In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 44

“Cut! Okay. Let’s move to the next setup right away.”

The moment I heard Director Kang’s okay sign, I headed to the waiting room.

I’d successfully finished filming two scenes in a row while tipsy.

I wasn’t particularly drunk, but I was putting effort into making sure people wouldn’t notice.

That’s when I felt someone’s gaze drilling into me as I walked toward the waiting room.

I knew exactly who it was.

Heo Sojin.

I turned my head and looked straight back at her.

Then I showed her a subtle smile—just enough for Heo Sojin to notice.

She looked flustered.

She’d probably pulled this stunt without knowing my tolerance.

Though it was weaker than in my previous life, I’d built up my tolerance through all kinds of emotional hardships—this much was nothing.

I entered the waiting room and slowly sat down in the chair.

Then I pulled out the script and started reviewing the filming scenes.

I gripped my wavering focus tightly and recited my lines.

There’s no way Heo Sojin would stop here.

Having to spend energy on unnecessary things outside of filming put me in a foul mood.

I worked so hard to secure this position.

I took a deep breath and went back to reading through the notes I’d written in the script.

* * *

Afternoon filming.

Right in the middle of a difficult outdoor shoot.

“Oh my, Sena-ssi! Don’t move!!”

The costume staff member screamed toward me.

Startled, I stood there frozen with my hands raised, and three or four staff came running with wet wipes.

Black iron powder was coming off on my hands.

“Looks like the hand warmer burst.”

Before the iron powder could stain the costume, the staff practically snatched the hand warmer from me.

Then one of the staff who’d given me the hand warmer looked troubled.

“Sojin-ssi said to give this to Sena-ssi because she was worried you’d be cold during filming. I shouldn’t have done it.”

Sure enough. It was Heo Sojin again.

I forced a smile toward that staff member.

“No, I was careless. Almost ruined the costume! I’m so sorry.”

I’d barely moved past that incident…

During the next cut, a tumbler came flying through the air, and sticky liquid landed on my front.

“Ah!”

Then the staff member holding the tumbler came crashing down dramatically.

“Oh no! Sena-ssi, I’m so sorry!”

The staff member apologized before even getting up.

“It’s okay! I’m fine.”

I could clearly see the Danghye sneakers slipping away under the falling staff member’s feet.

Heo Sojin smoothly disappeared after that.

Right before filming, Director Kang’s brow furrowed as he looked at me standing there.

The costume team’s face twisted for a moment too.

“We just finished setting up. Do we have another costume?”

At Director Kang’s words, the costume team shook their heads.

Director Kang sighed and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.

“Request a spare costume, and until it arrives, we’ll film another scene…”

The assistant director cut in with a troubled expression.

“CP, what we just set up is the last scene at this location.”

“Ah…”

The staff member who’d fallen kept bowing repeatedly.

“I’m sorry. Everyone, I’m truly sorry!”

Their voice sounded like they were about to cry.

I glared in the direction Heo Sojin had disappeared and swallowed my anger.

Playing pranks that actually disrupt filming?

I felt she’d crossed the line now.

I could understand being jealous.

I’d felt the same way when I was stuck doing villain roles, watching the sparkling leads.

That’s why I knew better than anyone.

That Heo Sojin had absolutely nothing to gain by going this far.

I needed to find a solution.

First, I decided to finish the delayed filming quickly and perfectly.

The next scene was my first scene acting opposite Won Hyerim sunbaenim, the one I’d been so looking forward to.

Heo Sojin’s pranks were draining my energy.

I gathered my mind again.

* * *

Two hours after the delay.

“Alright, focus. Ready, action!”

Han Sena and Won Hyerim appeared together on Kang Jeonghwan and the staff’s monitors.

It was the scene where the Queen Dowager barges into the great hall and discovers Sunim—Deputy Scholar Song Jaelim disguised as a man.

With a line of court ladies trailing behind her, the Queen Dowager spat venom without caring who was listening.

“Well, well, look who it is. Isn’t this the rat bastard acting all high and mighty, riding on the king’s coattails? We’ll need to put out rat poison in the great hall.”

Several staff watching the monitor gaped.

It was charisma that overwhelmed the atmosphere and inspired fear in those watching.

Then Sunim lowered her voice and offered greetings without batting an eye.

“I greet Your Royal Highness the Queen Dowager, great elder of the Inner Court.”

Her voice was heavier and more resolute than when wearing women’s clothing.

Watching the two actors’ chemistry, Kang Jeonghwan’s lips curved upward.

‘Look at this.’

What came next was truly fascinating.

“However.”

Sunim continued.

“To call someone who draws the nation’s salary a rat bastard shows no respect for His Majesty, who governs all civil and military officials. I fear what the common people might say.”

The Queen Dowager paused for a moment after hearing the Deputy Scholar’s words.

In other words—you are not the king, and I am the king’s subject, so watch your words.

From this point, the staff began holding their breath and staring at Han Sena.

The Queen Dowager stepped forward, trying to seize control.

“Are you trying to teach a royal elder? Do you truly have loyalty toward the king?”

The Deputy Scholar bowed her head and spoke.

“I understand that accepting remonstrance is the virtue of a wise ruler.”

In front of Won Hyerim, who was radiating lethal intensity, Han Sena also elevated her presence.

As sharp lines were exchanged, the atmosphere within the frame froze.

Kang Jeonghwan also seemed fully immersed, narrowing his brow and staring at the monitor without breathing.

The Queen Dowager drew close to Sunim and whispered.

“Whether you’re human or rat bastard will be exposed soon enough.”

Then Sunim met the Queen Dowager’s eyes.

“Will you strip off the human mask?”

In that instant, the production staff let out silent gasps at the expression Han Sena showed.

The emotion in the stage directions had been handled with just one word.

– Sunim: (Expression) Will you strip off the human mask?

It was an expression veteran writers commonly placed before important lines to leave the interpretation to the actor.

Han Sena’s current expression mixed boldness to stand her ground with a thread of doubt and faint anxiety.

That anxiety made viewers momentarily recall the Deputy Scholar’s weakness.

That the Deputy Scholar was a woman.

And at the same time, in love with the king.

Thanks to such actor interpretation, writers could trust and delegate while writing scripts.

Among the staff holding their breath in admiration, Heo Sojin bit her lips while watching Han Sena.

Heo Sojin felt it instinctively.

That newcomer possessed something on an entirely different level from all the acting she’d done, everything she’d prepared.

Substance, not fluff.

‘Eyesore bitch.’

Since her debut, Heo Sojin had received all the staff’s attention and praise on every set.

But not anymore.

Since Han Sena appeared, she was being robbed of the steady stream of attention she should have been receiving.

Enough to feel a sense of crisis.

Just then, the Queen Dowager passed by Sunim and turned her head back to ask.

“Are you afraid?”

Then she ascended to the great hall.

Behind that back, Sunim bowed deeply for a long time as the Queen Dowager’s entire entourage moved away.

Then she quietly murmured.

“Does this mean the great hall isn’t the only place raising rat bastards…”

“Cut! Okay, okay!”

For the first time, Kang Jeonghwan displayed excitement.

‘What Director Moon said wasn’t an exaggeration at all.’

He’d heard endless praise about Han Sena from the director who’d filmed Flat Shoes.

Even then, he’d only thought ‘must be a pretty impressive newcomer.’

She was an actress for whom the title ‘newcomer’ didn’t suit her.

Currently, she was simply perfect, no different from actors with years under their belts.

No, maybe even more than some veteran actors.

“Wow! Director Kang gave okay twice, so I’m happy!”

From a distance, Han Sena looked at Kang Jeonghwan and grinned.

Kang Jeonghwan cleared his throat and relaxed before sitting back down in his seat.

The assistant director beside him shook his head while laughing.

Won Hyerim also tossed out a comment to Han Sena.

“Not bad?”

Han Sena bowed to Won Hyerim.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, sunbaenim, I was able to immerse myself so well in the acting.”

Watching that, Yoon Youngjae also laughed heartily.

“An entertainer is an entertainer. Standing in front of the camera, they become a fish in water.”

Yoon Youngjae felt secretly proud.

He’d never had much interest in teaching or raising students.

But this experience changed his thinking.

Pulling up juniors was as rewarding as showing his own acting.

Plus, he’d benefited too.

She was a treasure of a kid.

“Worth waiting two hours for the delay.”

“Wow, isn’t Sena-ssi insane? So scary.”

The staff each threw out comments.

In the cheerful set atmosphere, only Heo Sojin alone couldn’t smile.

* * *

Whew, today’s filming quota is finally done.

I sat in the van and caught my breath.

“You’re not going home, right?”

The manager looked at me through the rearview mirror.

I also looked in the rearview mirror and grinned.

He was a manager who’d already figured me out completely.

“Right. I’m planning to watch until the very last filming before leaving.”

“Geez, don’t you ever get tired? Must be nice being young.”

Haha…

The manager gripped the steering wheel and headed toward the final location.

I looked out the window and exhaled.

From the lingering effects of the scene where I’d clashed with Won Hyerim sunbaenim, my heart was still pounding.

Today’s final filming would also be decorated by Won Hyerim sunbaenim.

With Heo Sojin too.

I grew more curious about sunbaenim’s acting.

How does that kind of charisma radiate from her?

What kind of person is she normally?

She was an actress who made me curious about the person herself.

What kind of acting will she show in the next scene?

I watched the darkening sky outside like that.

An hour later.

I got out of the car and arrived at the filming location.

But contrary to expectations, irritated voices were bursting from the set.

“Cut! NG!”

This was already the eighth NG.

Then a roar finally erupted from Won Hyerim sunbaenim, who’d been holding back.

“Are you crazy? Why are you trying to match her there?”

Everyone’s eyes focused on one spot.

Right on Heo Sojin.

Heo Sojin stood there looking lost, shrinking into herself.

I mentally shook my head watching her.

From the start, Heo Sojin had been putting all her strength into acting as the Consort who confronts the Queen Dowager head-on.

There’s a proper stance for each role.

“Let’s take a break and come back. Sojin-ssi, go catch your breath.”

Director Kang stopped filming with a tone that suppressed his irritation but sounded mechanical.

Then Won Hyerim sunbaenim and about a dozen actors and staff dispersed at once…

Heo Sojin came striding toward me.

“Hey.”