“No. No. I told Julian. I asked if she could kill me.”

“Summer did this alone? You expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t care whether Julian believes it or not.”

Summer tried hard to push Julian away. She hoped Julian wouldn’t get involved in this at all.

Even Russell, that rock-solid person, was letting out a deep sigh.

Above all, Julian was the center of this world. If the central axis collapses, everything collapses.

A minor character like herself could be easily replaced.

“Summer. Don’t make me a fool trying to protect me. I already know this world is strange.”

“…So what do you want to hear from me? Julian, Julian will be happy just by staying still. Don’t be anxious.”

This time, Summer changed her tone slightly to a more soothing one. But Julian’s following words made Summer’s face harden.

“Summer. Do you know who’s behind giving poison to Lady Legacy?”

“…No. I don’t know anyone who would have a grudge to try to kill Julian using Ferotia.”

“My mere existence might be cause for a grudge. Like the relationship between Duke Bertrand and the Legacy ducal family.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s the Temple.”

“…?”

“The Temple is trying to kill me.”

The Temple? Then that meant Damian Cheshire was trying to kill Julian Dudley.

Is that possible? That the Temple would try to eliminate someone who had the qualities to become a saint, who would become the very power of the Temple.

“That’s impossible.”

“That’s why I’m trying to enter the Temple. I’m going to try being a saint. I may not be able to be that pure, flower-like saint people expect.”

“Julian.”

“A saint can’t marry. So as I told Summer, I decided to postpone confessing my feelings to Ian.”

“…”

Summer’s mind was in turmoil. This was a completely different course from the original story. Was it okay to keep going like this?

“Summer. I don’t know what terrible thing there is that makes you keep trying to protect me, but I’ll become strong enough that you won’t have to worry.”

“Julian…”

“Then tell me everything. That this was actually the case.”

“Why… are you talking like we’re parting?”

Summer stuttered, reaching out to Julian. But Julian just greeted her with a brightly smiling face.

“I’m going.”

Why? The protagonist faces many threats but receives just as much protection. So why is she saying she’ll enter the Temple, leaving behind those who would protect her?

Summer wanted to hold Julian back.

But knowing how shameless that would be, she just stared at the closed door with a sense of emptiness.

“Julian Dudley.”

Did she miss something in the original story? Or was she failing to remember something?

Or was it you, Julian, who had changed?

At the three-day victory banquet, Summer rested for the first two days, and on the last day, she came down alone wearing a green dress.

As there were nobles who had seen her collapse after drinking poison, all eyes were on Summer.

“Um…”

As Summer awkwardly smiled with a troubled face, Russell strode up the stairs from below and extended his hand with an expressionless face.

“I’ve been waiting, My Lady.”

“Ah, for me.”

She almost burst out laughing. They had met just yesterday, yet he said he’d been waiting.

Knowing that Russell was trying to help her, Summer took his hand.

“Summer. Today is the last day of the banquet.”

“Yes. I know.”

Summer and Russell stood side by side, leisurely observing the people.

Being the last day, there was definitely more relaxation visible on people’s faces.

Unlike the first day when everyone was desperately trying to make connections, the last day truly felt like a party.

Just as Summer was about to reach for a crepe, Russell’s question flew in.

“Do you know what the first dance means?”

“Um, I wonder?”

Summer quickly withdrew her hand and smiled awkwardly.

“It means the most important person.”

“Ah, I see. But why…”

“Let’s dance.”

Russell gently pulled Summer’s hand and headed straight for the center of the hall.

Summer found herself standing in the center and protested:

“But I don’t know how at all!”

“It’s alright. Just do this.”

Russell lifted Summer and had her stand on his feet.

“But, but won’t it hurt with the shoes…”

“It’ll be fine as long as you don’t jump on them.”

Russell whispered in Summer’s ear with a slight chuckle.

As Summer was about to add something, grand and bright music began.

And Russell slowly moved, his arm around Summer’s waist.

“Summer. You won’t get hurt. Relax.”

“But this is my first time dancing. Have you danced a lot?”

“It’s my first time dancing like this at a party. Though I received harsh training.”

Russell let out a light laugh. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.

“You look especially cheerful today.”

“You don’t seem to realize. Your expression is bright too.”

“What…?”

Russell playfully tapped Summer’s slightly upturned lips.

“Like this.”

“I guess I was feeling stuffy being cooped up in the room. It does feel good to come out.”

“Let’s say that’s why I’m in a good mood too.”

“That’s quite unfair.”

As Russell spun around, Summer’s dress flared out and then came back.

“Do you still want to go back?”

“Yes.”

“Then, won’t you wait until I catch Legacy?”

“Legacy?”

“Mm, someone who’s like my mother’s enemy. I wanted to make sure they fall by my own hands.”

“Enemy?”

Was there such a setting? Summer tilted her head.

“I guess it wasn’t written where you read.”

“Um… no.”

“Well. To the gods looking down, that affair might be too small a personal matter.”

Russell’s nonchalant tone painfully pricked Summer’s heart.

Russell always calmly unfolded his painful stories.

As if he had forgotten it all now. But Summer knows. There are wounds in this world that never fully heal in a lifetime.

“I heard you were in pain.”

“To be precise, Legacy used poison. It was originally meant for my father’s cup, but my mother drank it and suffered from the aftereffects for a long time.”

“Then,”

Then it’s not just an enemy, but an enemy you’d want to tear apart.

If it were Summer, she would have immediately grabbed a sword and gone after them, only to end up being beaten badly herself.

The saying ‘A gentleman’s revenge takes ten years’ seemed to fit Russell perfectly.

Suddenly, Summer imagined.

After she leaves, will Russell continue to accept his wounds calmly like this?

In fact, there’s no way he could be calm even now. It must hurt. If Summer is hurting at the thought of leaving, wouldn’t it be the same for Russell?

And she hoped he would be a little sad. That it wasn’t just her who held him in her heart.

“Well, so the Legacy family is like an enemy to the Bertrand house. It seems I can properly bring them down this time, so can you stay by my side until then?”

“Will I… be of help?”

“Just being by my side is enough.”

“Is that really enough?”

“That’s enough.”

“I’ll do that.”

Russell stopped moving. While everyone else was spinning around, only the two of them stood still.

“Really…?”

Russell looked surprised. Summer suddenly realized how much she had been hurting him all this time.

“I promise. I’ll stay by Russell’s side until Legacy falls.”

Summer smiled brightly. Russell hugged Summer tightly and started moving his feet again, spinning around.

“That’s enough. That’s all.”

There was something strange about Russell’s words, but Summer just assumed it was because he was in a good mood. Not knowing what was about to happen.

The music came to an end.

Russell gently lifted Summer and set her down on the floor. Summer felt somehow regretful and poked the floor with the tip of her shoe for no reason.

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

The Emperor appeared on the second floor.

“Today is the last day of the victory celebration, so enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

“Eternal glory to Your Majesty!”

The nobles excitedly raised their glasses and shouted. But to Summer, the Emperor’s expression didn’t look particularly good.

“Come, everyone raise your glasses.”

“Woah!”

“To infinite glory and victory for the Empire!”

“To glory and victory!”

It was a boisterous toast. The Emperor and nobles all raised their glasses at once, then downed their champagne.

“Duke Lancaster. Your merits are great. Step forward.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ian, who had been with Julian, strode up the stairs and stood before the Emperor.

It seemed there was a ceremony to honor achievements today. Summer watched the ceremony with quite an interested face.

The ceremony was simple. Duke Lancaster would kneel on one knee, and the Emperor would place a treasured sword on the Duke’s shoulder and speak briefly about commendation and rewards.

And when the Duke thanked him and received the sword, that would be the end.

That’s how it should have been.

“On this joyous day, I must convey some unfortunate news, which greatly troubles my heart.”

“…”

All the nobles in the hall tensed up. Even Ian, who was about to stand up after receiving the sword, looked up with a bewildered face.

“Someone tried to harm me.”

“…!”

The atmosphere in the banquet hall turned cold as if ice water had been poured.

“I know that everyone is fatigued from the long war and needs rest, but I wish to give you an order.”

“Please command me.”

“I hereby authorize Duke Lancaster to conduct a full investigation of all the families, starting right now.”

“Your Majesty! You can’t…”

The murmuring nobles collectively started to protest. This was an issue that could greatly shake the power of the nobility.

And Ian Lancaster slowly stood up. As he turned his head and looked around the crowd with fierce eyes, the banquet hall fell silent again as if it had never been noisy.

“It is His Majesty’s order.”

That one sentence was enough. Two of the three ducal families said to have the highest power among the nobles were attached to the Emperor’s side.

It was difficult for other nobles to challenge recklessly.

Summer glanced around. All the nobles were watching each other.

Except for Duke Legacy.

Duke Legacy, standing in a corner, twisted his red lips into a full smile. And then, his eyes met Summer’s.

“…!”

Duke Legacy approached Summer with a nasty chuckle. And at the same time, screams filled the hall.