“It seems you enjoyed the chef’s skills, Lady Lindsey.”

Startled by the sudden voice of the unexpected visitor, Summer discreetly averted her gaze.

The person who approached from behind was Ian Lancaster, the protagonist of this party.

He had managed to make his way through the countless crowd to greet her here. Well, it was basic etiquette for the host to greet the guests.

“It’s delicious.”

Summer quietly replied as she picked up another glass of wine.

Ian smiled crookedly, with a face that had found a prey perfect for teasing.

“That’s great, I’ll be sure to tell the chef. He’ll be delighted.”

Ian Lancaster spoke with exaggerated politeness, pretending to see Summer for the first time. He was clearly teasing her.

Summer responded with an intentionally haughty expression to avoid falling for his ploy.

“Please do tell him. It’s excellent.”

“I see. It seems Lady Lindsey is already thoroughly enjoying the party, even without my presence.”

“Yes. So if you’re busy, feel free to attend to other matters.”

“But I’m not busy.”

Ian Lancaster bluntly stated as he leaned in. Summer stepped back at the sudden closeness, tightly gripping her plate with both hands.

“It seems Lady Lindsey wishes I were busy.”

“…”

“And it appears you’re not one to lie.”

“Yes.”

Summer replied curtly with a sour expression. She didn’t want to engage in too much conversation with the male protagonist.

The more contact people have, the harder it becomes to part ways.

Ian had already saved Summer’s life once, despite not knowing her. So if they became any closer, Ian would surely try to prevent Summer from attempting to return by any means necessary.

Even though they were mere characters in a book.

Summer exhaled dejectedly and shook her head.

She needed to return to her original world and get back to work as soon as possible, but being trapped here attending parties was frustrating.

Unaware of this, Ian extended his hand.

“Lady Lindsey. Would you share the first dance with me today,”

Before Ian could finish speaking, suddenly the surroundings became chaotic.

“Pardon?”

By the time Summer asked, not having heard Ian’s words, the party was already in disarray.

Julian’s face was smeared with white salad dressing, and her meticulously crafted dress was ruined.

Ah. It was then that Summer recalled when this scene had occurred.

It was the entrance of this novel’s villain, Ferotia Legacy, the only daughter of Duke Legacy.

Befitting the entrance of a villain, it was quite spectacular.

A laugh that was breathless, a black dress shimmering under the ornate chandelier, gray eyes gleaming and glistening, and hair whiter than those eyes.

And in front of her, with her head bowed in a mess,

“Julian…”

Summer quickly approached Julian and reached out her hand.

Julian’s cheek was red. Blood mixed with the smeared salad dressing over the clear handprint.

With food! Again with food! The author’s keen eye for knowing that readers would be greatly angered by playing with food was frustrating at times like this.

“Damn it.”

Again! Summer pounded on the invisible wall with her fist and let out a sharp cry.

Once again, her hand couldn’t reach Julian. Every time Julian suffered humiliation, the invisible wall prevented Summer from helping.

Especially this time, when Summer couldn’t possibly confront the opponent.

In the novel, the three ducal families enjoyed power second only to the emperor.

These were the Lancaster, Bertrand, and Legacy ducal families.

So when a Duke Legacy’s daughter splashed some salad and slapped the cheek of an earl’s daughter, there was no immediate way to retaliate.

Especially since Ferotia Legacy was known for her misdeeds.

She had the backing of the Legacy ducal family, and the duke and his brothers would stop at nothing to fulfill the wishes of Ferotia, their only daughter.

No one could restrain her.

The social world was strictly divided between men and women, and it was considered a great disgrace for men to interfere in women’s affairs. So there was nothing to stop Ferotia.

That was the class system and the rules of this world.

“…Damn this wall. I’ll kill it. This damn wall.”

Summer muttered ominously as she pounded the transparent, squishy wall a few more times with her fist.

Just then, someone brushed past Summer.

Ian Lancaster. The male protagonist. He passed through the transparent wall effortlessly and reached Julian.

“What is the meaning of this, Lady Legacy?”

“Surely you’re not taking the side of that woman who’s hardly fit to be called a noble?”

“You’d do well to hold your tongue, Ferotia Legacy.”

“Duke, I’m Ferotia.”

“Escort the Duke’s daughter safely back to her mansion. She seems too drunk to recognize who’s standing before her.”

At Ian’s cold voice, the knights politely but firmly guided Ferotia out of the banquet hall.

Ferotia left, shooting a resentful glare at Ian with burning eyes.

“You’ll regret this, Duke.”

The villain’s exit. Ferotia Legacy’s entrance was similar to that of a simple villain, but as the story progressed, she would become a character whose mind worked terribly well in the wrong direction.

And as predetermined, the original story began.

It was the dramatic scene of the female protagonist suffering humiliation and the male protagonist appearing just in time to save her.

“I’ll lend you a room, feel free to use it and come out when you’re ready.”

“It’s fine. My dress is ruined anyway, so I’ll go home now.”

“This happened at my party, so I’d like to take responsibility. Please allow me.”

“…Then, excuse me.”

Summer gritted her teeth as she watched the salad still dripping from Julian’s chin. She couldn’t intervene in the story.

No matter how much she kicked and punched the wall, no matter how much she struggled, not a single scratch appeared on the wall.

She felt a sense of futility and helplessness at the same time.

“…”

Julian was now climbing the stairs with Ian’s help.

Unlike her ruined face, Julian’s eyes were the very embodiment of dignity. There was no reason not to be dignified.

In the original story, Lady Legacy had picked a fight with Julian for no reason. Saying that poor manners were just as bad as rudeness.

Then she struck Julian’s cheek with a salad plate and smashed the salad. Saying to eat more of the food she liked so much.

It was infuriating just thinking about it again.

That damned rival. Whether the rival was on the male protagonist’s side or the female protagonist’s side, the cliché of these romance stories was always the same – the female protagonist suffers all the humiliation.

“I just wanted them to reach the ending a bit more comfortably.”

Summer bowed her head as she watched the two disappear.

Right. This world existed solely for the male and female protagonists.

And obstacles to make their love stronger would be necessary too.

So there was no need to fret like this alone. They would be happy anyway, and Julian would overcome all adversities and grasp success.

“I’m the outsider here.”

Just as Summer muttered to herself, she felt a warm sensation on her shoulder.

“Why would you be an outsider, my lady?”

As she touched her shoulder with her hand, she felt the soft texture of a jacket.

“Duke Bertrand.”

“Didn’t we agree to use each other’s names, Summer?”

Duke Bertrand, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, reminded her of a single orchid.

His smile, beautiful as if painted, was without a hint of falsehood. Just natural courtesy, to that extent.

Finding it difficult to look at him, Summer averted her gaze.

Unlike the supporting characters who simply recited their predetermined lines, the main characters sometimes seemed truly alive, which made her a bit uncomfortable.

“Duke Russell.”

“Russell.”

“But still,”

“Russell.”

“Yes, Russell.”

“Since the party has become a mess, shall we take a walk together?”

At Russell Bertrand’s firm response, Summer finally called him by his name. In fact, if others saw this, they would be shocked.

An earl’s daughter casually calling a high noble duke by his name.

It would be unacceptable in this empire where the class system was firmly established, but well. Summer didn’t care much about the current situation, as she would be grateful to be executed.

Finally nodding at Russell Bertrand’s careful touch and emotionless eyes, Summer placed her hand on his arm.

Strangely, at this moment, his lack of emotion felt quite comfortable.

As she followed him out of the hall, a cool breeze brushed against her cheeks. She felt a bit more clearheaded.

“Thank you.”

“You, who didn’t even thank me for saving your life, are now expressing gratitude to me. How unexpected.”

“I really had my reasons back then.”

“I’m sure you did.”

The feeling of walking under the dark night sky, following the lights, wasn’t bad.

As they walked along the empty path, only the sound of grass crunching underfoot and the faint sound of the wind filled the space.

“Summer. May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

Summer, who had been walking with her mind blank, following Russell’s lead, finally blinked and came to her senses.

She had been so comfortable that for a moment she wasn’t even aware of who was beside her.

“Have you taken Duke Lancaster to heart?”

“…Me?”

Summer’s face contorted terribly at the absurd question.

That man?

One shouldn’t even touch wounds they’re not confident they can heal.

Ian was a man with many wounds, and Summer was a person busy enough just taking care of herself.

So, it was nonsense.