You Are Gentle, But You Don’t Love Me - Chapter 23

“It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt that much…”

Juliet shook her head, stopping him from speaking. She didn’t want to hear such words—lies meant to reassure her.

“You were in pain even on the days you didn’t go for a walk, weren’t you? Just like at the beach.”

“…”

“And I… I didn’t even know.”

I was waiting for you.

I was just waiting for you to greet me with your usual smile.

“You didn’t even know I was waiting, and I—like a fool…”

But all this time, you were suffering alone.

Just so we could have tea together.
Just so we could walk in the sunlit garden, sit across from each other for a meal.
Just so we could dance under the sparkling chandelier, ride horses to see the beautiful coastline.

Just so I could go where I wanted, see what I wished to see.

“Is that right?”

Now, Juliet finally realizes. Cassio had promised to have dinner with her when they returned. He had said they should visit this beach together again.

His feverish cheeks were flushed red… He had said he would go anywhere, as long as it was a place she wanted to go.

Cassio Bellanea.

Where did his overwhelming kindness come from?

‘I don’t know.’

Juliet still didn’t understand.

From Cassio’s hand, which was cupping her cheek, a drop of warm liquid fell.

Was it raindrops? Or his heart?

“Still, you shouldn’t have done this.”

Juliet’s voice fell, just like the drop of water. Mixed with emotions she couldn’t even name, her words disappeared, absorbed into the fabric of her soaked dress without leaving a trace.

“You shouldn’t be this kind.”

She took a deep breath, but the damp air wasn’t enough. No matter how many long sighs she let out, the tightness in her chest wouldn’t go away.

His kindness was suffocating.

“You shouldn’t be in pain. Not like this…”

Juliet reached for Cassio’s hand, which was still holding her chin. Though his skin was wet and cold from the rain, there was a lingering warmth.

As if trying to scrape that warmth away, she slowly traced his wrist, up to his arm.

Then, carefully, ever so gently, she reached out toward his bandaged shoulder.

‘One day, you’ll understand too.’

Had Cassio said that?

‘How kind Juliet Calliari truly is.’

As if he already knew.

But he was wrong.

How could she be kind when she hadn’t even noticed his pain, his loss—when he was right beside her?

She hadn’t even realized his kindness pouring over her like rain. She had only let herself be drenched in it.

“…”

Her slender fingers trembled slightly as they hovered just above the white bandages. Then, slowly, they dropped back down.

She still didn’t know.

“…”

But Cassio had told her.

That one day, she would understand. That Juliet Calliari was a truly kind person.

The moment those words comforted her, she felt a new responsibility.

Since Cassio had been so kind to her all this time, she now had a duty—to try and be kind too.

“I don’t want this.”

This was all she could say for now.

“I don’t want you to be in pain.”

Even if her words were clumsy and not comforting at all.

“I wish you weren’t hurting…”

Even if all she could do was say those simple words, maybe—just maybe—they would leave a small mark on his heart.

Just like Cassio Bellanea’s kind words and gentle smile had left a mark on hers.

“…Are you worried about me?”

When Juliet slowly nodded, Cassio clenched his jaw. As if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

After a long pause, he finally forced out a short question, his voice rough.

“Why?”

Juliet hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Because you’re kind…”

Cassio’s grip on her cheek tightened. Juliet flinched in surprise, but then let herself relax.

“You’re strange, Juliet.”

“Is it strange… to want a kind person not to be in pain?”

The thin drizzle turned into heavy rain.

The sound of raindrops pounded against the gazebo roof, filling her ears. The rush of falling rain. The rustling of wet leaves swayed by the wind.

Suddenly, she could smell the rain. A faint bitterness of damp grass mixed with it.

“Juliet.”

Through all the surrounding noise, Cassio’s voice reached her. It was soft, like a sigh, yet rumbled like distant thunder.

“Only truly kind people think that way. People who don’t even realize how kind they are.”

“…”

“See, Juliet Calliari? You are so much kinder than you know.”

After saying that, Cassio fell silent and simply gazed at her.

The gentle curve of his usual smile was gone from his face.

Instead of comforting her with his usual warmth, he gave a quiet, serious verdict—Juliet just didn’t know how kind she truly was.

She had seen this expression on his face before. A rare, cold expression that felt unfamiliar.

But the fact that it felt unfamiliar—that was what hurt Juliet the most.

‘Why?’

Cassio Bellanea always smiled when he looked at her.

‘Why are you doing this for me?’

Swallowing back the question that rose to her lips, Juliet looked up at him.

Beneath his rain-drenched lashes, her reflection appeared round and clear in his eyes.

His soaking wet hair clung messily to his face, and his eyes, a clear, shimmering light green, were filled with the sight of Juliet—her flushed cheeks, her damp, tangled hair.

Like looking into a shallow puddle left behind by a summer rain, Juliet stared at him in a daze for a moment…

Then, as if something tickled her toes, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“…The rain.”

“…”

“It’s getting heavier. It should stop soon.”

Her voice was unexpectedly soft, falling gently between them. When she cautiously opened her eyes again, Cassio was smiling, as if he had never worn that cold expression.

Juliet’s cheeks burned red.

“Juliet, do you have a fever?”

“I don’t…”

“The rain needs to stop soon. What if you catch a cold?”

His words were overflowing with kindness, but they sounded like teasing. No, he was definitely teasing her. The playful curve of his lips, the way his eyes folded—it was all so obvious.

Juliet instinctively bit her lip, only to realize too late that Cassio’s thumb was still touching it. She almost bit him instead and immediately flinched, stepping back.

Cassio let her go without hesitation.

One step away. But she didn’t mind the distance.

This was just right. For now.

‘No… maybe just a little…’

The thought crept in without her realizing, and she pressed a hand lightly against her chest. Her heartbeat thumped against her fingertips. Maybe it was because summer was drawing near.

She felt warm—despite being soaked from head to toe in the cold rain.

“Juliet? What’s wrong? Are you really okay?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“I should call Juan as soon as we get back—”

“If he sees us like this, the Duke will scold you first.”

“…”

Cassio, momentarily at a loss for words, was met with Juliet’s indifferent glance before she turned away lightly—toward the rain-drenched garden.

Summer had arrived with the downpour, filling every corner of the garden.

The once-delicate leaves, now soaked in rain, deepened in color. The dried flower petals had regained their freshness. Raindrops clung to the spiderwebs stretched between the tree branches, sparkling like tiny jewels.

She hadn’t noticed any of this when she ran to find him. But now, the view seemed strangely beautiful.

“It’s fascinating.”

Cassio murmured behind her.

“What is?”

“How it was so sunny just a moment ago, and now it’s pouring.”

“And yet you stood there, getting drenched?”

“Haha. I was just watching the sky. It’s strange how it can rain without darkening.”

“It’s normal.”

“Is it?”

Their conversation was light, meaningless. Juliet was still not good at conversations. Her face still felt too warm, and her words came out shorter than usual.

But Cassio’s voice sounded amused, as if he was enjoying himself.

That was enough.

“Even the sudden rain feels mysterious. Sardinian summers are truly something.”

Juliet still didn’t understand Cassio. His pain, his suffering—the losses and wounds hidden deep within him.

The man who had hidden all of that while insisting they have tea together.
The man who had tracked her down to the garden with a quiet, unreadable smile.
The man who had held onto her with warm hands.

She still didn’t know why he was so kind to her.

‘But still…’

Despite everything.

“It’s beautiful.”

Cassio hesitated for a moment, as if he had forgotten about the bandage on his shoulder. He instinctively started to reach into the rain with his right arm but stopped midway.

Then, with an awkward look, he glanced at Juliet, as if checking her reaction.

And when their eyes met, he simply smiled, as if nothing had happened.

“The Summer’s Gate.”

She said it out loud. She couldn’t match his warmth, his kindness. But she could stay by his side. She could smile with him.

Slowly, little by little.

And someday…

For now, this was enough.

“The Summer’s Gate?”

“The first rain of summer. That’s what we call it. Only after this rain passes does the real summer—the season of blessings—begin.”

Drops of water trickled from her soaked hair. Her tears had long since been washed away.

Her wet clothes clung to her skin, and the humid air wrapped around her like a second layer.

Yet, somehow, the coolness felt refreshing—standing there, right in the heart of the pouring rain.

“Ah… that’s such a romantic phrase.”

“Is it?”

Cassio turned to look at her, and for a fleeting moment, his golden eyes shone—like the sunlight breaking through after the rain.

“Really. The Summer’s Gate… Somehow, it feels exciting.”

And with that, their summer began.