A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: I’ll Come for You Again

Seeing that Antony had sent a letter here, it seemed he knew Emeline had headed to Hilbert thanks to having assigned someone to watch her.

‘From the newspapers, it seemed Father was still busy with work…’

He also preferred to travel for business rather than stay home during hectic periods for efficiency’s sake.

For him to suddenly return to the townhouse meant something unusual had happened.

‘It must mean Mathis agreed to the breakup.’

Bernard Delzeier must’ve heard the news and decided to end his trip and return to the townhouse.

Before that, he’d told Antony to check on the matter and that he’d be home the next day.

‘Which means Father will come looking for me soon. My brother might even tell him I’m here in Hilbert. He’ll probably come furious and drag me back.’

Glancing at the time, Emeline asked Benica to help her prepare to go out.

Even if the Duke of Delzeier did drag her away, perhaps to lock her up again, Emeline was no longer afraid of him.

She felt more contempt and disgust toward him than fear.

‘It’s different this time. Even though breaking off the engagement with Mathis means I’ve lost the only solid protection I had against Father… things have changed now, so it’ll be alright.’

Back then, Zenon had been her only ally. But now, many things were different.

Emeline would no longer give up or despair over something precious, like that summer.

After lightly finishing her makeup, Emeline left the villa.

Her loosely braided black hair was tied with a sky-blue ribbon over one shoulder, and her short-sleeved blue dress with white lace fluttered lightly in the breeze, cool and refreshing.

Maybe it was because she was facing something big soon, but stepping into the cool dusk air gave her an odd sense of liberation.

Perhaps it was also because she was determined to spend just this evening free from worries, enjoying herself.

‘He said he’d be waiting by the back gate where it’s quiet.’

Emeline carefully passed the back gate of the villa and called softly for him.

“Zenon…?”

The medium-sized iron gate was surrounded by blooming flowers along the wall, and the lighting was low, so the surroundings were dim.

‘He should be nearby…’

She looked around but didn’t see Zenon.

Just as she was about to call out again—

“Emeline.”

Someone grabbed her from behind in a sudden embrace.

Startled, Emeline froze, and Zenon’s cheek pressed gently against her skin.

As she felt the warmth and soft scent, a small voice whispered sweetly into her ear.

“Hello.”

“Zenon?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

His cheek brushed lightly against hers. At the ticklish sensation, Emeline smiled without realizing it.

She reached up and gently stroked his hair, and a low chuckle followed.

“I missed you.”

“But we just saw each other yesterday.”

“I miss you even when I close my eyes for a second… Don’t you?”

“I do too.”

When Emeline tried to turn around, Zenon let her go and stepped back without resistance.

As she turned, there he was, looking down at her with a bright smile.

“Where were you?”

“Behind the tree. I wanted to surprise you.”

He gave her that playful grin, just like he used to.

Emeline looked at him, feeling oddly new. Under the dim sky lit by the moonlight, his smiling face shone unwaveringly.

Zenon reached out and took her hand first and said, “The boat’s about to depart. Let’s go.”

With excitement for the moonlit sea they’d soon share, Zenon gently led her along.

Like in the past, the two walked side by side to their date spot.

Since Hilbert was a remote town, even the ferry used for tourism was modest in size.

Though they boarded just before departure, only three elderly couples and one young couple were on deck.

Emeline and Zenon walked to the railing. A refreshing sea breeze and salty scent swept over them.

Then came the sound of the ship’s horn and the gentle swish of the parting waves echoing faintly in her ears.

As she gazed at the deep sea shimmering under the moonlight, Zenon said, “This reminds me of that time—when we met again after four years.”

He whispered softly and gently pulled her waist, closing the distance between them.

Though his gaze was calm, Emeline was instantly flustered by his words.

Because the moment he was referring to was the day she had kissed Mathis right in front of him.

“That time…”

“I hated you for the first time that day.”

“……”

Unable to meet his eyes, Emeline looked away.

Zenon watched her steadily, then reached out both arms and placed them on either side of her, as if reenacting that moment.

Waves crashed softly against the hull.

“But I still believed in you. I was a little angry… but I believed you hadn’t erased me.”

Emeline quietly listened to his words.

Then, Zenon’s eyes, which had been reminiscing, slowly darkened.

“I know I acted rashly, hoping you’d think back on our past and come back to me. I’m sorry if you hated it. And… for not protecting you four years ago.”

It was an unexpected apology.

Emeline hadn’t expected it at all, even though she knew he had every reason to feel that way.

She reached up and gently touched Zenon’s cheek. The oddly tense look in his eyes began to soften.

“If that’s the case, I’m not blameless either. You don’t need to apologize.”

This wasn’t something that could be blamed on either of them. It had all happened because of outside interference.

Zenon seemed to understand that too, his lips curling faintly in a wistful smile.

Then, as if shaking off the sadness of that past, he gradually returned to his usual expression.

He slowly leaned in toward her, where she stood resting against the rail.

“Come to think of it, I don’t have a fiancée anymore. You still do… for now, right? Then we’re not allowed to kiss, huh.”

His gaze, tinged with regret, lingered briefly on Emeline’s lips before rising. She let out a disbelieving laugh at his words.

“We did just fine when we did have them.”

“That was then. Now I’d like to be a gentleman in front of you, couldn’t you acknowledge that effort?”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Zenon foolishly rubbed her lips with his thumb.

Seeing the sly glint in his eyes made Emeline want to give in.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be many people around.

Emeline gently took his hand, which had been brushing his lips, and moved it to her cheek.

“I don’t have a fiancé anymore either. Mathis seems to have agreed to the breakup.”

“Really?”

Zenon’s hand hesitated. Emeline covered it with her own warmth and said, “I only ever had one fiancé, didn’t I? There’s only one person I promised to marry myself.”

Zenon’s eyes widened in surprise at her words.

Then, slowly breaking into a smile, he lowered his arms and lifted Emeline up.

“Wait…!”

A startled yelp escaped Emeline.

Caught off guard by his sudden move, she stiffened, but then let out a joyful laugh. The cool sea breeze swept through her hair.

“Didn’t you say earlier you wanted to act like a gentleman?”

“Well, thinking about it, the guy who made a marriage promise with Emeline Delzeier wasn’t all that gentlemanly.”

When Emeline raised her brows in amusement, Zenon gently seated her on the railing.

Even in such a dangerous position, he held her tightly, as if he’d never let her go. The thrill and tension coexisted.

Their eye level became nearly the same. Emeline wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing them closer together.

From a distance close enough that their noses nearly touched, he whispered, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not scared?”

“I know if I were to fall, you’d dive into the sea in my place. That’s why you put me here, isn’t it?”

“You’re not wrong, but that’s still a bit harsh…”

Emeline let out a soft laugh.

The breeze that swept in with each gust made the freedom of the moment feel all the more real.

It was certainly something a proper lady shouldn’t do, and anyone watching would’ve been shocked.

But by shedding all the rules that had bound her, Emeline finally felt like herself.

“Zenon Trancium.”

He responded to her quiet call. Emeline’s lips brushed the tip of his nose and then pulled back. He met her gaze again.

Looking into those green eyes up close made her feel light-headed, as if she were drunk, though she hadn’t had a drop.

Her heart beat heavily, its sound blending with the crashing waves.

Emeline confessed quietly, her voice filled with sincerity, “Thank you.”

For countless things.

She wrapped all her apologies and gratitude into those two words. Just as she hadn’t expected an apology from him, he likely didn’t need one from her either.

“And I love you.”

As she closed her eyes, signaling that a kiss was welcome, a ticklish smile brushed her lips.

He gently met her lips with his. Their warmth overlapped slowly, soft and tender.

Even in such a precarious position, perched on the railing, Emeline didn’t feel a trace of fear.

It felt as if the crashing sea had always been behind them from long ago.

Before, she might’ve thought it was fine to die together if they fell—but now, she was sure they could survive anything together.

So much had changed. The only thing that hadn’t was her heart.

Their lips parted after an embrace full of warmth.

Zenon, reluctant to move away, nuzzled his nose lovingly against hers and said, “I’ll be inheriting the title soon. I’ll come for you again then.”

“Okay.”

“No matter who tries to stop me, this time I’ll take you with me.”

With that whisper, he stole another kiss from her lips.

Emeline laughed and nodded. “Alright.”

“I love you.”

The moonlight shone brightly on the two of them. Beneath it, they kissed once again, holding each other close.