A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: The Mansion’s Future

After Emeline and Zenon entered the room where his mother was, the servants exchanged glances and gathered in one place.

While bowing respectfully as the couple passed by, they also couldn’t help but look at Emeline and Zenon with wonder.

Indeed, it was hard to believe the children of two once-feuding families were now in a relationship.

“They really do look devoted to each other, don’t they?”

“When I read an article back when the young master wasn’t yet the heir—saying he had feelings for someone other than Lady Fendine—I had a hunch. I just knew the woman wouldn’t be ordinary!”

“Lady Delzeier, of all people. They seemed like total opposites, but when you think about it, maybe not so much.”

“Exactly. They graduated from the academy the same year, and I heard the families were on good terms for a while and had frequent exchanges.”

“So they were lovers even back then, but the families fell out and they had to part for four years…”

The servants sighed deeply in unison.

Their conversation was no different from what noble ladies might share at a tea gathering in a different place and time.

After expressing their regrets about the couple’s past, the conversation shifted back to their present.

More precisely, to the future the two were expected to build together.

“The mansion’s already changed a lot, but I think it’s going to change even more.”

“Definitely.”

“And in a good way, I think.”

“It would be strange if it changed for the worse. Before Lady Delzeier came, didn’t the master go around repeating himself endlessly?”

To prepare for Emeline’s arrival, Zenon had arrived three days early to spruce up the mansion and personally spoke to each of the servants.

“My partner will be coming to stay here soon. I hope you’ll give her a warm welcome. I want to show her only the best and let her hear only kind things. So I’m counting on you.”

Of course, he had even added that if someone managed to win Emeline’s favor, he’d double their salary.

Naturally, the servants were dumbfounded.

Not just by his generous offer. Even with his known impulsive nature, none of them had expected him to personally approach the staff and make such a request.

He could have just passed the word through the head maid or the butler, but Zenon never did things that way.

There was nothing begrudging in his insistence on taking the long way.

He seemed more excited than anything else.

Clearly, none of it felt like a waste of time to him.

“The atmosphere in the mansion had been gloomy for a while, hadn’t it? Things might finally feel lighter.”

“Yes. I hope so.”

Watching two people who were that genuine toward each other, the servants began to imagine a bright future for the mansion.

Even if Emeline seemed a little unfamiliar at first, they were preparing to welcome her with open arms.

For the day she would become the lady of the Trancium household.

***

“How is it?”

Night had fallen deep beyond the windows.

Emeline asked Zenon quietly as he leaned against the bed’s headboard.

In his hands were a couple of beige letters—sent from afar by his mother, Rones Trancium.

It had already been several days since Emeline met her. Rones had packed up and boarded a carriage two days after greeting Emeline.

So Zenon was reading a letter that must have contained Rones’s greetings from her safe arrival.

Emeline thought back to Rones Trancium.

‘She was truly beautiful…’

She had a quiet air about her and, despite her age, was easily among the most beautiful women Emeline had ever met.

She still couldn’t forget the shock she felt when the woman smiled warmly upon seeing her.

‘So that’s where Zenon gets his looks from. I had no idea his mother was such a beauty.’

She had seen her once at a social event she attended as a child with her parents, but that memory was long faded.

By the time Emeline had matured, Rones had been confined to the mansion under the pretense of poor mental health.

But when Emeline finally met her, she didn’t seem mentally unstable at all.

She simply looked tired, and her complexion suggested she had only recently found peace.

She had also been incredibly kind to Emeline.

Just as Emeline was deep in thought about Rones, Zenon spoke, “She says it’s a place with beautiful scenery and free from noise, so she thinks she’ll be able to live peacefully.”

“That’s a relief…”

Zenon set the letter down on the nightstand.

Emeline, who had been leaning against his chest, looked at the letter as he moved, then lifted her head to look up at him.

Their gazes met as they sat side by side on the bed.

As he began to shower her with kisses, she laughed and told him to stop. The way he pecked her over and over, like a bird, tickled.

“Alright, I’ll stop.”

Reluctantly, Zenon left a kiss on her forehead and pulled back.

As he moved away, Emeline reached for the textbook she had placed beside her.

‘I need to keep up with studying for the university entrance exam.’

Watching her, Zenon wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

“You’ll probably end up taking the entrance exam after the wedding. Will you be okay with that?”

“Yeah. It’s the same studying I’ve always done, and I know the material. I don’t think wedding prep will ruin my exam.”

If I fail, I’ll just admit I was overconfident and try again.

At her calm reply, his gaze softened.

“It’d be strange if you failed. You’re really smart. And the exam there isn’t that hard anyway.”

“I heard the year you took the Robelque University entrance exam, it was the hardest it’s ever been.”

“I thought it was easy? You beat me for top score, so it must’ve been even easier for you.”

Zenon kept gently stroking her hair.

Not knowing whether he was joking or not, Emeline just smiled.

Then, in a tender voice, he asked, “What kind of wedding should we have?”

“It’ll probably have to be pretty big. A lot of people will come.”

Nodding at her answer, he pressed a little more. “Where should we hold it?”

“Hmm…

“Should we just rent out the royal palace?”

“What? What are you even saying…”

When Emeline looked at him in disbelief, Zenon chuckled mischievously.

“Why are you so sure it’s impossible? I’m a lot more capable than you think. And rich, too.”

It sounded absurd no matter how she looked at it, but instead of correcting him, Emeline decided to play along.

“If you can do it, go ahead and try.”

“Just don’t be surprised when it happens.”

“Alright. I won’t even bat an eye.”

“That’s a bit harsh… It’s our wedding, after all.”

Their idle chatter spread comfortably through the bedroom.

After talking for a while, the two of them eventually drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Unaware of what else the future might bring.

***

Just as Emeline was getting used to the mansion, she asked Benica to bring Mel from the duke’s residence.

After giving the maid the task, she strolled leisurely through the mansion’s garden paths.

Though the heavy scent of roses that once dominated the estate had faded, the warm fragrance of flowers still lingered.

‘Normally, Zenon would’ve come along. But today, his aide dragged him off to the study.’

Lately, Zenon had been slacking off, using the excuse that he couldn’t leave Emeline alone since she wasn’t yet familiar with the mansion.

‘He’s the one who can’t stand being alone.’

Thinking of him, Emeline let out a soft chuckle and looked up at the sky, bathed in gentle sunlight.

Short garden trees flanked her on both sides, guiding her to the next path.

As she basked in the serenity with her eyes closed—

“Miss, there you are.”

Benica’s voice came from the distance. Emeline turned her head toward it.

At the entrance of a fork in the path where a few pink roses were blooming brightly, the maid stood neatly.

“Where’s Mel?”

Looking closely, she saw the maid wasn’t with the cat.

Mel was picky and didn’t like staying with strangers for long. Maybe she had left him somewhere quiet in the mansion.

But Benica’s next words completely shattered that assumption.

“The young master brought Mel with him. He’s in the drawing room now.”

“Don’t tell me… Brother Antony?”

“Yes.”

“He came to the mansion?”

“That’s right.”

Emeline was momentarily speechless. What on earth was Antony Delzeier doing here so suddenly?

Seeing her bewildered expression, Benica smiled gently and offered a quick explanation.

“He said he was curious about how you were doing. I told him you’ve been in good health and smiling more than usual, but…”

“What did you say exactly?”

“That you’ve been well, smiling often, and not sick at all.”

“…And then?”

“Even so, he insisted on seeing for himself…”