A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Should We Run Away?

Honestly, Zenon didn’t even know where his feelings were headed.

When it came to how he felt about Emeline Delzeier, it was, quite literally, a riddle.

Clearly, he had approached her with the intention of using her, and that hadn’t changed. But separate from that, he couldn’t see Emeline Delzeier as just any ordinary person.

Why did he keep thinking of her? Why did his eyes keep seeking her out?

It was when he impulsively kissed Emeline Delzeier that he fully realized his own feelings.

“I’ve done it too. Want me to show you?”

That expression of hers—glaring up at him, brows furrowed in prideful defiance.

And then, without a second thought, Emeline had crashed her lips into his.

Ha, even thinking back on it now—Emeline Delzeier had been more reckless than him.

Eyes shut tight like she was bracing herself, lips pressed together so stiffly that all she did was press her mouth to his.

‘A kiss, really? In what world was that a kiss?’

To be generous, it could barely pass as a peck. Harshly judged, it was little more than touching skin.

Truth be told, Zenon hadn’t been in a great mood that day. The thought of Emeline getting engaged to some ridiculous buffoon had unsettled him.

Hearing her praise the other man’s family only added to his frustration, and made him feel utterly powerless.

His reputation was in shambles, his family name no better. All he had going for him were his looks and wealth.

And besides, the Delzeiers and Tranciums had never truly gotten along, aside from brief collaborations.

When he thought about it all, he felt like he would be the worst possible match for Emeline Delzeier, no matter who else she compared him to.

He hated the situation he was in, and her brushing it off like it wasn’t his business made him angry.

But then—one sudden peck from Emeline, and all that foul emotion vanished. Like he’d lost his mind, he kissed her back, entranced.

When he cracked his eyes open, he saw her trembling lashes, still tightly shut.

‘…Why is she so pretty?’

The warm breeze wafting through the study window felt good.

The soft scent that lingered around Emeline was lovely too.

She usually acted curt, but now she was trying to match him with that clumsy determination—adorably stubborn.

Zenon had nearly crossed the line that day.

Unthinking, he had begun parting her lips and pushing inside. Shocked at himself, he had bolted on the spot.

‘What the hell was I thinking, kissing her like that…’

He couldn’t count how long he sat at home, thinking it all over.

He worried that he had done something awful to someone as innocent as Emeline.

And she might still end up marrying that ridiculous buffoon.

His heart had pounded like it was being hammered all day, leaving Zenon drowning in anxiety.

“Ah…”

Even that night, after finally falling asleep and waking again, Zenon plunged into self-loathing.

It had started when a sudden chill made him glance downward.

In the dream, Emeline Delzeier had appeared…

“Ah… you lunatic…”

Feeling like absolute trash, Zenon couldn’t even recall the dream in detail.

Having a wet dream about a girl so naive she didn’t even know how to kiss, who only managed to stamp her lips on his like a seal.

Late at night, Zenon sat with his head buried, ears burning red.

He’d always heard the rumors—but maybe they were right. Maybe he really was a lunatic.

Maybe the people spreading those rumors had actually judged him far more objectively than he ever had.

No, wait.

Steeped in self-loathing, Zenon reeled through his feelings.

He’d seen Emeline in his dreams, thought of her all day long, and just remembering that moment made him feel like he might explode from joy.

‘Could it be… do I actually like Emeline Delzeier?’

…How had he not realized that sooner?

He blanked out after reaching that conclusion. Then came a rush of clarity that felt so obvious it was almost absurd.

‘What if Emeline hates me?’

No matter how he looked at it, trying to cross the line that day had been a mistake. And on top of that, he’d run away like an idiot, only to go and have a wet dream…

How was he ever supposed to face her again?

But all that nervousness and dread was utterly shattered the day Emeline came to his house in the middle of a storm and once again charged recklessly toward him.

Because of that, Zenon came to know how she felt.

He thought about how he had once believed they were destined, and it felt like maybe—just maybe—he had known all along they would end up like this.

He had liked her quite a bit even back then. But as time passed, Zenon’s feelings for Emeline only grew deeper.

To the point where he couldn’t imagine his life without her. As if from the start, no one but her would ever do.

He truly, sincerely wanted to marry Emeline.

To go to university together, to live in a world just for the two of them—because that had been her dream, too.

But the calamity that suddenly struck would not let them come together so easily.

“After putting on all those airs of nobility, you go after my woman?!”

The trouble began when the Duke of Delzeier stole the Marquis’s mistress.

From Zenon’s perspective, who suffered the fallout, it was utterly absurd.

So they shared a love for the arts—did they share taste in women too?

‘We can’t afford to let the relationship between the families get any worse.’

It had been convenient to meet Emeline while the Duke and the Marquis, for once, found common ground in business.

But the moment the Duke stabbed the Marquis in the back, their collaboration collapsed.

“Zenon Trancium, don’t you dare set foot in that damned house again! And enough with hanging around that bastard’s daughter.”

Sure enough, the backlash landed squarely on Zenon, who had grown close to Emeline.

Afraid things might spiral further, Zenon had spoken with complete sincerity about their relationship.

He told his father how deeply he loved her, how they had already promised each other a future.

That day, Zenon was severely beaten by his father.

Even so, he had held on to a shred of faith—that even if he couldn’t win his father’s approval, the right moment would come.

So for a while, he continued meeting Emeline in secret.

“Zenon.”

Her bright face, holding up a lantern in a dark room, always lingered in his mind no matter when he recalled it—she was that beautiful.

She only stayed for a few hours before leaving, but Zenon lived for those moments.

Even after she left, the moment he turned his back on her, he would start counting down the time until he could see her again the next day.

That was how much he loved Emeline Delzeier. Holding her in his arms, he felt like he never wanted to let go—not for the rest of the day.

He would have been fine if nothing ever changed. If they could keep meeting like this in secret forever.

Because once someone found out, they’d be forced apart, no matter what either of them wanted.

Zenon already couldn’t live without her.

“Emeline.”

“Mm…”

Emeline, blinking slowly like she was about to fall asleep, mumbled a reply.

Zenon, lying beside her with one arm propped up, smiled unconsciously. His bare chest and tousled hair made his smile shine all the brighter—so much so it would make anyone stop and stare.

Emeline, gazing at him sleepily, slowly reached out her hand.

Seeing her hand approach his lips, Zenon playfully bit down on her outstretched index finger.

Even half-asleep, Emeline smiled softly.

Watching her drift off, Zenon gently held the hand he’d just teased.

As he tenderly caressed it, he whispered in a quiet voice, “….What are we going to do now?”

He had learned that Emeline now had a prospective fiancé.

The engagement hadn’t been formally announced yet, so there was still a chance to avoid it.

But even if they did, marrying her would never be easy.

Both of their parents would certainly oppose it.

Just as Lance Trancium had cursed and beaten Zenon, the Duke of Delzeier would pressure Emeline in return.

Zenon furrowed his elegant brows, clearly troubled.

If it was going to fall apart painfully anyway, then maybe…

“Maybe we should just run away.”

He murmured softly, watching Emeline sleep peacefully beside him.

Her gentle, even breathing was so calm, she wouldn’t have noticed even if he carried her off.

Zenon, alone with his thoughts, let out a helpless chuckle.

‘We can’t do that… We were supposed to go to Robelque University together. University is your dream.’

He reached out and pulled her fallen chemise strap back up over her shoulder.

If they attended a university filled with noble heirs and ladies, running away would be pointless.

He just wished time would stop like this, so they could stay together forever.

Zenon quietly lifted his upper body and kissed Emeline’s forehead.

Then, holding her tightly as she slept, he closed his eyes.

Not long after, what they feared came to pass.

Someone in her family had discovered their relationship.

Zenon had wanted to help Emeline, but it was no use.

In a single moment, the two of them were forced apart.