As we passed through the square, it became a bit quieter. Not as crowded as before, Ares hesitated for a moment and finally let go of my hand. The warmth that had enveloped me so securely dissipated, and it felt a bit empty.
“It seems like everyone is watching a performance in the square. It’s quite a nice place for a stroll.”
Feeling a bit awkward, I spoke first, “That’s true…”
Ares, with a somewhat obscured tone, responded to my words. He looked around and mumbled, “Seems like everyone has a partner.”
In response to his words, I turned my head to observe the people.
Really! Is it an unwritten rule that cherry blossom festivals are meant to be enjoyed in pairs?
With the surroundings being this way, it didn’t feel awkward for us to be here together. I felt fortunate about that fact.
“Yes, it really is. I’m glad,” I said, chuckling and readily agreeing with his words. At that moment, I felt Ares looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“Oh, I mean, I feel like we naturally fit into this scene on the street. We’re just following the trend.”
Ares tilted his head slightly and spoke with a tone that indicated his disagreement.
“But all those people are holding hands.”
“Ah…”
A bit bewildered, a nervous laughter escaped me.
“This gentleman, if you want to hold hands, just say so. Like this, is it okay?”
The first time is difficult, the second time might be challenging. I extended my hand to him as if offering a helping hand. Ares, with a casual “hmm,” took my hand awkwardly.
I might not be skilled in such matters, but Ares seemed to have decided to go with the flow and follow his heart, disregarding any formalities.
How did this person endure it in front of me all this time?
If curious, I should ask.
“Did you like me from the first time we met?”
“Yes, I did.”
“But why didn’t you say anything until now?”
Ares looked at me with a gaze that seemed to have a lot to say.
“It would take quite a while to explain that. I’ll tell you when we arrive at the wine bar.”
We walked in silence until we reached the wine bar.
At the entrance of the tea house Aphrodite, it felt odd to enter the wine bar across the street instead. I lifted my head and looked at the window where I usually sat. If I were sitting there now, I would have a good view.
“Bianca, shall we go in?”
“Oh, yes.”
I quickly straightened my head again and followed Ares into the wine bar. As if he were a regular here, he confidently found a seat on the second floor without needing guidance.
Perhaps due to its nature as a place for drinking, unlike the tea house, the wine bar had dark-colored glass windows, preventing the interior from being visible from outside. I was too preoccupied watching Ares enter that I didn’t pay much attention to what the wine bar looked like.
“Please have a seat here.”
He gestured for me to sit on the sofa in the corner of the second floor. The atmosphere was decidedly different from the tea house, with a table reaching up to knee height.
As we sat down, the waiter, after confirming Ares’s face, nodded and quickly brought the wine he enjoys.
Ares sat next to me.
“Can you see outside the window from here?”
Following his pointing finger, I looked through the dark-colored glass and saw the view on the other side.
But this spot…?
After checking what was visible outside the window, my chest fluttered, and warmth spread.
“Yes. It’s clear.”
In this spot, Ares was looking directly at me.
“You must think I’m foolish.”
He chuckled and mumbled.
How could I blame him for thinking I’m foolish when I, too, had been sitting at the tea house just to catch a glimpse of him?
When I remained silent, Ares sighed softly and continued.
“I lacked courage. It felt like you were intentionally avoiding me. I’ve revisited countless times in my mind, wondering if I made some mistake unknown to me. Or perhaps, I wondered if I seemed too difficult to approach…”
I couldn’t deny it. He was always like an idol, a lofty figure, to young nobles like me, and a man who didn’t give any chance to other women.
I smiled slightly and said, “To peers like me, you were like an idol too.”
“I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m not naturally a person with great manners.”
Well, I couldn’t agree with that. So, I shook my head in disagreement.
“Oh, that’s absolutely not true. Your popularity among young nobles is greatly attributed to your excellent manners and your strict adherence to principles.”
Ares chuckled weakly.
“Why do you think that is? It’s because when you reach a certain level, I might appear to be an acceptable person. And besides you…”
He swallowed the last words inwardly and took a brief pause.
“…I haven’t been courageous enough to approach someone who seems to reject me. You are one of the most beautiful women in society, and many young lords admire you.”
Both of us seemed to have been intimidated by the superficial appearances of each other, giving in to fear and surrendering like cowards. Even though I boasted about being a flower in society, deep down, I knew I wasn’t as remarkable as others perceived. Perhaps I built higher walls out of fear of revealing my true self.
With a sense of confession, I spoke to Ares, “I actually wanted to hear the phrase ‘a flower in society.’ It sounded like praise for my efforts, recognition of a splendid achievement. However, deep down, I know more than anyone that my inner self is not as impressive.”
Ares might understand my feelings. After all, he, like me, holds a prominent position in society.
Even if he forms a connection with Lea, perhaps he and I can become good friends who understand each other’s situations. Of course, if friendship between a man and a woman is possible,.
“I would like you, at least, to understand my true self. I repeat, I am not really a person with good manners. If you think you became more distant because of my false facade, it’s really…”
In Ares’ words, expressing a sense of injustice, I felt something that people in similar situations could empathize with.
I smiled at him without any shadows.
“We might become the ones who understand each other’s hardships the best.”
“…”
He closed his mouth with a somewhat bitter expression.
I felt like I knew the reason for this, but I couldn’t accept his confession yet. At least not until today passes completely and the ‘pillar’ of the novel doesn’t appear.
I am well aware in my head that there is no chance of the ‘pillar’ appearing. Why does intuition keep making me uneasy? This was the reason I couldn’t answer Ares hastily.
However, Ares patiently didn’t push me. Just by that, I could see that he was genuinely considerate, just as people in the world know him.
He smiled gently and said to me, “Honestly, it was quite refreshing after accidentally revealing my feelings to you. There’s no need to make an effort to hide it intentionally. And in reality, I wonder why I couldn’t confess like this sooner.”
His words left me with mixed emotions.
Perhaps he didn’t confess earlier, not because he lacked courage. Maybe it was because the novel’s setting had me harboring unrequited love for him.
On the other hand, as someone who learned the truth of this world from the ‘author,’ I consider it fortunate that he didn’t confess earlier. What if I had revealed my true feelings to him rashly, only for him to be captivated by Lea the moment she appeared? I might not be able to endure such a situation.
However, there is also a positive aspect to knowing his true feelings. I can have days like today, full of happiness. Holding hands with someone I like, naturally mingling with people while he protects me, watching a performance together, and sitting side by side, tilting wine glasses – all of it is thanks to both Ares and me cautiously taking a step forward with courage.
I am already grateful for experiencing such a dream-like adventure.
The sunlight outside turned reddish, and shadows were lengthening. Ares, with a tinge of regret, said, “The sun is setting.”
My heart began to race in a different sense.
Just a little more, a little more, and the day will pass without the appearance of the ‘pillar’ from the novel!
I don’t know how he took my stiffened expression, but he extended his hand to me with a warm smile.
“I’ll take you back before it gets too dark. The place where the carriage is stored is quite a walk, so it’s better to get up now.”
While trying to calm the storm within my chest, I nodded my head. Ares, with a deep smile, took my hand and led me out of the wine bar.
In the opposite direction of where we came earlier, we started walking towards the square. Both of us remained silent, holding hands as we walked quietly.
After walking for a while, Ares asked me with a concerned voice, “Bianca? Are you feeling unwell? Your complexion looks pale.”
“Oh, I’m fine. I must be tired. That’s all.”
The sun was still setting on the streets, and the twilight had not settled yet.
Why is the day moving so slowly!
Looking at the distant stage, it seemed we had entered the square. The tension increased as time passed, and my hands began to sweat.
“Bianca? Are you really okay? Maybe, we should take a short break here.”
“No, no. Let’s just go quickly to the carriage storage.”
I wish I could faint right now and wake up to check tomorrow directly. I didn’t know why the time was passing so slowly!
At that moment, as we entered the crowded square, I collided with someone again.
“Ouch!”
Due to the tension caused by the appearance of the ‘pillar,’ and the slow passage of time, I couldn’t withstand the force of the collision, and my legs weakened. Just as I was about to lean forward and fall among the people, Ares quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and supported me.
“Bianca!”
Oh, again, his scent was sensed. In an instant, Ares’ strong arms held me tightly. As my body straightened up, he naturally embraced my waist, and we faced each other.
“Ah….”
My face was reflected in his golden-brown eyes. His breath was so close that it touched me directly.
My heart thumped loudly.
All the sounds around disappeared, and the shape of his lips asking if I was okay was perceived very slowly. Time seemed to stand still, and I, too, froze in that moment.
That moment.
“Ares…? Bianca?”
A voice murmured as if unable to believe it, and my consciousness returned to reality in an instant. My gaze, which had been focused on Ares, found the owner of that voice.
“Lea Saturanos…”
Unconsciously, I muttered her name. At that moment, the words of the ‘writer’ echoed in my mind.
‘Leia enjoys the cherry blossom festival with Ares and realizes her feelings!’
‘While enjoying the festival together, she finally realizes that she loves Ares.’
‘The important ‘pillar’ of the novel is destined to appear anyway.’
‘The ‘pillar’ is something that can’t be helped with just determination!’
As I recalled the words of the ‘writer,’ Lea, with a puzzled expression, stammered and spoke to us.
“Oh, um… you two, like… had a relationship, right? Between each other, I mean…”
A colossal hammer struck my back of the head, and a massive shock overwhelmed me.
