After a long silence, Summer chuckled, breaking the ice.
“Russell, sir. Why… do you make me misunderstand things so?”
“Did my words leave room for misunderstanding?”
Russell’s expression was so transparent as he asked, that Summer burst into laughter again. Ah, she had been so serious just a moment ago.
Summer shook her head. Russell genuinely wished for Summer to live her life in this world.
There was no other desire in his heart. Knowing this so well, his words didn't sound unpleasant.
Perhaps this man, the moment he fell in love, would simply say, "I love you," without any embellishment.
“No. No, sir. I, I really have to leave in four days.”
“If I ask the reason this time, can you answer me?”
“If I stay here any longer, I’ll be trapped here forever.”
“…….”
“So, still, thanks to Russell sir, I think it was a pleasant trip.”
“Are you… really sure you can go back?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have the right to hold you back?”
“No.”
“I see.”
Russell smiled wryly and stood up.
“Rest well before you leave. If you need anything, tell the servant at the door to call for me.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Russell left first, and Summer, after resting for a while, soon got up and went out alone.
The hall was now filled with dance music; everyone was swirling around like beautiful flowers, bursting into joyful laughter.
Then, Julian and Ian, engaged in conversation instead of dancing in a corner, caught her eye.
Russell wasn't in the hall, so he seemed to have moved to a place where noblemen gathered for discussions.
Trying to make as little noise as possible, she carefully descended, and the eyes of the nobles turned to Summer as one.
“…….”
Summer almost fainted. She had never received this kind of attention in this world, or in her original world.
Suddenly, hundreds of eyes were on her, making her feel nauseous. Their eyes held a base curiosity, and some were scanning her dress to see if anything was amiss.
“Summer!”
Julian, having spotted her, hurried over.
“Why aren’t you dancing?”
“How can I smile and dance when Summer left like that? Are you feeling better now? Are you really alright?”
“I’m really fine, Julian. More than that, I want to continue our earlier conversation.”
“Earlier? Ah, you mean the hunting competition?”
Julian asked, realizing belatedly. Summer nodded slightly, a little tense.
Behind them, Ian watched with a slightly slanted posture.
“It wasn’t anything important. I don’t know for sure, but I thought that perhaps fate could be sold like a dream.”
“Then, could it be…”
“Yes. That’s right. I thought that perhaps Summer took my unfortunate fate upon herself instead of warning me and taking it for herself.”
“Haha, that’s not possible. I’m not a priestess; I can’t wield such mystical power.”
Summer’s heart throbbed. The protagonist was different. To get this close through a few incidents.
Since Summer unilaterally took one of Julian’s problems, Julian’s guess was almost correct.
“I have a vivid imagination. Ah, Summer. Wait, just a moment, let me have a word in your ear.”
Julian said playfully, putting his hand to his mouth. As Summer bent her head to match Julian’s height, Julian whispered in her ear.
“On the day the world stopped, I heard Summer’s voice.”
“……!”
Summer’s eyes trembled. Her body tensed involuntarily. How? How could the characters, mere puppets of the author, break the rules of the world?
It was confusing. Beyond confusion, she felt helpless in the face of a great catastrophe. Summer felt so small, insignificant, and powerless before the world.
“Thank you, Summer. Summer saved me.”
After finishing his last words, Julian removed his hand from her ear.
“Miss Dudley, may I have this dance?”
A young viscount elegantly extended his hand to Julian, requesting a dance.
“Shall we?”
Julian shrugged and gave Summer and Ian a quick nod, as if telling them to talk.
Just as Summer was about to feel a little resentful, Julian left with the viscount.
Ian, left alone with Summer, looked at her with a slightly slanted gaze.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Haven’t you heard?”
“I have. You’re leaving for the front lines tomorrow, aren’t you? Leading the charge.”
“That’s right. It’s incredibly dangerous. Life-threatening.”
“The Duke will return safely.”
Summer replied nonchalantly. It was a defense mechanism to suppress her anxiety, but Ian didn’t seem to notice.
In truth, Summer was anxious. She worried that her actions to return to her original world might harm the people of this world.
At first, she had no qualms about using them and speaking harshly. They were just words on a page, not living beings.
But now, compared to the first day she arrived in this world, things were different.
Mary, Daisy, the coachman’s face flashed before her eyes. Strictly speaking, they were also minor characters, nameless individuals in this world.
When Russell mentioned the murder of a civilian at the border, the coachman was the first person that came to mind.
The kind old man who always spoke to her warmly. The thought that her actions might have taken the lives of such people kept her awake at night.
“Are you deeply trustworthy to me, or heartless?”
Ian spoke a little gruffly. Summer shrugged and replied.
“Both, perhaps?”
What good is getting attached? We’re bound to part ways anyway.
Summer deliberately avoided eye contact with Ian and let the conversation drift casually.
If she looked at his face, Selena would come to mind, then the grave, then Faye’s story. It would all come flooding back.
“Speaking of which, don’t you have anything to give me? For example, something like this.”
Ian showed various ornaments and handkerchiefs. The wound seemed to have healed well; he was behaving like a perfectly ordinary young nobleman.
The protagonist who knows nothing. Is that truly happiness?
Summer pondered Russell’s story from the lounge again and approached Ian a little closer.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a wish for good fortune for someone going to war.”
Receiving so much already, what more does he want? The rich are always greedy.
Among the pile of handkerchiefs and ornaments, Summer noticed a single handkerchief neatly tied to his sword.
It seemed to be given by Julian. Summer smirked slyly and tapped Ian’s arm. Good job, male protagonist. That’s the way.
Ian, clueless, tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. Looking closely, Ian’s features seemed rather sharp and fierce.
Summer quickly assumed a surrendering posture and said in an exaggerated tone.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t bring anything.”
“Didn’t you prepare a handkerchief? That’s too much.”
“The Duke will win anyway.”
“You can’t be so sure about war.”
Ian retorted in a somber voice. Even though she didn’t fully know him, she understood. How terrible and painful the horrors of war he had experienced must have been.
The misery of having to wield a sword even after watching a comrade-in-arms, with whom he had shared drinks just yesterday, fall beside him.
“I can. The Duke will definitely return.”
So Summer spoke in an even more assertive tone. Ian seemed a little surprised by Summer’s firm attitude.
“Summer?”
“Want to make a bet? If the Duke returns unharmed, I’ll give you the handkerchief then.”
Summer laughed playfully. Ian chuckled, as if there was nothing he could do.
“Still, give me something.”
At Ian’s persistent request, Summer pondered for a moment, then her eyes sparkled as if she had a good idea.
“Um, then I’ll give you this.”
Summer untied the ribbon that was holding her hair.
Soon, the green ribbon was tied around Ian’s wrist in a pretty butterfly shape. Summer, delicately stroking the ribbon, said proudly.
“See? It suits the Duke perfectly.”
“Seriously? Me and a butterfly ribbon?”
“Take it off if you don’t like it.”
Summer smiled and patted Ian’s shoulder. It was an act that, unknowingly to her, would be considered extremely uncouth in this world.
“Duke. You will definitely be happy.”
“…….”
“I guarantee it.”
That’s why you shouldn’t make guarantees lightly. Even someone leaving in four days can say such words.
Fortunately, Ian relaxed and chuckled at Summer’s words.
“You’re the first to give me flowers and ribbons.”
“Oh dear, that line is a bit dangerous.”
When Summer quickly warned him, Ian’s eyes widened in slight surprise.
Summer, as if she knew everything, simply took Ian’s hand and patted his hand several times.
“Return safely. Don’t get hurt. Everyone hopes for the Duke’s safe return.”
“…….”
It was the only comfort Summer, who knew the truth, could offer.
The next day at dawn, Duke Ian Langster led his troops out early.
The foggy dawn was damp and chilly.
“Miss, are you already missing him?”
“Why would I be?”
Summer retorted indifferently to Mary’s question. Even after several days, Mary glanced at the clean windowsill and spoke.
“He was one of the few friends you had in this world, wasn’t he?”
“The Duke? Absolutely not.”
Summer exhaled, “Huh,” with a look of disbelief, as if to say, “What nonsense?”
Mary shifted her gaze to Summer, her lips moving slowly, as if she was reluctant to even utter the words.
“……It seems you still intend to leave.”
“That’s right.”
Unlike Mary’s long hesitation, Summer’s reply came out immediately.
Mary asked with a somewhat gloomy expression.
“Do you believe in witches?”
Witches. Summer thought of Faye, who hadn’t come for days, and replied.
“I have to. Even if there are things she hasn’t told me, she’s never lied to me, according to Faye.”
“Deliberately concealing the truth is also a lie.”
She seems to really dislike witches. Did she have some bad experience with a witch?
Summer decided not to ask further and pressed her tired eyes.
“Mary. Still, I’m going back. Unless there’s another way, don’t stop me.”
“……Just know that I, too, have no other way.”
Mary’s expression, as she said that, was unusually sad, as if she might cry at any moment.