A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Thorn in the Side

People were opening their umbrellas. The world beneath the dark sky gleamed with moisture. Rain was pouring heavily.

The people who had attended the opera seemed to have all brought umbrellas, departing one by one.

Emeline, staring blankly at the rainy scenery, turned her head.

“Mathis, do you have an umbrella?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“Then we’ll have to get wet… It’s just a short distance to the carriage.”

With a sigh, Emeline resigned herself, but Mathis shook his head.

“I’ll go buy an umbrella.”

“Through this downpour?”

If it were just a drizzle, perhaps. But with the way the rain was pouring as if the sky had burst open, stepping outside for even a few minutes would leave someone completely soaked, as if they had bathed in it.

When Emeline grabbed his arm, Mathis smiled.

“Isn’t it better for one person to get wet than both?”

“But still…”

“I don’t like the thought of you catching a cold, Emeline. Please understand.”

Mathis covered her hand, which was holding onto his arm, then gently let go.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

With that, he dashed into the pouring rain. Emeline watched his figure disappear into the downpour.

She felt a strange sense of bewilderment.

‘Would he have been this considerate before?’

His gaze on her today had felt different than usual, which only made her more confused.

Not that there was any reason for her to be opposed to it, but for some reason, she felt troubled.

Even though she had resolved to love him.

Was it because she had yet to truly fall for him, while he had already begun to develop such emotions?

‘…We’re going to marry anyway.’

Besides, he was a gentleman. Perhaps he had always been the type to go to such lengths.

Standing in a dry spot, she gazed up at the gray sky.

The dark clouds swallowed the moon, making the sky even gloomier. The strong winds pushed the clouds along, yet the moon remained hidden from sight.

Just then, the scent of cigars drifted toward her.

She instinctively covered her nose and turned her head, only to find a man staring at her from a short distance away.

‘…Zenon Trancium?’

For a few seconds, she thought it was him. But she quickly realized her mistake.

The man had blond hair and strikingly similar features to Zenon, but he wasn’t as dazzlingly handsome. He also seemed a bit shorter than Zenon.

Still, the resemblance was uncanny.

As she glanced at him, puzzled by the similarity, he suddenly approached.

“So it is you.”

The man in front of her greeted her warmly.

The strong smell of cigars grew closer, making Emeline frown. But the man paid no mind, keeping his cigar between his lips as he continued speaking with an easygoing tone.

“Aren’t you Lady Delzeier?”

“…I am. And you are?”

“Ah, you don’t know me? How disappointing. I’m the eldest son of my father—Allen Trancium.”

Emeline was first surprised by his name, then even more so by his introduction.

‘The eldest son of my father’? What kind of introduction is that? It’s not as if people don’t have fathers.

She automatically reinterpreted his words to mean ‘the eldest son of Marquis Trancium.’

“…So you’re Lord Allen Trancium. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

He was the eldest son and heir of the Marquis of Trancium, yet he was famously frail.

At the same time, he was known for his love of entertainment, constantly roaming about in search of amusement.

Some even said he was as much of a scoundrel as Zenon, though unlike Zenon, he had managed to avoid scandalous headlines or major incidents, so he remained relatively unnoticed.

Even when she had visited Zenon’s home, Allen had been nowhere to be seen, likely due to this lifestyle.

In fact, she had only seen him once at an official banquet.

To her, Zenon’s older brother was almost like a mythical creature—so rarely seen that he might as well not exist.

“I recognized you right away. Were you at the opera? I attend often. I quite enjoy these performances.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Meeting like this while waiting out the rain—it must be fate. Ha! And just my luck, I was looking for someone like you, Lady Delzeier.”

Emeline let his words pass in one ear and out the other. His voice was so loud it almost hurt her ears.

It was also strange how casually he approached her despite knowing she was the daughter of the Duke of Delzeier.

Are the Trancium brothers all like this?

If so, why hadn’t she heard any scandalous rumors about him?

For some reason, it seemed like he wouldn’t leave anytime soon, so Emeline sighed and responded. She wanted to tell him to leave already.

“Why are you looking for someone like me? And what exactly do you mean by ‘someone like me’…?”

She answered absentmindedly while wishing Mathis would arrive soon.

Allen responded without hesitation, “Someone who would have a reason to hate Zenon Trancium. Isn’t that exactly you, Lady Delzeier?”

“…What did you just say?”

Emeline, who had been indifferently gazing outside, turned her head to look at him.

As her expression stiffened, Allen smirked and muttered, “I knew it.”

Concerned that he might start spouting nonsense about her past with Zenon, Emeline lowered her voice and said, “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but could you please leave?”

“Do you really expect me to let go of such a valuable opportunity?”

“So why exactly are you looking for me?”

As Emeline growled, Allen backed away slightly with a playful “Oh my,” adding that she was much scarier than rumors suggested.

“Lady Delzeier, why don’t we join hands?”

“No.”

“Ah, I don’t mean literally holding hands—”

“I know. No. I don’t see why my involvement would be necessary in your affairs… And frankly, I find it suspicious that you would make such a proposal to me.”

Emeline made no effort to hide her displeasure.

Someone who might hate Zenon? Did he assume she had reason to despise him simply because she had been toyed with and discarded?

Seeing her reaction, Allen looked momentarily flustered before quickly speaking again.

“Isn’t that guy a thorn in your side? Your family has influence—you should join hands with me and teach him a lesson.”

Emeline stared at him in disbelief. Was this man really talking about setting up his own younger brother?

Allen, visibly excited, continued, “My father is about to pass down his title to me. But lately, that brat has been scheming—he’s trying to take my place. Ever since he returned from studying abroad, he’s been acting differently, pulling all sorts of stunts to win my father’s favor!”

“……”

“Ah, and I noticed recently that he’s been approaching you, too. He’s definitely trying to use you to keep the Duke’s family in check. Lady Delzeier, you need to side with me.”

Emeline, who had been listening in utter disbelief, suddenly turned her body toward him.

This was sheer idiocy. She was dumbfounded by his nonsense, but she held back from outright telling him off.

Instead, she pretended to be intrigued and smiled.

Because something about his words felt off.

Why was he speaking as if he knew nothing about her past with Zenon?

Playing along, she feigned interest and responded, “Oh my, is that true? Trying to take your rightful position—he’s as insufferable as ever. I’ve barely exchanged words with him over the years, so I would love nothing more than to work against him.”

“Ah, I knew it! I was right about you. I have a good eye for allies.”

Allen, clearly pleased, reacted with excitement. But seeing his enthusiasm, Emeline’s gaze turned icy.

He rarely stayed at home, but was he really so unaware of such a major event involving his own brother?

Zenon had even gotten into a fight with their father over his so-called “pranks.”

A sense of unease crept in, mingling with her suspicions.

Before Allen’s incessant chatter could become unbearable, Mathis finally returned.

As he approached, Emeline swiftly shifted her demeanor and stepped away from Allen.

“Lord Allen, on second thought, I don’t think this is for me. I apologize, but I’ll have to decline.”

“What? Lady Delzeier, wait!”

Ignoring Allen’s dumbfounded voice, Emeline grabbed Mathis’s arm.

“Goodness, you’re completely soaked. Let’s go, Mathis. You’ll catch a cold.”

“Miss Emeline, who was that man?”

“I don’t know. He suddenly started talking to me as if we were acquaintances. He’s quite odd.”

And utterly foolish.

His younger brother was almost unreadable in his intelligence, but Allen was unbelievably dim-witted. Though she had gained unexpected information from him, she couldn’t help but feel contempt for him.

Emeline smiled as she wrapped her hands around Mathis’s wet arm.

“It’s cold. Let’s hurry home, Mathis.”

“Let’s do that.”

Mathis returned her smile and tilted the umbrella slightly toward her. The heavy raindrops pattered against the canopy as they walked away.