Summer Must Die - Chapter 70

After returning from the exhibition, Summer was mesmerized by the enormous painting that filled an entire wall of the corridor.

“What… is this?”

“It seemed like something you would like.”

To say such an exciting thing in such an indifferent tone was a skill in itself.

Summer looked back and forth between Russell and the painting, unable to easily continue speaking.

It was a painting she liked enough to linger in front of for quite a while. But it was when Russell was talking to another count.

“Even so… No, more than that, how did you know? That I liked this painting?”

“Because I’m interested. Of course I would know this much.”

“Ah, so you are interested in me.”

Summer rolled her eyes in embarrassment and quickly approached the painting.

It was the painting she had stayed in front of the longest. A landscape capturing midsummer.

“Summer. Do you like it?”

“Very much. It’s the thing I like most out of everything I’ve received in this world.”

“…Summer. Is there perhaps anything else you want from me?”

A moment of hesitation was felt. But Summer shook her head, not thinking much of it.

Summer truly didn’t want anything more from Russell.

“No.”

“Anytime, if you need anything, tell me. I’ll give you whatever it is.”

“…I will. Thank you.”

Summer forced a smile at the corners of her mouth. How could she say it?

Could you die for me? Could you kill for me?

The two silently took in the single painting with their eyes. The brilliance of leaves shattering and water under the intense sun.

“I quite like summer.”

“…Me too.”

Summer thought. That she needed to go back.

If she stayed here any longer, she felt like she would go crazy. In a different sense than before.

She was scared. She wanted to run away quickly because she was scared of this emotion approaching calmly and slowly, but enormously.

“Wow. It seems they were quite considerate.”

Since there was no war in the original story, naturally there was no victory banquet either.

So I thought it would feel roughly described, but there were surprisingly many decorations that seemed to have put in a lot of effort.

It was the same hall where the imperial banquet was held, but somehow it was even more splendid.

It seems they were conscious of their citizens’ criticism of what the imperial family did during this war.

Well. The emperor did overwork Ian too much regarding military matters.

Russell was also so busy that he had to wear glasses and check documents until late at night almost every day.

“What did the emperor do.”

Summer grumbled discontentedly. At the same time, a glass was suddenly held out in front of Summer. The glass was about half full of red wine.

“Summer.”

“Ah, Ferotia.”

“I didn’t think you would come.”

Ferotia spoke shyly. It was a startling thing for Summer. Above all, her sparkling gray eyes somehow seemed out of their mind.

Summer awkwardly distanced herself from her.

“I still have to attend the victory banquet.”

“That… Don’t give that glass to anyone else, no matter what.”

“I won’t.”

“I’m sorry. This is the only way I can convey it to you.”

“It’s okay.”

“Make sure to drink the wine when you go out to a secluded garden.”

“…?”

“Well then.”

Ferotia hurriedly left. Summer looked alternately at the departing Ferotia and the glass in her hand with a puzzled expression.

“Are you close?”

Russell, who had approached Summer’s side, asked.

“Ah, no. We’re not that close.”

“…”

“Really.”

“Then give me that glass.”

Russell held out his hand. But Summer smiled as if troubled and instead pulled the wine glass towards herself.

“I’m sorry. I just like wine a bit.”

“Summer.”

Russell’s face stiffened slightly, as if sensing something was off.

“If I know it to this extent, Russell must have noticed too, right?”

Summer’s words were accurate. Russell had known from the beginning that the Legacy ducal family was conspiring.

That Ferotia Legacy was being used as well. But Russell simply left it alone.

He had thought he should help, but they were ‘that’ Legacy.

If they had Legacy blood flowing through them, he wanted to sweep them all away, but shouldn’t he think that just letting them live was mercy enough?

Russell’s atmosphere quickly turned cold.

“Do you want to help? Someone who always says they want to go back in front of me?”

“…Russell?”

Summer flinched and shrank at Russell’s imposing aura. Seeing this, Russell swept back his hair with a quiet sigh.

“That was a slip of the tongue. I apologize.”

“No, it’s okay. I was just a little surprised…”

“If you need anything, you can call me anytime. Whether you want to go back, need help, in any situation.”

“I will.”

Russell looked at Summer as if he wanted to say something more, but soon turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Russell Bertrand received everyone’s affection and admiration. Regardless of age or gender, most generally evaluated Russell Bertrand favorably.

Summer quietly looked down at the glass in her hand, then turned around and walked out of the hall. The slightly chilly wind automatically gave her goosebumps on her shoulders.

“It’s a bit cold.”

Summer, who uttered those words to herself, slowly walked towards the garden where there was almost no lighting.

Ferotia Legacy gave me wine and left. Wine. It probably wasn’t just wine.

Even knowing that, I couldn’t refuse.

As I wandered around looking for a deserted place, a familiar figure caught my eye. Soon the other person discovered Summer as well.

“Summer! Why, why didn’t you meet me!”

Julian, who was approaching quickly holding up her dress with both hands, looked quite angry.

Soon Julian, who had come up to Summer, lightly embraced her.

“Summer… I was worried, really… I was really worried!”

Julian was on the verge of bursting into tears.

If you whimper with such a lovely face, don’t you know it makes me want to give you everything? Summer let out a heavy sigh.

It was even more lovely than I had imagined. How could her blue hair and pink eyes look so soft and sweet?

“I heard Julian went to the Black Forest.”

“That’s right. I went there.”

“Did you meet Fei?”

“Yes. That witch you said you knew.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you would go that far to look for me.”

“When a friend disappears overnight, of course I’ll look! More importantly Summer, are you okay? A witch, goodness, what on earth are you up to?”

“Just a wish. A wish.”

Summer gave an ambiguous answer with a playful expression in response to Julian’s questioning.

However, Julian’s face became even more serious.

“They said it’s better not to get close to witches.”

“If there are those who are praised just for having sacred power, there are those who are condemned just for being ominous.”

“Summer…”

Julian’s eyes widened as if a little surprised. There were only two who were praised just for having sacred power. The Pope and the Saint. It was also the future Julian would soon obtain.

“There are people who have to live with dirty feelings just for being foreigners. Julian.”

And this was Fei and Selena, and Summer. Those who would be loved and those who would suffer were already decided.

Didn’t Selena eventually go mad? I had to leave before going mad. While I could still remain myself. Before becoming a monster.

“Um, I found out something and wanted to talk to Summer about it.”

“Something you found out?”

Summer naturally broke away from her thoughts at Julian’s careful voice.

Julian quickly pulled Summer into a more secluded area where there were no people around.

Only when they reached a place so dark that they could barely see Julian’s face right in front of them due to the lack of lighting did Julian let go of Summer’s hand.

“Summer, do you remember when I said something seemed strange a few times?”

“I remember.”

“And when I said you might have taken away my bad fate?”

“Yes. I remember.”

Of course I remember. They were quite shocking events for Summer as well.

Julian looked around to see if anyone was around and quickly whispered in Summer’s ear.

“Summer. On the day you disappeared, I lost my body.”

“…What?”

“I lost my body. I was conscious but couldn’t move a finger. My vision was total darkness.”

“…”

Summer stiffened at Julian’s words. It was even difficult to breathe.

“Then suddenly it brightened and I could see.”

“What, did you see?”

“You, Summer.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I saw you. You were crying. So sadly. Crying to the point I thought you could die just from crying.”

“…”

“But Summer.”

“Hm?”

Julian’s pink eyes sparkled even in the darkness.

“Summer, black hair suited you well too.”

Summer drew in a sharp breath. What did I just hear? The back of her head throbbed with shock.

“…What did you just say?”

“In my dream, Summer had black hair.”

“…”

“And brown eyes. Now that I think about it, your appearance was so different, but I just thought it was Summer.”

Is the protagonist different? Or is it the influence of sacred power? It could be both. Could that fountain in the prayer room have some connection to Julian?

“Summer. Who are you?”

“I’m,”

“My sacred power reacts strongly to Summer. Summer, is there something you’re hiding from me?”

I was conflicted. Should I confess everything here? Or should I bury it? Would Julian grant my request if I asked her to die? No, could I even make such a request in the first place?

My head was in chaos. Summer finally gave up on everything and opened her mouth.

“Nothing. There’s nothing. It must be because I’m close to a witch.”

“Summer.”

Julian gripped Summer’s wrist tightly. Spilled wine wet the back of her hand.

“Julian. That’s rude.”

Words so cold it was unbelievable flowed from between Summer’s lips.

But Julian couldn’t let go of Summer. It felt like she would disappear if she let go. Her heart pounded with anxiety on its own.

“After waking up from the dream, there were countless strange things. Yet you say you’re not hiding anything from me?”

“What exactly are these strange things? From what you’ve said, it just sounds like you had a dream.”

“…Summer. Is it really you?”

“What do you… mean!”

Summer’s blue eyes widened.

“Who are you? Summer, what exactly is your identity? Summer, are you perhaps a witch too? Is that why you got angry when I spoke badly about witches earlier?”

The female protagonist was approaching the truth on her own, without anyone’s help. Even as everyone covered their eyes and ears saying it would be better not to know, she steadily moved forward.