“Isn’t it?”
“Absolutely not. Not at all.” Russell’s lips twitched for a brief moment at Summer’s serious expression, as if he were trying to suppress a laugh. “Summer, wait a moment.” Russell lightly grabbed Summer’s sleeve and pointed to the fountain. Summer, who was uncomfortable in her high heels, obediently followed Russell’s lead. Sitting down heavily on the small marble fountain, Summer spat out her words in a disgusted tone before Russell could say anything. “Don’t involve me. It’s annoying.” A male lead who wastes 50 chapters dealing with a rival who torments the heroine. “I must have misunderstood. I thought Summer was contemplating ending her life because she had feelings for the Duke of Lancaster.” “That's impossible. Am I Juliet? To throw away something precious for love.” “Juliet?” Russell tilted his head, having no knowledge of Romeo and Juliet. “It exists, you know.” In this world, aside from the information given by the author, there is nothing to share with the characters within it. It was clear that they wouldn’t know about smartphones, laptops, webtoons, or web novels. Such love is only possible for a 16-year-old Romeo and Juliet. In the first place, there’s nothing worth risking one’s life for, except for survival. “Then may I ask why Summer jumped into the lake that day?” “To live.” “......” A crack appeared in the gentle face of Russell Bertrand. Russell genuinely tried to understand Summer’s words, but soon frowned slightly. Is there really a person who would jump into a lake wearing a heavy dress to survive? “You thought I was crazy just now, didn’t you?” Summer spoke a bit bluntly. “Not at all, Summer. I just thought there must be more to your story for me to understand what you meant.” “Then can you listen to my story?” “If you’re okay with it, I’d be happy to.” “Promise me you won’t put me in prison for being crazy.” Summer extended her pinky finger. Russell bit his lip, as if trying to suppress a smile, and hooked his finger around Summer’s. Summer’s pinky was surprisingly small and thin, as if it could break at any moment. “I swear to the heavens.” Perhaps displeased with Russell’s words, Summer’s expression soured. “Why swear to the heavens? Swear on your entire fortune.” Summer extended her finger again. This time, Russell couldn’t help but let out a small, deflated laugh. “Okay, I understand. I swear on my entire fortune.” To extend a pinky finger with a solemn face under the moonlight. As Russell continued to laugh, he suddenly stopped, as if struck by something in Summer’s face. Her icy blue eyes and golden hair, reminiscent of sunlight, shone even under the dark night sky. As if she had desperately run this far to survive. For a moment, Russell was at a loss for words. Regardless of what he was thinking, Summer released her finger and began to speak. Summer’s gaze fell on the fountain behind her. Her familiar face reflected on the shimmering blue surface. “I’ve lost my name. So to regain it, I have to go through a process akin to death.” “Like falling into a lake?” “Exactly.” “Is there really no other way?” Russell’s expression turned serious. “Will you not curse me for saying something insane?” “I don’t think it’s insane. It’s also true that I don’t usually curse. So tell me, is there no other way? Other than… harming yourself?” “There isn’t. But I also don’t want to continue living in this terrible world.” “Can you tell me what was so terrible about it?” At Russell’s gentle demeanor, Summer felt her eyes sting and buried her face between her knees. Russell silently draped his jacket over her shoulders again, covering her carefully. “I’m sad to be apart from the people I want to see. On top of that, everyone here just recites their lines. This world is made for the protagonists, like a fairy tale.” “Do you know who the protagonists are?” “Yes.” Russell’s question was a bit unexpected. She showed no signs of being offended by the idea that this world was no different from a book. Perhaps it was so absurd that she brushed it off. “Well, then, do I belong to the protagonists as well?” Russell asked half-jokingly. “Yes. You’re one of the protagonists. So Russell probably hasn’t felt uncomfortable at all. And you wouldn’t understand me either.” Russell’s face hardened as he looked at Summer. What had been a joke turned out to be true; he was indeed one of the protagonists. After a moment of silence, Russell cautiously spoke. “That’s right. I was born and raised in this world. I can’t readily say I understand or empathize with what you’ve been through.” “……That’s true.” Summer knew well. Living in different worlds meant that unless one made a significant effort, they couldn’t understand each other. Watching Summer with her head down, Russell carefully opened his mouth. “Still, since both Summer and I have emotions, I thought of the most painful and lonely moment in my life. I thought maybe Summer was feeling something similar right now.” “…….” Summer buried her face deeper between her knees. Russell looked at her with kind eyes and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to offer it to her. “I couldn’t help but give you a handkerchief thinking that way. I can’t even tell you not to cry.” Catching a glimpse of the handkerchief, Summer finally burst into tears. “Ugh, ugh….” “Cry, Summer. I’ll be right here sitting quietly beside you every time.” “Wahhh… ugh, sniff!” Summer wiped her nose on the handkerchief and cautiously glanced at Russell. Russell casually pulled out another handkerchief and handed it to her. “Don’t worry, I have plenty of handkerchiefs.” Summer felt dizzy. Russell was incredibly warm. Could this really be his setting? Even if it were a setting, it was fine. Humans are beings that find comfort even in robots. In that sense, Russell was perfectly feline. A bit indifferent, quiet, gazing into the other’s eyes while listening, trying to understand in his own way as much as possible. There was no hasty consolation or premature sympathy. Summer sat beside the protagonist of this world and cried her heart out. “Honestly, I’m scared… being alive but not really living is terrifying!” Summer shouted passionately, not knowing to whom she was speaking, burying her face in the handkerchief. Waking up to find herself in a book, and the only way to escape was too cruel. In truth, Summer was scared too. Every moment, she had to find a way to die in this world, and she had to rub her cold hands repeatedly. Pay was erratic, leaving and returning as she pleased, and now she couldn’t fully trust what she had said. “What if I die and that’s the end?” Her hidden true feelings finally burst forth. After a moment of silence, Russell replied. “Then you must live. Even if I suddenly find myself in the middle of a slum, or if I wake up in a dark forest where monsters lurk.” “I want to go back.” “Who told you about the way back? About… death?” “…….” Summer pressed her lips tightly together. Would it be okay to say it? Her heart leaned more towards not saying it. If Pay were to be harmed, the guilt would be overwhelming. Fortunately, Russell didn’t press further. “It’s okay if you don’t want to say it.” “Thank you.” “Have you been to the temple?” “I have. Just once, to the prayer room.” “How about meeting the Pope?” “The Pope…?” Summer was taken aback. She had never thought about the Pope. While she had a strange experience at the temple, her dependence on Pay was so great that she had never tried to do anything on her own. “You might know something if you go to the temple.” “Thank you. But…” The Pope seemed a bit difficult. He wasn’t a character described in detail in the novel, so she had no information about him. It didn’t feel good. “If you have any concerns, just let me know. I’ll accompany you.” At Russell’s consideration, Summer nodded gently with a soft smile. Along with the impression that today’s banquet wasn’t so bad. She never expected that Russell Bertrand, who had only seemed like the heroine’s supporter, could offer such comfort, say such words, and be such a person. “Thank you for your consideration. Shall we head back now?” As Summer and Russell were on their way back to the banquet hall, Russell was stopped by a nobleman who had been waiting for him. The nobleman, whose face clearly showed he had no sense of awareness, seemed to have no intention of letting Russell go. Seeing Russell’s awkward expression, Summer smiled reassuringly and waved her hand, indicating she was okay. Russell looked like an employee caught by a colleague, which made her chuckle a little. As they crossed the garden to enter the banquet hall, a large figure was seen striding toward Summer from a distance. “Duke?” “Have you been crying?” Ian’s gaze, as he gripped Summer’s shoulders, was chilling.