A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Rank Thief

***

Emeline first properly got to know Zenon Trancium four years ago at the academy.

There was a time when attending the academy was considered the exclusive privilege of male students. However, since Queen Marcella, the previous monarch, referred to the academy as a “miniature social circle,” it had become a trend among nobles to send their daughters there to prepare for social life.

For Emeline, who loved studying, it was a deeply meaningful opportunity. It would surely be a stepping stone to achieving her big dream.

Before meeting at the academy, there had been no notable connection between Emeline and Zenon. She had only seen him occasionally at informal social gatherings she attended with her father or mother, where he would be present as the marquis’s son. However, they had never spoken directly—maybe their eyes met once or twice?

Most of what she knew about him came from other people.

“Tsk, foolish as ever. He should focus on managing his son’s conduct before speaking up like that. The boy disgraces the nobility at every turn.”

“Are you talking about Marquis Trancium?”

“Yes, it seems that the second son from that family also attends your school. He should’ve graduated long ago, but apparently, he fails so often that it’s become a habit.”

“Oh dear, it seems the marquis dotes on his youngest son. Allowing him to indulge like that…”

“You can’t hide where you come from. No matter how successful a nouveau riche might become, their essence remains unchanged. Instead, he becomes arrogant, forgetting his place and causing trouble.”

Emeline quietly listened to her father’s criticisms while sipping her tea.

The Duke of Delzeier and Marquis Trancium often clashed, leading to a strained relationship. The biggest reason was their differing political views. Even their love for the arts aligned, resulting in frequent rivalries over patronage.

‘But what bothers Father most about the marquis is probably his origins.’

Marquis Trancium, originally a commoner who rose to prominence, had extended a marriage proposal to an old count family in financial trouble. He essentially solved everything with money.

That’s why many looked at him with disdain.

Even at school, the gossip about his family was the same.

“Marquis Trancium may look proper enough, but his true nature can’t be hidden. Recently, he even took in a singer his wife was sponsoring as his mistress.”

Emeline listened quietly to her friends while drinking tea, just as she did at home.

“Oh my… The marchioness must be heartbroken.”

“Honestly, if it were me, I think I’d have given up by now.”

“True. The marquis’s son has caused so much trouble.” Lady Laresa fanned herself as she laughed heartily.

The topic of conversation shifted from Marquis Trancium to Zenon Trancium.

“They say he’s in the same year as us, but we’ve never seen him at school. At this rate, won’t it become dangerous for him?”

“That’s true. But honestly, aside from that… I’d like to meet him at least once.”

“Agreed. I wonder how handsome he must be to attract so many women. Just recently, they said Lady Beten, who made her debut, couldn’t resist him.”

“Oh, I heard that too. She fell madly in love with him and became his lover, only to find out she was his eighth.”

“Oh dear…”

“Lady Beten was so shocked that she tried to break up with him, but she ended up pining for him, eventually begging to come back.”

“That’s why she was spending all that money on gifts for him.”

“How unfortunate.”

The noble ladies sighed in unison after gossiping for a while, but their eyes still glistened with curiosity and excitement.

Emeline simply smiled quietly amidst the conversation.

Lady Larissa, sensing a shift in atmosphere, cautiously asked, “Lady Delzeier, what do you think of the Marquis of Trancium’s second son?”

“The marquis’s son…”

Emeline paused, and the noble ladies held their breaths in anticipation.

She was undeniably the center of this small social gathering and was destined to be a debutante, the future flower of high society. With her elegant demeanor and royal bloodline, if she disapproved of something, her friends would have to backtrack and say, “Actually, I felt the same way.”

Emeline maintained her silence for a moment before giving a light smile. “His behavior is truly vulgar. To make no attempt to conceal his shame… there’s not an ounce of dignity in him.”

“Oh, you’re right! It would be nice if he paid attention to his conduct.”

“Having eight lovers at the same time—what is he, a public commodity?”

Encouraged by Emeline’s agreement, the noble girls chattered enthusiastically.

Whenever Emeline responded with a smile, the atmosphere brightened even more.

‘…How boring.’

Though she smiled outwardly, that’s what she truly thought.

Emeline honestly had no interest in Zenon Trancium. She did think his promiscuous lifestyle was disgraceful, but she couldn’t tell if her negative view came from her father’s countless criticisms or her own judgment.

‘Judging without even meeting him seems rash.’

Considering that thought, it was probably closer to the former.

Emeline’s thoughts were her father’s thoughts.

Her life, which had been blindly following her father, had no trace of her own will. She had completely lost herself, swept away endlessly, like someone who couldn’t swim and kept getting pulled under.

Perhaps that was why Zenon Trancium sometimes seemed like someone from another world. His unrestrained lifestyle seemed unreal to her.

Crunch.

At that moment, she heard a sound behind her—someone stepping on the grass. Emeline turned slightly to look back, but no one was there.

“Lady Delzeier, is there something there?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Since they were gathered in the academy’s greenhouse during lunch, it wouldn’t be strange for someone to pass by.

Deciding to pay it no mind, Emeline returned to the boring conversation.

***

“Lady Delzeier, the test results are out,” Lady Angel of House Laresa said, clapping her hands.

Among her friends, Angel was particularly eager to be close to Emeline. Smiling brightly, she approached Emeline.

“I’m sure you’re first again this time, Lady Delzeier.”

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Lady Laresa.” Emeline smiled gently.

Her academic achievements were the only aspect of her life that carried her own will amidst her father’s commands.

Emeline walked with Angel toward the bulletin board where the rankings were posted. The test in question was a foreign language exam they had taken recently, on the day they talked about Marquis Trancium’s son.

“How can you be so brilliant, Lady Delzeier? I always think it’s truly amazing.”

“It’s simply because I enjoy it, and the ranks naturally follow.”

Angel spoke as if Emeline’s top rank was a certainty. Knowing these were simply pleasantries, Emeline remained humble, though she was pleased inside.

After all, there was no one at home who truly appreciated her results.

Suppressing a bitter smile, Emeline approached the bulletin board, where many students had gathered. Most were male students.

For the young women, school was just a place for basic education and preparation for social life, so most of them had little interest in grades.

Maybe it helped that only the top fifty students were listed publicly, sparing many from embarrassment.

Without squeezing into the crowd, Emeline scanned the rankings from afar, but then she paused.

First place…

Frowning, she looked at the rankings again, thinking she might have been mistaken.

By then, the students who had arrived before her were chattering excitedly.

“Lady Delzeier isn’t first?”

“Zenon Trancium? Is that the marquis’s son?”

“Is this rigged?”

“Well… it’s not like women being overly studious helps anyone. Maybe this will make her come to her senses. But seriously, Zenon Trancium getting first…”

“Hey, quiet.”

The students, who had been talking loudly, fell silent when they noticed Emeline standing behind them. But she paid them no mind.

Her gaze was fixed solely on the words “First place: Zenon Trancium.”

Zenon Trancium.

It was the first time his name had entered Emeline’s world.

As a rank thief.