In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 50

On the screen behind the stage, each of the nominated actresses appeared one by one, including me.

Yuri-ssi gripped my hand tightly.

For some reason, she seemed far more desperate than I was.

“Now, we’ll announce the winner.”

A brief silence settled over the ceremony hall.

“Congratulations. Cinderella in Flat Shoes’ Han Sena-ssi!”

What…?

In an instant, everyone’s attention turned toward me.

I reflexively stood up at the thunderous applause.

My dazed face filled the stage screen.

Yuri-ssi jumped up with joy and pulled me into a hug.

“Wow! I knew it! Sena-ssi, congratulations!”

Teacher Lee Siyoung and the other team members also offered their congratulations.

“Sena-ssi, congratulations.”

“Who else but our Sena-ssi would win! Of course.”

The commotion filling the ceremony hall buzzed in my ears.

As I walked toward the stage through the applause, everything seemed to flow in slow motion.

Standing before the microphone with the trophy in my hands.

Dozens of cameras, countless actors, and the audience all stared at me in unison.

Seeing that sight made my chest swell.

As the applause died down, my sense of reality—which had drifted away for those brief seconds—returned.

But for some reason, I couldn’t remember the acceptance speech I’d prepared with Minyeong unnie.

This is bad.

Everyone’s waiting for me to speak.

I carefully chose my words, trying to stay calm.

“I didn’t expect this award at all, so I’m incredibly honored. I’m truly happy.”

As I thought about it carefully, I realized there was something I absolutely wanted to say.

About my first project that brought me this Rookie Award.

Literally, about Flat Shoes.

“This might be inappropriate for a young newcomer to say, but my path preparing to become an actress was a path of thorns. Inside me, there was always uncertainty, anxiety, and a desperate longing that seemed impossible to fulfill. Walking barefoot through the thorny path created by those things meant constantly getting hurt and wounded.”

I saw the Flat Shoes team looking up at me with small smiles.

I smiled back at them.

“The first shoes given to my scarred feet were my first project, Flat Shoes. They were precious shoes, a precious connection. Because it was a scarred, love-starved villain role, it became even more precious to me.”

Countless scenes passed through my mind like a panorama.

At the end, the final scene I recalled was that first moment when I gained new life.

The moment I received new life as an actress at the Flat Shoes audition.

“There are so many people I’m grateful to. My family watching me from home right now, our Flat Shoes team members, the teachers who taught me acting, the colleagues and peers who endured alongside me…”

I paused to catch my breath.

“And finally, Yu Ji-an. The thin yet sturdy Flat Shoes that Yu Ji-an gave me protect my feet from injury while ensuring I never forget the feel of the path I’ve walked beneath my feet.”

Thinking of Yu Ji-an always made my nose tingle, but I didn’t shed tears anymore.

I felt like I could finally properly thank Yu Ji-an one last time.

“I intend never to take off these Flat Shoes for the rest of my life. I have no doubt that someday, Flat Shoes will come like a gift to all of you walking the exhausting, difficult path toward your dreams. Until the day you wear your new shoes, I, Han Sena, will cheer you on from this stage. Thank you.”

After finishing my words, I bowed deeply.

Warm applause rang out.

* * *

Back at the filming site waiting room.

「Han Sena’s Flat Shoes Acceptance Speech Becomes Hot Topic」

「The Aura of a Next-Generation Goddess Shining at Hanho」

「Victory Goddess Nike Han Sena Seizes Rookie Award!」

Articles had been plastered across portal sites all day.

Most discussed the dress and acceptance speech.

Significant in that I’d drawn attention.

The comment reactions were similar.

– Did Han Sena graduate from a debate academy too?

– As someone also dreaming of becoming an actress, that speech was so moving. It gives me strength, fighting!

Looking back on the acceptance speech made my face burn.

A rookie who just debuted talking about paths of thorns—that probably didn’t sit well with the seniors watching. I worried inwardly.

Of course, I spoke from the heart while recalling my past, but to others, my career path might look like the textbook definition of a royal road.

No one knows about the times I worked hard, failed, endured, and felt crushed.

Those moments became mine alone to know.

Still, if only my sincerity about Yu Ji-an and Flat Shoes came across.

That alone would be enough.

– She’s the only one wearing those precious Flat Shoes. The writer and director didn’t even win awards lol. How shameless can you get~

The aggressive comments mixed in here and there were all the same.

Since the top-rated romcom featuring two A-list actors that ended with 37% viewership swept Best Drama, Best Actress, and Best Actor awards right before the ceremony, Flat Shoes unfortunately couldn’t secure Best Drama.

How dare they attack our teacher.

Without thinking, I firmly pressed the report button and exited, when a flashy article headline caught my eye.

「Han Sena’s ‘Reverse Gift’ to Fans at Glorious Moment… Unique Move!」

After scanning it briefly, I checked various community sites, and this article had spread everywhere.

Oh.

Did our fans make this article happen?

Plus, posts showing off the reverse gift sets they’d received were popping up left and right.

Hand warmers, thank-you cards, small snacks—things like that.

The verification posts also had many comments below.

– I’ve seen idol reverse gifts but this is my first time seeing an actor do reverse gifts.

– Even though it’s a new company, they work well. Switch with my oppa’s company.

– If you want longevity, you have to treat fans well. Whether actor or idol. Everyone should learn from this.

Seeing the fans step up to help with my image-making made me smile with satisfaction.

Especially that last comment.

– Our unnie’s acting is also top-tier. Everyone, become Han Sena fans.

What really is the love of a fan?

All I did was stay in my place without giving them anything, yet they willingly gave me their hearts.

It felt miraculous.

Oh gosh, what should I prepare next time.

* * *

“A superstar! Ack, blinding!”

“Please give me your autograph!”

“Buy me flat shoes!”

Playful comments from staff and actors echoed around the set.

Now I was getting tired of waving my hands all day.

“Yes… I’ll buy you flat shoes…”

As the staff burst out laughing at my words, the assistant director approached.

“Han Sena-nim, could you please choose a photo.”

Huh?

The assistant director handed me a phone with my photos on it.

One was an elegant photo taken by the camellia tree, and the other was from the first day of filming after I’d fallen into the pond water with my lips blue.

“Wh-what’s this for?”

“What else? Sena-ssi’s yearbook photo.”

“I didn’t agree to this. But why this…”

Then the assistant director grinned mischievously.

“Since Sena-ssi won Rookie Award, we’re trying to benefit from it. The filming stills are being released starting this weekend.”

Wow.

These people really know how to ride the wave.

Seeing my drowned rat look would probably build anticipation for the filming scene.

And maybe the symbolism of a rookie acting without a stunt double.

So it’s perfect for leveraging a rookie’s buzz.

“Still, though. I have plenty of prettier photos!”

At my words, the assistant director shook his head firmly.

“Actually, the staff unanimously chose these photos. The director too, of course.”

Then why did you even ask.

When I looked resentfully at Director Kang standing in the distance, he raised his hand dryly.

Like, ‘Ah, good work.’

Feeling briefly wronged, an idea suddenly struck me.

“Oh my, then could I participate in making the still cuts too?”

“Oh, what passion. That’d be great!”

At that, I showed a devious smile.

I can’t be the only one suffering.

In the distance, I saw Lee Seokhyun playfully exchanging sword strikes with a child actor.

Just you wait.

But before my plan could even take shape…

I had no idea that the small breeze I’d blown would return as a hurricane.

* * *

In front of the camera.

“Are you saying ten thousand idlers pretending to be Confucian scholars?”

Lee Seokhyun and Teacher Yoon Youngjae were exchanging dialogue as the king and Sangseon.

“It pains me to say, Your Majesty, but there may be listening ears…”

“Let them hear. Anyone who studies Confucian teachings should know full well how absurd this situation is.”

As he spoke, the scroll Lee Seokhyun tossed rolled all the way to the door.

Yet it was a long, long scroll that didn’t fully unfurl.

“A twenty-five-year-old king wants to rule personally, yet they send a petition with ten thousand signatures?”

Lee Seokhyun rested his chin in his hand with a “seriously” expression.

I’d come here targeting Lee Seokhyun’s yearbook photo, but the filming scenes were turning out quite serious.

Hmm. But, isn’t that approach wrong?

Since I’d been watching for quite a while now, no matter how I looked at it, Lee Seokhyun’s acting felt off.

Ten thousand people oppose his opinion.

For a king so rejected, he seemed far too calm and collected.

Did he miss the point?

I wondered briefly, then sure enough.

“Cut.”

Director Kang’s dry voice rang out.

“The king seems too upright, Seokhyun-ssi. I’d like you to show more anger. Let’s go again.”

“Yes! I’m sorry!”

At the director’s words, Lee Seokhyun’s body tensed up immediately.

Ah, he’s nervous right now.

The camera started rolling again in that state.

“Are you saying ten thousand idlers pretending to be Confucian scholars?”

The filming continued two or three more times like that.

He kept getting angry, but the frustration felt lacking—an ambiguous state.

Something’s off.

He wasn’t usually this unable to catch details.

When we acted together, I sometimes felt his emotional line jump, but as scenes progressed, it would gradually smooth out.

His condition must be really off today.

“Cut! Cut! Seokhyun-ssi, come here for a moment.”

The directing just kept adding things—add a sense of panic, add anger—until it stopped.

“Let’s take ten minutes.”

Lee Seokhyun’s expression completely hardened.

Then our eyes met.

Flustered, I briefly looked away.

I hesitated for one second, debating whether to say something, but unsolicited advice would be overstepping.

But then Lee Seokhyun walked straight toward me.

“Sena-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think is wrong?”

It was a direct question.

Demanding a solution.

I’d worried about whether advice would offend him, but Lee Seokhyun’s firm eyes made me speak honestly.

“I think you’re looking too far ahead.”