A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Interests

“What… who are you?”

Viscount Blante, seemingly unable to see Zenon clearly in the dimly lit corridor due to his drunken state, squinted his eyes. The lower half of his body was hidden in shadow, obscured by the columns in the hallway.

Zenon introduced himself vaguely and irritatingly, as if he had no intention of making himself known.

“Me? Someone much better-looking than you… Emeline Delzeier’s lover.”

“What…”

“Lady Delzeier’s lover? That’s absurd!”

Zenon’s bombshell statement left both Emeline and Viscount Blante in shock, momentarily aligning them against Zenon. Emeline quickly looked around to make sure no one else had overheard before glaring at Zenon.

If anyone had witnessed this, they would have thought a savior had arrived to rescue her from a scoundrel. But in reality, to Emeline, it felt like yet another troublemaker had appeared.

Seeing Emeline’s burning gaze, Zenon simply raised his hand, gesturing for her to stay put. By now, Viscount Blante had turned his back to Emeline, glaring at Zenon.

“Lover? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Who the hell are you? Come closer so I can see your face.”

Viscount Blante reached out to grab Zenon’s collar, but Zenon swiftly stepped back, avoiding his grasp. Viscount Blante, already unsteady from the alcohol, stumbled heavily but managed to regain his balance.

Though he had nearly fallen, he glared at Zenon with bloodshot eyes. “Do you even know who I am…”

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol!”

Zenon suddenly pinched his nose dramatically, his expression twisted in exaggerated disgust. Viscount Blante hesitated, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected reaction.

“Oh, you should really drink in moderation. Is it any wonder all the ladies run away from you? Not that you had much charm to begin with. You must terrify them even if you try to approach.”

“What…”

“And now you’re trying to chase after Lady Delzeier while acting like this? Why bother climbing a tree you can’t possibly reach?”

Viscount Blante, seemingly unable to process what Zenon was saying, stared at him in dumbfounded silence. Zenon looked at him with a grimace, stepping closer.

The moonlight illuminated Zenon’s face as he moved out of the shadows. Emeline, who had been watching with an expression of disbelief, also turned her gaze to him, now bathed in pale light.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. Zenon offered her a light smile before dropping his gaze, looking at Viscount Blante with disapproval. His hair fell to the side, following the tilt of his head.

Seeing Zenon’s face, Viscount Blante’s eyes widened. Zenon smiled mockingly at him as he spoke, “Lady Delzeier already has someone.”

Viscount Blante, who had been opening and closing his mouth wordlessly, began pointing accusingly.

“You… you…”

Zenon shrugged his eyebrows and walked past him, gently taking Emeline’s hand in his. The sudden contact made Emeline flinch as if she had been burned.

Zenon didn’t stop there. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist as if to flaunt their closeness. Emeline stiffened as her body pressed against his. Her heart raced, perhaps out of shock.

Reflexively, she looked up at Zenon. He looked down at her, his smile almost pleading for understanding, as if he had no choice but to do this.

In that instant, Emeline felt an overwhelming sensation of discomfort and anxiety. She felt an urgent need to push Zenon Trancium away.

‘But if I push him away now, Viscount Blante will definitely think something strange…’

In the end, Emeline pursed her lips, resting her forehead against Zenon’s chest. She thought she heard Zenon take a small breath.

Zenon gave her a reassuring pat, then turned to Viscount Blante, who was still pointing at him.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s me. The famously handsome one. You must be feeling chatty with all that alcohol. Why don’t you go spread the news?”

“……”

“If you don’t leave soon, you might see something you regret.”

Zenon’s expression gradually hardened.

Viscount Blante, who had been staring at Zenon in a daze, glanced at Emeline before quickly turning and leaving the scene.

Emeline watched his retreating figure, her mouth agape at the sudden turn of events.

‘Telling him to spread the news… Are you insane?’

Sensing her disbelief, Zenon smiled sheepishly. Emeline shot him a furious look before shoving him away with both hands.

“What are you doing? What if strange rumors start spreading?”

“They won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“That guy forgets even his own name after a few drinks. Besides, who would believe him if he said we were secretly in love?”

Zenon grinned mischievously as he stretched out his words. Emeline glared at him, her irritation growing.

However, what he said wasn’t entirely wrong. And it was true that Zenon had managed to drive Viscount Blante away.

“If anything happens, you’re taking responsibility.”

“Of course.”

Zenon’s unexpectedly compliant response made Emeline let out a sigh of exasperation.

He was truly strange. Despite her publicly humiliating him, he had jumped in to help her without hesitation.

‘Why…’

Though she was confused, Emeline turned her head, deciding she didn’t need to understand his motives. She had no interest in understanding Zenon Trancium.

With a headache coming on, Emeline stepped onto the terrace in the center of the corridor. It was a space designed to give a clear view of the beautifully landscaped garden.

As she stepped into the space to clear her head, she heard someone following her. Emeline turned to look, unable to pretend she hadn’t noticed.

“Why are you following me? You should be on your way.”

“I don’t want to.”

Zenon smiled, coming closer as if he had no intention of leaving. Emeline stepped back with every step he took until her back hit the terrace railing.

“You should just leave. Aren’t you even a little grateful to me?”

Zenon rested his hands on either side of Emeline, trapping her against the railing. A faint scent of cigar smoke and roses wafted toward her, mixing into a subtle, unique fragrance.

Emeline, flustered, avoided his gaze, but eventually forced herself to meet his eyes.

“Move. What if someone sees us…”

“And if they do, so what? Do you think we’re about to do something forbidden?”

“What… What did you just say?” Emeline was stunned by his indecent comment. “Don’t you remember what I said before? You should do these things with someone else.”

“I remember. But I don’t do this with anyone else.”

“Don’t lie.” Emeline’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Zenon tilted his head slightly, as if puzzled by her reaction. “I’m serious. No one has ever treated me so genuinely from the start. You seem the same inside and out.”

“…….”

Emeline still regarded him with an uncomfortable gaze.

The distance between them hadn’t decreased, but there was no sign of it increasing either.

Emeline stared into his green eyes, sparkling like stars. His words were crude, yet there was always an inexplicable sincerity in his eyes.

“I don’t understand you.”

Emeline thought that this contradiction she sensed from Zenon often led her to an unfamiliar feeling, pulling her into uncharted territory. It always left her feeling unsettled.

Zenon chuckled. “I bet you insult me in your mind too, just like you do to my face.”

Emeline almost denied it, but seeing Zenon’s lips curve into a deeper smile, she paused.

“I’ve never experienced this before. No one has ever treated me this honestly.”

“…….”

“That’s why I’m curious about you.”

What kind of person you are? What you’re hiding? And why do you seem so desperate to protect yourself?

His smooth voice slowly came to a stop. Emeline, who had been staring blankly at his face, suddenly snapped out of it. She realized she had been momentarily entranced by his expression, and she was startled.

“Ugh…”

A faint scoff escaped her lips. Zenon continued to gaze at her, as if observing her reactions closely.

Emeline glared at him sharply. “You have a wild imagination, and I hope you keep it to yourself. Now, move.”

She couldn’t forget that Zenon was capable of telling all sorts of lies to charm others. She pushed against Zenon’s chest. Though she hadn’t used much strength, Zenon allowed himself to be pushed away.

Emeline couldn’t believe she had been caught up in his schemes, even for a moment. Zenon Trancium knew perfectly well that they could never have this kind of relationship—their connection was nothing but a game to him.

She didn’t know how his family was so liberal that he could toy with someone from a rival family… But even if it was fine for him, it wasn’t fine for her.

Wrong actions always had consequences. Emeline hoped Zenon would understand this sooner rather than later. She tried to drive the point home, opening her mouth to speak.

But it felt as if a heavy stone had lodged itself in her throat, making it hard to say anything.

‘Isn’t this the right way to deal with Zenon Trancium?’

Ignoring the gritty feeling in her heart, Emeline spoke harshly, “I understand what you mean. But is that really a reason to act like this toward me? Why bother someone who clearly wants nothing to do with you?”

Zenon, who had been looking into her cold eyes, slowly lowered the corners of his lips.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, “…That’s harsh. It’s like you’ve forgotten everything I did for you. That actually hurts.”

He genuinely sounded hurt. Emeline felt a pang of something, but she ignored it.

“If you feel that way, then don’t approach me like this. There’s nothing good that will come from me getting involved with you. I just hate wasting my energy on you.”

Emeline lowered her voice, warning him before walking past him.

Her steps felt heavy.

A wave of regret washed over her.

Maybe she should have thanked him properly this time…

‘No, why should I? Zenon Trancium isn’t being genuine. Who knows what his real motives are? Talking about gratitude or guilt in this relationship is absurd.’

Get a grip, Emeline Delzeier.

…Only someone who’s lost their mind would feel this mixed-up over someone like him.