A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: To Our Home

The peaceful chirping of birds signaled the morning.

At the sound, Emeline slowly opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.

A green canopy, both familiar and unfamiliar, came into view.

As her blinking slowed, Emeline turned her head to look at the space beside her.

‘…Right. This isn’t the marquisate.’

She thought this as she looked at the empty spot that already felt hollow after just a few nights sleeping beside Zenon.

Carefully, Emeline rose from bed.

‘It’s already been a week since I came home.’

When she shook the bell on the nightstand, the maids came bustling in to prepare a washbasin.

Treated like a patient, Emeline didn’t lift a finger as she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and finished breakfast.

‘Fortunately, I wasn’t badly injured.’

Miraculously, she hadn’t fractured anything—just numerous bruises and abrasions across her body. The fact that she hadn’t hit her head was the greatest relief.

Emeline had received IV fluids at the hospital and returned to the ducal estate the next day.

And now, a week had passed.

In that time, the House of Delzeier had undergone a great shift.

Emeline unfolded the morning paper left by the maid.

Right from the beginning, there was news about Bernard Delzeier.

[Collapse of the Edelroa Exhibition Hall, no major casualties thanks to a miracle… Those responsible will be punished in due time.]

The cause of the collapse was shoddy construction.

Bernard Delzeier had entrusted the project to the world-renowned designer and architect Kuhn Beller, but the architect had embezzled part of the funds, and the lack of basic post-construction inspections had become the issue.

‘It happened because Father had absolute trust in Kuhn Beller. He truly believed the place was safe.’

He had never imagined such a thing could happen at the exhibition hall.

By the time Bernard tried to hold Kuhn Beller accountable, the conman had already fled across the border.

[Considering that the building’s owner is a member of the royal circle, he will step down from his title and spend a period of self-discipline at a remote estate, leaving the capital in two weeks.]

Reading about her father’s punishment, Emeline let out a short scoff.

There were gaps in the story.

In addition to that, Bernard Delzeier had also donated some of his companies and part of his wealth to the royal family.

Since all the artworks in the Edelroa Exhibition Hall had been destroyed, the losses were actually far greater.

‘But surprisingly, Father accepted it all without resistance.’

The shock of nearly losing his daughter had led him to deep remorse and reflection.

‘I still can’t forgive him… but it does feel like a good change. It’s just a shame the family name was tainted.’

Lately, Bernard had been visiting Emeline after lunch, looking after her with great care before leaving.

His actions felt unfamiliar and awkward to her.

She recalled the conversation they had just the day before.

“I appreciate that you’re trying, but please don’t think I’ll forgive you just because of this.”

“…I understand. I just want to try to change how you feel, even if it’s only now. I don’t know if that’s possible at this point, though…”

“……”

“It seems that in trying to make you a daughter I could be proud of, I ended up pushing you away and eventually drove you to danger. If only I hadn’t treated you that way, none of this would’ve happened…”

Attributing the recent accident to the oppression he had inflicted was a far-reaching thought.

But Bernard, who had been torturing himself, seemed to have come to that conclusion on his own.

Emeline answered after a long silence, “No, it would’ve happened regardless. If you think that way, it’ll only make things more uncomfortable between us. We won’t ever be as close as before.”

“……”

“Still, I should thank you for one thing. I suppose it’s thanks to you that I first met Zenon. And though I wasn’t happy, you did raise me without lacking in anything.”

Her father’s carefully constructed world had, in the end, been the biggest factor in her crossing paths with Zenon.

And thanks to that, Emeline had also learned how to reclaim her life.

Listening quietly, Bernard had answered with reddened eyes and a bitter expression, “…I see.”

Recalling her father’s transformation, Emeline folded the newspaper and set it aside.

Then, feeling a bit aimless, she gazed blankly out the window.

‘…I miss him.’

It had already been a week since she last saw Zenon after arriving at the ducal estate.

They had exchanged letters during that time, but it wasn’t enough.

‘With Father here, it didn’t feel right to summon Zenon.’

Even if her father seemed regretful now, it was unclear whether he would approve of Zenon, so bringing him over on her own had felt too presumptuous.

Now that she was Baroness Basilk, she technically didn’t have to follow her father’s wishes anymore…

But still, this house belonged to her father.

‘Zenon must miss me too.’

Her body had mostly regained its strength now, and with her father soon to depart for his estate, it wouldn’t be long before she saw Zenon again.

Just as Emeline was finishing her wistful thoughts—

There came a knock at the door.

“It’s me.”

The one who left behind that arrogantly brief introduction was none other than Antony.

He entered Emeline’s room and leaned casually against the doorframe, not even bothering to close the door properly.

Watching him with a look that said, What now?, Emeline spoke, “You must be busy these days. What brings you here?”

Antony had been extremely busy lately, inheriting their father’s title.

Since the Duke had officially stepped down, Antony was now, in all but name, the new Duke Delzeier.

With one hand tucked into his pocket, he chuckled lightly. “I am a bit busy. But I still came to check on you, didn’t I?”

With the arrogant tone of someone expecting gratitude, Emeline gave him a disapproving look. She had heard it often, but still found it astounding.

Flipping the page of the book she was holding, Emeline asked, “So why are you here, Brother? And close the door, will you?”

Antony, silently observing her calm and indifferent demeanor, finally answered, “You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“One carrying a bouquet bigger than you.”

At those words, Emeline set down her book and looked at him.

A bouquet bigger than her? There was only one person who would do something so indulgent.

“Don’t tell me… Zenon’s here?”

“Why don’t you see for yourself?”

With a half-hearted reply, Antony glanced past the open door and then stepped aside.

Before long, someone appeared in Emeline’s line of sight, holding a large, lush bouquet.

Peeking his head out beside the flowers, he smiled shyly.

“Hello.”

“Zenon…!”

Emeline’s expression lit up in an instant as she got down from the bed.

Without even putting on slippers, she ran straight to him. Zenon watched her with a gentle gaze.

He shifted the bouquet to one hand and pulled her into his arms with the other. Their long-missed warmth met again.

Though only a week had passed, there was no longer the scent of cologne or cigars on Zenon.

There was only his familiar scent, now accompanied by a soft rose fragrance.

Just like the intense scent she once remembered from the marquisate, when the roses were in full bloom.

Emeline hugged Zenon tightly.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I’m glad you seem much better now.”

Zenon gently caressed her cheek as she looked up at him.

The comforting sound of his heartbeat stirred Emeline’s heart with a tender and ticklish warmth.

“How did you get here? Did my brother… let you in?”

Emeline glanced toward the unwelcome guest standing behind.

Antony, who had been watching with a conflicted expression, replied, “All I did was open the door. You can get the details from him. I’ll be going.”

Shaking his head as though he’d seen something he shouldn’t have, Antony finally closed the door and left.

Feeling Zenon brush her hair aside, Emeline looked up again.

In response to her earlier question, he said, “I met your father a few times while you were at home.”

“You met my father…?”

“Guess what I got out of it.”

Zenon grinned as if daring her to guess. Emeline only looked up at him blankly.

As her eyes blinked in confusion, Zenon whispered proudly, “His permission for us to marry.”

“What…? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Your father acknowledged me. He finally realized that no one could love Emeline Delzeier more than I do.”

At his teasing words, Emeline let out a short laugh.

Still leaning against his chest, she stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

“Thank goodness…”

“Yeah. Now there’s no one left to oppose our marriage.”

Even if Bernard Delzeier had stubbornly opposed it alone, the wedding would’ve happened anyway, but Emeline felt elated.

It truly felt like everyone had acknowledged them.

It felt like no one could separate them now.

Overwhelmed with happiness, she smiled dreamily. Zenon then added softly, “And… about our wedding venue.”

“Yeah?”

“I got permission to use the royal chapel.”

“…That place? But after the Crown Prince’s wedding… even the Second Prince wasn’t allowed to use it.”

Emeline pulled back slightly and looked at him with wide eyes.

Zenon grinned knowingly, as if expecting her surprise.

“I asked, and they said yes.”

He omitted the part where he had spent a long time regularly petitioning the royal family for it.

“It’s a little short of renting out the entire palace, but since it’s a bit lacking, I’ll just treat you even better.”

His mix of playful and sincere words made Emeline’s eyes crinkle as she smiled brightly.

“I’m already deeply moved.”

Watching her smile, which shone like sunlight, Zenon lowered his head and kissed her gently.

Then he pulled her into his arms again and said, “Let’s go now. To our home.”

“Okay.”

The warm sunlight pouring into the bedroom through the window colored their shadows.

Gentle and bright—like the hue and warmth of happiness itself.