A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: What Are We?

Fortunately, the storm had passed overnight, and by morning, the sky was completely clear.

Emeline opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling and quickly got up to prepare for the day.

The servants at the Trancium estate took good care of Emeline as their guest.

Occasionally, they mentioned Bellina, saying that she had specifically asked them to look after Emeline, though these were details Emeline hadn’t been curious about.

Emeline, now finished with her morning preparations, had a simple breakfast and sat by the tea table next to the window.

“My lady, the young master has come to see you.”

Upon hearing the good news, Emeline immediately stood up.

Last night, Zenon had told her they could study together in the field behind the mansion.

Wearing a light yellow dress provided by the estate, Emeline donned a wide-brimmed hat to block the sunlight and left the room.

She stepped into the hallway and found the person she had been waiting for.

“Hello.”

He greeted her with his usual smile, and there was none of the awkwardness from yesterday in his voice. For some reason, Emeline found his voice ticklish.

“Hi, hello.”

“Emeline, wait a moment.”

Just as she was about to move forward after their brief greeting, Zenon stopped her.

He reached out, gently lifting the brim of Emeline’s hat, which had tilted slightly.

“Now I can see you better.”

At his meaningful words, Emeline looked at him with a puzzled expression.

However, Zenon said nothing more, instead starting to lead the way with a satisfied look.

“I picked out books I thought you’d like. All you need to do is follow me.”

“You’re more prepared than I thought.”

“I tend to be.”

Zenon led Emeline to the wide field behind the mansion.

A gentle breeze swept through, making the grass sway. The field stretched from the hill to a small, flat forest beyond.

Zenon climbed the gentle hill and stopped at the top. There, he had prepared a spot for them.

Following him, Emeline looked around and blinked in disbelief.

“There’s no table, or anything at all.”

All that was there was a large checkered cloth laid on the grass.

“How are we supposed to study here?”

“We can’t take notes, but we can read. And if you really need to write, you can lie on your stomach and take notes.”

Emeline was horrified by Zenon’s suggestion.

Taking notes while lying on her stomach outside? That was hardly appropriate for a lady.

“Are you serious?”

“There’s no one else around to see us, so what’s the problem?”

“Aren’t you a person? Don’t you have eyes?”

“I don’t care.”

Emeline gaped at him, speechless.

Zenon, seemingly amused by her reaction, laughed before sitting down on the cloth, gesturing for her to join him.

“We can’t bring a table here now. Just think of it as a picnic.”

“Even so…”

“It’s cool and nice here, relaxing too. Come sit.”

Zenon patted the spot beside him. Emeline reluctantly sat down next to him.

Zenon handed her one of the books he had brought.

Emeline looked at the title of the book he handed her and tilted her head.

“About Joe…?”

“My favorite book.”

“You want me to read it?”

“You don’t have to read it now. I’m giving it to you.”

“What? Why give this to me if it’s your favorite?”

“Consider it an apology for not preparing a proper table. A way to make amends.”

Emeline couldn’t help but laugh at his playful tone, then looked more closely at the book, her laughter deepening.

“It’s too worn to be an apology gift. The cover is faded, and it looks well-read… How many times have you read this?”

“Countless times. It’s such an impressive book. I think you’ll like it too.”

Giving such an old book as a gift—it was very much like Zenon Trancium.

Yet it wasn’t that he lacked sincerity; the wear and tear on the book was proof of its importance to him.

Despite being used to receiving expensive jewelry or dresses as gifts since childhood, this worn-out book felt strangely more meaningful.

It was the first time she had received such a gift.

It was also the first time she felt this kind of warm joy.

“Since it’s an apology, I’ll accept it.”

“I’m honored.”

“What about the other books?”

“There are plenty here.”

The books Zenon brought were similar to the ones Emeline usually read.

Picking one, Emeline sat with her legs tucked to the side and began turning the pages.

The gusty remnants of yesterday’s storm occasionally swept across the field.

While reading, Emeline found herself fiddling with the ribbon under her chin. Wearing a hat made it hard to read as the brim cast a shadow.

She fumbled with the ribbon tied beneath her chin, furrowing her brow.

‘How tightly did they tie this?’

Perhaps they had tied it tightly so it wouldn’t come loose in the wind.

Setting her book aside, Emeline used both hands to work on the knot.

After struggling for a while, Zenon suddenly reached over.

His hand met hers at the ribbon. When their warmth brushed together, Emeline flinched and pulled her hand back.

Zenon used both hands to untie the ribbon.

“You’re really struggling with this.”

His face, visible beyond the brim of her hat, looked exasperated. Emeline found herself getting annoyed over nothing.

“The knot was tied too tightly, so of course it’s hard to untie.”

“But I’m doing just fine.”

Zenon glanced at Emeline and shrugged. Just as he said, the knot was loosening bit by bit.

As the ribbon nearly came undone, Emeline glared at Zenon.

“I couldn’t see the knot, but you’re untying someone else’s, so of course—”

She cut herself off abruptly. Just as the ribbon came loose, a strong gust of wind blew.

Feeling the sudden lightness on her head, Emeline instinctively reached up, but her hat was already in the air.

Zenon stretched his arm out farther than hers and caught the hat before it flew away.

Emeline let out a sigh of relief, but as both of them shifted to catch the hat, they lost their balance and fell.

“Ah…”

Fortunately, the soft grass cushioned Emeline’s fall, so she wasn’t hurt.

Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked, startled.

A shadow loomed over her.

Zenon had fallen with her but held himself above her, his hands on the ground to avoid crushing her.

Their eyes met, and Emeline’s gaze wavered nervously.

They were close—so close that she couldn’t move.

The sunlight pouring down behind him made the scene look dreamlike, his golden hair shining brilliantly in the light.

Mesmerized, Emeline’s gaze drifted from his face to his lips, the same lips that had left a strong impression on her before.

“Emeline.”

Zenon’s soft voice broke the stillness. Perhaps because of the shadows, his eyes looked darker than usual.

“That engagement… Are you really going through with it?”

It was an unexpected question, but Zenon looked serious. Emeline was momentarily taken aback, then remembered their argument in the study.

“…Did you actually think I was going to get engaged?”

Engaged?

“You’re not?”

He sounded surprised, his eyes showing both shock and relief.

To Emeline, it was such an obvious answer that she hadn’t even considered it.

Did he think she was getting engaged, and that’s why he avoided her after they kissed?

Feeling both bewildered and indignant, Emeline answered firmly, “Of course not. I don’t like anyone less intelligent than I am. Is that why you avoided me?”

During Zenon’s absence, Emeline had thought a lot about their relationship.

What Zenon Trancium meant to her and what these feelings toward him were.

With a displeased expression, Emeline reached out. Unlike before, this action followed her true feelings, not an impulsive whim.

She clasped her hands behind Zenon’s neck, pulling him closer—just as he was trapping her with his arms now.

Out of all the people she knew, there was only one man smarter than her in her world.

After much deliberation, Emeline realized what Zenon meant to her.

“Zenon.”

As she called his name and pulled him in, Zenon’s arms, which had been holding him up, gave way easily.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

Emeline pressed her lips against his.

Zenon hesitated briefly but soon returned her kiss.

Her heart began pounding rapidly, the world growing quiet, leaving only the sound of her heartbeat echoing in her ears. Emeline’s arms tightened around him.

Their breathing grew ragged, and the air between them turned warm and dizzying.

The storm from the day before seemed to have left behind an intensity that swept through them now.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were out of breath, their lips damp from the kiss.

Zenon’s eyes were clouded with heightened emotions and longing.

After staring at her for a long moment, Zenon asked, “What are we?”

Emeline, still catching her breath, couldn’t answer immediately.

Zenon brushed a hand through her dark hair.

“Are we still friends?”

After catching her breath, Emeline finally responded, “…You’ve never been a friend.”

The words might have sounded like a barrier, but her voice was infinitely soft. At her answer, Zenon laughed warmly.

Perhaps only Zenon Trancium could truly understand the sincerity behind her blunt words.

Zenon cupped Emeline’s cheek gently. “You were never just ordinary to me either.”

At his words, Emeline smiled faintly.

And when she closed her eyes again, a kiss softer and more tender than before followed.