A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: A Promising Businessman

Emeline stepped out of the carriage and turned back.

“I had a wonderful time today.”

Though there had been an unwelcome guest, she smiled while swallowing the words that rose to her throat.

“I also found today to be quite meaningful. Please head inside. The evening air is getting rather chilly.”

“I will. Have a safe journey back, Count Renier.”

After exchanging farewells, Emeline turned away without hesitation.

As she passed through the gate and walked a little further, the sound of the departing carriage reached her ears.

The path lit by soft orange lights at both ends of the dusky street stretched out before her. Emeline quietly lowered her gaze as she strolled along the road extending from the gate.

The scent of summer roses, carried by the breeze, persistently teased her senses.

For a moment, it reminded her of a similar fragrance mingled with a distinct cigar smell—a memory from the recent bookstore encounter rather than a distant past.

Just as she frowned at the unpleasant memory, she noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction and came to a halt.

“Ah, Emeline. You’re just getting back, I see. I heard you had plans with Count Renier today.”

“…Yes, brother. But where are you going?”

“Just for a walk.”

Emeline observed Antony, casually dressed in a light shirt, as he stroked the furry bundle in his arms with a leisurely smile. Just then, the seemingly docile cat in his embrace began to squirm and struggle.

“Ow.”

Attempting to restrain the flailing Mel only resulted in Antony getting scratched before finally letting the cat go.

Mel landed on the ground, shook out its fur, and glared at Antony as if to scoff before trotting away.

Antony muttered in disbelief, “I’m part of this family too, you know. Isn’t this a bit much?”

“Mel doesn’t like me much either.”

“But you’re the one who brought it in. It seems to get along with you, at least.”

Emeline chuckled softly. She couldn’t bring herself to admit that Mel’s treatment of her depended entirely on its mood, often making her feel like she ranked below the cat in the household hierarchy.

Having taken in the stray out of pity, Emeline now found that the cat acted as though it owned the place.

“…Maybe it’s just that we’ve spent enough time together for it to grow fond of me. You’ve only been home for a short while, so Mel probably finds you unfamiliar. With time, you’ll get along better.”

Mel, having turned away from Antony, lingered near Emeline. Though she knew she’d likely be ignored, she extended her hand toward the cat.

Surprisingly, Mel approached willingly. It sniffed her hand intently, causing Emeline to tilt her head in wonder.

The cat then circled her a few times, sniffing her thoroughly, before returning to nuzzle its head against her hand, purring and rubbing affectionately.

Emeline froze as if a foreign object had touched her.

What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?

Mel, who had never shown much affection before, flipped onto its back and pressed against her as if seeking attention.

Caught off guard, Emeline scooped up the cat, still stunned by its sudden display of affection.

The envious glances she often cast toward Antony were now returned to her. Emeline found the situation absurd.

At that moment, Antony suggested, “Since we’ve run into each other, shall we head in together?”

“Alright.”

Stroking Mel’s soft fur, Emeline followed her brother back to the mansion.

“How are things with Count Renier?”

“We’re getting along well.”

“That’s good to hear. Do you remember your previous engagement candidate? The eldest son of the Marquis of Hanover. I recall you found him utterly unsuitable. I’m the one who suggested Count Renier to Father.”

“…I heard he attended university around the same time as you.”

“We were more like acquaintances than close friends. He’s a decent match, so I thought you’d like him. Personally, I found him a bit irritating.”

Antony raised an eyebrow as he rambled on.

“Well, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. It does seem like you’ve found someone who suits you better than the other guy.”

“……”

Emeline responded with a quiet smile.

For years, she had heard the same things from her father and brother.

Zenon Trancium only toyed with you.

You mistook your defiance for genuine feelings.

Fixated on her studies and the goal of university, Emeline had supposedly acted on rebellious impulses, choosing Zenon as the most provocative partner.

Even she couldn’t be certain about the state of her emotions back then, but her family had confidently defined them for her.

“You’re right. I was foolish back then…”

Emeline murmured as if talking to herself.

It wasn’t that she wholeheartedly believed their words. She had simply come to realize that accepting them, however bitterly, was her way of protecting herself.

If she conformed to their narrative, she could avoid wounds and preserve her dignity.

If she fully embraced their version of events, Zenon Trancium would seem like nothing more than a passing figure in her life.

Emeline absentmindedly petted the cat, ignoring the peculiar gaze Antony directed her way.

***

Late at night, a man reclining on a spacious sofa picked up one of the newspapers stacked on the table and began flipping through it.

‘Zenon Trancium…’

As if faced with an unsatisfactory issue, Mathis narrowed his eyes in vague perplexity. His damp, dark brown hair, still wet from his bath, was swept back by his large hand.

Mathis flipped through the gossip pages where Zenon’s name often appeared in scandalous headlines. Though not usually inclined to read such material, this situation was different.

He harbored doubts about the relationship between his fiancée and Zenon Trancium, who dragged scandals wherever he went.

‘Nothing here.’

After skimming through several outdated newspapers, Mathis tossed the bundle onto the table. He couldn’t find any rumors involving Emeline Delzeier and Zenon Trancium.

Had such a scandal existed, it would have shaken the capital to its core. Even someone as disinterested in gossip as Mathis would have known about it.

Given the longstanding animosity between the Delzeier and Trancium families, this absence of scandal was unsurprising.

“Then what was that about?”

He recalled the moment Zenon Trancium had intruded on his date with Emeline. Though Zenon had appeared to focus on Mathis, he had been preoccupied with glancing at Emeline whenever she looked elsewhere.

The situation was deeply ironic. The two should have been sworn enemies, yet one of them cast affectionate glances reserved for a lover.

Of course, Mathis’s fiancée had maintained a demeanor of near-abhorrence throughout.

‘Still, something feels off.’

Their only points of connection seemed to be graduating from the same aristocratic school and their families’ brief attempt at a business partnership years ago. If Zenon Trancium was harboring one-sided feelings for Emeline…

Mathis chuckled faintly, amused by the absurdity of the idea. Yet his expression gradually turned thoughtful.

Zenon Trancium, known for his frivolous behavior and lack of decorum, was hardly someone who could be considered an obstacle to Mathis.

The idea that a refined woman like Emeline would choose Zenon was laughable even to the most indifferent passerby. Relations between the two families were still hostile, and any association with Zenon would tarnish Emeline’s reputation.

Still, there was something that gnawed at Mathis—

‘Zenon Trancium’s business ventures abroad…’

Why was there so little information about them? In foreign lands, Zenon had received praise from influential figures as a promising businessman. Despite efforts by Mathis and his associates to uncover details, the available information was limited.

They knew only that Zenon had conducted business while studying abroad, formed connections with high-ranking nobles in the area, and was briefly detained by the royal family of that country upon his return.

Why had a foreign royal family tried to detain Zenon Trancium? What had compelled them to rely on him so heavily?

Mathis picked up another newspaper and began scanning articles published around the time Zenon had returned from his studies. As he leafed through the pages, his hand paused on one particular article.

[The Betennard Royal Family Establishes Ties with a Newly Recognized Defense Contractor

It is reported that exchanges have begun, led by the Royal Guard, though specific details remain undisclosed.

The new defense contractor is also connected to the allied nation of Lunalini, hinting at a potential new avenue of exchange between the two countries…]

…No way.

Mathis let out a hollow laugh. Though it felt like an overreach, the timing of Zenon’s education abroad coincided uncannily with the events mentioned in the article.

The newspapers had reported Zenon’s numerous scandals, but his activities during those four years abroad remained a mystery.

If he truly has ties to a royal family and wields significant influence, it wouldn’t make sense for the Duke of Delzeier and the Marquis of Trancium to remain at odds.

If even the Duke remained unaware of Zenon’s true identity, then it must have been deliberately kept secret. For now, what mattered was that Zenon’s tarnished reputation still posed a threat to Emeline’s standing.

Shaking off his thoughts, Mathis extinguished the lamp lighting the room. Delving deeper into Zenon Trancium’s business dealings would take time, but at least there seemed to be no scandal connecting him to Emeline.

Morning came after the long night. Rising early and finishing his preparations for the day, Mathis spent his spare time reading a newspaper handed to him by a servant.

As he sipped his tea, his expression hardened almost immediately. A hollow laugh escaped his lips as his golden eyes swept over the bold headline:

[Zenon Trancium’s New Romantic Interest Identified as Emeline Delzeier! Could this Signal Reconciliation Between the Two Families?]