A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: The Stars in the Night Sky

The next day, as instructed by Emeline, Benica headed to the bookstore.

Sending her out on an errand immediately after calling her for a private meeting might raise suspicion, so Emeline had specifically ordered her to go the following day.

Ever since Zenon Trancium’s return, Duke Delzeier had been unable to shake his doubts about his daughter and had ordered Antony to monitor her. Naturally, Antony had placed spies on his sister, watching her every move.

‘There is no one on my side in this mansion.’

More precisely, there was no one willing to defy another’s will solely for her sake. Except, perhaps, for Benica, who had just joined her cause.

Sitting at the table by the window, Emeline stared blankly outside. The warm breeze carried the scent of roses, filling the room.

She had been lost in thought for some time when, suddenly, a familiar carriage stopped in front of the gate.

Narrowing her eyes, she leaned forward, trying to get a better look.

‘…Mathis?’

Upon confirming the person stepping out of the carriage, Emeline blinked in confusion.

‘Why is he here now?’

She had canceled their meeting, and they hadn’t exchanged any further messages.

Could he be here to meet with the Duke or Antony?

As she continued watching, Mathis passed through the garden and entered the mansion.

Before long, a servant arrived at Emeline’s room.

“Miss, Count Renier has come to see you.”

“…He came to see me? All of a sudden?”

Had he forgotten their meeting had been canceled?

“It seems he was worried because he heard you weren’t feeling well.”

“What?”

Emeline’s mouth fell open in surprise. She hurried over to the mirror and examined her reflection.

‘It hasn’t healed completely yet…’

She couldn’t just send him away after he had come all this way. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had anything to hide.

With that in mind, she quickly tidied herself up and left her room.

As she entered the reception room filled with lush green plants, she saw Mathis waiting as impeccably dressed as ever. She was the first to greet him.

“Mathis, I was surprised to hear you had come so suddenly.”

“Miss Emeline.”

At the sound of her voice, Mathis turned around and immediately rose to his feet. He strode over to her, his gaze sharp with concern.

The moment he saw the mark on her cheek, he parted his lips as if to speak but hesitated.

It was clear he was shocked to see evidence of her having been struck.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you, so I planned to tell you later…”

“I thought you were just feeling unwell. Why… didn’t you tell me?”

His eyes reflected both worry and hurt.

She hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from him, so she quickly spoke.

“I only wanted to show you my best side… I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m sorry.”

Mathis let out a quiet sigh and studied her with pained eyes.

A moment later, she felt a soft warmth against her cheek.

“Who did this to you?”

“I ran into someone strange on my way to the bookstore.”

Upon hearing her response, Mathis’s well-defined brows furrowed deeply. He looked at her with a troubled expression before speaking in a low voice.

“From now on, it would be best if you had a servant fetch the books for you instead.”

“……”

“You never know when something like this might happen again, and besides, it would be much more convenient.”

Hearing his concerned words, Emeline suddenly felt a cold sensation spread through her chest.

She met his warm gaze with an emotionless expression.

What he had just said was, in effect, a declaration—when she became his wife, he would see to it that she lived this way.

Forcing a smile, she asked, “Mathis, do you want me to stop going to the bookstore?”

“Yes. We don’t know when you might be in danger again.”

“…I see.”

Emeline hid her chilled emotions behind a bright, practiced smile.

Then, leading Mathis to the table, she changed the subject and engaged in conversation.

Yet, as they talked, she realized something unsettling.

Neither her words nor his responses were truly registering in her mind.

At that moment, only one thought consumed her.

Mathis Renier was not someone who would ever understand her or support what she wanted.

Emeline had told him countless times that her hobby was reading. He even knew that she was so devoted to books that she would go to the bookstore despite the rain.

And yet, he was telling her to stop going.

‘Ha…’

If he had at least suggested that they go together and that she should only visit when she was with him, she wouldn’t have been so disappointed.

She knew full well that going out alone had been risky.

But instead of considering her happiness, he prioritized his worries and gave her an answer that disregarded her completely.

‘So, indulging in something as trivial as reading isn’t important?’

Well, of course not.

She had never expected him to understand her from the beginning. That was why, at the time, she had found it so difficult to picture a future with Mathis Renier.

Later, when he surprisingly began to respect her, she had started to consider that perhaps he wouldn’t be such a bad husband.

But at this very moment, once again, she found herself unable to imagine a future with him.

No—perhaps she could see it all too clearly, which was why she didn’t want to imagine it at all.

In the end, a doll was just a doll, and a trophy was just a trophy.

She had been that to him from the start, so naturally, she would remain the same in the end.

For now, he showed her consideration, worry, and respect.

But because he saw her as nothing more than that, in the end, his treatment of her would change to match the role he had assigned her.

She let out a small chuckle and looked at Mathis.

It was difficult to conform to something she disliked. The moment even the slightest resistance emerged, compliance became impossible.

“Mathis, do I look unkempt right now? I checked the mirror, and I seemed a bit ridiculous…”

“Not at all.”

“Really? That’s a relief. You look quite dashing today as well. Ah, may I ask you something else?”

“It seems you have many questions. What would you like to ask?”

“I always wish for your happiness, but do you also wish for mine?” Emeline asked, her eyes filled with curiosity, like a young girl.

Mathis let out a small laugh, his gaze shifting slightly as if he found her unexpected question amusing.

“Of course.”

“Then… between a sturdy book and the stars in the night sky, which one could you give me as a gift?”

Mathis tilted his head and thought for a moment before answering, “Even if it’s impossible, I would do my best to pluck a star for you. One day, I will bring one to you.”

“Ah… Mathis, thank you. That’s truly touching.”

Emeline gave him a radiant smile.

But deep inside, she let out a bitter laugh.

Mathis hadn’t understood even a fraction of what she truly wanted. He had cast aside what was possible and deliberately chosen something impossible.

That must be how insignificant the things she loved seemed to him.

Even though she had expected his answer, she couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable sense of loneliness. What was she even hoping for from a man who was only tied to her by a transaction?

Emeline averted her gaze from him and stared out the window. She remained still, silently looking outside for a long time.

Just like in the past, when she had endlessly gazed at the only exit from her small, confined world.

***

After sending Mathis away and returning to her room, Benica arrived.

She had long since returned from her errand and immediately handed Emeline the bookstore owner’s response.

“You did well.”

Emeline gave her a little extra as a reward. Benica’s eyes widened at the unexpected bonus before she quickly bowed her head in gratitude.

“Thank you, miss.”

“Remember to keep quiet about this. If anyone else finds out, we’ll both be in trouble.”

“Yes, I will be careful.”

“I’ll call for you again next time. You may go for now.”

After Benica closed the door behind her, Emeline unfolded the letter from the bookstore owner.

As she read, her eyebrows slowly knitted together.

Moments later, she let out a hollow sigh and dropped the letter from her hands.

‘He stops by the bookstore almost every day…’

Always just past noon—whether briefly or for a long while, he would linger there.

A complex and indescribable emotion surged through her.

‘What are you doing, Zenon Trancium?’

Just past noon.

That was the exact time she had encountered him at the bookstore.

The day he had taunted her, exhaling smoke into the air as he filled their conversation with barbed words.

Every day, at that exact hour, he had been visiting the bookstore.

As if waiting for her to come.

A shiver ran through her as her breath trembled.

‘What are you trying to do?’

…Was this just another misunderstanding on her part?