A Summer With Bitter Rivals - Epilogue 1

Epilogue 1

Clink. The sound of a teacup being set down rang sharply through the parlor.

A man leaned back against the sofa, resting one arm lazily over the backrest, and tilted his chin toward the person across from him.

“Lucky you gave up on my sister.”

His relaxed, crossed-leg posture exuded arrogance.

Mathis, who had come to the Delzeier ducal estate that morning to review documents for a potential business partnership, frowned.

“What are you going on about all of a sudden?”

“Haven’t you heard? What kind of boring person doesn’t even read the paper?”

“I do read the paper. I just don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The two had attended university together and were friends.

It was this connection that led Antony to recommend Mathis Renier as Emeline’s fiancé to their father.

Antony glanced at the furrow between Mathis’s brows, which was as straight-laced as his personality.

“You know Emeline’s in university, right?”

“Of course.”

“Apparently, she and Zenon Trancium once promised to go to university together.”

“And?”

“Zenon Trancium enrolled in graduate school at Robelque University. Just to keep that promise.”

“…What?”

Mathis, who had been listening absentmindedly, suddenly stared at him in shock.

So, to summarize, Zenon Trancium, who had already studied abroad for university, had entered graduate school just to keep an old promise with Emeline…

“…He’s insane.”

“Exactly. There’s no crazier guy out there. Who goes to grad school over a promise to attend the same university? That’s the guy you lost my sister to.”

Antony retorted with disbelief at Mathis’s muttered scoff.

And right now, Bernard Delzeier, the former Duke who had just heard the same news, was thinking the exact same thing.

In fact, so was the entire kingdom.

That Zenon Trancium, who everyone assumed was far too busy, must really be insane.

And all for his wife.

That lunatic was now sitting on a bench in the central garden of the university, waiting for Emeline’s class to end.

A light early winter breeze swept through his bright blond hair.

The long summer had finally passed, and winter had arrived.

But no other season held as many memories for the couple as summer did.

People passing through the campus cast occasional glances at Zenon, who was leisurely gazing up at the sky.

Some looked at him with awe, others as if he were a complete eccentric.

In any case, no one looked at him like he was ordinary.

“Zenon!”

The moment a clear voice called out in the distance, all those eyes turned away.

Emeline had called out lightly and now walked briskly toward him.

Even with her hurried steps, she carried herself with the dignified grace of someone who had long upheld the virtues of a lady.

Her footsteps finally stopped on the stone pavement in front of him. Emeline smiled calmly and asked, “Did you wait long?”

“Not at all.”

Zenon rose from the bench with a bright smile.

Even in the crisp early winter air, his forest-colored eyes warmly took in the satisfaction glowing on Emeline’s face after class.

“How was it today?”

“Good. The lecture was fun.”

“If more than half the class was asleep except for you, that doesn’t really count as fun.”

“Did you peek into the classroom?”

“You look pretty when you’re focused. I just glanced through the window as I passed.”

“Seriously?”

Emeline laughed, half-disbelieving. No wonder she had felt a chill down her neck during class.

“I’m cold, Emeline.”

Zenon spread his arms and pulled her into a hug as if to make up for the time he had waited.

It might have been overwhelming to be hugged so suddenly and completely, but Emeline, already used to this routine, only smiled.

“You hug me when you’re hot, hug me when you’re cold—isn’t it all just an excuse?”

“It’s not…”

Despite denying it, his face shamelessly betrayed him.

When Emeline glanced up at him and stayed quiet, he hugged her even tighter.

Even though she couldn’t see his face, buried in his embrace, she could feel clearly how much Zenon adored her.

‘Puppy…’

The chill of the weather had truly faded thanks to this.

Eventually, Emeline gently pushed him away.

“People are staring. Let’s go home.”

“So what if they stare? I don’t mind. No one’s taking my love away anyway.”

Zenon said it without hesitation.

If Antony had been here, he might’ve spit out his tea—but Zenon went even further, grinning mischievously.

“That won’t do. You’re too pretty to be just for my eyes. I’m getting more rings made. Wear one on every finger.”

“…No one touches me because they already think you’re insane.”

“So it’s known I’m crazy about Emeline Trancium? People really do see things clearly.”

No, it’s because you went and enrolled in grad school for me that everyone thinks you’re insane…

Emeline had wanted to correct him, but closed her mouth.

There wasn’t much difference between what he said and what she was about to say.

And it wasn’t like Zenon didn’t know what people were saying about him. He was just pretending not to.

‘If I died young, he’d probably follow me right after.’

Having crossed such a grim thought, Emeline let out a sigh.

More than public attention, keeping Zenon safe came first. So she lightly wrapped her arms around his.

And, playing along with the mischievous comment he’d made, she replied, “Alright, I’ll wear ten rings. But you have to wear ten too.”

“Of course.”

“Let’s go now. I think you were right—it is a bit cold.”

“You’re cold? That won’t do.”

“It’s fine, since I’m close to you.”

“Still, we should head in quickly.”

The two of them hurried out of the campus toward the carriage.

Passing students turned their gazes toward them.

The Trancium couple was undoubtedly famous at Robelque University.

Especially with Emeline entering as the top student and Zenon enrolling in graduate school.

***

“Emeline! I’m here!”

A carriage loaded with luggage stopped at the front gate of the marquisate estate in broad daylight, and a woman bundled in thick winter clothes stepped down.

“Angel, welcome.”

Emeline greeted her with a calm smile and a gentle voice.

The woman with brightly colored blond hair fluttering in the wind ran to Emeline and embraced her happily, laughing brightly.

“It’s been so long!”

“I’ve been busy with university all semester, so we couldn’t meet often… It’s good to see you again, Angel.”

Emeline patted Angel, who had readily clung to her.

Time had flown by, and Emeline’s winter break had arrived.

She had completed the semester as the top student.

At first, some students had whispered behind her back, questioning her top admission. But by then, all such voices had disappeared.

Her attitude in class was nearly perfect, and whenever someone asked her a question, she gave mechanically precise answers without a hint of hesitation.

Especially to those who had doubted her grades, she had silenced them several times.

Emeline never shrank back and faced them head-on.

Because she never wavered, they were the ones who gave up first.

When Emeline asked questions in return, they usually left in embarrassment.

“Thanks for inviting me. I brought a few gifts in return, I hope you like them.”

Angel, feeling gloomy that she hadn’t spent time with Emeline lately, had been invited to stay at the marquisate for about a week.

Seeing the cart full of baggage behind Angel’s carriage, Emeline gave a sheepish smile.

“You didn’t have to bring anything. You could’ve just come.”

“I’ve been abroad a few times recently. I brought back some desserts I thought you’d like.”

“That’s… a little tempting.”

While Emeline had been attending university, Angel had published a new book and gained fame in neighboring countries under the name Wigny Keller.

She had traveled around those countries with her agent.

Strictly speaking, Angel had been even busier than Emeline.

Emeline found her endlessly impressive and fascinating. Especially because she had been the one to help Angel take her first steps.

“It’s cold. Come inside, Angel.”

Emeline led her into the house.

After showing her the guest room, the two shared tea in the parlor.

“By the way, where’s Lord Trancium?”

“He’s been quite busy lately. He’s probably in the office right now.”

“Hmm.”

Angel nodded as if that was expected.

Since the topic came up, Emeline thought about what Zenon had been up to lately.

It had been about a month since he suddenly became especially busy.

The man who used to insist on sleeping with her every night had reduced it to once every three days.

As a result, when he did sleep beside her, he clung to her and wouldn’t let go. Emeline felt like her lips were wearing out every three days.

“You must be happy, Emeline. Lord Trancium is so devoted to you.”

“You’re getting along well with your fiancé too, Angel.”

“That’s true, but… I’m not sure he really understands what I do yet, or if he’ll accept me as I am. That’s why I sometimes envy you.”

Emeline understood her feelings very well.

All the more so because she knew Angel’s fiancé was chosen by the Count and Countess Laresa.

“Don’t worry. If he comes to understand how earnest you are, he’ll surely come around.”

After all, Emeline had even managed to change her father’s mind.

Just like Wigny Keller’s novels often say—perhaps the word “impossible” doesn’t truly exist in this world, as long as one’s efforts have no limit.

Maybe impossibility is merely a judgment made by those too exhausted by effort to go any further.

Of course, Emeline didn’t think that was necessarily a bad thing.

When she had once set aside her dream and Zenon in the name of impossibility, it had felt like an act of self-preservation.

“Emeline, I heard we have a guest.”

While she was chatting with Angel, Zenon suddenly appeared.

Emeline gave him a curious look as he naturally came in and sat beside her.

“You said you were busy.”

“Your guest is also my guest. I couldn’t let you greet her alone.”

Zenon answered smoothly, subtly pulling Emeline into his embrace, then turned to Angel.

“I saw you arrive from the office window earlier. You’ve come a long way, so please make yourself at home, Lady Laresa.”

“Ah, thank you…”

For some reason, Zenon’s eyes and tone were oddly wary of Angel.

Watching the couple snuggled up, chatting sweetly in their own little world, Angel thought to herself—

Maybe I really shouldn’t have come here.