A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Extra Edition

‘Coming tomorrow, just like that.’

Ever since the accident, visitors seemed to come non-stop.

Not only those who visited in person, but many who had heard of her unfortunate situation had sent flowers or small gifts of comfort.

It was absurd. Emeline hadn’t even been the one injured in the accident—it had been Zenon Trancium.

She recalled the desolate hospital room when she had visited Zenon.

His fiancée, who openly cheated on him while ignoring him, clearly had no intention of visiting.

Then what about his family?

She’d heard the Marquis hadn’t been in good health recently.

There were even rumors he’d soon hand over the title to his successor. If he was recuperating, he might not be able to visit Zenon.

Then, what about his brother?

Zenon’s older brother, Allen Trancium…

Recalling the time she had met him, Emeline let out a vexed sigh.

That man, who only saw his younger brother as a threat to his position, likely couldn’t care less if Zenon got hit by a carriage and died on the street. That thick-headed fool.

If that man inherited all the Marquis’s authority, the Trancium family would be bankrupt within half a year.

What had the Marquis been thinking, wanting to pass the title to a man like that?

Furrowing her brow in frustration, she once again recalled the flowerless hospital room.

Perhaps many people had visited—including family—but the flowers had wilted and been thrown away. Even so, Emeline couldn’t stop thinking about it.

‘What’s wrong with me, seriously.’

Unconsciously pitying Zenon Trancium, Emeline gave her head a light shake.

It wasn’t like she could show up again carrying flowers just because he seemed pitiful.

Not after what had happened. Especially after she’d kissed him like someone who had lost her mind.

‘…It was an accident. I shouldn’t go back for a while. No—really, I shouldn’t ever see him again.’

From the beginning, they were never meant to seek each other out or face each other warmly.

With a heavy sigh, Emeline finally set Angel’s letter down on the table.

After struggling with her discomfort for a while, she reluctantly rang the bell.

Responding to the call, Benica stood neatly before her.

“Miss, do you have any instructions?”

“I do, but…”

Emeline lightly touched her forehead with one hand.

‘…Is this really okay?’

Was this truly the right thing to do? About to make a rather unreasonable request, Emeline hesitated.

Then she reminded herself that although she and Zenon had a bitter history, a new bond had formed—he was now the person who had saved her life.

‘That’s why I can’t stop thinking about it. That’s why I went to visit.’

Brushing aside every other complicated thought, she focused only on that one fact.

At last, she spoke to Benica, who was still standing there.

“Go to the hospital where Zenon Trancium is staying every day and take him some flowers. No—he’s probably having trouble moving around because of me. Change the flowers in the vase for him daily. Bring peaches often too. Oh, and while you’re at it, find out who’s coming and going from his room. Don’t forget to leave as soon as your task is done.”

Emeline kept adding more and more requests—until she finally clamped her mouth shut.

At this rate, she’d soon be asking the maid to keep him company if he looked bored.

Pity. What a ridiculous thing.

She had to be going mad.

Benica looked slightly startled as she watched Emeline ramble to the end. Emeline, who was usually composed, certainly seemed different today. Her reaction wasn’t unreasonable.

Feeling embarrassed, Emeline hastily added that she’d like it to start today if possible and sent her away.

‘….This isn’t wrong. I’m not even going myself.’

Surely this much was acceptable, considering how much she owed Zenon. It was barely enough to call repaying a debt.

She kept rationalizing it to herself.

***

“Emeline! Emelineeeee…!”

The next morning, Angel burst into the Delzeier mansion at the break of dawn. Before Emeline could even properly get ready, she came rushing in, kicking up a cloud of dust.

After hurriedly preparing herself, Emeline came out, and Angel immediately pulled her into a tight hug. Her soft golden hair tickled Emeline’s cheek.

Emeline was the one who’d had the accident, yet Angel seemed far more upset.

To anyone else, it would’ve looked like Emeline had been crushed by a statue and tragically died young without even leaving a will.

“I’m fine, Angel.”

“How can you be fine after something so terrifying?”

“I really am… Let’s not just stand here. Let’s go in.”

Taking Angel’s hand, Emeline led her to the tea table set up in the garden by the servants.

On a sunny day like today, it would’ve been perfect to go riding or enjoy some other outdoor amusement. But unfortunately, Emeline had recently been in an accident and was still being treated like a patient.

They asked the servant to bring two cups of milk tea, and the two of them sat and chatted lightly.

“Come to think of it, the person who saved you was… Zenon Trancium, wasn’t it?”

At the sudden mention of that name, Emeline’s lips stiffened for a moment. Then, in a noticeably quieter voice, she answered, “Yes, he saved me.”

Lowering her gaze, Emeline looked down at the tea table, where ripe peaches and various desserts had been set out.

Angel glanced at the teacup Emeline was holding hesitantly and her shadowed face, then spoke, “Emeline, the man who once helped you and then left after hurting you—that was Zenon Trancium, wasn’t it?”

Emeline’s eyes, which had been wandering over the table, shifted back to Angel.

Hearing Angel’s precise guess, Emeline’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected her to figure it out.

Angel added, “Actually, when Lady Fendine mentioned him, your expression turned bad.”

That moment when Labore Fendine had spoken about being close to her fiancé for five years now.

Since then, Emeline’s pale face had grown even whiter, and her eyes had visibly trembled in shock.

But that subtle change was something only someone like Angel—who had watched Emeline closely for a long time—could have noticed.

At the time, Angel had wondered if it had been her imagination.

But after hearing about the accident, she remembered the man Emeline had once spoken of in the past.

The one who had first recognized her, helped her pursue her dreams, and ultimately betrayed her and walked away.

The one she had made a promise with to go to university together, a promise neither of them had kept.

The man who had become both her hope and her betrayer—the one who had made Emeline scream like a desperate plea for help at the chaotic accident scene—Angel now suspected it had been him.

“…Yes.”

After a long pause, Emeline answered with a sorrowful smile.

Seeing her darkened expression, Angel gently clasped the hand Emeline had wrapped around her teacup.

“Emeline, your face has looked troubled all day. If there’s any burden from that incident, I’ll carry it with you. If you’re okay with that.”

Angel’s brown eyes shone with quiet determination.

She could help by finding a solution, or simply by letting Emeline unburden her heart. Either way, she wanted to ease her pain.

Angel couldn’t stand seeing Emeline this lifeless—no matter how Emeline saw her, to Angel, she was a precious friend.

Emeline’s expression softened upon hearing Angel’s warm words of support.

“Thank you, Angel. You always cheer me on. Even back at the academy, you were the first to praise me…”

She smiled sincerely at her friend. Just as she was about to say more—

“Miss.”

A servant approached Emeline in haste. It was Benica.

She must have just returned from carrying out the task Emeline had given her.

Even so, interrupting while a guest was present was unlike the usually tactful Benica.

Emeline was just about to calmly scold her for the intrusion—

“I’m sorry to interrupt while you have company. But I thought you should see this…”

“…What is it?”

“On the way back from completing your errand, I received this extra edition being handed out. The content seems…”

Emeline, midway through listening, took the paper Benica handed her.

As she calmly scanned the newspaper, her expression suddenly stiffened.

A sensational article had been printed.

Her eyes followed the bold type, widening as she read, and her lips slowly parted.

It felt as if all the sounds around her faded into the distance.

Her heart began pounding heavily.

[Zenon Trancium, recently reported to be recovering from an unfortunate accident, has publicly claimed in an interview that his fiancée has been unfaithful.

According to his testimony, the affair was with his older brother, and he revealed that the fiancée’s side had conspired with the brother to deliberately worsen the health of the Marquis of Trancium.

He added that his fiancée had planned to break off the engagement once his brother inherited the title.]

As Emeline skimmed the article, her gaze slowed at a particular section.

[Following this shocking revelation, Zenon Trancium broke his silence regarding his long-rumored scandals.

He asserted that all the past rumors were false and declared that there had only ever been one person he truly had feelings for.

He further explained that the reason he had remained silent until now was out of fear that baseless accusations and backlash would be directed at the one he loved.

…Could this sudden change of stance mean that he is preparing to share new developments regarding his romantic interest with the public?]