“Is that so?”

“Absolutely not. Not at all.”

Russell’s lips twitched for a brief moment when he noticed Summer’s serious expression, as if trying to hold back a laugh.

“Summer, just a moment.”

Russell lightly grabbed Summer’s sleeve and pointed to the fountain. As it happened, Summer, uncomfortable in her high heels, obediently followed Russell’s guidance.

Plopping down on the small marble fountain, Summer blurted out in a disgusted tone before Russell could say anything.

“Don’t try to set me up. It’s annoying.”

A male lead who wastes 50 chapters dealing with one rival who torments the female protagonist.

“I must have been mistaken. I thought Summer had fallen for Duke Lancaster and was trying to end her life because of it.”

“How could that be? Am I Juliet? To throw away something precious for the sake of love.”

“Juliet?”

Russell tilted his head, unfamiliar with Romeo and Juliet.

“It’s a thing.”

This is the world we’re in. Apart from the information given by the author, there’s nothing to share with the characters in this world.

It’s obvious they wouldn’t know about smartphones, laptops, webtoons, or web novels.

Such love is only possible for 16-year-old Romeo and Juliet. In the first place, there’s nothing worth risking one’s life for, possible or not. Except for survival.

“Then may I ask why Summer jumped into the lake that day?”

“To live.”

“……”

A crack appeared on Russell Bertrand’s gentle face.

Russell genuinely racked his brains trying to understand Summer’s words, but soon furrowed his brow slightly.

Could there be a person who jumps into a lake wearing a heavy dress in order to live?

“You just thought I was crazy, didn’t you?”

Summer spoke a bit bluntly.

“Not at all, Summer. I just thought there must be more to the story for me to understand what you’re saying.”

“Then can you listen to my story?”

“If I’m good enough, I’d be glad to.”

“Promise me you won’t put me in jail for being crazy.”

Summer held out her pinky finger. Russell, seeming to hold back a laugh, pressed his lips together and hooked his finger with Summer’s.

Summer’s pinky finger was smaller and more delicate than he expected, as if it might break at any moment.

“I swear to the heavens.”

Summer’s expression soured, apparently not liking Russell’s words.

“Why swear to the heavens? Swear on your entire fortune.”

Summer held out her finger again. This time, Russell couldn’t hold back and let out a slightly deflated laugh.

“Pfft, alright. I promise on my entire fortune.”

Holding out a pinky finger with such a solemn face under the moonlight.

Russell, who had been laughing continuously, suddenly fixed his gaze on Summer’s face.

Her piercingly blue eyes and sun-like golden hair were radiating light even under the dark night sky.

As if she had truly been desperately running for her life until now. Russell was momentarily at a loss for words at that sparkle.

Regardless of what he was thinking, Summer unhooked her finger and began her story.

Summer’s gaze fell on the fountain behind her. Her now-familiar face was reflected on the rippling blue surface.

“I lost my name. So to regain it, I have to go through a process akin to death.”

“Like falling into a lake?”

“That’s right.”

“Is that really the only way?”

Russell’s expression was quite serious.

“You’re not going to call me crazy?”

“I don’t think it’s crazy talk. And I don’t usually swear anyway. So tell me. Is that really the only way? Isn’t there anything else besides… harming yourself?”

“There isn’t. And I don’t want to keep living in this terrible world either.”

“Can you tell me what was so terrible about it?”

At Russell’s gentle attitude, Summer’s eyes suddenly stung, and she raised her knees to bury her face between them.

Russell silently readjusted his jacket draped over Summer’s shoulders, covering her more thoroughly.

“…I’m sad being separated from the people I want to see. And everyone here only speaks predetermined lines. This world was created only for the protagonists. Like a fairy tale.”

“Does Summer know who the protagonists are?”

“Yes.”

Russell’s question was a bit odd.

He showed no sign of being upset that this world was no different from a book. Maybe he dismissed it as too crazy to even consider.

“Well, then am I one of the protagonists?”

Russell asked, half-jokingly.

“Yes. You’re one of the protagonists. That’s why Russell hasn’t felt any discomfort so far. And you probably won’t understand me either.”

Russell’s face hardened as he looked at Summer.

It was meant as a joke, but to actually be one of the protagonists. After a moment of silence, Russell carefully spoke.

“You’re right. I was born and raised in this world. I can’t readily say I understand or empathize with what Summer has experienced.”

“…I suppose so.”

Summer knows it well too. Living in different worlds means you can’t understand each other unless you make a laborious effort.

Russell, watching Summer with her head lowered, carefully opened his mouth.

“Still, since we both have emotions, I tried to recall the most painful and lonely moment in my life. I thought Summer might be 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 her.

“Thinking about it that way, I can’t help but offer a handkerchief. I can’t even tell you not to cry.”

Summer, who had glimpsed the handkerchief from the corner of her eye, finally burst into tears.

“Hic, ugh……”

“Cry, Summer. Every time, I’ll just sit here quietly beside you like this.”

“Huuuung… ugh, sniff, hic!”

Summer blew her nose loudly into the handkerchief and cautiously glanced at Russell. Russell nonchalantly took out another spare handkerchief and placed it in Summer’s hand.

“Don’t worry, I have plenty of handkerchiefs.”

Summer felt dizzy. Russell was terribly warm.

Is this really just his set character? Even if it was, that was fine. Humans can find comfort even from robots, can’t they?

In that sense, Russell was perfectly feline.

A bit indifferent, quiet, listening attentively while looking into the other’s eyes, trying to understand in his own way as much as possible.

No premature consolation, no premature sympathy.

Summer sat next to this world’s protagonist and cried her heart out.

“Actually, actually, I’m scared… It was so scary to be alive but not alive!”

Summer shouted excitedly, not knowing who she was speaking to, and buried her face in the handkerchief.

Waking up to find herself in a book, and the only way out was too cruel. In truth, Summer was afraid too.

Every moment she searched for ways to die in this world, she had to rub her cold hands over and over.

Fei left on her own and came back on her own, and now Summer couldn’t fully trust what she had said.

“What if I die and that’s the end?”

Her hidden true feelings finally burst out. After a moment of silence, Russell replied.

“Then we must live on. Even if I were to fall into the slums overnight, or wake up in the Black Forest where monsters are said to appear.”

“I want to go back.”

“Who told you about the way to go back? About death, I mean.”

“……”

Summer pressed her lips tightly. Should she tell him? She leaned more towards not telling. If Fei were to be harmed because of it, the guilt would be too great.

Fortunately, Russell didn’t pry further.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to say.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you been to the temple?”

“I went once. To the prayer room.”

“How about meeting the Pope?”

“The Pope… you mean?”

Summer was taken aback. She hadn’t thought about the Pope.

She had a strange experience at the temple, but her dependence on Fei was so great that she hadn’t tried to do anything on her own.

“The temple might know something.”

“Thank you. But……”

The Pope is a bit difficult. He wasn’t a character described in detail in the novel, so there was no information about him. It didn’t give a particularly good feeling.

“If you have any concerns, send me a message. I’ll accompany you.”

Summer nodded slightly with a soft smile at Russell’s consideration. Along with the impression that today’s party wasn’t so bad after all.

She never knew that Russell Bertrand, whom she had only seen as the female protagonist’s helper, could offer such comfort, could say such words, could be such a person.

“Thank you for your consideration. Shall we head back now?”

On their way back to the party hall, Russell was caught by a nobleman who had been waiting for him.

The nobleman, who clearly had no tact written all over his face, seemed to have no intention of letting Russell go.

When Russell looked at Summer with an awkward expression, Summer smiled brightly and waved her hand as if to say it was okay.

Russell looked just like an office worker caught by a colleague, which made her smile a little.

As she was crossing the garden to enter the party hall, she saw a large figure striding towards her from a distance.

“Duke?”

“Have you been crying?”

Ian’s eyes were cold as he asked, gripping Summer’s shoulders.