After a long silence, Summer chuckled and spoke first.

“Mr. Russell. What are you… making such a misunderstanding about?”

“Is there anything in my words that could lead to a misunderstanding?”

Russell’s expression was so transparent as he asked that Summer burst into laughter again. Ah, it was so serious just a moment ago.

Summer shook her head. Russell sincerely wished for Summer to live in this world.

There was no other desire in it. Knowing this so well, Russell’s words didn’t sound unpleasant.

Perhaps that man was someone who would simply say “I love you” without any embellishment the moment he fell in love.

“No. No. Um, I really have to leave in four days.”

“This time, if I’m curious about the reason, can you answer me?”

“If I stay here longer, I’ll be trapped here forever.”

“…”

“So. Still, I think it became an enjoyable trip thanks to you, Mr. Russell.”

“Really, really, are you sure you can go back…?”

“Yes.”

“Do I have the right to hold you back?”

“No.”

“I see.”

Russell got up with a bitter smile.

“Rest sufficiently before coming out. If you need help anytime, ask the servant in front of the door to call for me.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

Russell left first, and Summer also rested for a while before getting up and coming out alone again.

The hall was now filled with dance music, everyone twirling like beautiful flowers and bursting into joyful laughter.

And in the corner, Julian and Ian caught her eye as they were engaged in conversation instead of dancing.

Russell was nowhere to be seen in the hall, suggesting he had moved to a place where noble men gathered for discussion.

As she carefully descended while trying to minimize her presence, the eyes of the nobles all turned towards Summer at once.

“…”

Summer nearly fainted. She had never received such attention in this world. Not in her original world either.

Suddenly having hundreds of eyes on her made her feel nauseous. The vulgar curiosity in their eyes. The gazes scanning her dress for any dishevelment.

“Summer!”

Julian, who spotted Summer, quickly rushed over.

“Why aren’t you dancing?”

“How could I dance and smile when Summer left like that? Are you feeling better now? You’re really okay, right?”

“I’m really fine, Julian. More importantly, I’d like to continue the conversation we were having earlier.”

“Earlier, ah. You mean about the hunting competition?”

Julian asked with a belated look of realization. Summer nodded slightly with a bit of tension.

Ian was watching from behind them with a slightly crooked posture.

“It wasn’t much. I don’t know much either, but I thought maybe you could sell fate like you sell dreams.”

“Then perhaps…”

“Yes. That’s right. I thought maybe Summer took on my unfortunate fate instead of warning me about it.”

“Haha, there’s no way. I’m not a priest, I can’t wield such mysterious powers.”

Summer felt a pang in her chest. The protagonist was different after all. To come so close with just a few incidents.

Since Summer had unilaterally taken one of Julian’s events, Julian’s guess was almost correct.

“I have a vivid imagination. Ah, Summer. Wait. Just a moment, lend me your ear.”

Julian said playfully, putting her hand to her mouth. As Summer lowered her head to match Julian’s height, Julian whispered in Summer’s ear.

“On the day the world stopped, I heard Summer’s voice.”

“…!”

Summer’s pupils trembled finely. Strength involuntarily entered her body. How? How could the puppets of the author, the characters, escape the rules of the world?

It was confusing. Beyond confusion, she even felt powerless in the face of a great calamity. In front of the world, Summer thought she was too small, insignificant, and powerless.

“Thank you, Summer. You saved me.”

After finishing her last words, Julian removed her hand from Summer’s ear.

“Lady Dudley. Would you like to dance with me?”

Just then, a young earl approached Julian elegantly, extending his hand and inviting her to dance.

“Shall we?”

Julian shrugged once and gave a slight eye greeting to Summer and Ian. As if telling them to talk well.

As Summer was about to feel a little wronged, Julian left with the earl.

Left alone, Ian looked at Summer with slightly crooked eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“I heard. You’re departing tomorrow, leading the front line, they say.”

“Yes. It’s extremely dangerous. Life-threateningly so.”

“You’ll return safely, Your Grace.”

Summer replied nonchalantly. It was a defense mechanism to suppress anxiety, but Ian didn’t seem to notice.

In fact, Summer was anxious. She worried that the people of this world might be harmed due to her actions to return to her original world.

At first, she had no hesitation in using them and spewing harsh words. They were just text, not living beings after all.

But now it was a little different compared to the first day she fell into this world.

Mary. Daisy. The coachman’s face passed by in turn. They were also minor characters and nameless ones in this world, if one had to classify them.

When Russell talked about civilians being killed at the border, the coachman was the first to come to mind.

The kind old man who always spoke warm words to her. She couldn’t sleep thinking that she might have taken the lives of such people due to her actions.

“Are you deeply trusting of me, or are you heartless?”

Ian opened his mouth a bit grumpily. Summer shrugged once and replied.

“Maybe both?”

What’s there to like about getting attached? We’re bound to part ways inevitably anyway.

Summer deliberately avoided making eye contact with Ian and brushed off the conversation in a light tone.

If she saw his face, Selena would. Then the grave would. The story Fei told would. They would come to mind in succession.

“Words are. More than that, don’t you have anything to give me? For example, like this.”

Ian showed various accessories and handkerchiefs. As if that wound had been well tended to, it was the utterly ordinary attitude of a noble young man.

The protagonist who knows nothing. Is that truly happiness?

Summer approached Ian a little closer, mulling over the story Russell had told her in the lounge.

“What are those?”

“It’s to wish good fortune for someone going to war.”

Receiving so many and still being greedy. The rich are always worse.

Summer’s eyes caught a single handkerchief neatly tied to his sword, unlike the piles of handkerchiefs and various accessories.

It was embroidered with Ian Lancaster’s initials along with a brave lion image.

That looks like it was given by Julian no matter how you look at it. Summer grinned mischievously and tapped Ian’s arm. Good job, male protagonist. That’s how it should be.

Not knowing what was going on, Ian just tilted his head sideways and raised an eyebrow. Looking at him like this, it seemed that Ian’s features themselves were somewhat dark and fierce.

Summer quickly took a surrendering posture and said in an exaggerated tone.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t bring anything.”

“You didn’t even prepare a handkerchief. How cruel.”

“You’ll win anyway, Your Grace.”

“War isn’t something you can be so sure about.”

Ian rebutted in a dark voice. Although she didn’t know him completely, she understood. How horrific and painful the war he experienced must have been.

The misery of having to raise your sword even after seeing a comrade who was drinking with you until yesterday fall right beside you.

“I can be. You will definitely return, Your Grace.”

So Summer spoke in an even more definitive tone. Ian seemed a bit flustered by Summer’s firm attitude.

“Summer?”

“Want to make a bet? If you come back safely, I’ll give you a handkerchief then.”

Summer smiled playfully. Ian also laughed, as if he had no choice.

“Still, give me something.”

At Ian’s persistent request, Summer pondered for a moment before her eyes sparkled as if she had a good idea.

“Hmm, then I’ll give you this.”

Summer untied the ribbon that was tying her hair.

Soon, the green ribbon was tied into a pretty butterfly shape on Ian’s wrist. Summer, who had delicately adjusted the ribbon, said proudly with a satisfied face.

“As expected. It suits you well, Your Grace.”

“Are you serious? A butterfly ribbon and me?”

“If you don’t like it, untie it.”

Summer grinned and patted Ian’s shoulder. It was an extremely uncouth act in this world, done without her realizing.

“Your Grace. You will definitely be happy.”

“…”

“I guarantee it.”

This is why you shouldn’t make guarantees carelessly. Even someone who’s leaving in four days can utter such words.

Fortunately, Ian relaxed and let out a hollow laugh at Summer’s words.

“You’re the first to give me flowers and a ribbon.”

“Oh my. The ‘first’ line is a bit dangerous.”

When Summer quickly cautioned him, Ian’s eyes rounded with a slightly puzzled light.

Summer just took Ian’s hand and patted the back of it a few times, as if she knew everything.

“Come back safely. Don’t get hurt. Everyone is hoping for your safe return, Your Grace.”

“…”

It was the only comfort Summer, who knew the truth, could offer.

The next day at dawn, Duke Ian Lancaster led his soldiers and departed early in the morning.

The foggy dawn was damp and cool.

“Miss. Do you miss him already?”

“Why would I?”

Summer coolly retorted to Mary’s question. Mary glanced once at the windowsill that remained clean even after days had passed and opened her mouth.

“Still, he was one of the few friends you had in this world.”

“The Duke? Not at all.”

Summer exhaled a “huh” with an incredulous expression, as if asking what nonsense that was.

Mary shifted her gaze to Summer and moved her lips slowly. As if she was reluctant to even utter those words.

“…You still seem to be thinking of leaving.”

“That’s right.”

Unlike Mary’s long hesitation, the answer came immediately from Summer.

Mary asked with a slightly gloomy face.

“Do you believe in the witch?”

The witch. Summer thought of Fei, who hadn’t come for days, and answered.

“I have no choice but to believe. Even if there are things she didn’t tell me, Fei has never lied as she said.”

“Intentionally hiding the truth is also a lie, you know.”

She must really dislike the witch. I wonder if she had been wronged by a witch before.

Summer, who was about to ask more, gave up and pressed her tired eyes firmly.

“Mary. Still, I’m going back. If there’s no other way, please don’t stop me.”

“…Please understand that I also have no other choice.”

Mary’s expression as she said this looked rarely sorrowful, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.