The Vicious Supporting Actress Survival Manual

Chapter 4 Vicious Supporting Actress Survival Strategy(04)

"Beauty Rose, why do you have to be so secretive? If there's something, you can talk to me directly," I spoke coldly.

Beauty Rose was taken aback and spoke softly, "There are too many things happening in the palace, and some things need to be reported back to Ralph Rose..."

"Nonsense!" I tried to use the most stern aura to reprimand her, "Has Beauty Rose lost her mind? Why would my father need to know about the affairs in the palace?"

Seeing my resolute expression, Beauty Rose was momentarily stunned. Suddenly, she smiled and took a few steps closer, saying, "I've taken care of everything here. No one will notice. Lady Jin can rest assured."

...How did she manage to survive in the palace with this level of intelligence? It seems that in the novel, she only died after the fall of the Rose family. It must have been deliberate indulgence by the emperor to use her to lure out the Rose family. Otherwise, how could she have survived for so long?

"I don't understand why you have to be so secretive," I pretended to be confused, aided by Estella Rose's innocent appearance.

Beauty Rose was irritated by my repeated feigned ignorance and spoke sarcastically, "Lady Jin, you really have a bad memory. Ralph Rose sent me into the palace and gave me extra training so that I could assist him here."

Upon hearing this, I was three parts surprised and seven parts incredulous, "Is Beauty Rose really confused? In the beginning, you were determined to enter the palace, but your uncle's position was too low to help. My father only helped you because of his familial relationship with us. How did it become my father's attempt to climb the ranks of power when it comes to you?"

Beauty Rose was tricked by my "superb" acting skills, seemingly stunned as if she had never seen me before. I tried to act even more heartbroken and distressed, "In consideration of our cousin relationship, I won't tell anyone about the incident of falling into the water this time, nor will I pursue it. I just hope that Beauty Rose won't use such schemes in the future, which would harm our previous relationship."

Blaming someone else is such a common trick. I can use this opportunity to cut off all ties with her. The Rose family is guilty, and Ralph Rose is indeed a bad person, but we can't let someone like her add fuel to the fire.

"Is Lady Jin out of her mind today?" Beauty Rose spoke up, irritated by my interruptions. "If it weren't for your infatuation with Lord Jin, how could Ralph Rose have sent me into the palace to pave the way for him?"

I put on a pained expression, playing up Estella Rose's delicate and innocent image to the extreme. "Beauty Rose's words are hurtful. It is true that I only have eyes for Lord Jin, but if my father really wanted to arrange for someone in the palace, there are so many beautiful women in the Rose family. Why would he choose you? You once said that you were devoted to the emperor, and my father went out of his way to help you because of his familial relationship with your uncle. It's a pity that his kindness was so misunderstood."

Beauty Rose's face turned red with anger at my twisted words and insults. Before she could retort, I spoke with great solemnity, "In the future, I will advise my father not to make exceptions for familial relationships. Since Beauty Rose is devoted to the emperor, then she should keep her thoughts focused on him and remain loyal until the end. I don't need to lecture you on this principle, right?"

After I finished speaking, I rushed out to find a maid to do my hair, moving so quickly that she had no time to react. As I left, I caught a glimpse of a bright yellow figure at the corner of my eye, but I didn't stop to investigate. I followed the maid to the side to tidy up my appearance.

After my hair was done, I followed the maid back to the empress's palace. As soon as I crossed the threshold, a tall figure rushed up to me, and a pair of big hands grabbed my shoulders.

"Are you okay?"

Seeing Felix Austin's concerned gaze scanning me from head to toe, I silently prayed:

This is the heroine's man.

This is the heroine's man.

...

After brainwashing myself, I pretended to be shy and lowered my head to cover my eyes, which showed no affection. "The Lord need not worry, I am fine," I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake. I should have referred to myself as "this servant," not "I." However, no one pointed out my improper address. The strict empress even spoke with a smile, "If I hadn't stopped him, I'm afraid the prince would have rushed to the side hall to find his queen. He really doesn't trust me."

Felix Austin was not polite either, complaining, "I entrusted her to the the old Queen for less than half a day, and something happened. How can I trust her?"

"You are such an ungrateful child, forgetting your mother after getting a wife," the the old Queen joked, without a hint of anger in her eyes.

Her gaze toward me also softened a bit. I guess I was right.

"What's going on? Did I miss something?" Matthew Austin pushed aside the curtain and walked in. Everyone quickly knelt down. He didn't have any emperor's airs and smiled as he waved and sat down next to the empress.

"Your imperial brother got married, and now he only has eyes for his wife. He even starts lecturing this old woman," the empress said with a smile.

Matthew Austin looked at me and paused for a moment before looking away. I just looked at my nose and mouth and followed Felix Austin to sit down.

After a while of laughing and joking, the empress waved to me. "Estella, come here."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, and many people, including Felix Austin, looked surprised, wondering why the old Queen suddenly became so close to me.

I walked over honestly.

After I approached, the empress suddenly took my hand, took off a white jade bracelet from her wrist and put it on mine, saying, "This was given to me by the late emperor. Now I am giving it to you."

I was shocked and quickly declined, "How can I accept this?"

However, before I could pull my hand away, the empress held it tightly and said, "I know you are a sensible child and know what to do. Since I have given it to you, just accept it."

Meeting the old Queen's meaningful gaze, my heart skipped a beat. Her hand, lined with wrinkles, patted my hand as if it were on my heart, making me feel particularly heavy.

This was a gesture of goodwill, but also... a warning. Indeed, the incident of falling into the water earlier was not simple.

"Your Majesty's kindness, Lady Jin will accept it," Matthew Austin said beside me.

I had to lower my head in agreement, feeling the various gazes on me, making my back break out in a thin layer of sweat.

After lunch, I left the palace nervously, and the empress didn't say much more.

In the carriage, Felix Austin suddenly spoke, "Estella seemed to have won the old Queen's favor today. I have never seen the old Queen treat you so kindly."

I was stunned. The implication of his words was that he knew all along that the empress didn't like me, and he noticed her kindness toward me today.

I thought he was silent when the empress scolded me earlier because he didn't know about the empress's hostility toward me, but it turned out that he knew all along.

This really highlighted the difference. As the second female lead, in order to satisfy the readers' desire for justice, I had to bear everything myself.

Although Felix Austin professed his love for Estella Rose, the details revealed something was off.

Now I increasingly felt that Estella Rose had completely turned to the dark side, perhaps due to Felix Austin's attitude.

I met his inquisitive gaze calmly and spoke softly, "It's probably because of the Lord that the old Queen has taken a liking to me too."

Perhaps Felix Austin realized he had said too much, but he didn't pursue the matter. He smiled and held my hand to comfort me, "It's not because of me. Estella is so good that anyone who knows her would understand."

My hand stiffened, and I tried to control myself, not shaking off his hand, and showed a fake smile, a standard trick for a malicious second female lead to survive: endure what others cannot endure.