A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 97

Chapter 97: An Independent Self

As Emeline stammered in surprise, Marcella, who had been watching, spoke up.

“Your father and uncle say I’m eccentric and that they can’t understand me.”

“…Pardon?”

“I come here often not just to see Lillie, but also because I like the scenery. You can see the coast so clearly. I enjoy watching beautiful things closely and for a long time, so I often look through a telescope.”

At the unexpected answer, Emeline’s mouth fell open without thinking.

Marcella pointed to a luxurious opera glass-like telescope she had set on the side table.

‘No way, did she happen to see me through that? So… did she see me with Zenon?’

Emeline knew that even though Marcella Betenard had once been queen, she was more cheerful than stern.

Flustered, Emeline hurried to recall what she had been doing with Zenon at the time.

Thankfully, it had ended with just an embrace.

‘What must Grandmother think about me and Zenon…?’

The moment Emeline encountered Marcella in Hilbert, she had already decided this woman might be able to help her future.

That’s why she needed to win her to her side—but now, facing this moment, she was worried whether Marcella would still be willing to help.

‘If I want Grandmother on my side, I have to explain my situation from the beginning.’

After a moment of worry, Emeline calmed her nerves and decided to seize this as an opportunity.

“Yes, you’re right. The Young Lord of House Trancium may not have good relations with our family, but… we’ve known each other for a long time.”

“But Emeline, don’t you have a fiancé? According to the newspapers, you two seemed to be getting along rather well.”

“…Father forced it, even though I already had someone I loved. That person and I were forced into separate engagements just because our families didn’t get along.”

Though it was a clever lie mixed with truth, in a way, there was nothing incorrect about it.

Emeline’s delicate eyes lowered plaintively.

Though the Delzeier children were said to resemble the Duke more than the Duchess, Emeline was confident.

Her delicate features and gaze resembled Lillie, Marcella’s beloved daughter-in-law.

“Oh dear…”

As expected, Marcella looked at Emeline with pity. Emeline managed a sorrowful smile as if to say she was alright.

“But when he ended the engagement first, I gained the courage as well. The truth is, I came here after secretly asking my fiancé for a breakup without Father’s knowledge… I want to marry someone I love, just like Mother always told me growing up.”

As she set aside her gloom and spoke of her aspirations, a glimmer appeared in Marcella’s eyes.

The reason Emeline could say such things before her grandmother was because Marcella, like Emeline, had an open mind compared to this stifling society.

“I did read in the paper that the Marquis’s second son was involved in something like that. But I never imagined his lover would be you, Emeline.”

“Yes, it may be hard to believe, but… all the scandals he was embroiled in were fabricated. The papers always describe him as frivolous and delinquent, but…”

In truth, that wasn’t the case at all.

Zenon was more thoughtful and sincere than anyone.

He had recognized, respected, and understood the inner self that even her own family had ignored.

Marcella, listening to Emeline, gave a small nod. “I know. The second son of the Marquis has a very upright nature.”

“…You know?”

Emeline’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was one thing for the papers to eventually clear up the false scandals, but for her to know his character so well—

Even though some began to view him as romantic after his interviews, the stigma of being unruly hadn’t completely disappeared.

Unless she had met him herself.

“Not long ago, he came to see me. He had just started running a defense company and seemed to be forming connections with the royal family.”

“Ah… the defense company, you mean?”

Nodding, Emeline sank into thought.

It felt unfamiliar to hear Zenon’s name mentioned alongside that term.

She, too, had heard in passing that a new defense company had sprung up—one even the neighboring kingdom of Lunalini had its eye on.

Was that what Zenon had been building to gain power?

Emeline had assumed he’d taken on suitable work just to inherit his father’s title, so she was genuinely surprised.

Whether by his intention or not, the public didn’t seem to know the full story yet. But if he was connecting with the royal family, then it meant he was seriously aiming for power.

“To be honest, I’m not on bad terms with the current king. Though, when I was on the throne, I got plenty of criticism for being eccentric.”

“…I’ve admired you since I was a child, Grandmother.”

Marcella laughed aloud and thanked her kindly.

“Anyway, I’ve come to prefer peace and quiet, so I even left the capital. But then the Marquis’s second son insisted on seeing me, calling me a royal elder. He even brought gifts suited to my tastes.”

It was an unexpected story. That Zenon had interacted with her.

“He’s a very upright and open-minded young man, quite unlike the rumors. Well, he is the lover of my granddaughter, after all.”

She smiled warmly, saying she liked Zenon and was pleased by this coincidence.

And she wasn’t the only one happy about this situation.

Thanks to Zenon’s unexpected involvement, Emeline felt things had become much easier.

After some hesitation, Emeline spoke, “In truth, there’s something I’d like to ask your advice on, Grandmother.”

“Advice? About what?”

“Is it possible… for me to become an independent person, apart from Father?”

“You want to become independent from Bernard? A daughter’s role is usually to follow her father, why would you want otherwise? Is it for marriage?”

Marcella’s expression grew more serious and thoughtful.

Because her words held an ambiguous weight, Emeline answered nervously, “Father isn’t exactly forward-thinking—he’s rather conservative. But I’ve had a dream for a long time… I’ve always wanted to attend university. Thanks to you opening the doors to higher education for women, I was able to turn that humble wish into a greater dream.”

Seeing Marcella quietly listening, Emeline began to speak more.

About how Bernard Delzeier had suppressed her love and dreams. About how much she had lost and how she had spent the last four years.

And now, about what she hoped to achieve.

“…So that’s what happened.”

“Yes. That’s why I want your advice, Grandmother.”

If anyone knew how a woman could live as an independent being, surely it was the one who had opened the gates of university to them.

Given society’s prevailing norms, it was nearly impossible for women to enter higher education otherwise.

Marcella stared seriously at her before finally speaking, “According to kingdom law, there’s one clear way for a woman to become her own legal entity. I made sure to establish it in anticipation of changing times.”

“What is it? Please tell me, Grandmother.”

“Emeline, have you considered being ennobled through independent title inheritance? Though the perception of ennoblement isn’t very favorable, an unmarried woman granted a title can legally become independent of her father.”

“Ennoblement…”

It was the same method the Marquis of Trancium had used to become a noble.

While that had further worsened the perception of ennoblement, Emeline welcomed the idea simply because it offered an alternative.

With both hands clasped, Emeline thanked her sincerely. “Thank you, Grandmother. I’ll be sure to consider it.”

“You really are my granddaughter, so bold and forward-thinking. I’ll be cheering for your future.”

Marcella smiled in satisfaction and added, “By the way, does the Young Lord of Trancium know about your dream?”

“Yes, he supports me. And we’ve made a promise together.”

“A promise? What kind?”

“Though he too had to study abroad because of opposition from his family… we promised to attend university together someday and study side by side.”

And when they made that promise, he had added something else.

That he would help her achieve her dream, and protect that dream.

As Marcella listened, her eyes softened and a benevolent smile spread across her face.

“I see. Special promises like that tend to last a long time. I hope it bears fruit, in whatever form it may take.”

“Thank you.”

Emeline smiled gently as well.

She felt reassured, like she had gained another pillar of support who truly understood her.

***

“Miss, a letter has arrived from the townhouse in Elvarto.”

The next day, as Emeline eagerly awaited the moment when night would fall and she could sail the moonlit sea with Zenon, Benica approached.

Opening the letter Benica handed over, Emeline narrowed her eyes.

The sender was Antony. And the message was very short:

[Emeline, Father will be returning to the townhouse tomorrow. Just thought you should know.

I don’t know what you’re up to, but you’d better be ready.]