I Was a Supporting Character

I maintained a poker face with all my might, but Ares’s pleasant, deep voice reached my ears.

“The weather is nice.”

That’s right! The magical sentence that breaks all awkwardness in the world is talking about the weather! It’s like when parents, bringing their baby, greet each other and ask, ‘How many months?’

I tried to smile brightly and responded, “Yes, it is. It seems like the cherry blossoms have bloomed a lot.”

“I wonder if there’s still space to store the carriage in the busy district.”

“Well, how about not going all the way to the bustling area and instead stopping and getting off before that? Actually, I wanted to walk along the cherry blossom path a bit.”

Indeed, gracefully considering the other person’s difficulty without showing any awkwardness is the fundamental posture of social etiquette.

Ares chuckled softly. Nodding, he agreed with my suggestion.

“That sounds good. It’s probably better to get off and walk a bit before the crowded area.”

There was a carriage storage facility just before entering the bustling district. Ares skillfully stored the carriage and signed the maintenance log. I quietly waited for him to finish the storage process.

The cherry blossoms that were just budding along the road a few days ago were now in full bloom, painting the scenery with a mix of pink and white. Although the blossoms appeared to be the same color from a distance, upon closer inspection, each tree had a subtly different shade. The delicate beauty of it all moved me slightly.

Many people had decided, like us, to walk to the bustling square. It was astonishing how so many people seemed to appear out of nowhere. Consequently, I was completely distracted by the cherry blossoms and keeping up with Ares. I could hardly take a step without bumping into someone passing by.

“Ugh!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

I winced as someone bumped into my shoulder again. Despite the apologies, they didn’t bother showing their face. Well, at least they said sorry while walking away. Hehe.

“Bianca.”

Ares called out to me as we walked, and I stopped to look at him.

“Yes? Oops.”

Oh no, I bumped into someone again.

I heard someone grumbling as they passed. When it’s this crowded, you’re supposed to walk slowly in line with the flow of people. I stopped, causing a bit of a commotion.

Ares, looking somewhat uncomfortable, thought for a moment before politely asking me, “Um, it might be a good idea to hold hands. Is that okay?”

In that moment, I hesitated for a moment.

Is it okay to hold his hand? I haven’t accepted his confession yet, but wouldn’t it be too forward?

However, the current situation didn’t leave me much room for hesitation. In that brief moment, someone bumped into me again.

“Ouch…!”

The impact was quite strong, and I swayed as if I might fall forward.

At that moment, there was a hand firmly grabbing my shoulder, enveloping me.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

Ah…

It was truly warm. Although Ares’s hand supported me for just a moment, the warmth lingered on my shoulder for a while.

Even though it was just a brief touch, there was no unpleasant feeling like awkwardness or discomfort. It was a careful gesture that clearly showed his consideration for me.

I straightened up, took a deep breath, and smiled at him in gratitude.

“Thank you. I’m fine now.”

“Phew. Bianca, there are really a lot of people here. We might get swept away in the crowd and end up getting separated.”

I agreed with his words.

I almost missed seeing him several times already. If I let my guard down for a moment, people would rush between us.

I should respond to what Ares said earlier.

“As expected, it’s better to hold hands, Ares.”

I smiled brightly and reached out my hand to him.

Ares, who always approached me first, displayed courage, and I always followed a step behind. So, this time, I decided to extend my hand first.

Ares’s large and warm hand gently enveloped the hand I offered. The man holding my hand looked at me with eyes as warm as the warmth of his hand.

“Yes, Bianca.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

In this moment of holding hands together, the worries about the novel’s ‘pillar’ that troubled me seemed to vanish into the distance.

At least for now, he loves me, and I love him. Moreover, these cherry blossoms may scatter like flower rain and disappear completely as early as tomorrow.

So, I decided to fully enjoy this moment, which might not come back. Perhaps today will be a day I will never forget in my lifetime.

I felt grateful anew for the fact that there were so many people on the streets. Thanks to the crowded crowd, the personal distances between individuals were closer than ever. I had never been this close to Ares before.

I held Ares’s hand and walked slowly, following the flow of the crowd.

Cherry blossom trees lined both sides of the street, full of flowers to the point where the branches bent. Occasionally, a warm spring breeze would blow, and flower petals would shower down from all directions.

I felt a sudden gratitude for the fact that the streets were so crowded. Due to the large crowd, individual distances were closer than ever. I had never been this close to Ares before.

I held Ares’s hand and walked slowly, following the flow of the crowd.

The cherry trees lining both sides of the street were full of flowers, to the point where the branches bent. Occasionally, a warm spring breeze would blow, and flower petals would shower down from all directions.

There seemed to be a saying that if you successfully caught a falling petal before it touched the ground, love would come true. I suddenly remembered hearing something like that somewhere. Amidst this shower of petals, could I perhaps catch one! A sudden passion ignited within me.

Free from being held by Ares, I vigorously tried to catch the petals with my hands.

However, anyone who has tried this at least once would probably know—it’s not easy at all! These small petals deftly slipped through my fingers, leaving me empty-handed!

In my own world, I’m really trying hard to catch the flower petals, but to an observer, it might look like a strange woman flailing her hand in the air.

At that moment, Ares asked me genuinely, “What are you doing, Bianca?”

“Oh, that’s… umm.”

Well, even if it wasn’t a complete stranger, it probably looked quite odd.

I pondered on how to answer while sweating profusely.

No, at this age, could I casually respond with something like, ‘If you catch a petal, love comes true’? That’s something fitting for the pure Lea Saturanos, not someone like me!

As I hesitated, Ares chuckled softly and effortlessly, as if catching a fly—though it’s a bit of an odd expression, it’s probably the most accurate—swept through the air. As he slowly opened his hand, surprisingly, there was a single white cherry blossom petal.

“Wow… you succeeded in one try…”

I genuinely marveled.

Perhaps even cherry blossom petals recognize people. Why couldn’t I catch a single one despite flailing my hand, while Ares effortlessly snagged one as if saying, ‘I’m coming with you’!

“Did you want to catch this?”

“Seeing the flower rain, I thought I might succeed at least once.”

I realised my voice unintentionally softened. I must have been subtly affected by the superstition.

Haha. My love remains unfulfilled, while Ares’s love seems to be coming true. In that case, we will go in opposite directions.

After a brief pause, Ares spoke in a gentle tone, “It’s okay. Since I caught it.”

I stared into Ares’s eyes in silence. His response, as if reading my inner thoughts, honestly gave me a bit of comfort.

As we walked slowly with the flow of the crowd, we eventually arrived at the bustling square of the festival.

Ah, this is exactly when you use the expression ‘people gathered like clouds.’ Truly, the bustling, ant-like—oh, why does using insects feel so awkward today?—people were bustling about.

When someone climbed onto a specially prepared stage in the square, the attention of the crowd focused on them. I also, mixed among the people, looked up at the stage with Ares.

“What do you think they’re going to do?”

“Well, I heard they’ll be performing mime during the day.”

Oh, I see.

Indeed, during festivals like this, travelling circus troupes also temporarily settle in the city, and various food stalls line up. In short, today is an indispensable episode for the merchants. Also, the fees these revenue-earning individuals pay to the authorities can help fill the city’s treasury. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

As Ares mentioned, several actors soon climbed onto the stage, and they began a mime performance. The cheers of the crowd and the burning passion of the actors could be felt.

“Excuse me! I’ll just move forward a bit!”

“Passing through for a moment! Please make way!”

Wow, people continued to gather in the square.

It wasn’t just when walking on the streets that I collided with people. I was constantly swaying, unable to stand firm due to people bumping into me.

Let’s watch the performance for a bit!

“Ah, Bianca. Wait a moment.”

Ares, who had been holding my hand, let go.

Huh? Where are you going? I looked up at Ares with a puzzled expression.

At that moment, a large, warm hand gently rested on my shoulder. And then, something firm yet warm touched my back. Ah, his warmth enveloped me, reassuring me as if he were promising to protect my back from anything in the world.

As the surrounding noises gradually faded, only the sound of my pounding heart echoed in my ears. In this space, it felt oddly like only Ares and I existed.

Taking a deep breath, Ares’s refreshing scent, reminiscent of herbs, filled my body. Every sensation focused solely on Ares. I could even feel my hair moving with his breath.

The thought of watching the performance completely vanished from my mind. I only wished for this moment, embraced by Ares, to last a long time.

“You seem better now. If you’re uncomfortable, let me know.”

He firmly positioned himself behind me and whispered gently. However, his voice sounded as loud as thunder in my ears.

Unconsciously, I gazed at him in a daze. When our eyes met, the warmth-filled golden-brown eyes softened. I could feel a slight pressure in his hand resting on my shoulder.

“Now, you can focus on the performance.”

A bright smile formed on my face.

Even though there was no need to watch the performance anymore, I had to pretend to keep him by my side, right?

“Thank you.”

Yes. Just the warmth he provided right now made me so happy that I would never forget today.

The mime performance didn’t last long and soon came to an end. Following that, the next performer came on stage, starting to sing.

My legs were starting to ache a bit… Is there any place to sit and rest?

“Bianca, you look a bit tired. It might be good to take a break.”

Wow, he really knows how to read my condition! It’s a bit scary now.

I nodded in agreement with his suggestion.

“We should find a place to sit and rest. How about going to a tea house?”

Aphrodite’s Tea House was not too far from here; it was just a little more walking. But then Ares made a slightly different suggestion.

“Well, how about going to the wine bar I often visit?”

Dionysus’s Wine Bar? Well, since it’s right across from a tea house, the choice is more or less the same.

Drinking wine in broad daylight is an unusual experience, but there wasn’t much difference between a tea house and a bar, so I decided to go along with Ares’s suggestion.

“Sure.”

Ares began to lead the way, firmly holding onto my shoulders, navigating through the crowd. His strong arms around my back seemed determined not to let go, providing a sense of security.