Attention for the background character

Chapter 8

It was like staring at my reflection.

If I had to make a guess, we both have the exact same expression right now. I'm sure we're both wondering the same thing. What exactly is going on? My body was staring at me, but that is not me. That's Violette in my body. It has to be.

"You're the original Violette, right?" I asked just to confirm.

She slowly lowers her hand, and nods "Ayame Aneko..."

Ah, it's strange hearing that name. My old name.

"You're me..." She turns her hands into fists. She looked down at the floor, biting her lips. What exactly is this dream? The person in front of me then looks back up. I can tell she was studying me. Thoroughly. Scanning over and over like I'm some anomaly.

We were at a standstill. Not knowing what to say to each other. Our eyes met each other. We had many things we wanted to say. But, where do we start?

"Did we swap places with each other...?" We both said in unison. When I died in my old world, did we switch places? I became Violette, and in turn, Violette became me. It made sense.

"When you died... you woke up in Nagasaki, correct?" Saying the name of my home feels strange. "You mean after I died in that goddamn fire?!" She sounded mad.

The way she died. It must have been painful. As embers blazed throughout the estate because of Marian, Violette's death was one of the many casualties. I wonder how she felt when she found herself in Japan. I can understand her frustration.

"When did you wake up exactly?" I asked again. She tilts her head "...2 weeks ago?"

"What?! That was when I woke up in Cresia too!" I blurted out. So we really did swap places. We swapped when the both of us died. The question of why still boggles me. Is there even an explanation?

This was a strange conversation we're having. The look on Violette's face isn't amused. I should try to say something to lighten up the mood "Well, at least we're both alright now..." This is really awkward. "I hope you're enjoying yourself in the modern world. Cresia is a really nice place too, I enjoy living there." I tried to give a smile, but all I could muster was an uncomfortable grin.

"Ho? Good for you, Miss background character!" She shouts.

Eh? Wait, what?

"Background character? So you've read the novel...?" The last thing I expected was for a character from the story they came from. I guess this is a revelation for Violette.

She crosses her hands "You know, I never thought in my life that I would just happen to be some background character of some stupid novel! Not only that. I died! With such little screen time?!" Loud and annoyed.

"Violette-"

"Do you know how embarrassing it is to read pitiful comments about how I was written?!I thought I would have died of shame!"

Ah, she discovered the reviews of the story too. Yeah, everyone really pitied Violette. Her entire road to popularity was really due to pity. Everyone who says she's their favorite character always mentions how bad they feel about her.

"God... that story. What was it called again?"

"Blessed be this gift."

"Yeah, that! What a load of bullshit!"

Who would have thought the daughter of a noble would have such a violent tongue? Then again, I can't blame her. It would be really mad too.

I've read that story hundreds of times. From what little there was, it seemed Violette had a lot of self-respect. Dying like this must not only be painful, but a massive blow to her ego. The book, 'Blessed be this gift' focused heavily on Isadora and her love life. I'm not quite sure how Violette feels about finding out that her adoptive sister is the main character all along.

"Tch. Well, I guess that's your problem now," She sighs "You better find a way to come out alive this time. I'll be pissed if you manage to die again,"

I tilt my head "Wait, what do you mean?". Once again, the world was silent. For a second, Violette's annoyed expression changed to one of confusion "Have you actually thought of staying alive instead?"

"Huh?"

The confusion then shifted to anger "Are you stupid?! You haven't considered trying to find a way to avoid that?" She walks up to me, her mad expression getting closer. I stumbled back a bit "I-It's not that. I mean I got transported into a fictional world. I had to take it all in first," I defended myself.

Though, that excuse doesn't seem to fly with Violette "That fictional world is real. My death is real! Don't be so pitiful! You're going to die, you seriously haven't thought of a way to escape death at the hand of that villainess?!"

"Well... She scares me," I mutter, "I was hoping to avoid her altogether, but I guess that's not a good plan..."

Violette groaned. She took a step back, putting her hand on the side of her face. She paused for a moment, looking elsewhere to collect her thoughts. "She just seems sadistic as hell. I really don't want to go anywhere near her. But because she's the villain, I guess it can't be avoided."

"Since you can't avoid her, there should be another way to avoid dying," Violette finally spoke. Lowering her hand down from her head, she looks back at me again "Why don't you try to befriend her?"

Eh?

Befriend that psychopath??? She read the novel right? Did she not realize how crazy Marian is? I guess she never had accidentally splashed wine over Marian before. And she should be thankful for that!

"You...can't be serious right? Haven't you seen what she's done in the novel? Not to mention, she's the one who burnt down the mansion," I argued. Violette sighed, obviously annoyed at me.

"Well, from the looks of it, you've wasted a lot of time not planning anything. Do you have any better ideas then?" She has a point. "You do realize things happened before the story. I've talked to Marian before. It's not like she's completely crazy," Violette explains. Once again, that does make sense. I only know what happens during the events of the novel.

But if that's the case, my knowledge is actually very limited.

"There has to be a better way Violette..." I mumbled.

"Unless you can think of a better plan, go with my idea," Violette insisted. I didn't argue back. Frankly, I don't think I can win this argument. She has a point. If I don't try it, I might end up like her.

There probably won't be another chance to come out alive this time.

I sigh in defeat "Alright. I'll try to do it," Violette seems to be satisfied. For once in our conversation, she smiled. It's weird seeing a smile on my face from an outsider's point of view. Just how much have I forgotten. My old world, my old life, my old face. There's no looking back on it now I guess. I'll have to leave all of that to her. "Thanks, Violette,"

"Don't be so scared. You've read the novel, you should know what to do with the information you have," She's not wrong. Though I'm not sure she knows the extent of what I know. I know that novel better than my own life. Marian isn't someone who I can befriend easily. I know that good and well. However, if it means Violette stays alive this time, I'll go through every type of trial and error.

"And stop calling me Violette. That's you now." That's the last thing she would say to me tonight. The world suddenly turned white. We both look around, observing the shift in atmosphere. Before we both completely disappeared, I turned to her.

"Right. Thank you Ayame!" I sighed, laughing to myself.

Finding the strength to open my eyes, I look out the window. Dawn's sunlight shines through my window. I slept on the desk throughout the night.

Ah, I must have been really fatigued, huh?

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A/N: I'm so sorry for the really slow update ≡(▔﹏▔)≡

I've been very busy with college and life as of lately!