A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 91

Chapter 91: We Made a Promise

He could no longer go to Emeline freely. Their secret meetings in her room had been discovered by none other than Emeline’s family.

He waited for Emeline to reach out to him.

Because he believed that, at the very least, the secret place where their letters were exchanged hadn’t been exposed.

But even after several days, no letter came from Emeline.

Zenon, who had tried to wait patiently, eventually went alone to take the entrance exam for Robelque University.

Just in case, he had looked for Emeline at the exam site, but she was nowhere to be seen.

It was only then that Zenon realized something.

‘Emeline would never skip the exam of her own accord.’

He knew just how precious that dream was to her.

He had observed her closely, had tried so hard to learn even a little more about her.

And then he recalled something she had once told him:

“Whenever I go against my father’s standards and make a mistake, I’m locked up alone in a room where no one ever comes.”

She had told him that if she made a mistake, she would be confined within the house until she repented.

Now thinking of that, Zenon let out an incredulous breath.

‘Then all this time… Emeline has been locked up at home?’

Having come to a firm conclusion, it was only natural that Zenon moved immediately. If Emeline Delzeier was not in his future, then his future held no meaning at all.

He had always been steeped in rebellion against his father, and in disillusionment and ennui about his own life.

But Emeline Delzeier, who had appeared in his world and set him in motion, was a light in his life. If she went out, the light in his life would go out completely.

It was a life whose worth he’d come to understand because of her—if Emeline Delzeier disappeared from that life, what meaning would be left?

The very next day after realizing Emeline was being punished, he fearlessly went to the Delzeier mansion.

With trembling nerves, he stood before it and rang the bell. Then, he asked for the Duke of Delzeier.

At first, a servant came out and said the Duke was not home.

Zenon said he would wait.

After a while, the butler came and tried repeatedly to turn him away, but Zenon refused to leave.

And so, from early morning until the sun began to sink below the horizon, Zenon waited—until at last, the Duke of Delzeier appeared.

‘Hah, so he was at home the whole time.’

The Duke shamelessly revealed himself at the Delzeier mansion. And his expression was anything but pleasant.

Standing tall before Zenon, he shot him a displeased glare.

“Someone like you has no business coming here. What do you want?”

The condescension and hostility in his tone were expected. The relationship between the Marquis of Trancium and the Duke of Delzeier had never been good.

Zenon took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak. After all, this was Emeline’s father, and one of the people whose approval was necessary for their marriage.

It was impossible not to be nervous, but Zenon tried to speak as calmly as he could.

“This is our first time meeting like this, Your Grace. I used to come to the mansion often and greet you…”

“Did I ask you to greet me? I asked why you’re here.”

Bernard Delzeier cut him off in a solemn voice that made clear he wasn’t going to entertain any flattery.

His tone demanded that Zenon get to the point, so Zenon had no choice but to reconsider his words.

He had expected resistance, but facing it directly, it was clear that pleasantries would get him nowhere.

If the other side came out forcefully, then he would respond with firm resolve of his own.

Setting his expression with seriousness, Zenon spoke, “The truth is, over the past months I’ve come to know and cherish Emeline through our time together. I came today to ask Your Grace’s permission for us to continue seeing each other. We’ve already promised to marry.”

That was likely why Emeline had been confined as well—because the Duke disapproved of their relationship.

Though the Duke’s expression darkened with disgust, Zenon continued without faltering.

“I love your daughter very much.”

“How absurd.”

“…Though I may not be to your liking, all the rumors about me are baseless fabrications. I have never once loved anyone else as a woman besides Emeline.”

If you would grant me even a single chance, I will take full responsibility and make her happy.

I am not like my father. Please don’t judge me only by the shadow he casts.

Please look at me as the man your daughter has given her heart to.

I love Emeline now, I will love her in the future, and I will love her even in death.

That much…

His voice caught mid-sentence. After steadying his breath, Zenon concluded, “That’s how much I love your daughter. To the point that I can love and cherish everything about her more than I do myself. So please… would you grant us your permission to be together?”

At some point, Zenon found himself pouring out what was nearly a desperate plea. As the Duke’s expression grew darker, he grew more anxious.

He knew the Duke didn’t think highly of someone like him, tangled in endless scandals.

At that moment, Zenon wanted nothing more than to kill his past self who couldn’t even manage his own reputation.

No—he hated the very fact that he’d been born with the Trancium name.

Why had he been born with something that made it impossible to be with Emeline from the start? Why did it make imagining a future with her so difficult?

What others with decent families could achieve with ease felt like a massive, insurmountable wall to Zenon. That reality infuriated him.

“So, what—you’re asking me to approve a relationship between my daughter and the likes of you?”

The Duke, who had been listening to Zenon’s earnest declaration, finally responded. His face cold and composed, he let out a short scoff.

Zenon was about to speak again, confused by that ambiguous reaction—

—but the Duke’s fist slammed into his cheek.

Caught off guard, Zenon lost his balance and collapsed.

In stunned disbelief, Zenon looked up at the Duke.

“Someone like you dares to covet my daughter?!”

“Your Grace, I know I’m not to your liking. But—”

Snapping back to his senses at the booming voice, Zenon hurriedly tried to speak.

But before he could finish, something heavy struck his arm.

The Duke had used the expensive cane he had been holding elegantly.

And he didn’t stop there. Like he was beating away some filthy stray dog or rat, the Duke mercilessly struck Zenon again and again. Soon fists and kicks were involved as well.

“That wretched family of yours produces nothing but thieves! A mongrel like you, with lowly blood in your veins, dares to ruin my daughter!”

Zenon grimaced, groaning involuntarily—but he didn’t fight back.

If he reacted now, if he did anything at all, the Duke—already filled with resentment and distrust—would never allow him to be with Emeline for the rest of his life.

And frankly, the Duke had reason to be angry. After all, the collaboration between the Trancium and Delzeier families had recently fallen apart. The damage to the Duke must’ve been enormous.

If only he could see Emeline again, none of this mattered to Zenon. It wasn’t humiliating. It didn’t even hurt.

Letting go of her over something like this would be the truly absurd thing.

Surely, Emeline was suffering far more under her father’s control.

‘Emeline… I’m coming to save you. I’ll win your father’s approval and come for you myself.’

Lying sprawled on the floor, Zenon clenched his teeth and endured every blow.

“Insolent bastard. Disgusting brat!”

Even the estate’s guards near the gate glanced over uneasily, as if they found the violence excessive.

Consumed by rage, the Duke didn’t stop until Zenon’s lips were split and his clothes and body were in tatters.

Barely clinging to consciousness, Zenon held on.

He hadn’t come this far, gotten this close to Emeline’s father, just to black out and ruin everything.

After serving as the Duke’s punching bag for some time, Zenon reached out and grabbed the hem of the man’s trouser leg.

“I truly love Emeline with all my heart… I will never bring disgrace to Your Grace’s name. Please… I beg you…”

“Get your filthy hands off!”

The Duke struck Zenon’s hand with his cane.

With a low groan, Zenon let go. Bernard, frowning in disgust, turned to leave.

“Tch. What a waste of time on someone like you. If you show up here again, I’ll make sure you can’t show your face in Elvarto ever again.”

“W-wait a moment…! I know Emeline is in the house.”

Zenon once more grabbed the Duke’s trouser leg. There was desperation in his voice.

His wrist, already swollen from the earlier blow, throbbed dully. Still, Zenon moved, kneeling down on the floor as he clung to him.

Bernard narrowed his eyes as he watched the pitiful sight before speaking, “Don’t even think about seeing her. Have you no shame?”

“I know Emeline is being kept in the house against her will! Please, even just once—could I see her… just once…”

“……”

“No—if I can’t see her, then please let her go. Emeline has long dreamed of attending Robelque University, and the entrance exams were just held… I heard there will be another chance soon for those who missed it due to unavoidable circumstances. Please, I beg you…”

A dream with no one to rely on—Emeline Delzeier’s dream.

He had promised. That he would help her fulfill it, and that one day, they would meet again at that university.

That was why he had to keep his promise. Because the moment he learned of Emeline Delzeier’s dream, it had become his as well.

But as soon as Zenon’s plea ended, the Duke twisted his face in disdain and said, “So it was you. You’re the one who planted such ridiculous ideas in her head. You disgraceful brat.”

And with that, as if there was nothing left to see, he shook Zenon off his leg and turned away.

That was the last time.