A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Don’t Stop

“……”

Emeline, her gaze fixed on a certain spot, lost her words for a moment. Shock evident in her eyes, she looked at Zenon’s face and then looked back down.

Emeline instinctively closed her legs.

Watching her, Zenon suddenly burst into laughter. As he stroked himself, he kindly moved the hand that had been half-covering himself.

With a playful look, he asked, “Why?”

“You’re… kind of…”

Emeline began to say something but then shut her mouth again. She’d never seen one before, but her instincts told her that its size was unusual.

As she hesitated and pulled back, Zenon snickered as if he was about to laugh out loud.

“Where did that bold Emeline Delzeier go?”

“I’m still here… I was just surprised because it’s my first time seeing it.”

Annoyed by his teasing, Emeline responded as if it were no big deal. Still, she couldn’t stop her gaze from darting down, her eyes now slightly subdued.

“Ah, really… You are so funny.”

Finally, he hugged her, half-falling over as he laughed. His hair brushed against Emeline’s shoulder, tickling her skin.

After a moment of listening to each other’s heartbeats, Zenon raised himself up. Under his disheveled golden hair, the playful look in his eyes had given way to seriousness.

“Emeline, if you don’t want this, tell me. No, it’s better if you say it now. I… can’t stop.”

It was a warning, similar yet different from before, and then he fell silent. It was obvious from the state of his body that Zenon was already at his limit.

This time, a shallow laugh escaped Emeline. “Where did that Zenon Trancium go, the one who told me to pull his hair if I wanted him to stop?”

Teasing him, Emeline looked at him with affectionate eyes. Zenon had been considerate of her from the start. In her life, no one had ever shown her this much care.

She had been born with so much that the world seemed kind, but in truth, those around her had been considerate not of Emeline the person, but of her countless connections.

But Zenon wasn’t like that.

‘You’re special.’

Emeline took Zenon’s hand and moved it downward. She flinched as his large hand touched her damp skin again.

“I don’t hate it… so don’t stop.”

“…You’re really sometimes even more reckless than I am.”

Zenon chuckled and moved his fingers. As Emeline gasped for breath, he wrapped his hands around her legs and positioned himself.

Standing between her parted thighs, he looked down at the opening with intense eyes. The scorching heat of their bodies met at that secret place.

Emeline instinctively held her breath, and a stifled groan escaped Zenon.

Pleasure and pain moved forward, separated by a fine line.

Their breaths intermingled, the heat between them growing more intense. The more her body moved to his rhythm, the more Emeline’s mind seemed to burn away.

Every worry and fear melted beneath the warmth of her connection with Zenon.

“Zenon…”

Her voice, mixed with panting, slipped out. Emeline squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, only to find Zenon’s index finger slipping into her parted lips.

Her body was hot and overwhelmed, yet she looked up at him as if to ask what he was doing.

Zenon pressed her tongue with his finger, a rough breath mixed with laughter escaping him.

“Sorry, you’re just so beautiful…”

“……”

“I love this so much… Ha…”

He slowly withdrew his hand and kissed her lips. Despite the sweat making her sticky, Emeline didn’t mind his closeness.

In the increasingly desperate sensations, she wished he would push even deeper.

Zenon’s hand slid down again, rubbing the place where they were joined. Emeline sobbed, hugging his shoulders tightly.

A merciless wave of pleasure surged through her.

The worries that had tormented her all day seemed to vanish completely. Emeline believed without a doubt that it was all because of Zenon.

“…Zenon.”

Murmuring while leaning against him, she felt his slow hand brush her hair aside. The sweat was gradually cooling.

“Are you sleepy?”

“Mm…”

“You can sleep. I’ll take care of things.”

Zenon pressed a kiss on Emeline’s white forehead with a soft ‘smack.’ She gave a faint, helpless smile.

“You need to go soon.”

“I’ll tidy up, watch you sleep… I’ll stay just a bit longer. Until morning comes.”

“Why not just live here?”

“Really? Should I run to your father right now and ask for his permission?”

“You’re completely naked now.”

Emeline laughed languidly. She, too, wanted to keep looking at Zenon, but exhaustion was taking over. Despite her effort to keep her eyes open, her vision slowly faded to darkness.

“Emeline.”

She felt a soft call but couldn’t answer.

After a long silence, she heard a faint voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, the chirping of cicadas, which should have ended long ago, filled the air. It had come without warning, like a summer shower at the end of the season.

Emeline gave a small twitch before falling into a deep sleep.

With a light touch on her lips, a soft voice whispered in her ear.

Goodnight, I love you.

***

Afternoon.

Emeline, after a long while, came down from her room, planning to take a walk to Elvarto’s central square.

But today, the atmosphere in the mansion seemed strange. It felt almost the same as usual, yet something was off.

She glanced around. Nothing seemed different, but the servants seemed unusually restless.

As she quietly watched, they hurried away as if they could feel her eyes on them, quickly getting back to their tasks.

‘…Is it just me? Something feels strange.’

Emeline left the mansion and boarded the carriage. Despite her suspicion, she had something more important to attend to now.

It might seem like just a casual stroll to the central square, but it wasn’t.

Right now, she was busy preparing for her entrance exam, but she couldn’t forget about her upcoming debutante.

At the event, Emeline would formally debut in society, and as many expected, she would take her place as the belle of the social scene.

Heading to the bustling square at this time of year held significant meaning for that purpose. By now, the central square, with its large fountain leading to a beautiful park, would likely be bustling with small social gatherings.

Arriving shortly at the central square, Emeline stepped out of the carriage and looked around. This square, connected to the expansive park, was crowded with nobles coming for walks or small social gatherings during the social season.

Emeline glanced up at the blazing sun, then opened her parasol, decorated with butterfly patterns, pearls, and white lace. The parasol sparkled as sunlight reflected off the transparent gems.

Soon, she began wandering around, using her stroll as an excuse to survey the area.

One by one, the young ladies sitting at the tables throughout the square, enjoying their gatherings, recognized Emeline and approached her warmly.

“Oh, Lady Delzeier! What a pleasure to run into you here. Since we happened to meet, why don’t you join us for some tea?”

“Lady Delzeier, you know that my father has been expanding into the design business, right? We were just discussing some new accessories, and I’d love for you to join the conversation.”

“Now, now, Lady Mary Jane. I was the first to speak to Lady Delzeier, so cutting in like this seems a bit unfair, don’t you think?”

“Oh dear, was that so? I was just eager to share some special news with Lady Delzeier, so I didn’t realize you were already talking.”

There was a subtle tug-of-war between them, each trying to pull Emeline into their gathering. Emeline smiled politely and gestured for them to settle down.

“Thank you all for your lovely offers. Since I have time today, I don’t mind visiting each of you. I’ll join Lady Mary Jane first.”

Emeline made sure to attend each of the gatherings that had invited her, mingling with everyone.

It was a tiring experience, but one she was well-accustomed to.

Ironically, the Duke of Delzeier’s standing hadn’t suffered much, even after starting a business with the Marquis of Trancium.

In fact, rumors were circulating that the Duke had approached the Marquis under the pretense of business to withdraw support for the second prince, and this raised his status even further.

Because of this, even more people than before tried to hold on to Emeline.

If the Duke became the main figure behind the collapse of the faction supporting the second prince, the crown prince’s most significant rival, his influence would be unmatched.

‘Father is indeed… skilled at deception.’

Emeline might have believed in his cause herself once, but her thoughts had changed. Her father was enforcing his obsessive ideals onto her—ideals he himself didn’t follow.

Bernard Delzeier was, without a doubt, a hypocrite.

The notion that he was “reforming” the Marquis of Trancium was nothing but a pretense to protect his own position.

Emeline checked the time and decided to leave. She had made enough rounds to establish connections.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, I want to return home and finish the flower arrangements I couldn’t complete yesterday. Today was truly enjoyable.”

The truth was, she wanted to head back early to prepare for Zenon’s possible visit that evening.

Recalling the night she had spent with him not long ago, Emeline blushed. Her heart fluttered just at the thought.

“You’ll accept our invitation next time too, right?”

“Of course.”

Emeline exchanged farewell greetings with Lady Belvot’s group, where she had been last, and was about to turn away when—

“Lady Delzeier, is that you?”

Startled by the sudden call, Emeline turned her head to see a well-dressed young man standing there.

Unsure if she recognized him, Emeline tilted her head slightly, then her eyes widened in realization.

“…Lord Hanover?”

Renel Hanover.

Standing before her was her betrothed, as named by her father, the Duke.