A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: I Was the One Who Seduced You

Zenon’s hand, which had been wrapped around Emeline’s waist, froze for a brief moment.

As he remained motionless, Emeline softly pressed her lips to his and continued the kiss.

Kissing in front of others was a performance they had planned in advance.

However, they hadn’t discussed who would initiate the kiss.

More precisely, both had assumed that he would naturally take the lead.

So Zenon, surprised, paused. Even his breath, which had been flowing effortlessly, halted for a moment.

What felt like an eternity passed before his stiffened body relaxed.

His arm around Emeline’s waist tightened, pulling their bodies closer.

Zenon, unfazed by the surrounding gazes, cupped one of her cheeks.

As he leaned in, Emeline, who had been arching her neck, was finally able to relax. Her raised heels touched the floor.

Though the kiss wasn’t particularly deep due to the setting, their breathing tangled more intimately than usual.

For a moment, they both forgot this display was part of a plan and became wholly absorbed in the kiss.

Zenon’s hand gently stroked Emeline’s cheek. With so much affection poured into the touch, she felt she could melt into it and die happily.

The noise around them had long been consumed by their focus on each other.

Emeline ran her fingers softly through his hair.

‘…There’s no way I could be trailing behind you in love.’

Her heart pounded as if it might burst, and the sensation of touching him was enough to leave her breathless.

Emeline wanted to convey that, when she exposed her love, it was boundless.

“Haa…”

With a soft breath, their lips gently parted.

Emeline slowly opened her eyes.

Zenon, who had opened his eyes first, gazed deeply at her.

His eyes, previously heated and intense, softened quickly into a smile.

Though he could have been conscious of the surroundings, Zenon’s gaze remained fixed on Emeline.

The music hadn’t yet ended. As he gently held her hand again and resumed moving to the rhythm, he suddenly chuckled.

With no trace of the seriousness from moments before, his face broke into a grin as he abruptly embraced her.

Wrapping both arms tightly around her waist, he leaned his forehead against her shoulder.

“Just a moment…”

This time, it was Emeline who was flustered.

As he bent his broad frame, she could see the people behind him watching them.

Some had their mouths agape, while others stared in awe at the open display of affection.

And among them, she spotted the Duke—his expression one of unmistakable shock.

Then, with Zenon’s golden hair brushing her ear, a low voice whispered, “What do I do, I… like this too much…”

With those words, Emeline no longer cared about the stares. She couldn’t help but laugh.

He lingered with his warmth pressed against her shoulder and neck for a while, as if sensing her pulse, before finally lifting his head.

Now facing her again, his eyes seemed overwhelmed with joy—on the verge of tears.

Emeline said calmly to him, who was lost in emotion, “The song’s not over yet.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re supposed to lead. The dance.”

“Right…”

Even with her somewhat cold tone, Zenon looked nothing but delighted.

Emeline, watching him, didn’t bother to suppress her own smiling lips.

The two began to move slowly again, following the rhythm like the others.

It was then that Emeline, after much deliberation, finally spoke, “I like you… just as much as you like me.”

It was a belated reply to Zenon’s earlier, overwhelming confession.

As she felt him staring at her, Emeline shyly averted her gaze. But the whispers between them didn’t stop.

“I… think I like you just as much as you like me. Maybe even more. But… it doesn’t seem to come across that way…”

She hesitated, her cheeks steadily turning red as she finished her sentence.

When she glanced up again, she saw him dazed, an almost blank expression on his face.

It was a wonder he could keep dancing with such a look.

It was the first time Emeline had made such a bold confession herself, and the embarrassment nearly consumed her.

The atmosphere between them was so delicately charged, it felt like it was brushing over her skin, tickling every nerve.

Whether it was by some divine mercy or pure coincidence, the song ended just then.

Having said all she wanted, Emeline swiftly stepped back and, as etiquette dictated, bowed to her partner at the end of the dance.

Zenon, still out of it, barely returned the gesture.

Though they stood side by side again after the formalities, there was no chance to speak further.

Still, Zenon now wore a far brighter expression than before, smiling nonstop.

With him beaming like that, ladies and noblewomen alike looked on with admiration.

Emeline found it a bit annoying, but she had no intention of ruining his mood.

After all, it was she who had made him that happy.

“Um… Lady Delzeier, Lord Trancium.”

As they lightly sipped their drinks, a few people finally approached.

‘I was worried no one would dare come over after that display.’

Emeline smiled faintly.

Their main goal had been to announce their relationship in public, but gaining some side benefits wouldn’t hurt.

“We showed a rather embarrassing scene earlier.”

“Not at all, it was truly romantic. I never imagined the two of you were involved like that… Actually, I heard from Lady Amberwine before. That although you were both engaged to others for family reasons… you always only had eyes for each other.”

Thanks to her excitedly raising her voice, others who had been eavesdropping drew near, their faces filled with curiosity.

‘How funny… They used to praise my relationship with Mathis, saying we were destined lovers, and now that something more dramatic has emerged, they act like having Zenon beside me is the most natural thing in the world.’

As if this was how it should’ve been from the start.

The once-celebrated romance between Mathis and Emeline was now reframed as a trial meant to lead her to Zenon.

‘It’s better than being rejected, at least.’

After engaging with Zenon and humoring the curious onlookers, Emeline soon excused herself.

She had told the Duke earlier that they would speak again.

They found him easily enough.

A crowd had gathered around him.

Bernard was speaking to those around him. Judging by the troubled look on his face, he seemed to be struggling to recover from the bombshell Emeline had dropped.

He probably knew that no more lies would work, so he was likely claiming it had all been a misunderstanding, that he hadn’t fully understood their relationship, and so on.

“Father.”

Emeline’s bright voice cut through the Duke’s rambling.

He turned his head toward them, his expression darkening.

Unbothered, Emeline approached with Zenon.

The people around them stepped back a few paces, though they didn’t go far.

‘Well, it’s natural they’d be curious.’

Their curiosity worked in the couple’s favor.

The Duke, after silently observing them, was the first to speak.

“Emeline… I see now what kind of relationship you two have.”

“I’m glad you finally understand, Father.”

“…But to exchange such intimate affection in such a public setting. Just because you’ve spent time away from me doesn’t mean you can forget your manners.”

He chastised her in a grave voice.

Emeline’s eyes narrowed slightly.

To lecture her in the midst of all this.

The way he spoke calmly, rather than shouting, made it clear he was trying to save face.

Emeline couldn’t help but let out a sigh-like laugh.

He had said nothing when she kissed Mathis at that yacht party and the photo made the front page of the paper.

It annoyed her, but she was about to play along.

However, Zenon shamelessly jumped in first.

“Forgive me, Your Grace. I couldn’t restrain my feelings for your daughter… I ended up secretly seducing her.”

Zenon spoke lightly with a smile. The Duke’s expression twisted oddly.

He said such things with sincere eyes and an innocent smile.

Still basking in the joy from earlier, Zenon looked lovingly at Emeline—so much so that even she was taken aback.

“You did nothing wrong, Emeline. It’s my fault for being too impatient.”

“……”

Whether or not he realized he had just undone the Duke’s lecture and then contradicted him, Zenon remained cheerful.

It was almost absurd enough to make her laugh, and Emeline was about to respond.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I saw too.”

But someone else cut in first. Emeline froze in surprise.

The unexpected voice belonged to none other than Antony Delzeier.

With one hand in his pocket, he gave a cold smile and addressed Bernard.

“Lord Trancium seduced my innocent little sister with such guile. So naturally, Emeline is blameless, Father.”

As the blame shifted from Zenon to Antony, the Duke looked stunned.

With a relaxed demeanor, Antony effortlessly overturned the Duke’s attempt at discipline.

He turned his head slightly and looked at Emeline.

His gaze, a bit sheepish, softened.

But when it landed on Zenon past her, it turned unmistakably disapproving.

Yet in the end, he said nothing more and simply looked back at Duke Delzeier.