A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 114

Chapter 114: The Biggest Bombshell

“Isn’t that Lady Delzeier and… the Marquis of Trancium?”

“Good heavens, why are they together? Could it really have been kidnapping and coercion…”

“But Lady Delzeier doesn’t look unhappy at all…”

The noblewomen, stunned, whispered among themselves.

Suspicious glances came not just from one direction, but from countless corners all at once.

Emeline accepted those blatant stares without betraying the slightest discomfort.

Worry, disbelief, shock, confusion, suspicion. She had expected all of it to pour in at once.

‘Though right now, the tension is worse due to all the baseless talk about kidnapping…’

Even without that, just the fact that Emeline and Zenon had come together as partners would have left people aghast.

Seeing a deep, affectionate relationship between two who were supposed to be enemies was bound to cause a stir.

Emeline calmly scanned the surroundings, then turned her gaze to Zenon.

‘Zenon doesn’t seem particularly conscious of those around us, either.’

She studied him for a moment.

With his hair neatly swept back and fixed in place, his striking appearance stood out even from afar.

At a glance, his masculine features dominated, yet his refined eyes and sharp jawline gave off the aura of a well-raised young master.

Even Emeline, while casually observing his expression, felt for a moment as if she were under a spell.

Others might not notice it, but in her eyes, the youthful face that lingered somewhere between a boy and a man subtly overlapped with the present.

Then, belatedly, she noticed a few people secretly staring at Zenon.

The ladies who had been shocked by their appearance were now quietly shifting their attention to his divine looks.

‘…Not like I dressed him up for everyone to ogle.’

Seeing them gaping with their mouths hanging open, Emeline sneered inwardly.

Instead of just looking at him, they should be paying attention to their relationship.

Smiling faintly, she whispered something to Zenon.

It was merely for show, not intended to carry any deep meaning.

Only then did the ladies, who had been frozen in shock, begin to gather their senses and whisper.

“Could it be the rumor is true? You know, that they’re quite… special…”

“What part of that looks like the gaze of a terrifying kidnapper… That’s just unbelievable!”

“See? I told you! Lady Delzeier and the Marquis of Trancium are lovers!”

A strong voice joined their conversation.

It was Lady Donner, whom Emeline had invited to Winderbilm.

She pounded her chest in frustration as if she couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

‘Not a bad development.’

Emeline, walking toward the center of the banquet with Zenon, lightly greeted those around them.

Soon enough, other nobles would likely start crowding around, subtly expressing curiosity.

Now that Zenon’s household no longer supported the scandalous Second Prince, there were no political obstacles.

He had completely flipped his standing—from someone everyone avoided to someone everyone wanted to be close with.

Emeline waited for that moment, chatting with Zenon.

However, contrary to her expectations, no one dared to approach them.

They only cast sidelong glances from a distance.

‘What’s going on?’

While surveying the situation, Emeline quickly realized the reason.

The gathered nobles were slowly parting to either side, making way for a familiar figure.

“Emeline, my dear.”

It was Bernard Delzeier.

Emeline narrowed her eyes.

If not for the many onlookers, he likely would have raised his voice. Instead, he wore a feigned expression of sorrow.

Like a father reunited with his lost daughter, he hurried over to her and grasped the hand that was nearest to Zenon.

“Emeline, I finally see your face. Do you know how desperately I searched for you? I heard the Marquis of Trancium would be attending today’s banquet and came in haste…”

“……”

“What a relief. To see you safe like this…”

Somehow, the Duke had pulled out a handkerchief and was now dabbing at tears.

Zenon looked on with an expression of amazement, admiring Bernard’s performance. He even had the audacity to think the Duke had talent not just as a novelist but as an actor too—an idea that would have driven the Duke mad had he known.

“…Father.”

Emeline, watching his repulsive display, smiled sweetly.

She gently placed her other hand atop the one her father was clutching.

“Yes. As you can see, I’m perfectly safe.”

Her father—whether dull or cunning, it was hard to tell.

But Emeline had a good sense of what he was trying to do.

‘He must be giving me a chance to return. One that won’t leave too much of a stain on my name.’

Though he had threatened their relationship with an outrageous interview, the result brought little harm to Emeline.

If the interview were to be believed, Emeline was a pitiable woman caught in a dreadful situation. So she would likely remain a victim entangled in absurdity until the end.

All the barbs the Duke revealed had been aimed solely at Zenon Trancium.

If Emeline quietly returned home under the pressure and scrutiny of high society, Bernard would sweep the matter under the rug without a second thought.

Emeline would be spared any disgrace.

Zenon Trancium would be the only one left bearing a ridiculous stain.

‘When will Father ever understand what I truly think…’

Emeline stared at her father with a gaze that masked her steel in gentleness.

Bernard Delzeier should have realized the moment he learned Emeline would attend the banquet with Zenon.

That his scheme did nothing to pressure her, but instead only gave her the momentum to face him head-on.

Emeline, with eyes meant to reassure, said, “It seems my previous words didn’t convince you. I understand your concern, but please don’t worry too much.”

Bernard’s expression subtly shifted.

But Emeline didn’t let her gentle smile fade.

‘As a daughter, it wouldn’t be right to expose my father’s disgrace before the public and shoot him down.’

It wasn’t that she couldn’t do it—but this wasn’t a matter of conscience. It was a matter of her reputation.

Regardless of the nature of the incident, in this rigid society, an unmarried woman was expected to revere her father.

To criticize him harshly in front of everyone would only seem vile.

Emeline spoke in a clear voice, loud enough for those eavesdropping nearby to hear.

“Contrary to what you believe, Father, Zenon and I share a very strong and affectionate bond.”

“No… Emeline.”

“Kidnapping? That’s unthinkable. You must have misunderstood something, Father. I’m quite certain I told you myself—casually, as someone on good terms with Zenon—that I would be traveling for a bit. Didn’t I?”

Bernard’s expression momentarily wavered at her calmly delivered words.

Such is the nature of words.

Twist them just a little, and they can overturn the whole situation. They can incite, they can spin.

And Emeline, as Bernard Delzeier’s daughter, had inherited his gift for wielding words.

‘The version I gave to the ladies I invited to Winderbilm was slightly different, but surely they’ll understand my intent as a daughter.’

Just then, the orchestra changed its tune, signaling the transition to the dancing portion of the banquet.

Emeline released her father’s hand and took Zenon’s arm instead.

“Let’s talk again later, Father.”

Even after she left him, eyes continued to follow them.

“What’s going on? So it wasn’t kidnapping, then?”

“It doesn’t seem like it…”

Confusion clouded everyone’s expressions.

More people were watching them than had watched the Crown Prince and Princess dance earlier.

Despite the unsettled mood, the young nobles moved to the center with their partners as the music played.

Emeline scanned her surroundings, then stepped onto the floor with Zenon.

Though she felt the attention skewing heavily toward them, she didn’t care.

Being the focus of attention in this moment was part of their plan.

As the music flowed gently, Zenon naturally closed the distance between them and said, “You really handled that well.”

“If I’d kept my mouth shut all these years, I wouldn’t have been called the darling of the social scene. Lying is a kind of skill, too.”

“No, not that part. The part where you said we share a strong and affectionate bond.”

Zenon grinned as if that was the only thing he’d heard.

Emeline arched a brow and smirked. His whispering at such close distance tickled.

“Did that make you happy? Hearing me say that?”

“Yeah. A lot. I was surprised, honestly. I didn’t expect you to say it so openly…”

Zenon slowly lowered his gaze, quietly studying her face.

A faint thrill and warmth shimmered in his eyes as they traced her features with care.

What followed had already been decided.

The event soon to unfold was the biggest bombshell of their entire plan.

As she took in Zenon’s gaze—so full of tenderness—Emeline smiled softly.

Even if all of this was scripted, this moment, at least—

This one thing was surely something Zenon hadn’t predicted.

Emeline moved the hand resting on his chest to wrap around his neck.

Before he could react, she stood on her toes and tilted her head up.

Their lips brushed.

She pressed into the kiss before it could slip away, adding weight.

The moment her eyes closed, the music faded.

While others danced, the two of them stood alone at the edge, perfectly still.

It felt like they had slipped away from the world.