A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: I Wish You’d Get Jealous

Emeline found Zenon irritating as he spoke like he saw right through her.

And those expectant eyes, wagging like a tail, didn’t help either.

“…No, they were all the same gender, and they seemed more interested in what you have than in you. Why would I be jealous, knowing that? If they were women, maybe.”

“So even though those guys are crazy about my money, you didn’t feel like I was being taken away?”

“I’m not that petty to get jealous over every little thing…”

“Then can I go out and meet more guests? Honestly, I rushed through the conversations and sent them off quickly just because you were here.”

Zenon smoothly tilted Emeline’s chin upward.

Unable to reply, Emeline could only purse her lips, forced to look at him.

When their eyes met, he smiled mischievously.

Then, already standing close, he took a step forward as if to drag her along.

Nearly stumbling backward, Emeline had no choice but to retreat until her back hit the wall.

“W-what are you doing…”

It all happened right after she entered the room—they were still near the door.

She had let him move easily, but when her back hit the wall, she finally placed her hands against his shoulders.

Zenon Trancium had a strange air about him, giving her a gut feeling that this was heading somewhere dangerous.

As expected, his eyes lowered subtly, and he leaned toward her, stopping at a relaxed pace.

Their breaths mingled. Their noses nearly touched.

His lips, curled in a smirk, parted. “You’re totally jealous. You really wouldn’t care if I was surrounded by outside guests all day?”

“……”

“You make it sound like it’s fine no matter where I go or what I do. Are you really okay with that?”

“…No.”

Unable to endure the pressure of his gaze, Emeline surrendered—her voice no louder than a whisper.

A soft, deflated laugh escaped him. Zenon released her chin and wrapped his arms around her waist again.

They were still standing so close, almost touching.

“I like it when you get jealous.”

“What’s so great about such a mean-spirited thought…”

“Why is that mean-spirited? I like it. It’s cute…”

He gently rubbed his nose against her cheek. The warmth, constantly brushing against her, tickled.

Still clinging to her, Zenon murmured, “I wish you’d get jealous over even the little things. I think I’d be happy even if you tried to control me…”

Coming from the free-spirited Zenon Trancium, it was a shocking statement.

He disliked feeling constrained so much that he never even wore his shirts properly.

“Keep doing it from now on. Just as much as I love you.”

“……”

“You don’t express yourself enough sometimes.”

Zenon kissed the corner of her lips, then tried to move to her mouth, but Emeline blocked him.

She acted on impulse the moment she heard his words.

‘What did Zenon just say?’

Emeline felt completely dazed, like she’d been hit in the back of the head.

She even forgot she was pressing her hand against his lips as she asked seriously, “You don’t think I love you just because I don’t express it enough… do you?”

Zenon’s eyes changed at her words, though he couldn’t speak.

When she saw him shake his head, Emeline realized she was covering his mouth and quickly moved her hand away.

“You knowing I love you is one of the things I’m most sure of.”

“…Then why say something like that?”

“I know I love you more… but sometimes it feels like you don’t feel the same.”

“……”

“But I know. You’re calm and composed, not the type to show everything like I do.”

Zenon finished, saying that he knew there was no real problem—he just selfishly wanted Emeline’s jealousy and affection.

His eyes were carefree, and he even smiled playfully.

But Emeline was speechless.

Now that she thought about it, every time she showed affection first, Zenon would widen his eyes in surprise.

Most of the time, he initiated things, and Emeline would simply respond with her embrace or her lips.

Sometimes, when she felt tired or unwilling, she even pushed him away.

‘Have I been too careless…? Come to think of it, Zenon always seems to adjust to me.’

Emeline knew well how much Zenon poured his love into her, but she never once thought her feelings for him were lacking.

She liked him so much she often couldn’t contain it inside.

But because it stayed inside… that was the issue.

Emeline’s stillness during his touches was certainly a clear sign of love.

But Zenon was someone who expressed love outwardly and visibly.

He had never voiced a single complaint, understanding Emeline’s nature, but she had never considered his.

‘…I was the one in the wrong…’

After collecting her thoughts, she finally opened her mouth.

Just as she was about to speak, a knock was heard.

“Marquis, it’s me.”

Realizing it was Zenon’s attendant, Emeline quickly put some distance between them.

They had been embarrassingly close. Emeline felt a wave of belated regret.

‘To think I had such a realization and still pushed him away…’

She wanted to scold her past self from just seconds ago.

Deflated, Emeline stole a glance at Zenon, who opened the door for his attendant.

He didn’t look even slightly upset. That made Emeline feel worse.

“What is it?”

“Since arriving in Elvarto, I’ve been keeping watch as instructed, and just now, the Duke purchased information about your attendance at the banquet.”

It was Robert, the attendant who always accompanied Zenon.

Hearing this, Zenon furrowed his brows meaningfully and asked, “His Grace clearly had no intention of attending this banquet, didn’t he?”

“Correct.”

Previously, Emeline and Zenon had agreed to reveal their relationship at a social banquet regularly held during the capital’s social season.

They had even lightly investigated and confirmed the Duke had no plans to attend.

“He must’ve realized we weren’t releasing any rebuttal articles and decided to show up and give his own explanation.”

Emeline, who had been silently listening, joined in. Her expression had grown cold.

“Still, it’s alright. If it’s a crowded place, Father won’t be able to cause much harm.”

All their plans had accounted for possible intrusions.

This situation was even one she and Zenon had discussed before.

There was no problem.

‘We just need to stick to the plan.’

Emeline waited for Robert to finish his report and leave.

She still had lingering thoughts from earlier with Zenon—she needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

‘I should’ve realized what Zenon wanted much sooner…’

She felt sorry for having been so indifferent.

Just as Zenon said, Emeline’s inherently calm and cynical nature made her ill-suited to declaring love daily or clinging to him with affection.

But if their standards for expressing love were different, and if Zenon had been adjusting for her all this time, then she needed to change too.

Even if it was hard to change drastically—at the very least, she could try.

“You said it’s fine, but what are you thinking about so hard?” Zenon asked Emeline as he gently pressed her furrowed brow.

Robert had not yet left and was watching them with a gentle gaze.

“It’s not about my father… I was just thinking about something else.”

“Yeah?”

“So, Zenon…”

“Emeline.”

They spoke at the same time.

Zenon blinked, surprised their timing overlapped, then softened with a gentle response.

“Hm?”

“You go first.”

Emeline gladly gave him the turn.

It was one of her small steps to being more considerate.

“Alright. It’s nothing major… I just have some instructions for Robert regarding the guests who visited today. If it’s okay, I’ll come see you again in a bit.”

That meant he was asking her to step out for a moment.

Emeline hadn’t expected such a request and was a bit caught off guard.

He seemed apologetic, knowing they had just finally been alone together.

“…Okay, I’ll see you later.”

She agreed without resistance and left his room.

Zenon had spent his entire stay at Winderbilm setting work aside to stay with her. She couldn’t keep disturbing him.

Back in her room, Emeline stood with her back to the door. Benica greeted her.

“You’re back early, miss.”

“Yeah…”

“I’ve prepared everything for the banquet tomorrow. Would you like to bathe and begin your preparations?”

Zenon’s words still lingered in her mind, leaving her uneasy.

Lost in thought, Emeline finally answered, “…Okay.”

***

Unfortunately, Emeline didn’t see Zenon again that day.

While getting treatments in preparation for the banquet, she had dozed off.

She needed to sleep early anyway.

The preparations for the next day’s banquet were expected to start even earlier and be more hectic than today.

“She might wake up if we’re too loud.”

“Everyone, quiet and careful.”

Benica and the others gently wiped the sleeping lady’s body.

Just an hour ago, she had seemed perfectly alert, but thirty minutes later, she started growing drowsy, and soon she had closed her eyes and fallen into a deep sleep.

“I’ll dry her hair.”

One of the maids used a thick towel to press the moisture out of Emeline’s hair.

After thoroughly drying her body, Benica draped a robe over her.

That’s when it happened.

“Emeline?”

A voice calling for the lady came from outside.