“Since it’s your first day, learn by working alongside me. That will be more comfortable for you as well.”

“Ah, yes!”

Summer, who had changed into her uniform and come down, quickly nodded her head.

Perhaps because of his brightly shining silver-rimmed glasses, Russell looked a bit colder than usual as he worked in the office.

Summer promptly took her seat at the makeshift desk prepared next to Russell.

Looking at the pile of documents stacked high, it seemed his words about work being backed up were not just empty talk for her sake.

“Oh. Why are you so good at this?”

“What do you mean?”

“The documents, these. My goodness, you really are different.”

Summer let out an exclamation of admiration upon seeing the documents Russell had prepared.

In the original world, this might be possible with programs and such, but in this world, manually creating charts and statistics like this couldn’t have been an easy task.

“I find your ability to recognize well-made materials even more impressive. Did you learn how to review documents while preparing for the exam?”

“Not really, but I did it briefly when I worked before.”

“You have a good eye. I’m glad we hired you.”

With that exchange, Russell began reading documents, stamping seals, and unhesitatingly underlining incorrect parts without pause.

Summer also didn’t speak further to the busy-looking Russell and quickly buried herself in the pile of documents, cross-checking numbers.

As expected of Bertrand family members, the reports were outstanding even to an untrained eye. Aside from small typos or numerical errors, there were hardly any mistakes.

“Summer.”

“……”

“Summer.”

“Ah.”

Summer responded a bit absently to Russell’s voice. She had lost track of time while concentrating.

“I was going to eat something simple. If you prefer, you can eat in the dining room.”

“No! I’ll eat here.”

Summer quickly sat down at the reception table in front of the office. On the table were simple meal items like appetizing sandwiches, soup, and salad.

Seeing the food, she realized she was hungry. Summer promptly began eating a sandwich.

Russell quietly watched Summer eat while sipping a strong coffee.

“Do you like sandwiches?”

“Ah, yes I do.”

Summer answered while picking up another sandwich.

“I should have sent up sandwiches earlier.”

“Pardon?”

“You worried people by not eating, but then you eat hastily made snacks well.”

“Ah, this is because I’m hungry,”

“One usually gets hungry after working moderately.”

“Aren’t you eating, Russell?”

“I didn’t work moderately, so I don’t have much appetite.”

He truly looked like he had no appetite, so Summer quickly agreed. Indeed. Even Summer thought that with that much backed-up work, she’d probably only be able to drink coffee, nevermind food.

“Um, I’m okay now. You must be feeling stifled too, Russell. This secluded life.”

Even as she said it, Summer avoided his gaze, feeling guilty.

It had been months since she’d properly done anything like this, yet here she was already saying she was fine. She doubted he’d believe her.

Russell set his coffee cup on the table and spoke calmly.

“I’m satisfied.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I should have done this sooner. I used to commute to the imperial palace by carriage every morning, but lately I’m realizing how incredibly inefficient that method was.”

“Haha, Russell. Isn’t that a very Russell-like answer?”

Of course. Summer burst into laughter and nodded in agreement. He really was a born workaholic.

Sometimes Russell seemed like he had the face of a nobleman but the soul of an office worker.

As Summer laughed freely and picked up her fork, Russell casually added while pushing the salad closer to her.

“And I also like being here in this house with you.”

“……”

“In other words, I’m here because I want to be, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Yes, I won’t.”

Summer pressed her lips together and tried to calm her stirring emotions. Russell had the ability to make people flustered like this. Just like now.

She knew well that no one would like a person as broken and shattered as her. Usually, people who approach someone like this are either volunteers or con artists. One of the two.

Russell was probably closer to a volunteer. A foreigner who fell with the same fate as his friend’s mother. A broken being who lost everything and was slowly dying. He must pity her. He must feel sorry for her.

“Russell. I’m done eating, so I’ll get up now.”

Thinking that way made her mood plummet again. Summer quickly stood up before depression could consume her.

Russell gazed at Summer with calm, unwavering eyes and then blurted out:

“It seems my words were misunderstood again.”

“No! Not at all. Really, I’m just full.”

“Earlier you looked like you could eat five or six sandwiches. If you’re uncomfortable eating with me, you can take it and eat elsewhere.”

“Ah, is that alright?”

Summer swiftly gathered enough food on a pretty plate. Russell let out a bemused chuckle and returned to his work desk.

Sitting quietly and staring at documents for hours, feeling like she was playing spot-the-difference, the sunset suddenly blazed crimson behind her back.

“Summer. You can go back now. I’ll take care of the rest.”

At Russell’s suggestion, Summer waved her hands as if jumping up.

“No! This is fun. Really!”

“I enjoy working with you too, but if you overdo it on the first day, you’ll hate coming back tomorrow.”

“But still.”

“If you’re that reluctant, would you like to take a walk with me?”

“A walk?”

She had wanted to work a bit more. Going outside this mansion still didn’t sit well in her heart.

It was due to a sense that if she left this building, the world would be monitoring her every move.

Seeing Summer’s expression rapidly darken, Russell’s eyes also sank.

“You don’t look pleased, but let’s consider this part of the job as well.”

“Ah… Okay.”

Summer answered reflexively and then regretted it. She should have said it wasn’t that she was displeased. At the same time, she felt Russell wouldn’t care about such things.

Russell gave brief instructions for the butler to move documents he needed to review to his room, then put on his uniform coat.

“Russell, you wear your uniform even at home.”

“I believe there’s appropriate attire for work. Slightly uncomfortable clothing is efficient.”

“Wow, you sounded just like an aging office manager just now.”

Honestly, it was impressive. He was a master befitting this beautiful, classic mansion. Russell suited the uniform much better than a tailcoat.

“Is that a compliment?”

“Haha, no.”

Summer burst out laughing playfully. In the end, she always ended up laughing like this. If it weren’t for Russell, she would have taken her own life long ago.

Without Russell, there would have been no lifeline to hold onto at all.

If she went to Julian, the protagonist of this world, and poured out her heart, who knows how the world would torment Julian again.

Ian was the same. Ian himself was deeply wounded and not yet healed. Summer’s mere existence could be painful for someone like him.

Fei and Damian, judging by how they hadn’t shown their faces for three months, seemed to have abandoned her after failing the return ritual.

As she followed Russell outside, the chilly air brushed her nose.

“It seems summer hasn’t fully passed yet.”

Summer looked up at Russell in slight surprise at his words.

Russell took off his outer coat, set it aside, and offered his arm to Summer.

“It’s warm out. I think it’ll be fine if we walk together for a bit.”

“Yes. I think I’ll be okay if we walk a little.”

Summer lightly placed her hand on Russell’s arm as they walked.

Since Summer was also in uniform, an escort wasn’t really necessary, but the feeling of each other’s warmth wasn’t unpleasant.

“Wow, it’s the sunset.”

“Do you like the setting sun?”

“Yes. I like it. Want to see this?”

Summer lowered her gaze to the ground and stepped back slightly.

Their long shadows, illuminated by the sunset, rippled like ghosts emerging from the ground.

“This is…”

“Pretty, right? Doesn’t it look like my soul?”

“It’s beautiful. Very much so.”

Summer looked at Russell proudly, then hesitated.

She didn’t say out loud that she thought the duke was even prettier, fearing he might dislike it.

But his blue hair sparkling brighter than waves breaking in the sunset, his neat lips and nose bridge, and above all, those calm eyes always focused on the other person. His eyes, lit by the sunset, were emitting a particularly blue light.

Summer deliberately shifted her gaze back to the shadows and added:

“This is why I like sunsets. When you look at shadows at sunset, it’s like the soul of someone you miss is right beside you.”

“Have you lost someone?”

“No. It’s just a feeling.”

“I see.”

Russell gazed at his own long shadow stretching out below with a contemplative expression.

“If only we could keep souls tethered by our side, that would be nice.”

“Ah.”

Summer let out a small sigh, drooping her eyes. She shouldn’t have said that. Russell must be thinking of his parents who passed away first.

Seeing Summer, Russell removed a strand of hair stuck to her cheek and spoke:

“You have a misunderstanding expression. I wasn’t talking about my mother, I meant you, Summer.”

“Me?”

“If by chance you were to travel to another world again, I would be left here alone, wouldn’t I?”

“Why would you be alone, Russell? The imperial citizens all love you so much.”

“If all the imperial citizens loved me, I wouldn’t have scars like this.”

“……”

Russell casually tapped the side of his waist where the scar was. Seeing Summer’s expression harden instantly, Russell let out a light sigh and took her hand.

“I want to hold onto you. That witch seemed to know how to handle souls. I was thinking of learning too.”

“Russell.”

“I know. You give off the impression of hating being tied down anywhere.”

“……”

That’s not it. Why are you always able to let go of such unlucky and unhappy fates so calmly?

That’s what’s upsetting and enviable.