A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Because I Like It

Emeline tightened her arms around him and spoke in a trembling voice, “I missed you… but why do you keep showing up in front of me injured? Why do you always get hurt and come to me…?”

“…Sorry.”

Zenon carefully held her small head in his hands and began to open up.

“I knew the woman who was with your father that day. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell you…”

From his voice alone, Emeline could sense his guilt. His voice, steeped in anguish, suggested he had been bearing heavy burdens alone.

Letting out a strained sigh, Zenon, as if resolved to finish this conversation, started to speak calmly.

“I only found out about it for the first time back then.”

The trembling in his voice made it clear he was speaking the truth.

“If my actions hurt you, I’m sorry. At first, I was confused too. I could come see you like nothing happened because I was worried about you… But afterward, seeing you struggle because of someone connected to me, I started to feel ashamed. Coming to see you for my own sake felt selfish.”

He gently stroked her dark hair before stepping back. His face, looking at Emeline, was tinged with complexity.

“You probably hate the sight of me.”

“…No.”

Emeline observed Zenon’s face, shadowed by gloom. His lips formed a faint, melancholic smile.

“If I were you, I’d find someone like me contemptible.”

“I told you, I missed you. I know none of this is your fault, and that’s why I’m here.”

A glimmer of life returned to his previously subdued eyes.

Momentarily surprised, he then let out a chuckle.

“…Haha.”

“You didn’t even listen properly to what I said, and yet you’re laughing?”

“No… I’m sorry, but I can’t help it. I’m happy… so happy.”

As if unable to control himself, Zenon laughed out loud several more times. His laughter carried emotions of gratitude, joy, and a hint of sadness.

“Usually, everyone blames me for everything just because I’m involved. Every single person I’ve known has done that. But you… You don’t.”

“They’re the strange ones.”

“Yeah, they are… Thank you. And even though you said it’s not my fault, I’m still sorry.”

Hearing Zenon apologize again, Emeline frowned slightly before responding playfully.

“If you’re that sorry, come see me again.”

“Okay, I’ll come to you wherever you are. Actually, I was out today planning to send you a letter.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah, I didn’t have the nerve to see you, especially since I’m injured, so I was going to write instead. But we ended up meeting like this.”

His face, which had looked grim since their reunion, now held a bright expression. Emeline smiled faintly as she followed his mood.

“If you had just stayed where you were, I wouldn’t have chased you, you know.”

“That couldn’t be helped. I wanted to show you my clean, handsome face, but now it’s all scratched up.”

Zenon pointed to his injured face with a sulky expression, making Emeline chuckle.

“Don’t worry. You’re still handsome even without trying.”

For days, Emeline’s restless heart found peace after just a few trivial conversations with Zenon. He was the only one who could fill the hollow void in her life.

“Let’s meet again tonight. I came out unexpectedly, so I have to go back now.”

“Alright, I’ll definitely come. Promise.”

“You’re not a kid… Fine, promise.”

She smiled as she looked at Zenon.

Although they were in an uncertain situation where they didn’t know if they could stay together, Emeline felt fearless as long as she could meet his gaze.

She firmly believed that this relationship would bear fruit.

Because he had no doubt in trusting their feelings for each other, Emeline was not afraid of anything.

***

The cool breeze from the slightly ajar window drifted in.

Sitting at her desk, Emeline flipped through a book she had retrieved from the study.

Every now and then, she cast a glance toward the terrace. The view was the same as always—trees, the garden, and the night sky.

Emeline lowered her gaze with a wistful expression.

‘It’s okay. It hasn’t been long since I told the servants that I’m going to sleep soon.’

Though she reassured herself, she felt anxious.

She turned another page in her book but soon found herself glancing at the terrace again. This time, her face lit up.

She hurriedly rose from her seat, turned off the light, and headed to the terrace. On the white stone floor, there lay a paper airplane.

It had been about two weeks since Zenon started coming to her this way.

Standing by the railing, Emeline leaned over to look down. There he was, looking up at her, waiting.

As soon as he spotted her, Zenon spread his arms wide and smiled brightly.

‘Zenon…!’

Beaming with joy, Emeline boldly climbed onto the railing.

‘Zenon will catch me, so I won’t get hurt.’

She had that kind of trust in him now.

At first, she thought it was a reckless act unbefitting of a lady and that it was risky if anyone saw her.

But the only one watching was Zenon. And if it was something a lady wasn’t supposed to do, then so what?

If the teachings of her father, who imposed those standards, were wrong from the start, then they didn’t matter either.

Emeline leapt off the terrace in one swift motion, and Zenon caught her securely.

The dizzying sensation of falling made her heart race wildly.

“Hello.”

Still holding her, Zenon greeted her softly as he gazed at her.

Emeline’s face softened into a radiant smile. Zenon gently set her down.

“I missed you, Emeline.”

“I missed you too.”

They exchanged quiet words, smiling as if they were enjoying the moment.

Then Emeline raised her index finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

To make sure she could return to her room unnoticed, she checked the rope she had made by tying together fabric and handkerchiefs, which she had dropped down from the terrace. Then she turned back to Zenon.

The rope was tied securely in a corner, hidden among the small flower bushes below, making it hard for anyone else to find.

“Let’s go, quickly.”

Emeline grabbed Zenon’s hand first. The two moved stealthily toward the mansion’s gates. Once they passed through, they held hands and ran hurriedly toward the bustling streets, fearing they might be caught.

Only after running for a while did they stop. Catching his breath, Zenon asked, “Where do you want to go tonight?”

“I liked the place we went last time.”

“Where? The clock tower? The fountain park?”

“The clock tower.”

“That’s exactly where I wanted to go. It’s like you read my mind.”

The two walked leisurely, weaving through the nighttime crowd like any ordinary couple freed from any oppression.

“When is your father coming back?”

“Probably soon. When he does, I’m planning to tell him properly that I don’t want to be engaged to the young lord of Hanover.”

“Yes, do that.”

They gently swung their clasped hands back and forth as they headed for the clock tower. Along the way, they noticed a hat vendor displaying goods on the street and, as if drawn to it, approached to try on hats.

“This looks good on you.”

“What?”

Zenon laughed as he placed a large navy officer’s hat on Emeline’s head.

Looking in the mirror, Emeline was at a loss for words. Why was such a hat even being sold?

“Then you try this one. It’ll suit you.”

Half out of revenge, Emeline grabbed a straw hat and placed it on Zenon’s head.

However, instead of being displeased, Zenon looked at her with amused, sparkling eyes as he checked the mirror.

“Does it suit me?”

“…A little.”

“You know, I was thinking. After we get married, we could move to the countryside. Live a simple life, away from all the stress. Maybe even farm.”

“What… farm? Are you saying I should farm now?”

Emeline, shocked, asked back with wide eyes. As if he had anticipated her reaction, Zenon chuckled quietly.

“It might be fun.”

“…Who would ever think of you as a young master at that point?”

Emeline removed the straw hat from Zenon’s head and carefully tidied his tousled blonde hair before turning away.

After purchasing a few hats they wouldn’t even use, Zenon carried the shopping bag, insisting it would look suspicious if she held it.

The two climbed to the top of the clock tower, where they gazed at the night sky and the city’s scenery below, talking for a long time.

By the time they returned to the mansion, it was already deep into the night.

“Emeline.”

Despite her assurance that she would be fine, Zenon had insisted on escorting her all the way to her room. Standing by the tree he used to climb to see her, he called her over with a gesture.

“What is it?”

As Emeline approached, Zenon crouched down and pointed to the base of the tree, where its thick roots overlapped.

“Did you know there’s a hollow here?”

“A hollow? Where?”

Looking curiously, Emeline spotted a small gap between the thick roots.

“How did you know about this?”

“I noticed it when I fell out of the tree last time.”

“…So, what about it?”

“Let’s use this to secretly exchange letters. On the days we can’t meet, at least we’ll be able to stay in touch through letters.”

“How would we exchange letters here?”

“Well, this is a secret, but there are a few servants in your household planted by my father… Most of them are low-ranking, though. We could involve one of them.”

“What? How do you plan to ensure they keep the secret?”

“Why else would they risk hiding in your household? For money, of course.”

It was clear that Zenon intended to bribe them.

“What do you think? I want to see you even on ordinary days, even if it’s just through letters.”

“…Do whatever you want. Go now. It’s late.”

“Alright.”

“Be careful.”

Zenon disappeared from Emeline’s sight. Occasionally turning back to wave at her with an exaggerated motion, he made her laugh uncontrollably.

As she glanced down at the tree he had mentioned, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

“Emeline?”

Startled, Emeline turned around to see a very familiar figure.

Her heart sank. Instinctively, she took a step back, trying to block the tree.

“B-Brother?”