A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: A Passing Trial

A sweltering breeze blew through.

Just past lunchtime, Emeline sat at the tea table, staring out the window.

The blooming rose garden swayed with the wind. The fragrance of the flowers drifted all the way into the bedroom of the Hilbert villa.

Catching a scent that reminded her of someone’s presence, Emeline let out a soft laugh. It brought to mind the evening two nights ago when she had gone on a date with Zenon.

After kissing for quite a while, it was Emeline who had finally pushed him away, exhausted.

With his lips pushed aside by her palm, Zenon murmured, “There’s no one around since this is a secluded spot… can’t we do a little more? We haven’t seen each other in so long.”

“How long are you planning to keep licking me?”

She had teasingly pointed out how he would gently lick her lower lip like a puppy whenever they kissed, and Zenon just laughed happily.

Even with his level of awareness and intelligence, he surely understood her intent. Yet the tail she imagined behind him wagged away, buzzing and thumping joyfully without pause.

“Forever? I just want to stay like this until I die. Can’t I?”

“How are you exactly the same as four years ago?”

Anything more might’ve been too much, but kissing—

That much, at least, was alright.

Because just as she had missed Zenon for four years, he must have longed for her too.

‘I already miss you.’

Recalling that day, Emeline chuckled.

Zenon had left Hilbert yesterday afternoon. He had promised to come find her again soon.

Emeline straightened her posture as she watched the scenery fluttering in the wind outside the window.

On the tea table in front of her was a list.

It was something she had asked Benica to prepare.

‘I didn’t expect there to be this many nobles wanting to sell their titles.’

Even the ones Emeline had carefully selected totaled over thirty.

Most were barons or lower nobility. Their reasons were largely financial.

‘There aren’t any high-ranking titles listed, but I never expected that from the start.’

Her only goal was to become an independent entity, free from her father.

Emeline focused on the name of the person in the worst financial shape.

She had excluded anyone whose fortune had collapsed due to gambling or other unsavory behavior from the beginning.

Standing up from her seat, Emeline went to find Marcella.

She was resting in the study of the villa. Emeline quietly entered and called her grandmother, with whom she had grown quite comfortable over the past few days.

“Grandmother.”

“Oh, Emeline.”

Marcella, who had been wearing gold-rimmed glasses loosely on her nose, looked up.

Marcella, who always said she admired her granddaughter’s intelligence and open-mindedness, welcomed Emeline with a bright smile today as well.

Emeline approached and sat across from the plush sofa where she was seated.

“Grandmother, I’ve been looking into ennoblement as you advised last time. Would this person be suitable?”

Emeline pointed to the name she had circled on the list.

Even if she was well-versed in high society, she couldn’t match the former queen.

Moreover, Emeline wasn’t very familiar with the provincial nobility listed.

Marcella narrowed her eyes and looked at the name Emeline had marked, then scanned through the rest of the list.

Before long, Marcella set the list down and smiled at Emeline. “You have a good eye. Baron Basilk may not have much wealth, but he’s well-liked for generously sharing what he has with those in need. He’s respected by some and has no bad reputation.”

It was said that starting a couple of years ago, someone had taken advantage of his character and swindled him out of a large sum, leading to his current financial troubles.

To Emeline, someone of that caliber was well worth paying for a title.

The amount he asked for was also something she could afford with the money her father had once given her as a birthday gift in a bank account.

“Thank you for your help, Grandmother. Then I’ll reach out to him.”

“Don’t mention it. What wouldn’t I do for my lovely granddaughter?”

“Let’s take a walk along the beach this evening with Mother, Grandmother.”

“Let’s do that.”

Emeline looked at the woman who gave her such comfort, especially because she shared nothing in common with her father, and smiled sweetly.

The peaceful and tranquil Hilbert felt just like heaven.

‘Father will be barging in soon… but that’s just a passing trial.’

With that thought, Emeline chatted happily with Marcella.

***

Two more days passed, and an uninvited guest stormed into Hilbert.

Emeline, who had been reading beside her mother, was startled by the sudden commotion and hurried downstairs.

The Duke, raising his voice with a furious expression on the first floor, locked eyes with Emeline as she descended the stairs.

At that moment, the Duke shouted in a voice laced with rage.

“Emeline Delzeier!”

Emeline flinched briefly but soon composed herself and walked calmly toward her father.

Facing him, Emeline flashed her usual, model-daughter smile with ease.

“You’ve come, Father?”

But Emeline knew well that Bernard would see that expression and gesture as mockery.

He had come running in a fit of rage, and yet his daughter, the one who caused the uproar, greeted him with a composed smile—how infuriating that must have been.

‘Judging by how long it took him to come find me, it seems my brother didn’t tell him I went to Hilbert.’

His help was still unfamiliar, but Emeline thought it was a good thing and smiled.

She brought up the recent accident in Edelroa, anticipating he might strike her.

“I couldn’t inform you in advance, Father, as you seemed quite busy. After the accident in Edelroa, I just wanted some peace and quiet to rest.”

As Emeline finished speaking calmly, the Duke’s brow furrowed deeply.

He struck the floor loudly with the silver cane he held.

“You’re talking about rest now? Don’t you know what you’ve done?! Count Renier says he’s breaking off the engagement! He claims it was a mutual agreement with you! How dare you break such an important promise?!”

The staff of the villa, startled by the Duke’s yelling, peeked around the corner and quickly retreated.

Facing her father in the mansion’s foyer, Emeline tilted her head slightly. “A promise… I don’t recall ever making such a thing, Father.”

With a brief scoff, Emeline slightly furrowed her brow and continued, “That was your promise, not mine. You forcibly broke the real promise I made, and now you insist I can’t go back on the one you pushed onto me… I just don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Why do you look so confused?”

Emeline let out a dry laugh and met her father’s eyes with defiance.

Now that she knew the full truth, she had no reason to follow him any longer.

“You forged the letters. Did you really think I’d never find out? You destroyed my promise without hesitation, and yet you demand I uphold yours?”

“What nonsense…”

The Duke’s rage-twisted eyes faltered briefly, realizing she knew.

But only for a moment—he quickly rebounded with shamelessness.

“You still don’t get that it was all for your sake. I’ve never acted against your interests! And this is how you stab your father in the back? That man would only bring disgrace to you. Count Renier could’ve given you so much!”

“Are you sure it’s not you who stands to gain the most? Just how much longer do you plan to use me and sell me off before you’re satisfied?”

“No shame at all before your own father! That Zenon Trancium must’ve corrupted you again! I’ll take you back immediately. Come with me!”

Bernard grabbed Emeline’s wrist and began dragging her away.

Though he didn’t strike her, the Duke’s actions were rough, his fury obvious as he tried to haul her away.

“Bernard! What’s the meaning of this ruckus?!”

A stern voice stopped Bernard in his tracks.

The one who stepped between them was none other than Marcella Betenard.

Caught off guard by her appearance, Bernard quickly spoke, “I-I didn’t know you were here. If the noise disturbed you, I apologize. I’m merely disciplining my daughter. You needn’t concern yourself. I was just about to take her back.”

The earlier aggression was gone; he now spoke in a subdued tone. He had been visibly uncomfortable all day.

Marcella narrowed her eyes and approached them with her stately presence.

“You’re taking Emeline back with you now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, that works out. I’ve grown quite fond of my granddaughter during this visit, and I was thinking of leaving Hilbert anyway.”

“…Excuse me?”

Marcella gently placed a hand on Emeline’s shoulder. “I’ll come with you. It’s time I saw how my children and grandchildren are living.”

Bernard, who had planned to lock Emeline away and set her straight as soon as they returned, froze.

Marcella tilted her head ever so slightly. “You don’t look pleased. Why? Is there a problem with that?”