The author. The god of this world. The creator. As Summer tried to hear more, the voice abruptly cut off. At the same time, the light surrounding her body disappeared.

“Hey, Summer! Did you see something? Huh? There was something, right?”

“I… heard it.”

Summer answered in a slightly dazed state.

Fei quickly pulled Summer out of the grand temple. The temple people must not see Summer’s soul.

After Summer and Fei left, a man in white garments appeared.

“Did you see, Your Holiness?”

“The god has come.”

“Then right now…!”

“No. Let’s keep this a secret between the two of us. Understand?”

The voice was gentle, but somehow intimidating. The priest involuntarily swallowed and bowed his head.

“I understand. But that light…”

“Shh.”

The man put his smooth index finger to his lips.

In contrast to his kind smile, his violet eyes overflowed with a dangerous atmosphere.

“What did you hear?”

The night before the imperial banquet, Fei arrived at the room, leaped onto the windowsill, and transformed into a cat. After a moment’s hesitation, Summer gave an ambiguous answer.

“I heard the voice of god.”

“What did it say?”

“It seemed to be deliberating whether to give evil or good to a certain character.”

“What nonsense is that?”

“I know. It sounds strange. But really, that’s what the god was contemplating.”

It was because she hadn’t explained that this world was a romance novel. Fei frowned, looking utterly confused.

“If good and evil depend on god’s will, who could judge humans for their sins?”

“Fei, actually…”

“We should ask god.”

“What?”

Summer raised her head in surprise at Fei’s words.

Fei snorted as if wondering why she was so surprised.

“If god decides human good and evil, then all the evil acts in this world are god’s fault, right? Then the punishment for those sins should be placed before god. That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Haha. Fei. I like you the best in this world.”

“Hmph. Flattery is poison. More importantly, have you made all your plans?”

“Yes.”

Fei, who had been wagging her tail gently, changed back into human form and perched on the windowsill.

“But black hair. What if Summer’s soul doesn’t return as you think?”

“…”

“If you want, I can send you back to your original world right now, regardless of whether Summer’s soul returns or not.”

“…”

It was a sweet offer. It meant that if she just decided, she could return to her original world as soon as tomorrow without any worry. But Summer didn’t answer in the end.

“Think about it.”

Fei opened the window as if about to leave again. Summer quickly grabbed Fei as she was about to depart.

“What?”

“The window is not a door, Fei. Even if you go out through the door, no one can see you anyway.”

She thought Fei was all deflated and withdrawn, but it seemed she still had the composure to point out such things.

Looking caught off guard, Fei blinked her blank eyes. Then, with a reddened face, she kept clearing her throat.

“I know that!”

“It’s because Mary has a hard time cleaning the windowsill. Please understand.”

“If you say so.”

Fei turned with a haughty face and left through the door. Left alone in the room after Fei’s departure, Summer finally flopped down on the bed.

“…”

Everything felt like a dream. Entering the book, meeting Fei. Becoming friends with the female protagonist she liked.

Staying for over a month in a mansion that felt like traveling in France.

It all felt like a hazy fantasy.

“I want to go home…”

Summer buried her face in the pillow, whimpering.

What if the original Summer’s soul doesn’t appear at the banquet? If she just leaves for her original world in that state, this shell will lose its soul and disappear forever.

Clearly, this body belongs to the original Summer. So it was right to keep it safe until its owner returns.

Two hearts violently shook.

Even if it was the only way to return to her original world, climbing the tower herself was a horrible thing.

Is it really dying? Or should I postpone it a little? But she missed home so much.

Summer stayed up all night without a wink of sleep until dawn broke. The blue east dawned in the distance, illuminating the beautiful Lindsey mansion.

“…”

“What, did you stay up all night?”

Fei, looking haggard from whatever she had done all night, opened the door and entered, stretching out.

“Ah, Fei. You’re early.”

“Because it’s an important day. So when are we going to the banquet?”

“Probably we’ll start preparing now and leave as soon as we’re done. By the way, can you still not… feel Summer’s soul?”

“Not at all.”

“I see…”

“What’s wrong?”

Fei sat down next to Summer in an instant.

Her short legs dangled in the air due to her small stature. Summer rubbed her reddened eyes and forced a smile.

“If Summer’s soul appears today… I’ll go back to my original world right away. If the soul doesn’t appear contrary to my thoughts, I’ll wait one more month.”

“And if the soul still isn’t created then? What will you do?”

“Then, I’ll have to go back no matter what. Even if I feel sorry for the owner of this body.”

Summer smiled a little sadly.

“Fei, I’m glad I met you.”

Today was the day to say goodbye to this world,

in order to return to her original world.

“…When the soul separates from the body, I’ll come to retrieve it.”

Fei avoided Summer’s gaze and jumped down to the terrace.

When Summer looked down, she saw Fei, transformed into a black cat, leisurely leaving the mansion.

“Miss.”

Summer turned around at the voice behind her. Mary was standing at the doorway with a slightly dark expression.

“Mary. You can rest today. The other maids will take care of everything anyway.”

“I know you find me disgusting, Miss.”

Mary’s voice was emotionless. It was an unpleasant feeling between human and robot. But Summer no longer saw Mary that way.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

“But I don’t see you that way anymore. I’ve recently realized how precious it is to have someone who can listen to me.”

Summer gently smiled as she faced Mary.

Mary. A strange and ambiguous existence, neither a character from the novel nor an existing person, created by her own imagination.

Mary was literally an uncanny, pitiful, yet welcome maid – odd, but not entirely unpleasant.

“Are you going back?”

“…How do you know that?”

Summer asked with surprised eyes. Instead of answering, Mary posed another question.

“Do you dislike this place?”

“Yes. Everyone except you speaks as they please.”

“I’ll be lonely when you leave, Miss.”

Well. Summer found it difficult to agree with Mary’s words. Right now, Mary’s face looked like it wouldn’t bleed a drop even if pricked.

The idea of such a Mary feeling loneliness – it was a completely mismatched concept.

“I can’t leave myself lonely for your sake. I’m sorry.”

“Do you believe in the witch?”

“You know Fei? How? Can you see her?”

Surprised, Summer approached Mary and grabbed both her shoulders. Mary had just been a maid who listlessly went about her work with a look of utter boredom.

Except for being able to converse with Summer due to being born from Summer’s imagination, she had no special qualities.

But now Mary was talking about the witch. Mary had precisely seen and felt Fei, whom no one else in this world could even sense existed.

“Yes, I know. Miss, don’t trust the witch too much. Witches view humans as mere frogs.”

The monotone voice and soulless eyes.

Although there was nothing trustworthy about Mary, strangely enough, that last statement stuck in Summer’s mind.

Am I missing something?