A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: There Was No Other Choice

‘Why would Lady Fendine send me a letter?’

Before she even began reading, countless speculations ran through Emeline’s mind.

The fact that Lady Fendine had wanted to meet her at the Henburton party.

The fact that she had danced far too closely with Zenon Trancium that night.

‘There are too many possibilities—I can’t be sure.’

Finally, Emeline pushed aside her thoughts and lowered her gaze to the letter.

[Hello, Lady Delzeier.

This is my first time writing to you, though I have often seen you from afar. I am Labore Fendine.

I saw you at the recent party at Count Henburton’s estate.

I attended in hopes of meeting you, but I regrettably never got the chance to introduce myself.

This letter is written out of that regret.

In truth, I have wanted to speak with you for some time now, and I have taken great interest in the gatherings you are a part of.

If you would be willing, could you invite me to join one of your gatherings?]

As Emeline read through Labore’s letter, her eyes gradually narrowed.

The rest of the letter could be summarized as follows:

Labore had already contacted several other members of the gathering and had received positive responses expressing anticipation for her attendance.

So if Emeline agreed as well, she would officially join the gathering to build friendships…

Emeline slowly lowered the letter. She reread the lines several times, trying to confirm she had truly understood them correctly.

Her guess had been correct—Lady Fendine regretted not meeting her at the party and had written out of that disappointment.

However, there was no mention at all of what Emeline considered the more pressing matter—

The fact that she had accepted Zenon Trancium’s invitation to dance and had gone along with it.

‘…Of course, dancing at a party is a personal freedom, and perhaps she didn’t want to express any discomfort… But to suddenly request an invitation to the gathering?’

Moreover, she had already reached out to other attendees and secured their approval in advance. It seemed like she was pressuring Emeline, the leader of the gathering, to ensure she couldn’t refuse.

Just what kind of person is she? What is she after?

After some contemplation, Emeline moved to retrieve a fresh sheet of stationery and an envelope.

Taking up her fountain pen, she silently wrote her response. When she placed the final period and set the pen down, her eyes narrowed.

‘Perhaps meeting her will reveal something.’

Until now, she had never had a proper conversation with Zenon’s fiancée. Labore Fendine remained an enigma to her.

Even after two years of engagement, she and Zenon had never taken their relationship further. Of course, one could argue that Zenon had spent time abroad for his studies and had only recently returned.

But were they truly the affectionate couple Emeline had imagined?

And why did Lady Fendine want to meet her? Why was she so eager to attend a gathering of a rival faction?

No matter how much she turned it over in her mind, she couldn’t find an answer.

That meant there was only one solution—she had to seek the answer herself.

Under normal circumstances, she would have sent a polite refusal. But an unsettling feeling clung to her, refusing to be ignored.

Even though she saw no benefit in allowing Labore to join the gathering.

“Why do I feel like we’re both lying?”

A quiet sigh escaped her lips. She knew full well that Zenon’s words had stirred this unease within her.

She understood she couldn’t let herself get swept up in it. And yet, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the memory of his words and that somber expression.

What is it about him? No matter how much I dig, he remains a mystery.

Emeline rang the bell to summon a maid. When the maid arrived, she handed over the sealed green envelope.

“Please send this to Lady Fendine.”

“Yes, miss.”

Emeline watched as the maid left with the letter.

I won’t be swayed. I’m only trying to uncover the truth.

Once she had unraveled the mystery, she could let it go and rid herself of this curiosity.

Emeline remained still for a long time, lost in thought.

Already, her mind had been clouded ever since she met Angel, and now, this unexpected letter from Labore had completely overwhelmed her.

She exhaled deeply, releasing the tension from her body, and reached into the depths of her drawer to retrieve an old diary.

Her gaze darkened as she flipped through its pages.

Before long, she arrived at an entry from four years ago—the page marked with the date of the entrance exams for Robelque, the prestigious university.

Below the date was a name: Zenon.

And next to it, the word Promise.

Tracing the letters with her fingers, Emeline let out a hollow laugh.

Angel had moved forward, but Emeline had come to a standstill because of what was written on this page.

‘I… had no other choice.’

Her brows furrowed deeply.

Tomorrow, when Angel visited, she wanted to tell her about the hardships she had endured.

No one had ever criticized her for it, but she wanted to put into words the reason she had been forced to abandon her dream—no matter how pathetic it sounded.

‘I wasn’t wrong.’

She had simply followed fate. No matter how much effort she had put in, nothing had ever changed.

All she had gained was pain and loss.

***

The expected guest, Angel Laresa, arrived in the afternoon.

Emeline had prepared a tea table early in the day under the large shade of a tree.

Noticing the shaded spot, Angel beamed. “Ah, it’s so cool under the tree. Your garden is always so lovely. It seems even more beautiful than before.”

“Actually, I asked the gardener to tidy it up this morning since you were coming, Lady Laresa.”

Emeline smiled calmly as she scooped a spoonful of ice cream from a small glass bowl and placed it in her mouth.

Because of the oppressive heat, she had prepared both tea and ice cream, and Angel’s touched expression showed she appreciated the thoughtfulness.

In truth, Emeline had been craving ice cream for days, but she didn’t bother correcting the sentiment.

Getting straight to the point, Emeline asked, “So, Lady Laresa, are you officially pursuing a career as a writer?”

Even as she asked, she knew it wouldn’t be an easy path. However, Angel’s answer came swiftly and without hesitation.

“Yes, though it’s a little embarrassing… I found a publisher willing to accept my work. I published my first novel last year.”

“Is that true?”

Emeline’s eyes widened in surprise. Angel gave a shy smile and nodded.

“Yes, but I used a pseudonym instead of my real name. I published under the name ‘Wigny Keller.’ It hasn’t gained widespread fame yet, but…”

The moment she heard the name, Emeline furrowed her brows slightly, sensing familiarity. Then, a realization struck her, and she covered her mouth in shock.

“Wigny Keller… I’ve read that book before. Lady Laresa, I’ve read your novel.”

Despite being a debut work, it had received significant praise.

Though its technical aspects and structure were somewhat unrefined, Wigny Keller’s writing had an undeniable power to captivate readers.

When the protagonist of the story transformed their life, Emeline had felt as though she had become that character, lingering in the novel’s emotions long after she had turned the final page.

“You say it hasn’t gained fame, but that’s not true.”

Emeline couldn’t hide her excitement, her genuine joy spilling over. Angel blushed, her cheeks tinged with a soft red hue.

“Actually, I wrote the protagonist of that novel… while thinking of you, Lady Delzeier.”

“What?”

“I needed a figure to model—a person who constantly moves forward.”

In that instant, the emotions that had been sparking within Emeline suddenly dimmed.

“Ah…”

She barely managed to open her mouth, but no words came out. She simply opened and closed her lips a few times before finally falling silent.

Angel’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind, making her fingertips tremble.

“Lady Delzeier, is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry, I…”

Seeing Emeline’s ashen face, Angel looked at her with concern. Emeline barely managed to force the words out.

At that moment, emotions surged within her.

“I… failed.”

The instant she spoke, a deep sense of defeat washed over her.

Unlike her, who had stopped in place, Angel had been inspired by her and had continued moving forward.

And now, the protagonist of Angel’s novel—someone who had triumphed over life’s hardships—was modeled after her. Yet she, in reality, had failed and given up long ago.

Emeline found the situation unbearably painful. Her eyes grew red, her vision blurred.

She had wanted to celebrate Angel’s achievements, but the stark contrast between them made her own shortcomings feel even more glaring.

“Lady Laresa, I’m not like the protagonist of your novel…”

“…Pardon?”

“I wanted to go to university, but I lost my opportunity. And in the end, I let go of my dreams. A grand, inspiring life like that… it doesn’t belong to me.”

She was embarrassed by how pitiful her trembling voice sounded.

After hesitating, Emeline confided in Angel, omitting only the details that might identify Zenon or harm her family’s reputation.

“So that’s what happened…”

Angel, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

Emeline feared she might be disappointed, but Angel’s expression held no such sentiment. Instead, her eyes were filled with sorrow and sympathy.

“I… I must seem so pathetic, don’t I?”

“Lady Delzeier, please don’t be so harsh on yourself. None of this was your fault.”

“Thank you for saying that…”

Surprisingly, after confiding in someone, she felt a bit lighter. A gentle, tranquil smile formed on Emeline’s lips.

As she watched, Angel suddenly reached out and clasped Emeline’s hands. “Lady Delzeier, as long as you still have the passion for your dreams… opportunities will always find their way to you.”

Angel met her gaze with a sincerity that reminded Emeline of someone else.

“So don’t call it failure. As long as you haven’t given up, you’re still on the journey. It’s all just part of the process.”

Emeline, staring blankly at Angel’s earnest expression, finally let out a small chuckle.

“Lady Laresa, thank you. I truly feel much better now.”

Her gratitude wasn’t just polite words—it was genuine.

“We’ve shared each other’s secrets now… Can I call you Angel?”

“Of course! I’d love that.”

Angel’s face lit up with a bright smile, and seeing her, Emeline felt her own heart grow lighter.

The two continued chatting about other topics for quite some time before finally rising from the tea table.

Time had flown by unnoticed.

As Emeline bid Angel farewell, she said, “Angel, thank you for today. I’ll continue cheering you on.”

“Thank you. And I’ll be cheering you on too, Emeline. I know you have the strength to keep moving forward.”

Angel waved enthusiastically before stepping into her waiting carriage.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Emeline quietly reflected on her parting words.