Chapter 19: The Confidence of a Fallen Star
I walked into the seven-story building with a big smile plastered on my face. Just imagining the money I could earn was enough to put me in a ridiculously good mood.
But once I reached the fifth floor, where the audition for Rosélle’s advertisement was being held, my smile slowly faded.
There were at least twenty young women waiting their turn outside the audition room. Each of them had a beautiful, unique face that made my heart thump wildly in my chest.
I thought I was supposed to be the special one here!
Seriously, where did all these stunning girls come from? Did Rosélle Beauty raid a secret beauty academy or something?
Fear started to creep in, whispering that I might not stand a chance at landing this deal.
No. No. No. Get it together! I still had my lucky buff. I just needed to stay confident and trust that I could pull this off.
"Good morning," I said politely as I sat beside a young brunette. My eyes drifted to her face, and that’s when I noticed the sprinkle of adorable freckles across her cheeks.
Oh, come on! She was way too cute! Her face looked like it had been designed for a beauty campaign.
"G-Good morning ...," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked to my face, and the moment they did, she stiffened, looking even more nervous.
I glanced around at the other women and suddenly realized they were all staring at me.
For a moment, the air felt heavy. Just like how I had been sizing them up as competition, they were sizing me up too. To them, my face wasn’t just another contestant’s, it was a threat.
Helcia’s beauty was no joke, after all.
[Helcia is indeed beautiful, Host. But remember, a gun without bullets is nothing more than a piece of metal.]
What the system meant was that even though Helcia had a beautiful appearance—something she could use as a weapon—it would still be useless if she didn’t put a soul into it.
Yesterday, I stumbled across her social media and looked at some of the selfies she had posted there.
The photos weren’t terrible, but they lacked something. Her expression was always the same: flat eyes, stiff smile, like she was just snapping a picture because she had to.
Pretty, yes. But soulless.
[You have something Helcia didn’t have, Host.]
[You carry so much experience in your hands, confidence, and the willingness to climb the stairs step by step.]
In other words, the people around me weren’t just threatened by Helcia’s beauty, but also by the way I carried myself with such confidence.
Honestly, I wasn’t that confident at all. But I lived by one rule: fake it well enough, and no one would ever notice the cracks underneath.
So I straightened my back, lifted my chin, and pretended I belonged there more than anyone else in the room.
One by one, the other girls were called in. Some came out looking hopeful, others left with pale faces that made it clear the judges hadn’t been impressed.
After nearly two hours, I finally heard my name. "Helcia Orszebet?"
"Yes!" I jumped to my feet immediately, flashing such a bright smile that the staff looked a little surprised.
"Come in now."
I nodded and walked toward the audition room. The moment I stepped inside, I held my breath, but I made sure not to break eye contact with the people seated there.
Three figures sat at the long table: the CEO, someone from HR, and a creative director surrounded by sketchbooks and mood boards.
All three looked serious, pens in hand, their eyes scanning me from head to toe like they were measuring every inch.
"Good morning, Ms. Orszebet. I’m Vivienne Rosélle, the CEO of Rosélle Beauty," she said. Her voice was calm but carried the weight of someone who made decisions that could change lives. "Please, introduce yourself."
My palms were already damp, but I curled them into fists at my sides and forced a confident smile.
"My name is Helcia Orszebet," I began, keeping my tone calm and warm. "I’m twenty-four years old, and I’ve always been passionate about acting and presenting myself in front of the camera. I believe beauty isn’t just about appearance, it’s about the story you can tell with your expression."
I caught a slight nod from the creative director, so I continued. "I may not have the longest resume, but I’ve learned how to carry confidence even in difficult situations. I want to bring that same energy into this project."
The CEO leaned back in her chair, folding her hands together. "Interesting." She continued, "Alright, let’s make it simple. I want you to take one pose with this eyeshadow palette, just one."
A staff member handed me a palette with a clear summer theme, its shades a blend of ocean blue and bright, sunny yellow.
"Can I use a prop I brought?" I asked.
Vivienne nodded, looking intrigued. "No problem."
Because the staff had mentioned the summer vibe in their inbox, I’d come prepared with a few props that might work with the mood board.
What I brought was simple: an orange-flavored lollipop and a pair of red sunglasses, which I perched on top of my head.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the judges’ expressions shift, their interest clearly piqued by the small detail.
I smiled softly, then stepped in front of the camera. My lips curved into a bright, lively expression, wide enough to radiate warmth, but not too wide, just shy of baring my teeth.
I held the lollipop close to my lips, tilting my head slightly, one eye closed while the other peeked playfully over the rim of the open eyeshadow palette in my hand.
Click.
The camera shutter went off, and I could almost feel the energy in the room change. The playful, summery vibe I was channeling seemed to hit the mark.
"Can ... can you do another pose?" Vivienne’s voice cut through the silence, and there was a trace of intrigue in her tone.