A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: The Category of Abnormality

‘…What on earth did he just say?’

Emeline stared at his retreating figure.

He had left the ballroom without even stopping by his fiancée’s side.

She couldn’t understand the words he had left behind. Why had he spoken as if he was certain they were both lying?

If one is truly convinced of something, which is easier to be certain of—another person’s truth or one’s own?

Emeline’s gaze wavered, unable to settle.

At that moment, someone touched her shoulder. Startled, she looked up to see Mathis.

He was studying her expression carefully.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, Mathis… Yes, I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

She heard the concern in his voice, noting that she didn’t look well. But Emeline was still trapped in the words Zenon had left behind.

Slowly, she tried to collect her thoughts. The unsettling feeling creeping into her mind was dangerous.

‘I must not be swayed by Zenon Trancium’s words.’

He was someone who had once crafted his expressions and words to make it seem as though he loved her.

She couldn’t believe the meaningful emotions in his gaze, nor should she even be curious.

If she paid him any attention, she would be swept away before she knew it.

“It would be best for you to rest somewhere quiet for a while.”

“Thank you.”

Leaning slightly against Mathis, Emeline moved toward a sofa on the outskirts of the ballroom. As she did, her gaze briefly brushed over Zenon’s fiancée.

She was still engrossed in conversation with others.

She didn’t even seem to realize that Zenon had left the party, her expression as carefree as ever.

‘…Whatever else may be unclear, one thing is certain—there is something suspicious about Zenon and Lady Fendine’s relationship.’

Keeping an eye on her for a while, Emeline soon excused herself from the party with Mathis, citing exhaustion.

***

“I can’t stand to look at you—get out!”

Several days after the party had ended, Emeline was summoned by her father and scolded, only to be thrown out of his office.

The reason? Dancing intimately with Zenon Trancium in front of everyone, right after a scandal had just been quelled.

‘…I expected this.’

Already preoccupied with the completion of a grand structure designed by a world-renowned architect, Bernard Delzeier was even more exasperated by his daughter’s so-called troublemaking.

She had no choice but to defend herself by revealing that she had been threatened by Zenon.

Although her father’s response was a sharp, “Then you should have slapped him and walked away!” even he must have realized that avoiding Zenon’s threats wasn’t so simple. In the end, Emeline was able to leave without facing further punishment.

‘If my father backed down this easily, it must mean he is wary of the fact that Zenon Trancium owns a newspaper.’

If Emeline had flatly rejected Zenon in public, who knew what kind of headlines he might have printed next?

Her steps felt heavy as she made her way back to her room.

“You got lucky.”

Antony, walking beside her, muttered under his breath. Already weary from her father’s scolding, Emeline didn’t even have the energy to respond.

Still, inwardly, she admitted he was right.

‘I was lucky.’

Because she and Mathis always scheduled their next meeting before parting ways, she had been able to use their upcoming engagement meeting as an excuse to avoid being locked up.

As long as Mathis Renier remained by her side, she could continue to do so.

Her engagement couldn’t be allowed to interfere with her time, her mind, or her well-being.

“From now on, don’t act recklessly, Emeline.”

“You know this wasn’t my doing.”

“True, this wasn’t your fault.”

His typical alignment with their father’s perspective left a bitter taste in her mouth. Though, perhaps, it was simply because his views reflected what society deemed proper.

“I’m going inside. I need to head out soon.”

“Going out? But it’s not a scheduled day to meet Count Renier.”

“I’m just going to a bookstore.”

Antony tilted his head slightly, letting out a short, incredulous scoff.

“Right after getting scolded by Father?”

“He already knew today was my day to visit the bookstore, and he didn’t forbid me.”

Hearing her justification, Antony laughed—a strange, unreadable laugh.

Shrugging his shoulders, he looked at her.

“I have to say, you’re impressive. After getting yelled at like that, you’re still in the mood for a book?”

“…It’s my only hobby.”

“I suppose that makes sense. It was once your dream, after all. But sometimes, you should learn to curb yourself and adapt to society. Don’t be so self-centered.”

His gaze turned cold as he looked at her.

Even now, he still disapproved of her attachment to books and knowledge.

Emeline was about to calmly refute him but found herself clenching her teeth instead.

But what could she say in response?

In this world, or at least in this country, Emeline fell into the category of abnormality, while her father and brother, who sought to control her, were praised as intellectuals.

Although the former king had opened the doors for women to enroll in schools, that was still the only thing permitted to them.

Even that enrollment was merely a process for cultivating the perfect bride, focused on household management and preparing for social debut. The foundation had been laid, but change remained minimal.

They say that sometimes, people are born in the wrong era.

At times, Emeline truly wondered if she was one of those people.

Within this system of control and oppression, within a life detached from her dreams and happiness… what exactly was she supposed to find fulfillment in?

Biting her lips in silence, Emeline turned her head away.

‘Stop. Stop thinking about it.’

She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again. Soon, she looked up at Antony with a detached gaze.

“I know. I’m already doing that. I’ll go inside now.”

Emeline, both physically and mentally drained, returned to her room.

It had been exhausting enough just enduring her father’s scolding, but Antony’s final remark had thrown cold water over her, making her mood even worse.

With a deep sigh, she slumped onto the sofa. Her eyes landed on the morning newspaper left on the table by a servant earlier that day.

Reaching for the table, she picked it up.

‘With so many witnesses, it was only natural that the gossip columns would pick up the story.’

Feeling displeased, she flipped through the pages.

However, contrary to her expectations, neither her name nor Zenon’s appeared together anywhere.

Come to think of it, Zenon Trancium owned the most influential newspaper. Perhaps he had suppressed the articles because he didn’t want them published.

‘Considering that he deliberately planted articles before… suddenly stopping now is rather odd.’

But even if that were the case, given that it involved both Zenon and herself, she had expected other newspapers to sensationalize the story.

‘Did Father suppress them?’

Finding that plausible, she set the newspaper down.

After cooling her throbbing head for a while, Emeline rang the bell.

“Prepare my things. I’m going out.”

Dressed in a yellow short-sleeved dress and shading herself with a wide-brimmed hat adorned with matching roses, she left the house.

Once again, the blazing sunlight narrowed her vision.

As she hurried toward the carriage, the coachman asked, “My lady, shall we head to the usual bookstore?”

Normally, she would have nodded and climbed into the carriage without hesitation, but today was different.

After running into Zenon Trancium at her usual bookstore, she felt uneasy about going back there.

After some contemplation, she answered, “Could we go to the shopping district today instead? I heard there’s a good bookstore there, and I’d like to try a new place.”

“Understood.”

Pleased by the coachman’s prompt response, Emeline smiled as she stepped into the carriage.

The bookstore she was heading to had been recommended by Angel Laresa. She had overheard the name mentioned during their last meeting.

As the carriage moved, Emeline’s gaze lingered beyond the window, where she saw a postal worker arriving at the Delzeier estate.

A rose petal had fallen onto the bicycle loaded with stacks of letters.

Watching the scene quietly for a moment, Emeline then turned away.

The carriage soon arrived at the bustling shopping district.

Deciding to take a short walk before heading inside, Emeline stepped down from the carriage and strolled alone.

She could have brought along a servant or two, but she had always disliked unnecessary fuss.

Besides, if Antony’s words were true, then there were likely watchers keeping an eye on her from a distance anyway.

After walking several blocks, she found the bookstore Angel had mentioned.

It had a rather elegant, vintage charm. The building was larger and appeared more extensive than her usual bookstore.

However, since it was tucked inside the shopping district rather than along the main street, it wasn’t in a particularly eye-catching location.

‘Lady Laresa has an even keener eye than I expected.’

Pleased with the discovery of a new bookstore, Emeline reached for the ornate metal door handle.

Just as she was about to touch it, the door suddenly burst open, and someone carrying an armful of books rushed out.

Startled, Emeline froze, but the other person, failing to notice her, collided directly into her.

Emeline managed to regain her balance just in time, but the other person, unable to withstand the impact, tumbled backward and spilled everything they were carrying.

It seemed they had been in such a hurry that they couldn’t control their own momentum.

“Ah, I’m so sorry…!”

“It’s alright.”

The other person was small in stature and wore a brown checkered flat cap, pressed down over their head.

Judging by the short hair peeking out and their modest attire, they appeared to be a young boy from the common class.

With their head bowed low, they hastily began gathering the scattered papers.

Emeline bent down willingly to help pick up some of the fallen pages.

In doing so, her eyes inadvertently scanned the contents.

The pages were filled with tightly written text… and something about the handwriting seemed oddly familiar.

‘Wait…’

Recalling the voice she had just heard, her gaze slowly shifted to the person still frantically collecting the papers.

From beneath the flat cap, a few strands of long hair had slipped free.

Without thinking, a name escaped her lips.

“…Lady Laresa?”

The hands reaching for the papers came to an abrupt halt, and the person before her lifted their head.