A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: That Would Be a Problem

As Emeline had predicted, events unfolded accordingly.

Replies began arriving one by one from the recipients of the invitations.

Perhaps because the letter had been as cryptic as a riddle, most of them responded cautiously and with visible curiosity—except for Angel, who already had a grasp of the situation.

Of course, everyone accepted the invitation.

“Benica, I’d like the gathering place to be beautifully prepared.”

“I’ll inform the caretakers here and prepare everything together.”

Emeline nodded calmly as she looked over the invitation list.

This gathering had to be perfect.

The selection of tea, the prepared refreshments, the guests, and even the weather.

With a faint smile, Emeline turned her head to gaze out the window.

The weather was exceptionally clear, and brilliant sunlight bathed the world.

***

“Goodness, Lady Delzeier! It really is you…!”

The carriages sent to escort the guests began arriving one by one.

Those who arrived at the Winderbilm villa gasped upon seeing Emeline waiting to greet them.

Perhaps believing the article spread by the Duke, they all looked at Emeline with concern.

They seemed on the verge of bursting with questions.

Emeline smiled gently and spoke before addressing the heart of the matter.

“It’s been a while, everyone. You must be tired from the long journey, so shall we head inside first?”

After exchanging brief greetings, Emeline took the lead to guide them.

The seven or so young ladies who had come for the gathering exchanged uneasy glances as they followed her.

From the tense expressions on their faces, it was clear they felt uncomfortable setting foot in the space of someone rumored to have kidnapped Emeline.

“Will it really be okay…?”

“Lady Delzeier doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort…”

As they followed behind her, they whispered among themselves.

Emeline didn’t appear unwell in the slightest, and her expression was brighter than usual. Her appearance, too, was as elegant and immaculate as ever—hardly what one would expect from someone abducted by an enemy.

“Isn’t it strange that she was able to invite us if she was really kidnapped…?”

“It was a secret invitation, after all. Very suspicious.”

Emeline let out a quiet chuckle at their murmurs.

Their voices were low enough to make out only parts of the conversation, but their demeanor alone made the topic obvious.

Just then, Angel, who was walking with them, beamed brightly as if to dispel their unease.

“But isn’t this villa scenery just beautiful? My family has a villa near a forest, too, and sometimes quiet places like this are really lovely.”

As if she didn’t hear the other ladies’ anxious whispers, Angel clasped her hands and spoke cheerfully.

In truth, Angel had already visited this place once before at Emeline’s invitation.

She also fully understood Emeline’s situation.

It was only then that the other ladies finally looked around.

Though it couldn’t quite rival the exquisite landscaping of the Delzeier estate, the villa’s surroundings were enchanting in their own way.

In the capital, gardens were often lavishly decorated to flaunt wealth, but this place embraced the peaceful natural scenery of Winderbilm, making one want to pause and admire it.

When a cool breeze carrying the scent of grass swept by, the trees shimmered brilliantly with sunlight and swayed as if dancing. Along the paths they walked, yellow roses bloomed in full glory.

Despite the lack of grand decorations or luxury items, the space exuded a majestic atmosphere, undoubtedly a testament to the gardener’s skill.

As they quietly took in the serene beauty of Winderbilm, Emeline spoke, “I asked for the villa to be adorned beautifully to welcome our guests. I hope you find it pleasing.”

“Oh my, Lady Delzeier gave the instructions herself?”

Surprise flickered in their eyes.

She had such authority here?

But she was supposedly kidnapped.

Emeline understood their confusion and led them to the garden where tea and refreshments had been prepared.

The guests each took their seats. Even then, the astonishment in their eyes didn’t fade.

From the setting of the gathering itself to the table arrangements, Emeline had prepared everything meticulously, leaving them no choice but to be impressed.

‘Winderbilm is a small, modest place, not widely known, but even the central area is home to many retired artists, so there’s a refined aesthetic to everything.’

From the teacups and saucers to the tiniest details, Emeline had carefully selected each item. Even the food.

Eventually, one guest spoke, almost in a daze.

“Just as Lady Laresa said… So many things here are truly beautiful.”

“It really does feel like paradise, doesn’t it?”

Emeline smiled softly and looked around at those seated at the table one by one.

From the moment she compiled the list, she had carefully considered many factors when choosing whom to invite.

She excluded noble ladies who had attended the academy at the same time as her.

Those women had witnessed the constant bickering between Zenon and Emeline and, in line with her father’s deceitful narrative, might believe Zenon had coerced her.

So Emeline selected only those who merely knew she had graduated from the academy around the same time as him.

Additionally, she chose ladies known for having loose lips, who would readily spread rumors.

Benica and the other servants approached and poured tea into the guests’ cups.

“Lady Delzeier, so what on earth happened?”

Someone who had been waiting for an opening finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

It was the Marquis of Amberwine’s daughter. She couldn’t restrain herself and added a few more words.

“I saw the interview His Grace gave. That Lady Delzeier had been kidnapped by that man…”

As if the words were too difficult to say aloud, Lady Amberwine trailed off and covered her mouth with her fan.

“You have no idea how shocked I was to hear it.”

The others in the gathering echoed her reaction. Their gazes brimmed with both curiosity and concern.

At the moment she had been waiting for, Emeline deliberately lowered her brows in feigned sorrow.

“Ah, that news… Actually, there’s something I’d like to clarify about that. Do you all remember the article that came out before Lord Trancium succeeded the title? The capital was in an uproar over it.”

“Oh, yes. Everyone was speculating about who Lord Trancium’s lover might be. I think even now…”

“That person is me.”

“…Pardon?”

Lady Henburton, who had been engaged in the conversation, let out a dumbfounded sound at Emeline’s candid reply.

Seeing the jaws drop all around her—excluding Angel—Emeline laughed to herself.

When the rumors about her being kidnapped by Zenon started circulating, she had suspected that some might guess she was the mysterious lover of Zenon Trancium.

But their reactions now told a different story.

The belief that the Trancium and Delzeier families were on bad terms must have been deeply ingrained.

She would’ve thought someone might try writing a romantic epic.

Suppressing her thoughts, Emeline put on a somber expression.

Now was the important part.

‘Pretending to be a pitiful runaway in love won’t help much.’

Some sentimental ladies might feel sympathy, but most, who saw marriage only as a means to benefit their families, would likely think her foolish.

Wasn’t that how Emeline herself used to think?

She needed to spark their interest while avoiding anything that could be used against her.

Emeline planned to draw out every possible reason they might abandon the Duke and side with her.

First… she couldn’t entirely avoid emotional appeal either, so perhaps she should subtly evoke some pity.

“You all probably know that I graduated from the noble academy the same year as him. And that afterward, our fathers collaborated in business and had frequent exchanges.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Seeing the noble ladies focus on her words, Emeline lowered her gaze and put on a troubled expression, though inside, she was smirking in satisfaction.

“Actually, back then… my father told me something while fostering ties with the Marquis. That if their cooperation continued successfully… Zenon Trancium would become my fiancé.”

“What? What do you mean…”

A stir swept through the room. Everyone looked surprised, but more than that, they were visibly thrilled with curiosity.

‘Father isn’t the only one who can make up outrageous stories.’

Back then, her father had gone around bragging that he had sacrificed himself and his family to try and reform the Marquis.

So when their cooperation fell apart, the Marquis of Trancium was painted as an ungrateful scoundrel who didn’t appreciate the Duke’s good will.

Emeline now intended to use that so-called ‘sacrifice’ of her family to her advantage.

‘The ‘reformation’ Father spoke of was about steering the Marquis away from aligning with the second prince.’

If the Duke had truly intended to reform the Marquis, could it have been done merely through business and a few conversations?

Surely he had tried to sway his thinking with some form of compensation.

And what the Marquis of Trancium desired most was fame and prestige.

Though Emeline couldn’t offer him a new title, having royal blood enter his family was no small matter.

If the Duke of Delzeier had talked about ‘sacrifice,’ then this level of commitment would be the minimum.

Sending his own daughter into a rival family.

Of course, Emeline could have chosen to expose her father’s vile actions and the truth in full.

But she didn’t wish for his reputation to plummet completely.

If he fell too far, it would only damage her as well, since they shared a name.

‘That would be a problem.’

Emeline offered them a wistful smile.