitting across from me kept shooting my way, inside I felt like standing up and dancing.

I’m… getting completely noticed, aren’t I?

Had there ever been a single article about me like this in my previous life?

All I got was constant criticism about that damned villainess destroying the female lead.

‘This is new criticism!’

The moment I casually shoved my phone into my bag, Teacher Yoon Youngjae handed me a drink.

I accepted the glass with a grin.

“What are you smiling about, you brat. After seeing an article like that.”

“I’m happy about everything.”

At that, Teacher also laughed, saying “really now.”

This wasn’t the time to get worked up over articles.

What mattered more to me right now was this gathering.

It was time to examine the faces of the seniors I’d be working closely with for the next few months.

“Teacher, cheers!”

Starting with our teacher first.

I clinked glasses with Teacher.

But then Teacher threw out an unexpected joke.

“Thanks to you, I’m even getting to do dramas like this. You gave me work, so I should call you boss.”

“What are you saying! Boss? The boss is Minyeong unnie.”

I felt flustered.

Teacher burst out laughing.

“I’m joking. But still, thank you.”

I could feel the ears of people around us perking up toward us.

“Haha, Teacher, really.”

I felt both embarrassed and bewildered.

Why was Teacher thanking me?

I was the one who’d desperately begged him three times to coach me, the one who’d clung to him asking to film the short together.

I should be grateful he didn’t push me away for being annoying.

When people refocused on their own conversations, Teacher spoke up.

“I deliberately avoided dramas, you know.”

“Huh?”

That was surprising.

When we filmed the short and even today at the reading, Teacher delivered TV-appropriate acting so smoothly it was hard to believe he’d only been in theater.

With that kind of ability, why?

“The roles were too predictable. Just old decorations.”

Those words made me feel solemn.

Because I instantly understood what the word ‘decoration’ meant.

The kindly father that every family has one of, or the troublemaking fool uncle.

In sageuks, the loyal retainers or corrupt officials who move in packs.

Roles that appear in every drama with just the actor swapped out—or sometimes with the same actor appearing over and over.

Like decorations that merely adorn the protagonists.

Teacher lifted the bottle and filled both our glasses.

“But Sangseon in Palace Flower was different. A role that didn’t even exist became incredibly rich after passing through your hands.”

A clear sound rang out from the glasses Teacher and I clinked together.

“I didn’t avoid TV because I hated it. While filming the short, I found myself wanting to live as Sangseon. To finally play a role like this before I die. It’s thanks to you.”

At those words, I forced down the emotions threatening to turn sentimental and smiled brightly.

My heart felt ticklish.

Major life changes are thrilling for everyone.

Whether you’re a middle-aged actress or an elderly male actor.

But for me to be someone the teacher was grateful for…

Could there be anything more touching than this?

Just as I was happily draining my glass, a thunderous shout suddenly erupted.

It was Director Kang.

“What the hell kind of title is this?!”

The chopsticks of people who’d been picking up meat all froze at once.

He saw it.

My article, which Director Kang was reading in real-time, turned his face redder than necessary.

Didn’t he expect this?

Then again, no matter how much he disliked me, having articles come out like this would damage the work itself, so of course he’d be angry.

Before I knew it, the director had moved near the door, growling at who seemed to be a reporter on the phone.

“Pulling in those actresses’ fans, what—oh for crying out loud, isn’t this just stirring up a fight?”

He even thumped his chest as if utterly frustrated.

“Ugh, seriously. Who doesn’t know a good work is all that matters? Ah, fine! We’ll make it spectacularly good, so tell them to set their expectations high!”

His temper really is… spicy.

Thanks to the director’s outburst, everyone at the table started looking up the article.

A senior from the table next to ours tapped my shoulder with a sly smile.

“This is fun. Sena, you’re going to have to work hard, huh?”

“Ah, sunbaenim!”

Won Hyerim.

The senior actress playing the Queen Dowager role.

Nineteen years since debut.

I automatically tensed up.

In my previous life, I’d built up similar years of experience, but this person was a top-tier actress who’d played everything from heroines to villains, young roles to middle-aged characters, with exceptional acting skills.

“Haha… I’ll do my best.”

I tried not to look intimidated as I accepted a drink from sunbaenim.

I’d been a bit surprised when I first saw her.

Because she was still quite young for a Queen Dowager.

How exactly is she planning to act it?

There was no doubt she’d pull it off brilliantly, but I was intensely curious about ‘how’ she’d portray that terrifying Queen Dowager.

Of course, what was more terrifying than that was this person’s accumulated filmography and her famously iron-willed personality.

Though sunbaenim was much younger than the Queen Dowager in the script, the charisma she exuded was even more intense.

The scenes where I’d clash with the Queen Dowager already had my heart racing with anticipation.

Anyway, what she just said sounded like a threat on the surface, but it was really just telling me to do well, right?

‘Won Hyerim only gets tough on juniors she’s interested in. If she’s especially hard on you, just roll with it.’

That was the intel Minyeong unnie had given me.

“You can look forward to it, sunbaenim!”

I answered energetically.

At my spirited response, sunbaenim chuckled and knocked back her soju.

Other people’s gazes also fixed on me.

I felt a bit tense, but the feeling was good.

Now all I had to do was properly show them the ‘Han Sena’s Song Sunim’ they wanted.

Just then, the writer, who’d already downed two bottles without changing expression, shifted the topic.

“By the way, where did Seokhyun-ssi go?”

“He said he had a CF shoot today.”

Ah, that explains it.

One of the staff who answered the writer looked at me with a knowing smile.

“…?”

“Actor Seokhyun said he really wanted to have a drink with Actress Sena, but he was so upset he couldn’t make it. He made such a fuss about it.”

“Oh my, really?”

The writer also giggled along.

“That’s so like Seokhyun-ssi.”

While everyone else laughed knowingly, I was the only one left feeling bewildered as I brought my glass to my lips.

“These damn tabloids, seriously.”

Only Director Kang remained fuming, clutching his head in fury.

* * *

A few days later.

– SenaLOL: Obviously! Newcomer Han Sena suits Palace Flower better than sageuk goddess Lee Nara! Hah

– AnFootstool: Stop trolling pls I’m begging;

– SojuGoddessHanSena: Go back to your main fandom~~

In the parking lot.

I stood there blankly reading article comments… when the manager, who’d finished parking, appeared behind me and stared intently at the screen.

“Why are you reading all that junk?”

“Just because.”

I could see the fans were exhausted.

Even though I kept telling myself I needed to do well, thinking about the fans somehow made it impossible to put my phone down.

Then the manager suddenly snatched my phone away.

“…?”

“Minyeong noona said to take your phone if I saw you reading this stuff.”

What?

At my shocked expression, the manager looked startled too and quickly handed the phone back.

“Ah, no. I mean, this stuff isn’t good for me.”

That’s not the issue here.

“Noona…?”

My pupils shook like an earthquake at the unbelievable fact.

The manager smiled sheepishly.

“I’m two years younger than Minyeong noona.”

With that visual, don’t act all shy…

While I was reeling alone from shock, a staff member’s voice called from outside the parking lot.

“Everyone, please come for the ceremonial offering!”

A moment later.

At the pavilion set up in the middle of the scenic pond, an offering table had been prepared.

As I approached, straightening my clothes, someone tossed out a comment.

“You were staring at your phone inside—must be nerve-wracking, huh? Lots of hate comments, I saw.”

It was Heo Sojin.

The actress playing the Consort role, same age as me—a supporting cast member.

She was leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette.

Pretty cocky.

Talking down to me when we’ve only just met…

We’d met for the first time at the reading, yet here she was already bringing up hate comments, clearly trying to get under my skin.

She obviously wanted to needle me about the articles comparing me to the originally considered actresses.

“Don’t even mention it, they’re all so interested in me. What if everyone becomes obsessed with me?”

At that, Heo Sojin snorted dismissively as she stubbed out her cigarette.

“Obsessed with what…”

“Next up, main cast team!”

Just then, the staff’s booming voice cut off Heo Sojin’s words.

Nice.

I’m done with people like that.

I spun around sharply and headed toward where the staff had gathered.

I could see the director and writer finishing their bows and stepping back.

I pulled out the prepared envelope in advance and moved forward.

As I placed the money envelope in the pig’s head’s mouth…

Lee Seokhyun approached from the distance with a slight smile, walking slowly.

It’s been a while.

A superstar really is busy, huh?

But then…

“Huh? You’re putting money in? Won’t you become the sacrifice if you fall in the pond?”

Lee Seokhyun suddenly threw out some incomprehensible joke.

He seemed to be talking about the pond scene—our first filming scene that would happen right after the ceremony.

Chuckles erupted from various spots at Lee Seokhyun’s comment.

I also forced a bright smile while looking at Lee Seokhyun.

“If a loyal retainer becomes the sacrifice, won’t Your Majesty rescue them?”

At that, Lee Seokhyun went “oho” and offered a high-five.

Our palms met in the air with a smack.

Lee Seokhyun kept grinning ear to ear, looking oddly cheerful.

Tsk tsk…

This young guy’s kind of quirky.

* * *

After clearing the offering table, finally the first shoot.

Director Kang and the staff all bustled busily around the small pond.

And me too.

It was a location shoot that required a lot of work right from the first filming.

An important scene where Sunim, dressed in women’s clothing, runs away to avoid being seen and encounters the king.

I had to fall into the pond, and unfortunately the weather was cold too.

“Just like rehearsal. Let’s get it in one take.”

Director Kang started running the set with a somewhat sharp voice.

As the staff tensed up, I cheerfully took off my coat.

“Wow, I’m so excited my body’s heating up! I want to jump in the water right now!”

At that, Lee Seokhyun joined in raising morale by shouting encouragement.

“So spirited, Han Sena!”

Lee Seokhyun grinned in this direction.

Mm, feels a bit burdensome.

As I avoided Lee Seokhyun’s gaze, Director Kang casually tossed out a comment to the staff.

“Well yeah, she’s an actress, so let’s film carefully and sparingly. She said she won’t use a stunt double… Everyone do well so we finish in one take.”

The content was considerate, but the tone was perfunctory.

As if…

Based on his experience, most actresses generally disliked working their bodies hard—that’s the vibe his words gave off.

That’s how it felt.