A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Overblown Self-Consciousness

After the morning classes ended, the time just past noon at Emeline’s noble school was dedicated to free activities in the afternoon. The boys usually attended the elective courses they had chosen, while the girls gathered for social activities to build friendships.

Emeline often spent her afternoons like the other girls, but several times a week, she would attend extra classes. Truthfully, she engaged in social activities because it was expected of her, but she didn’t particularly enjoy noisy gatherings.

“I’ll be off now, then.”

“Alright, Lady Delzeier. Come back soon, and we’ll chat about knitting.”

Emeline received friendly farewells from her friends as she headed to the lecture hall. She took a seat at the very back of the large classroom, placing the thick textbook she was carrying on the wooden desk.

She didn’t like sitting at the front, where she would draw attention. As a student who consistently ranked at the top, she was a target of resentment for some of the boys. Fortunately, most of the school’s lecture halls were tiered, so her view of the blackboard wasn’t blocked by taller students in front. If the class wasn’t one she attended with her friends, Emeline always preferred the back.

Emeline wiped her glasses and put them on, focusing as the lecture began. The lesson was scheduled to last a full three hours. But not even twenty minutes into the teacher’s monotonous lecture, students in the front began to doze off one by one.

‘How pathetic.’

Emeline glanced at them with disapproval before returning to her note-taking.

It was while the lecture was in full swing that it happened. Suddenly, the classroom door opened with a noise that broke the quiet atmosphere. Emeline’s eyes instinctively turned toward the sound. She saw a familiar person carefully closing the door again.

“Sorry for being late.”

He gave a brief apology with a bow before scanning the room. Then, Emeline’s and Zenon’s eyes met. Emeline quickly turned her head away, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have. She forced her attention back to the blackboard, but she felt a presence approaching her. Soon, the chair beside her was dragged back with a scraping noise, and Zenon plopped down next to her.

At that moment, a faint scent of roses emanated from his clothes. It was subtle, only noticeable because of how close he was sitting.

‘Why here?’

Emeline frowned and looked at him. Zenon, who was gauging where they were in the lesson from the notes on the board, turned when he felt her gaze. Their eyes met in midair.

Emeline was the first to speak, lowering her voice as much as possible. “Why are you sitting next to me?”

“Lady Delzeier, do you think the world revolves around you?”

“Ha, self-centered, am I?”

“I didn’t sit here because I wanted to. Maybe you should look around instead of just staring at the board. This was the only seat left—right here, next to you,” said Zenon with an exasperated expression.

Emeline finally looked around the large lecture hall. The room was divided into three columns of spacious two-person desks arranged in rows. After scanning each desk, Emeline realized, belatedly, that he was telling the truth.

All the seats were taken except for the one next to her. Students who normally didn’t even show up were sprawled across the desks, asleep.

A taunting voice came from beside her. “So, how does it feel to confirm that you really are self-centered, Lady Delzeier?”

“…I didn’t know all the seats were taken.”

“So, without checking, you assumed I rushed over to sit next to you on purpose. Where does all that confidence come from?”

“You’ve been following me around all this time.”

“Half of that was just coincidence. Like right now.”

“Fine, I get it. It’s just a coincidence.”

Emeline let out a small sigh. Talking to Zenon Trancium seemed to make her even more tired. It was probably the result of the late nights she had been spending studying recently. A slight frown crossed her face as her head throbbed dully.

Emeline tightened her grip on her pen and looked straight ahead again. In the brief time she’d spent talking to Zenon, the lecture had moved far ahead. Time wasn’t going to wait for her. She tried to gather her focus again, determined to ignore the presence beside her as much as possible.

“Lady Delzeier, you don’t look well today…”

Zenon whispered, but Emeline’s frown only deepened, and she chose not to respond. She thought that, eventually, he would lose interest.

“Are you feeling unwell? Still studying, even when you’re sick… that’s dedication.”

Zenon murmured, staring at her intently. It wasn’t long before his voice came again.

“Lady Delzeier.”

“…….”

“Lady Delzeier?”

“…….”

“Emeline Delzeier.”

“…Please.”

Unable to take his constant muttering any longer, Emeline finally spoke. Her voice was chillingly low.

“Keep your mouth shut.”

Already suffering from a headache, Emeline snapped irritably. It was unlike her to speak so harshly. Zenon looked momentarily startled, then slowly closed his mouth, appearing somewhat crestfallen.

Emeline finally felt she could breathe a sigh of relief as silence returned. She was about to turn the page in her notebook, which was already filled with notes, when it happened.

“Alright, Emeline.”

Her hand paused. Her gaze, which had been fixed on her book, shifted to Zenon.

“Who said you could use my name…”

“You were finally speaking informally to me, so I thought you might be opening up.”

“Look, we’re not friends. There’s no opening up or anything like that.”

“Why are you being so formal again? I liked it when you spoke casually just now.”

“You liked being insulted?”

“Oh… that was an insult to you? You’re so innocent.”

“It’s unpleasant, so don’t call me by my name.”

“Names are meant to be used. I have the freedom to say what I want. Or is my mouth somehow yours? Since when?”

Zenon propped one arm on the desk and looked at her, shamelessly running his mouth.

Emeline glared at his loud, irritating mouth with disdain. If she could, she would have loved to tie it shut.

“What, do you want it? I could give it to you.”

Zenon chuckled as if amused by the disgusted look in her eyes.

Emeline had an urge to cover her ears. How could he say something so indecent so casually? The girls who followed him around—did they fall for such trashy comments? They probably just ignored his words and stared at his good looks.

Emeline frowned deeply. “I wish I could go back to before I heard that.”

“Want to hear it again?”

“No, I want to shove paper in your mouth.”

At that, Zenon abruptly stopped laughing. Emeline scoffed and resumed taking notes.

It was only after a long while that Zenon spoke softly, “…If you’re that upset, you could just call me by my name. Speak informally too.”

Emeline didn’t respond. Thanks to her silence, Zenon finally quieted down.

The three-hour lecture finally ended, and the teacher left the classroom. Emeline felt her head burning from the prolonged concentration. She opened her glasses case, and at the same time, Zenon spoke.

“You’re taking off your glasses?”

Having been so engrossed in the lesson, Emeline had forgotten all about him. She flinched. The other students had all left, but Zenon was still there, watching her in the same position.

“…Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

“No, not at all…”

He was staring openly at her face, his gaze somewhat blank. Emeline glared at him, annoyed, then took off her glasses and put them away. Looking around, she saw that the other students had rushed out as soon as class ended, leaving only Zenon sitting there, watching her.

‘Is he planning to follow me again…’

Feeling exasperated, Emeline hurriedly gathered her books and stood up. As she did, Zenon spoke, “By the way, you really do look unwell today…”

Emeline ignored his words and turned away, but just then, her vision spun unexpectedly. Before she could react, her surroundings blurred, and her body swayed weakly. It felt like her consciousness had left her for a moment, a loud buzzing in her ears.

Emeline grimaced, letting out a shaky breath. Fortunately, after a short time, the darkness faded from her vision. Her senses slowly returned, starting with her hearing.

“Are you okay?!”

The first thing she heard as the buzzing stopped was an urgent voice. Her headache persisted, and she gripped whatever she could find for support. She felt soft fabric and warmth beneath her hand. The scent of flowers and soap filled her nose, mixed faintly with the lingering smell of cigars.

After a moment, Emeline’s mind cleared completely. Blinking blankly, she slowly realized her situation. Shock left her mind blank.

“Are you conscious?”

A voice came from right beside her—no, from just below her.