“Miss.”
That evening, Mary came in holding a letter.
“What is it?”
“It’s a letter. It seems it’s from Duke Bertrand.”
“Give it to me.”
Summer quickly took the letter and tore open the envelope.
<As summer passes and autumn approaches, you say you will leave just like your name. To be honest, your farewell pains me.
I have been thinking about our conversation from yesterday. If it’s not a complete departure but a return to somewhere, then I believe I have no right to stop you.
I am just a little worried if the way back is truly certain and safe. Still, I think you have prepared well for this.
Putting that aside, I would like to spend some time with you before we part, as we have had many conversations by coincidence.
Could you come visit me, Duke Bertrand? I will prepare something you will like.
- Russell Bertrand, not ready to say goodbye to summer>
It was truly a letter befitting him. Summer read the contents over and over again. A smile kept escaping her.
Thinking about the expressionless bureaucrat who must have written this letter made the bizarre world feel a bit amusing.
“Alright. Let’s have a good farewell.”
“Farewell...? Are you saying that the Duke and I are secretly...?”
“No, Mary. It’s not like that. Duke Bertrand is coming to visit me, so help me prepare in the morning.”
“Understood. Lightly or extravagantly?”
“Of course, lightly. It’s not a party.”
“Hmm. Got it.”
Mary bowed and left the room.
Summer read Russell’s letter once more and placed it in the top drawer.
“Oh. I need to get ready too.”
Summer quickly grabbed a notebook and settled in front of her desk.
<To Summer, from Summer.
When you read this letter, you might be terrified or excited, one of the two. I am the black-haired Summer who borrowed your body for a moment.
I have built a friendship with Julian Dudley of the Dudley family using your body.
Don’t worry about Ian Langerster and Russell Bertrand; they are good people. They may look a bit gruff, but they are kind.
They will definitely help you if you ask for assistance.
Please do not inform Duke Ian Langerster that I have left this world. Just say I lost my memory while teetering between life and death. I beg you.
Other than that, you can do whatever you like. Seeing how I have managed to get this far in a daze.
However, I hope you do not get involved with the Legacy Duke family or the Holst Count family. It will lead to troublesome matters.
Do not be too surprised. This world was scary and bizarre, but it wasn’t entirely bad.
Summer, please take care of Mary and Daisy. Treat them well on my behalf.
Like a midsummer night’s dream, I have entered your body, so I wish to cherish it and leave like a midsummer night’s dream.
Summer, please be happy.
I will also do my best to be happy, thinking of you and the people I leave behind in this world.>
To Summer, from Summer.
“Ugh, sniff…”
She tried to hold back her breath, but only strange sounds came out. Summer quickly put the letter back in the envelope to prevent it from getting wet.
“...Summer, Summer.”
Summer quietly rolled the name “Summer” around in her mouth. It was a name she had fallen into this world and had been continuously avoiding.
There were times when the fear of losing her original name and having to live as Summer was overwhelming.
“Summer... sniff...”
A single tear rolled down Summer’s cheek. She closed her eyes. Even when she tried to cover her eyes with both hands, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
It wasn’t just painful.
It wasn’t entirely unhappy, either.
There must have been moments when she smiled, even if just for an instant.
Summer tried to force back her tears, making muffled sounds. But eventually, clear tears flowed down her wrist.
It was the relief and regret of a runner who had finished a long, tedious race and was approaching the finish line.
Her throat tasted of blood, and it felt like her heart would burst, but now that she was at the finish line,
it wasn’t just suffering.
As soon as the morning sun rose, Summer hurried to get ready to go out.
With little time left, she naturally became anxious. Mary matched Summer’s pace and helped her prepare to go out.
“Thank you, Mary. I’ll be back!”
“...Yes. Have a good time.”
“Miss, me too!”
“Alright. Daisy too! I’ll be back.”
Summer cheerfully waved her arms in greeting and got into the carriage.
“Hello. Good morning.”
“Good morning, Miss.”
As Summer greeted brightly, the coachman turned around, took off his hat, and placed it on his chest in greeting.
“Please take me to Duke Bertrand’s residence.”
“Yes. It seems you have some joyful news today.”
“Rather than joyful... um, I think it is joyful.”
“Seeing you smile makes me happy too.”
The carriage sped down the road.
Before long, Duke Bertrand’s residence came into view. True to a family that produced prime ministers, it was located close to the palace.
The mansion looked just like a huge library. It had a neat yet somehow historic and elegant atmosphere of an old family.
When the carriage stopped, Summer opened the door and jumped down.
“Thank you!”
Summer greeted the coachman while tucking her hair, which was blowing in the wind, behind her ear.
“Summer. You’ve come.”
At the sound of the voice, Summer turned around.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored outfit, with not a single wrinkle in sight.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, not at all. How about breakfast?”
“Um, actually, I didn’t eat.”
“How about we have a simple breakfast together first, and then take a tour of the mansion?”
“I’m fine with that.”
Summer walked over to Russell with a bright smile. Russell gazed at Summer’s cheerful face.
“...You seem excited about going back.”
“A little. I’ve really waited a long time. It was really just enough to make me gasp for breath.”
Russell’s voice cracked slightly, but Summer was too busy looking around the mansion to notice.
Indeed, the Bertrand family was relatively modest for nobility. Still, the food was top-notch. Even better than the Langerster family.
“Oh my. It’s delicious.”
“Make sure to eat well. You won’t be able to eat this anymore.”
Russell said it jokingly and rested his chin on his hand. He had already put down his fork and was watching Summer eat.
“Mr. Russell!”
Summer finally swallowed the piece of meat in her mouth and exclaimed.
“It seems it’s unfair for you to say goodbye so coldly, yet it’s hurtful when I say something.”
“This part makes me feel guilty, so I can’t say anything.”
The momentum that had flared up had vanished, and Summer slowly picked up her fork again and poked at her salad.
She had eaten quite a hearty breakfast.
“Summer. Shall we start with the garden?”
“I’ll look at the building first. If I wander outside now, I feel like I’ll just sit on a bench for half the day.”
As Russell quietly listened to Summer’s banter, he softly called her name.
“Summer.”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t know you could smile like this. Like this.”
“What do you mean, how did I smile?”
At his sudden words, Summer felt awkward and covered her mouth with her hand. A wave of embarrassment washed over her. Had she not hidden her excitement well enough?
Russell quietly gazed at Summer before turning his gaze out the window. Following Russell’s gaze, Summer looked outside as well.
The garden, illuminated by the rising sun, was beautiful.
“Sunshine.”
“...Yes?”
“You’re smiling just like that sunshine.”
“...”
“It’s a precious smile.”
Russell moved ahead of Summer. She followed him without thinking.
“This is my office.”
“Hmm. It’s incredibly tidy.”
“If it’s not organized, it becomes chaotic.”
“Of course.”
Summer turned her head repeatedly, looking around the office. Russell’s office honestly resembled the room Summer had always dreamed of.
If only a bed were placed here, it would be complete.
“It’s amazing.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Now, let’s see other places.”
Russell showed her around the reception room, banquet hall, guest rooms, and various other places.
“And this is the library.”
“Wow... it’s like a temple.”
Even though they had only wandered around the interior, lunchtime came in between, and they ended up having a lavish lunch together.
Once again, Russell hardly touched his utensils. Summer thought Russell must have been full.
If one ate such delicious food every day, it seemed impossible not to be full.
By the time they reached the last library, it was afternoon.
As the yellow and warm sun gradually turned red, the library, bathed in orange light, felt somewhat sacred.
“The family loves books so much. Our family’s only pride is that it’s larger than the royal library.”
“It’s wonderful. I dreamed of being an administrator...”
Summer looked around the library with a dreamy expression. Her sparkling blue eyes shone brighter than sapphires.
“How many years did you prepare?”
“Embarrassingly... five years.”
“Here, it usually takes three to six years to enter the royal administration as an administrator.”
“Wow, it’s tougher here.”
Russell’s voice was calm and clear. It had a pitch and pace that naturally soothed the heart.
Perhaps that was why.
Summer wanted to share her story with Russell, even participating in a game of lies.
Russell naturally guided Summer outside while adding explanations.
“But the hiring process for administrators employed by noble families is different.”
“How so? Is it an exam? An interview? Or maybe an essay?”
“It’s up to the head of the family.”
“Wow, that’s unfair.”
Summer exclaimed, her mouth agape. Russell seemed to find it amusing, pressing his lips together to suppress a smile. He wore an expression that clearly indicated he was trying not to laugh.
Summer walked alongside Russell, matching his pace as they slowly explored the garden.
The garden was neat and delicate. There were flower beds everywhere, and every time the wind blew, the scent of flowers wafted through the air.
“It’s amazing.”
“Do you like it?”
“Very, very much!”
“Then may I make a somewhat rude request?”
“Whatever you ask is free. Refusing is also my freedom.”
As Summer replied, Russell lowered his head and let out a faint smile.
When Summer leaned in slightly to see his smiling face, Russell returned to his indifferent and serious expression as if he had never smiled.
“How petty.”
“How about staying here for a day? In fact, the Bertrand mansion is built in the most beautiful place for night views.”
Summer, who had just called him petty, lit up with excitement.
“Wow. Can you see the stars?”
“They are beautifully overwhelming.”
“Would someone leaving in four days care about appearances? Of course, I’d love to.”
Summer immediately agreed. Russell approached her with an ambiguous expression, unsure if he was happy or displeased.
“...You’re too unguarded.”
“Pardon? What do you mean,”
“Even if you have four days to see me, shouldn’t you be a bit more cautious?”
As Summer became flustered, Russell slowly brushed aside her flowing hair and stepped back calmly.
“R-Russell, so...”
“I know. That’s why I’m keeping my distance.”
That statement sounded like he was saying he wouldn’t cross the line he wanted to cross for Summer’s sake.