“Summer!”

How pretty. Summer thought as she saw Julian approaching with a bright smile.

After Fei left, Summer also did some thinking. Fei’s words had some merit.

The advice to think calmly if feeling afraid and hesitant.

“Summer, I missed you! I was worried since you haven’t been to any parties lately.”

“Well, to be honest, I’m sick of parties now.”

Summer whispered to Julian as if telling a secret, then burst into playful laughter.

“That’s great. I hate these parties too but was forced to come.”

“Especially today, we’ll have to be a bit tense.”

“Today?”

Julian looked at Summer with sparkling, innocent pretty eyes.

Summer gazed back affectionately at Julian, who looked like the female lead to anyone.

“Don’t drink alcohol. Absolutely not.”

“Summer, don’t you like alcohol? Did you decide to quit?”

“It’s, not good for your health. Anyway, be careful since we don’t know what Legacy might be plotting.”

“I will. At times like this, Summer, you’re just like my mom.”

Julian laughed brightly. Summer’s eyes blurred with a slightly dejected feeling.

She’s not taking it seriously. Well, if I were in Julian’s position, I’d probably agree but not take it too seriously either.

Julian probably doesn’t even know that Ferotia is hostile towards her. Ferotia was famously mean to all the young ladies.

That’s why Julian is so off guard.

Not knowing that Ferotia has Ian in her heart. Not knowing that Ian is looking for Julian, and that Ferotia knows this fact.

“Julian, don’t get too attached to me.”

“What? Summer, what do you mean by that?”

“…It’s nothing, just saying.”

Summer vaguely brushed it off and took Julian’s hand. The party venue was magnificent. Not just magnificent, but on the level of having thrown in all the world’s jewels.

Even the walls and pillars were decorated with jewels and gold. Every place glittered under the light of the chandeliers.

Can’t I take a few back when I return to Korea? Can only my soul pass through the world? Having relaxed after a while, Summer smiled faintly at her silly thoughts.

Even if she couldn’t enjoy the romance, she could enjoy the fantasy.

Where else could one see such a magnificent mansion or castle that looks like some country’s cultural heritage?

“Julian. Suddenly the world seems a bit beautiful.”

“I feel the same. Looking at Summer, the party doesn’t seem so bad.”

“…”

Summer’s eyes widened. Is that so? Did meeting Julian calm her heart a bit?

The protagonist was usually a kind of pillar of support.

Of course, there were works where the protagonist dies, but this original work had a tightly closed happy ending where the female lead certainly achieves happiness in the end.

Perhaps that’s why Summer felt at ease when she saw Julian.

“Everyone who came to celebrate my coming-of-age ceremony, thank you sincerely.”

Ferotia, who appeared on the second floor, began her greetings with quite an elegant manner.

Summer cynically mocked Ferotia once and looked around.

With the female lead here, the two men must be here too. Usually, the male lead follows wherever the female lead goes.

“As expected.”

In the distance, Russell and Ian hiding in a corner caught her eye.

Anyone could see that the two looked like they were forcibly dragged to this party and had no intention of cooperating at all.

The more hostile to Ferotia, the better. Summer ignored Ferotia’s long and boring greetings and pushed through the crowd towards the corner.

“Russell!”

“Summer, I was worried since you haven’t been seen.”

Liar. Summer lightly brushed off Russell, who spoke with a clean and proper smile.

There was courtesy and consideration, but no emotion. If Russell hadn’t been her friend, he really wouldn’t have cared if Summer died.

Because the author had set Russell up that way.

“Ah, didn’t the Duke of Lancaster tell you? He visited not long ago.”

“Is that so, Ian?”

“Yes. He was so cold that even if I begged, he wouldn’t accept.”

Ian said with a dejected laugh. Russell looked back and forth between Ian and Summer, then swirled the wine glass in his hand once.

“Summer. Did you go to the temple?”

“Yes.”

“And your thoughts? Has anything changed?”

“I’ll tell you about that later. More importantly, can you help me just once?”

If it had been just the two of them, Summer would have confessed, but in front of Ian, she was reluctant to answer “I’m trying to go back.”

“If it’s something I can help with.”

“Today, Julian,”

Suddenly, something blocked between Summer and Russell.

“If Julian drinks the celebratory drink today, please stop her!”

It was because Russell could freely intervene in the original work that Summer asked for help.

“Mr. Russell! Can you hear my voice?”

No matter how loudly she shouted, Russell couldn’t hear Summer’s voice. He just slightly frowned, holding his head as if it hurt a little.

Nothing was going smoothly. And Summer was so used to such a life that she was sick of it.

Summer turned around without hesitation before it was too late.

As Summer moved a little further away, she heard Ian and Russell exchanging words about having headaches as if tired.

Getting headaches at a time like this. Summer made a sour face and quickly approached Julian.

“It would be an unparalleled honor if those gathered here to celebrate me today would join me in a celebratory drink.”

Ferotia raised her wine glass high.

The blood-red wine splashed against the transparent glass.

“For the glory of the Empire.”

Is this a company dinner? To hell with ‘for’. Now it was do or die.

Before going back, she would mess everything up. The original author would take care of the aftermath.

Summer didn’t care if she died here anyway. She would return to her original body.

There was still some time left until the body and soul stuck together. In fact, the problem facing Summer was simple and straightforward.

Except for the fear of death and the immense pain that would come just before death. It was the only part Summer hesitated about.

Summer was originally a person who had struggled to live.

She didn’t have any grand dreams or ideals, she just hoped to earn enough to live comfortably, be moderately tired, and be able to rest adequately.

Ordinary. It was the word Summer had been running towards all this time. But from the moment she entered this place, she was far from ordinary.

This world was far from ordinary too.

Nevertheless, the fact that she had to stop breathing in order to live was as nonsensical to Summer as hot iced americano.

But if Summer was being killed in a situation where she had some goal, the story would be a little different.

“This is right.”

Summer rushed towards Julian. Expecting another transparent wall to block her, she thrust out her fist in advance.

Just as Julian was about to put the glass to her lips, with a squishy feeling, the wall was pierced and Summer’s fist plunged right into the glass Julian was holding.

“Kyaaah!”

The party venue turned into chaos. Everyone was shocked, looking at Summer as if she was the craziest person in the world.

“Summer?”

“No. Don’t drink it, Julian.”

“I can’t drink it anyway. It’s broken.”

Julian said with a wink and pulled Summer away from the broken glass.

How nice. As expected of the female lead, there was no sign of scolding or surprise. Rather, she seemed worried that Summer might be treated strangely.

Julian gently stroked the back of Summer’s hand. Red wine and blood were dripping from Summer’s hand, mixed together.

“I’m sorry. I should have taken it seriously.”

“It’s not Julian’s fault.”

As Julian’s touch reached her, the glass shards fell off and the open wound healed.

Summer stiffened her shoulders as she realized the change in her body. Julian had just healed her injured hand. In this party venue with so many people.

It was an ability she wanted to hide until the end, afraid of being dragged to the temple, as far as I know.

“Julian.”

Just as Summer was about to call Julian.

“What on earth are you doing!”

Ferotia, full of anger, unable to contain her fury, ran down the stairs.

“Lady Legacy. Have we been formally introduced?”

“What?”

Ferotia retorted fiercely, swaying the glass she was holding. Her attitude suggested she might hit Summer’s head with it at any moment.

“I’m saying we’ve never greeted each other by name, Lady Legacy.”

Only then did Ferotia realize that Summer was pointing out her lack of etiquette and let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha! You’re quite something. Thinking you’d be safe after ruining my party.”

“I was really hoping I wouldn’t be safe, so that’s great.”

“Lady Lindsey!”

Maybe because Ferotia shouted too loudly. Summer felt a tingling sensation as if electricity was running through her entire body.

“Summer. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Julian quickly pulled Summer’s shoulder close and whispered. Summer tried to show the clearest smile possible to reassure Julian.

“Lady Lindsey. What is this situation? Punching and breaking Lady Dudley’s glass at my party.”

Hearing it like this, it must have seemed like I was truly a crazy person. Summer tried hard to suppress the smile that was about to leak out.

She had intervened in the original work for the first time and saved Julian.

None other than Summer herself, who had been a reader. A kind of vicarious satisfaction flowed through her entire body.

She couldn’t help but feel good about contributing to the happiness of the female lead whose happiness she had wished for.

“Lady Legacy. I’m really curious. Do you want to make this a big issue?”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Ferotia was flustered by Summer’s words, which seemed to imply she knew something.

There’s no way such a person could be the final villain of the original work. Summer’s eyes narrowed.

“Lady Legacy. Since I’ve committed a mortal sin, shall we call an investigator and discuss this in detail?”

“Th-that’s enough. Let’s stop here. I’ll specially show my generosity.”

Ferotia smiled awkwardly and wickedly. However, she couldn’t hide the trembling of the wine in her hand. It was sloppy and a complete mess.

No matter how much Summer intervened, was Ferotia only this much?

“The party is over.”

In an instant, all eyes were fixed on one spot. Like the moment of a turning point in the work.