A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Promise

Emeline hurried to the terrace, looking at Zenon with a startled expression, as he raised his index finger to his lips.

Before long, he quickly climbed down from the tree.

Emeline couldn’t take her eyes off him, feeling dizzy. It was fortunate, she thought, that it wasn’t such a tall tree.

Zenon, looking up at her, appeared surprisingly neat for someone who had just climbed up and down a tree.

Since her room was on the second floor, Emeline leaned forward to look down at him.

‘…What on earth are we supposed to do now?’

Emeline, who had only thought about sneaking out the front door unnoticed by the servants, instinctively knew what was about to happen next.

It felt like something absurd was going to happen, something absolutely…

Sure enough, Zenon tilted his head back to look at her and spread his arms. He smiled and mouthed quietly, ‘I’ll catch you.’

Emeline understood what he meant and was stunned.

Right now, jump down?

Me?

Even though it wasn’t a particularly high position, this was something that went against everything Emeline believed in.

What kind of lady climbs out of a window?

And before that, could she even avoid injury?

At this rate, they’d be vaulting over the mansion’s wall after reaching the gate. Emeline shook her head urgently.

Zenon tilted his head, puzzled, and mouthed, ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

Emeline squinted slightly. Zenon’s golden hair fluttered lightly in the breeze as he looked up at her.

After a moment of hesitation, Emeline spoke, “It’s not just fear, this is…”

“There’s no one watching, so why not?”

“You do know that you’re a person, right?”

If she really jumped off the railing, Zenon might end up seeing under her skirt because of the wind…

More than anything, Emeline wanted to show her best, most ladylike side to the person she liked.

As if reading her mind, Zenon burst into laughter.

“You’re beautiful no matter what you do.”

“…You really know what to say.”

“I’ll close my eyes then. I’ll still be able to catch you, so don’t worry and come on.”

Zenon closed his eyes and opened his arms even wider than before. Emeline looked at his eyelashes, lowered modestly, then shifted her gaze to the railing.

Though she wouldn’t die even if she fell… it was still a little scary.

As she hesitated, gripping the railing, she heard his voice, like a ghost, from below.

“Don’t be scared.”

She couldn’t see his lips as she was momentarily distracted, but she could faintly hear the words.

After thinking it over, Emeline made up her mind.

It was too difficult to back out now, and more than anything, she wanted to go see the fireworks with Zenon.

With a determined expression, she gathered her skirt and perched on the railing.

Despite her many misgivings, Emeline trusted Zenon.

She moved to where she thought Zenon could catch her and took a deep breath.

Then she pushed herself off the railing and jumped down.

The fierce wind grazed her skin, the sensation of falling sharp and vivid. Her heart pounded in shock.

Just before Emeline shut her eyes tightly, she saw Zenon open his eyes slightly, checking her descent.

He moved a step to position himself precisely.

Before long, Emeline’s body fell into the familiar warmth of Zenon’s arms.

Overwhelmed by the sudden sensation, Emeline hugged the warmth that had caught her. At the same time, strong arms wrapped firmly around her waist and hips, supporting her.

She could feel him adjusting his balance for a moment. Soon, Zenon was standing steadily on the ground without any wobble.

He had safely caught her.

Emeline, who was clinging to him like a frightened rabbit, slowly lifted her head to look at him.

“Hello.”

He greeted her with a teasing voice.

Emeline stared at him for a moment, then let out a belated laugh.

Now that she was safely in his arms, the fear she had felt seemed absurd, and an odd sense of exhilaration rose within her.

Emeline smiled amidst the cool night air and the garden’s soft lights.

And she questioned Zenon, “Did you peek earlier?”

“…Just a little? I had to make sure you wouldn’t get hurt. I swear I didn’t look up your skirt, so don’t worry.”

“…Honestly, I don’t know where to begin when it comes to pointing out everything wrong with tonight.”

From his rude words to his outrageous actions…

Emeline sighed as if she had a headache, but the fresh smile on her lips remained unbroken.

Zenon gently set her down.

“Shall we go?”

“Before we get caught. Quickly.”

“Right.”

Hand in hand, they moved toward the mansion’s gate, avoiding people’s eyes.

Sure enough, it was time for Emeline herself to climb over the wall. With Zenon’s help, she scrambled over.

The whole time, one thought kept echoing in her mind—this was madness.

“It looks like the fireworks have started. Let’s hurry.”

But as she ran hand in hand with Zenon toward the square, driven by his excited voice, all such thoughts vanished.

What does it matter, just this once?

As long as no one else found out, it wouldn’t be a problem at all.

With those thoughts, Emeline slowly began to realize the freedom of the moment.

The wind breezing through her hair and her light steps seemed to erase all the heavy thoughts in her heart.

When the fireworks finally filled the sky, she felt overwhelmed.

In the crowded square, looking up at the sky, Zenon asked, “Not bad, right?”

“Yeah.”

It wasn’t just “not bad”…

It was amazing.

More impressive than any refined and splendid scenery she had grown up seeing.

Underneath the fireworks, Emeline looked at Zenon, who was smiling mischievously.

Though he was the one who had suggested they come, he spent more time looking at her than at the sky.

Unable to understand his actions, Emeline let out a small laugh. In truth, she found herself looking more at him, bathed in the glow of the fireworks, than at the fireworks themselves.

Had she ever felt this way about someone before? She had never experienced it, but she could now feel exactly what it was like.

Emeline reached out and gently stroked Zenon’s cheek, lit up by the glow.

Zenon quietly tilted his head into her touch. The soft smile on his face made her heart flutter.

How strange.

At first, everything about him had been annoying and displeasing, but now it wasn’t.

She could feel the gentleness in his gaze and actions. Only now could she finally see it.

Suddenly, Zenon looked at Emeline and spoke, “You’re beautiful.”

It sounded like he was mumbling absentmindedly, or perhaps he was looking deep into her heart.

He seemed to be thinking the same thing as her. They were so different, yet had so many similarities.

Emeline let out a meaningless laugh. Instead of answering, she leaned closer to him.

Standing on her tiptoes, her nose nearly brushing his, Emeline called him softly.

“Zenon.”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

For bringing me out here.

A bright smile filled with cheerfulness bloomed on her lips.

“And… I like you.”

Emeline shyly confessed, pressing her lips to his. As if he had been waiting, their lips met with a shared weight.

The sound of her heartbeat seemed louder than the fireworks bursting in the sky.

That night was undoubtedly the greatest adventure of Emeline Delzeier’s life.

And it was the best adventure she had shared with Zenon.

This really was madness.

People shouldn’t be this happy.

Or maybe, just maybe, it had been her dull life that was mad all along.

In this moment, as multicolored fireworks filled her once colorless life, she finally felt like she was living in reality.

***

The next afternoon, Emeline sat by the window, sipping tea with a drowsy mind. Her vacant gaze was fixed on the bright scenery outside.

“Miss, are you alright?”

A voice suddenly broke her reverie, and Emeline turned her eyes.

The servant who had brought her tea was looking at her with a worried expression.

Emeline tilted her head slightly. “…Why, is there a problem?”

“No, it’s just that you always wake up early, but today you overslept, and I was worried… especially since you went to bed early last night. Are you feeling unwell?”

“I guess I had trouble sleeping last night, which is why I’m a bit tired. But my body is fine, so don’t worry.”

Emeline smiled at the servant to reassure her. It seemed they had no idea she had come back late the previous night.

After finishing her tea, Emeline sent the servant away and sat at her desk. She skillfully pulled out a thick notebook from deep inside the drawer.

Filling in the diary entry she hadn’t been able to write last night due to exhaustion, she then moved to the page where her schedule was organized.

There, the date for the entrance exam to the prestigious Robelque University, set for a month later, was written. It was underlined and circled.

‘It was thanks to Zenon that I was able to study consistently.’

On the days he didn’t come, she would secretly study in her room, pretending to work on embroidery.

‘Now it’s really close.’

Her heart pounded with excitement.

What had once made her anxious, fearing her father’s reaction, now felt strangely comfortable, knowing Zenon would be with her.

She suddenly remembered what Zenon had said while they were studying together in the library.

“I guarantee, when you get into Robelque, the scholarships, awards, top honors—they’ll all be yours. As long as I’m not going, of course.”

When she looked at him in disbelief, Zenon turned away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

Then he cautiously added,

“But you never know. Maybe I’ll be a bit foolish then… So… want to come with me? To Robelque University.”

He followed up with a shy smile. It seemed he was looking forward to their future together at the university.

“Let’s ask your father. If it doesn’t work, I’ll kneel beside you and beg. How could he refuse when you’re so sincere?”

We’ll meet there, then. Promise.

Zenon had insisted on taking Emeline’s hand and hooking their pinkies, even sealing it with a stamp.

It was childish, something kids would do. Even so, Emeline laughed at his actions. She was grateful that he had offered to help.

Besides, insisting on a promise like that was somewhat endearing.

“I guarantee, if you kneel without any hesitation in front of my father… you’ll probably never be allowed to visit our house again.”

“I… was planning to grab onto his leg, too. That would have been a disaster.”

Remembering his earnest expression, Emeline couldn’t help but laugh. Having such a silly yet supportive ally made her heart soften.

Underneath the words “entrance exam” written in her notebook, she wrote Zenon Trancium’s name.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that, with him by her side, she could convince her father.

After pausing for a moment, she moved her pen again, writing one more word before closing the notebook.

Promise.