Having finished her preparations, Summer leisurely headed to the beautiful place she had envisioned.
The walking path was sprouting with lush greenery, and the chirping of birds could be heard from various spots.
The air was slightly cool yet cozy. Daisy and Mary followed Summer closely, carrying a snack basket.
Occasionally, Summer glanced back at the two trailing behind her and smirked.
‘So cute.’
Perhaps it was the thought of returning that made her feel good. To Summer, the world felt utterly beautiful.
Yes. There are many ways. Summer abruptly stopped walking.
“You two prepare the picnic here. I’ll explore the surroundings a bit more.”
Daisy and Mary unpacked their things, setting up a light tea table and spreading a large cloth on the field to rest.
Summer watched them with satisfaction before turning away.
‘Goodbye.’
The place Summer headed to was the lake of the renowned Count Lindsey.
Leaving Daisy and Mary behind, Summer fiddled with the necklace around her neck. This jewel was a communication device that only Fay and Summer could use.
<Have you made up your mind?>
Fay's clear voice rang out from the necklace.
In an empire without mobile phones, it would have been shocking, but for Summer, it was nothing to raise an eyebrow at.
“I’m going back now.”
<Right now?>
“Should I wait?”
<No, that’s not it, but…>
“Thank you for everything, Fay. And I’m sorry that the world has been ruined because of me. Once I return, everything will go back to normal.”
<…I know.>
That was all there was to the conversation. It felt more like Fay was hesitating about something rather than Summer. After a long silence, Fay was the first to cut off the communication.
Summer had no hesitation. She leisurely took off her shoes. Grass filled the spaces between her toes.
She dipped her toes into the lake water. A cold sensation prickled up her feet.
This time, it was certain.
Summer removed the jewels adorned on her dress. This would be a farewell gift left for Mary and Daisy.
With that, Summer jumped into the cold lake.
The beautiful hem of her dress, like blooming petals, floated on the surface before quickly sinking, heavy with water.
* * *
Duke Russell Bertrand strolled around the Lindsey Count's estate, recalling Ian Langerster. Russell Bertrand was a close friend of Ian Langerster.
Though those around them might not have believed it, both considered each other their closest friends.
Isn’t it said that opposites attract?
Russell knew better than anyone what kind of person Ian was. Just a few days ago.
‘Do you remember the spire?’
‘Iain.’
‘Don’t worry. Thanks to a certain woman, the past wounds have faded from my memory.’
‘You’re shaking quite a bit for someone who’s over it.’
‘Still, I survived. That woman saved me.’
‘…….’
The expression on Ian’s face as he said that was something Russell had never seen before.
It was a mix of pain and relief, a face that seemed to be caught in a pit of despair yet felt a glimmer of salvation.
Seeing his friend’s face, Russell kept his mouth tightly shut.
He couldn’t dare say anything about Ian’s wounds.
Fortunately, Ian casually began to speak again.
“Relax your expression, Russell.”
“Sometimes you look too precarious.”
“Then, could you do me a favor?”
“A favor?”
Ian Langerster’s request to Russell was to visit the Lindsey estate and check on Summer Lindsey.
“If you’re that worried, why don’t you go see her yourself?”
“I can’t go. You know it would only frighten them.”
Known as the ‘wolf covered in blood,’ Ian Langerster was a war hero who drew public attention.
With that attention came many enemies. Fear and fascination, savage gazes and graceful demeanor became words that described him.
“Isn’t it a bit awkward for both of us, being unmarried and suddenly visiting a family with a daughter?”
“You are… unlike me, clean.”
In contrast, Russell was the complete opposite of Ian Langerster.
While the wolf symbolized the Langerster family, the Bertrand family was represented by the purple iris.
Among them, Russell Bertrand was the very embodiment of a delicate lavender orchid, adorned with fresh dew.
Closer to a pen than a sword, and dedicating more effort to scholarship than martial arts, Russell Bertrand was also in charge of the palace administration.
The Bertrand dukedom was a historic family that had served as diplomatic representatives, finance ministers, and protocol ministers.
Most of the family members were scholars or held prominent positions. Those who didn’t engage in palace administration or diplomacy held key roles in the temples.
Everyone admired and loved the pen of the Bertrand family.
Among them, Russell Bertrand, who won everyone’s favor, was loved throughout the empire to the extent that there wasn’t a single place that didn’t welcome him.
“Ian. That was for the country.”
“Still, the fact that my hands are stained with blood doesn’t change.”
Thus, having accepted his friend’s request, Russell arrived at the Lindsey estate, which exuded a warm, gentle atmosphere reminiscent of a spring garden.
“It was worth the insistence.”
Russell smiled as he closed his eyes. The Count Lindsey hurried through the meal for some strange reason and suggested a walk, saying the view of the lake was beautiful.
At that moment, he felt a slight sense of discomfort, but once he saw the scenery, he fully understood the Count’s feelings.
The path leading to the lakeshore was as beautiful as a scene from a fairy tale.
Just then, a woman’s voice reached Russell’s ears.
“You two prepare the picnic here. I’ll explore the surroundings a bit more.”
Blonde hair sparkling dazzlingly in the sunlight and blue eyes colder than the sea. He recognized her at a glance. She resembled summer as much as her name.
As Summer Lindsey left, the two maids spread a cloth on the grass and set up a small table for the picnic. Russell left them behind and slowly followed Summer Lindsey.
The place Summer Lindsey reached was the lake.
The beautiful lake that was the pride of the Lindsey estate.
The gentle ripples on the lake, the grass swaying in the wind, and the charming flowers, all mingled with the scent of grass and fragrant blossoms.
And there was Summer Lindsey, barefoot, lightly touching the lake with her toes. If there were a canvas right now, it would be a scene he wanted to immortalize forever.
“……What!”
Only when Summer Lindsey removed the jewels attached to her dress and jumped into the lake without hesitation did Russell snap back to reality.
Ian had every reason to worry. How long had it been since he had stopped her from jumping off the spire?
Russell roughly threw off his outerwear and tie and jumped into the lake.
“…….”
He couldn’t say a word. Summer Lindsey, sinking into the painfully cold lake, was smiling with her eyes closed.
As if she were happy.
The moment Russell reached out with all his might to grab Summer, her eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened wide.
Blue lake, blue dress, blue eyes.
The world was entirely blue, and the scattering blonde hair made him understand why she was called Summer.
The air bubbles that had obscured his vision rose to the surface, and the eyes of Russell Bertrand and Summer met.
Summer looked as if she had encountered an unwelcome guest.
In that instant, Duke Russell Bertrand realized something about Summer Lindsey.
Ah. She jumped in on purpose.
She had no intention of surviving in this world.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be making a face like that upon seeing the person who jumped in to save her.
But he had no choice but to save her. He couldn’t just stand by while someone was dying right in front of him.
As Russell pulled Summer close and embraced her tightly, she struggled violently and pushed him away.
Ignoring her resistance, Russell flailed his arms toward the surface. The water splashed and foamed white.
He could feel Summer struggling with all her might, but the more she fought, the tighter he held her.
As soon as they broke the surface, Summer coughed violently, spitting out water.
“Cough!”
“Why on earth are you trying to die?”
“Ugh, cough!”
“…….”
What came instead of an answer was the raw sound of retching. Seeing Summer gagging, Russell let out a faint sigh.
They couldn’t communicate. It was only natural that there would be no conversation with someone who wanted to die.
He couldn’t understand, nor did he want to understand, the heart of someone who wished to die.
If he were to understand them, it would mean deceiving his friend, who was living a painful life, torn apart by the selfish death of that woman.
That woman must have known that her actions would leave his son in tatters.
Russell’s eyes grew cold as he looked at Summer.