A Summer With Bitter Rivals - What If Side Story 10
What If Side Story: Marriage with a Rival (10)
Emeline spent a full week in Hilbert with Zenon, then headed back to Elvarto.
Even in the carriage on the way back, the two sat side by side holding hands tightly.
Whenever Emeline dozed off, Zenon generously offered his shoulder. Then he would sneak a kiss from her as if collecting a reward.
If she happened to wake up, he shamelessly feigned innocence.
Knowing what he was doing, Emeline was dumbfounded but pretended not to notice, finding him cute.
“We’re almost there.”
“I need to get some sleep once we’re back. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Why? Were you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“…Because of you, Zenon Trancium.”
When Emeline looked at him with a pout, Zenon tilted his head.
“Was it tough? Last night we…”
Realizing what he was about to say, she quickly covered his mouth with her hand.
“W-what were you about to say…!”
Amused by her shocked reaction, Zenon laughed. His teasing look made it obvious he had said it on purpose.
Chuckling, he took her hand and gently lowered it.
Then he shrugged and said playfully, “I was going to say we slept well last night.”
“…I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t breathe.”
Here’s what happened:
After carefully helping her dress again, he held her tightly before falling asleep.
He held her so gently, as if handling something precious, but the problem was he didn’t leave her any room to move.
He buried his head deep into her shoulder and slept soundly.
Emeline, unable to tell whether she was being hugged or pinned down, spent the night groaning.
He was heavy, to say the least, and suffocatingly close.
Even in summer, with their damp body heat pressing together, Zenon slept soundly as if unaffected.
If he moved in his sleep, Emeline had a hard time.
She often ended up patting his head and hugging his wide back to help him sleep soundly.
‘Who’s hugging who here?’
At this rate, Zenon Trancium was practically forcing himself into her small arms.
It felt like a giant dog sleeping on top of her.
“Is that really your usual sleeping habit?”
“No… I just hugged you because I like you. I didn’t know I’d stay like that all night. No wonder I wake up in the same position every time…”
“……”
Emeline stared at him, wondering how he didn’t realize it after she struggled so much to fall asleep.
Zenon hung his head, looking sheepish. “Sorry… did you hate it?”
“…No, I didn’t hate it.”
His crestfallen expression made her soften immediately.
She hadn’t said it because she hated it, just ended up talking about it by chance.
After hesitating a moment, Emeline said honestly, “I’ve gotten used to it now… I think I won’t be able to sleep if I’m alone.”
“…Huh?”
“I mean, I’d rather get completely used to it. It’d be nice if we kept sleeping together from now on.”
Feeling embarrassed, Emeline quickly averted her gaze.
A moment later, laughter came from beside her.
It was a ticklish sound, full of affection for her.
Zenon left a kiss on her cheek and said with a smile, “Let’s do that.”
The carriage soon arrived in front of the Trancium mansion.
Wearing the brimmed hat she had taken off earlier, Emeline took Zenon’s hand and stepped out.
Just as she was about to follow him into the mansion, she suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Didn’t you hear something just now?”
“A sound?”
Zenon tilted his head, not understanding.
As Emeline paused and listened carefully, she began to think she had imagined it.
“Maybe I heard wrong.”
She shook her head and was about to walk again when another sound made her stop.
This time, Zenon seemed to have heard it too.
Looking around, he suddenly brightened and headed toward the wall behind Emeline.
“Mel!”
“What?”
At his cheerful call, Emeline turned around.
Zenon was holding a tuxedo cat in his arms.
‘‘Mel’ was the kitten Emeline had occasionally fed in the study room.
Zenon had named the kitten ‘Mel’ after her, saying it resembled her.
He held out the alert-looking cat toward Emeline. “This is Mel, right? Or is it just one that looks like him?”
“No… I think it’s really him.”
When she reached out and felt the cat’s neck, she found the collar and bell hidden beneath the fluffy fur. It was indeed Mel.
Emeline was baffled. “Why is he here? I brought him home after graduation…”
She hadn’t been able to bring him to the Trancium estate, so she had left Mel with the attendants at the duke’s residence.
Mel, now lying belly-up and purring affectionately in Zenon’s arms, stared at Emeline.
The cat looked a bit grumpy and let out a loud meow.
“Looks like he came to find his owner.”
“…No way.”
Even though he had been a stray and free-spirited at home, to come all the way here to find her?
It was hard to believe. Was he really a cat?
He had been well-fed and warm at the duke’s residence just as Emeline had instructed. He even looked healthy and well-kept.
As Emeline examined him carefully and reached out to stroke his fur, Mel smacked her hand with his front paw.
Zenon burst into laughter. “Guess you were wrong to leave him behind. Just look at his face—it says, ‘Where have you been all this time!'”
He mimicked Mel’s sulky expression as if he were the cat.
Rubbing her hand where she’d been hit, Emeline was speechless.
“I didn’t bring him because I thought he wouldn’t like being moved around. I heard it stresses them out… and I couldn’t just bring him to the marquisate without permission.”
As she spoke, Emeline’s voice grew quieter with guilt over leaving Mel alone.
She had thought it would be fine since the attendants liked the cat, but apparently, Mel had been searching for her.
Seeing Emeline’s expression grow glum, Zenon moved.
He passed the cat he was holding into Emeline’s arms.
“Ah…”
She took Mel without thinking.
Perhaps the cat had truly missed Emeline. Though he had acted aloof at first, he soon settled quietly in her arms.
Zenon gave a cheerful smile. “You can live together now.”
“…Is that okay?”
“My family’s had cats before, so we can just ask if it’s alright now… and I’ve always liked Mel. Because he looks like you.”
At his playful remark, Emeline’s stiff expression relaxed into a small laugh.
He was a man who knew very well how to reassure others.
“Alright. Let’s go in.”
The two walked side by side toward the Trancium estate—with a new member of the family.
***
Zenon and Emeline’s daily life changed completely after returning from Hilbert.
Unlike typical noble couples who used separate rooms, they ended and began each day in each other’s arms.
Before Zenon left for the day, he would give a sleepy Emeline a light kiss. Even half-asleep, she would reach out and hold him.
A month passed like that, and finally the day arrived for them to set off on their trip.
“We’ll be back.”
“We’ll be careful, so don’t worry.”
They gave their farewells to the Marquis and Marchioness, who had come to see them off. Their luggage had already been loaded by the attendants.
Marchioness Rones smiled warmly and told them to make good memories.
Because she didn’t get along well with the marquis, Rones didn’t often go out, but she was always affectionate toward Emeline when they met.
She also took great pride in Zenon as her son.
“Taking a two-month trip during such a busy time… Once you’re back, there’ll be no time to rest, so enjoy it to the fullest.”
Lance Trancium wore a displeased look as he waved.
Still, unlike with Zenon, he told Emeline to travel safely—twice.
They had grown familiar through their daily meals and small conversations.
The wary look he once had toward her had softened considerably.
“Let’s go, Emeline.”
“Okay.”
Zenon took her hand and led her toward the carriage.
On the way, he suddenly started running like a child, making her laugh.
From behind, the marquis’s stern voice called out not to throw away their dignity.
The carriage departed immediately. After about an hour’s journey, they boarded a luxury passenger ship headed to a neighboring country.
A refreshing sea breeze greeted them.
Seagulls cried overhead, and lively voices of passengers filled the air.
As they stepped up to the railing of the deck, the ship’s horn sounded to announce departure.
Breathing in the crisp air mixed with the salty scent, Emeline pushed back her wind-blown hair.
“You’re beautiful even without fixing it.”
“Still, it’s better to look neat.”
After smoothing her hair, Emeline looked over at Zenon.
Sure enough, his hair was a mess from the wind.
Even with his tousled hair, he looked as handsome and elegant as ever, but Emeline reached out her hand.
Zenon, quick to notice, leaned forward. She began carefully tidying his messy hair.
“Emeline.”
“Yes?”
As her fingers moved through his hair, Zenon gazed quietly at her face up close.
Feeling his gaze, Emeline glanced down.
When their eyes met, he gave her a warm smile.
“Shall we go to university together next year?”
“…What?”
Emeline’s hand froze.
She looked at him with wide, startled eyes.
Zenon smiled knowingly, as if he had expected this reaction.
“When we met in Hilbert, you were looking at university entrance materials.”
“Ah…”
“So, if you’re okay with it, I’d like us to go together… Do you not want to?”
He took her frozen hand and placed it on his cheek. His gaze was both cautious and sincere.
“The Emeline I know is smart and loves studying as much as I do. I think you’re more than ready for university.”
His words, thoughtful and pointed, left her lips slightly parted.
She seemed unsure what expression to make. But eventually, she found her footing.
Her sapphire eyes, filled with awe, began to well up with tears.
“Yes, I’d like that. I’d love to.”
“You would?”
Unable to speak further, Emeline nodded.
Zenon, even happier than she was, embraced her as she teared up. Her shoulders trembled faintly.
“Thank you, Zenon…”
“I’m the one who should be thankful.”
“What do you have to thank me for?”
“Hmm… For being here next to me right now?”
“Oh, come on…”
As she tried to hold back her tears, Emeline laughed at his affectionate charm.
Crying and laughing at the same time felt strange, but she couldn’t contain the happiness that overwhelmed her.
He had once been someone she thought was her rival.
Now, Emeline knew that meeting Zenon had been the greatest fortune of her life.
He was special, sincere, intelligent—and he recognized her true self. A wonderful and kind man.
“I love you, Zenon.”
Whispering her sweet confession, Emeline placed a brief kiss on his lips.
A soft breeze passed by, tickling them.
Carried on that breeze, their affectionate laughter drifted far and wide, lingering long into the distance.
—End of ‘What If Side Story: Marriage with a Rival’—
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chtgkrsk
damn we could’ve only gotten more or less 90 chapters of the main story if they followed this route but im glad they didn’t. og route was more entertaining. thank you for the translation