A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: The Waning Summer

‘Today as well, he doesn’t come…’

Looking out the window at the descending darkness, Emeline turned away with a melancholic step. The time, which had long passed midnight, weighed heavily on her with fatigue.

It had already been a week since she learned that her father’s collaboration had fallen through.

During that time, Emeline had been waiting for a chance to talk with Zenon. She had questions for him.

But Zenon hadn’t come to find her, not even in the middle of the night. For over a week now.

Emeline collapsed onto the bed, then turned sideways as if to fall and lay down on it.

“I’m sorry.”

The words of apology, vaguely left behind by him on the day he comforted her, what did they mean? Was it the meaning I think it is?

Recalling the moment she had lain face-to-face with Zenon, Emeline turned away and stared at the ceiling.

It was clear their relationship had become more difficult than before. This was because the relationship between their two families had worsened, even more so than at the beginning.

‘Still, one fortunate thing is that with my father’s much-invested business becoming precarious, my engagement to the heir of the Marquis of Hanover has been indefinitely postponed.’

Taking advantage of that, Emeline had expressed her opposition to the marriage.

However, the Duke of Delzeier ignored her wishes, saying he was too preoccupied at the moment.

‘I’m so tired. How can I break off this marriage?’

Tossing and turning, Emeline pulled the thin summer blanket up to her neck. Not long ago, a blanket had been a luxury due to the relentless heat. Now, even with the blanket on, she felt a chill.

It seemed the long-enduring summer was finally nearing its end.

***

From early morning, Emeline headed to the coffee house to meet her friends.

“How has everyone been?”

Seated, Emeline greeted them while removing the white brimmed hat she wore to shield herself from the sunlight.

The pale pink rose, in colors of the waning summer, adorning the hat momentarily captured her friends’ attention before it drifted away.

The moment Angel, sitting beside Emeline, greeted her warmly, her friends began to chatter away.

“Of course, we’ve been well. How have you been, Lady Delzeier?”

“It seems like a lot has been happening lately… Are you alright? His Grace seems to have put in a lot of effort, but it’s unfortunate that things haven’t worked out. I’ve been so worried you might be heartbroken over it.”

Listening to the shower of sweet words, Emeline gave a bitter smile.

Though she didn’t feel that way, she forced a smile onto her lips.

“Thank you for worrying about me. It doesn’t seem to be a matter of much concern, so please don’t trouble yourself over it.”

“Still, it’s infuriating. Marquis Trancium is really shameless. He agreed to collaborate, and then as soon as he saw a more promising investment, he abandoned the partnership with His Grace as if it were a nuisance, paying the damages to leave.”

“Truly, you won’t find someone as brazen anywhere in the world!”

“…Ha.”

Listening, Emeline unintentionally let out a small laugh.

Indeed, her father was the most thorough person. He had even succeeded in raising Emeline with such a wicked mindset over the long years.

Had he manipulated public opinion through people?

It was odd that there hadn’t been a word from the Marquis of Trancium’s side.

“Lady Delzeier, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I just suddenly thought of my pet cat… This morning, when I fed it myself, it showed gratitude by being affectionate.”

To naturally divert attention, Emeline laughed and tightly clenched her teeth.

Thinking back to the morning when she had fed Mel, only to be knocked down by its front paw when she tried to pet it. Her hand, struck hard on the back, still hurt.

A cat that doesn’t even recognize its owner. Who on earth did it inherit such a prickly personality from…

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Reina, the daughter of Count Adelie let out a curious exclamation while looking out the large window.

Following that, she stared intently at something and raised her voice.

“Oh my, look over there. It’s Zenon Trancium.”

At the familiar name, Emeline, who was about to set her teacup down, froze. She hurriedly shifted her gaze.

And there, Emeline spotted someone familiar. At that moment, as he turned his head this way, their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

While Emeline sat dazed, Zenon, who regained his senses first, hastily turned away and silently continued on his way.

“Where? Let me see too.”

“Goodness, it really is him.”

“Right? But his face… Looks like he’s been in a fight with someone. Typical of someone from the Trancium. You can see their unruly nature in times like this… Oh my!”

Abruptly, Emeline shoved her chair back and stood up. The harshly toppled chair made a loud, dull noise.

Reina, startled mid-sentence, looked up at Emeline with a dazed expression.

“Lady Delzeier…?”

“…Sorry, something urgent just came to mind. I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Oh, it must be very urgent… Take care.”

“Thank you, Lady Adelie. By the way… Isn’t fighting something anyone can do once or twice in life?”

“Uh, yes…?”

“In fact, I even fought with my cat today. I tried to sugarcoat it earlier, but hearing your words made me uncomfortable. I fight with my cat every day. We claw at each other.”

“Lady Delzeier, that wasn’t meant to…”

“Sorry for lying to hide my nature, okay?”

With a chilly smile, Emeline apologized, leaving Reina pale-faced.

“Lady Delzeier, I…”

Reina stammered as she called after her, but Emeline no longer listened and walked away. Zenon’s groundless criticism pricked her heart.

Knitting her brows, Emeline quickly set out to find Zenon.

In the brief time she conversed with Reina, Zenon had vanished from sight in the street.

Grasping her skirt, Emeline ran down the street.

No matter how much she looked around, he was nowhere to be seen.

‘Where on earth did he go?’

Running frantically, losing all sense of decorum, Emeline soon found herself out of breath and had no choice but to stop and catch it.

Passersby glanced at her curiously as she bent forward, panting.

Her labored breathing echoed in her ears. Even catching her breath beyond her limit was difficult.

But more painful than that was Zenon’s action of leaving as if fleeing, despite their eyes meeting.

‘Why did you leave like that? You knew I’d come after you. Why didn’t you wait and just left…’

Was it because of family matters? Had they become people who could never meet again?

As such thoughts consumed her, her heart throbbed painfully.

Catching her unsteady breath, Emeline steadied herself and began to walk again, this time adding her voice as she searched.

“Zenon!”

She called his name loudly as she pushed through the crowd.

If it seemed her call had no effect, she would raise her voice again to shout Zenon’s name.

“Zen…”

Just as she was about to call his name once more, someone suddenly emerged from the alley to her right and covered her mouth.

Without any chance to resist, Emeline was pulled into the dark alley.

The alley, sandwiched between tall buildings, was dimly lit. Damp and humid from the rain the previous day.

In the shocking situation, Emeline’s hand fumbled over the person covering her mouth. It was a man’s large hand.

With his other hand, he firmly held her body from behind.

Emeline gradually calmed her breathing.

A familiar and subtle scent of roses lingered. The soft fragrance was no longer mixed with the smell of cigars.

‘Zenon…?’

As Emeline tried to turn around, a heavy warmth settled on her shoulder.

Right next to her ear, a low, deep voice spoke, “Why did you call out my name so loudly… What if someone found out about us?”

Leaving behind a rebuke, Zenon slowly removed his hand from her mouth.

“Zenon.”

Emeline called him and tried to look at him again. But her attempt was thwarted as he buried his face into her shoulder.

“…Look at me.”

“……”

“Zenon Trancium. Look at me, now.”

With a cold voice, she urged him as if warning. Zenon hesitated, loosened his hold, and stepped back.

Emeline immediately turned to face him.

There, she saw a face with scabs forming in patches.

Their eyes met briefly before Zenon averted his gaze.

“Why is your face like that? What happened to you while I wasn’t watching?”

Zenon didn’t respond. Instead, he uttered something else in a low voice, “…Rather than that, you have something to tell me, don’t you? That first…”

“I do. But this is more important right now. Why are you hurt?”

Emeline grabbed Zenon’s face and turned it toward her. As their eyes met properly, his face turned red with embarrassment.

Finally, after keeping his mouth shut for a long time, Zenon answered, “Because my father told me never to go near your family again… When I told him about my feelings for you, he was furious.”

“So… you got scolded because of me again?”

“What are you saying? How could this possibly be your fault? This is all…”

Suddenly, Emeline pulled Zenon into a tight embrace. Zenon forgot what he was saying and froze.