A Summer With Bitter Rivals - What If Side Story 9

What If Side Story: Marriage with a Rival (9)

“What… mmph…!”

As their lips parted for a moment, the words she managed to say were swallowed again.

Zenon carefully licked and sucked on Emeline’s lower lip. Every time she tried to speak, he boldly pushed his tongue into her mouth.

‘Is he out of his mind…! Why is he doing this?’

Emeline was so flustered she forgot what she had been doing.

Most of all, the fact that they were in a bookstore where others could pass by struck her hard.

As she tried to figure out why he was acting this way, she began to suspect he was trying to keep her from answering.

Each time she moved her lips to speak, he became even more aggressive. That was the proof.

When she tried to confirm by moving slightly, Zenon tilted his head and plunged deeper into her mouth.

It made her dizzy, as if all their tangled breaths were being sucked out of her.

‘Zenon Trancium, calm down…’

Though she didn’t understand why he was doing this, Emeline decided to soothe him for now.

She was no match for his strength and couldn’t push him off by force.

Stopping her resistance, she moved the hand resting on his broad shoulder and slid it into his golden hair.

Zenon flinched, and his aggressive movements softened. Emeline gently stroked his hair.

His actions gradually slowed and deepened. Finally, he pulled away from the kiss.

Thankfully, no one else had come by.

Catching her breath, Emeline looked up at him. Her gaze met his subdued green eyes.

He had acted like a furious man just a moment ago, but now he looked strangely drained.

Because of that, Emeline abandoned her plan to scold him for acting this way in public.

“Emeline… didn’t you miss me?” Zenon asked with a pleading tone. His eyes, soaked in languid heat, stared unwaveringly at her.

As she hesitated to answer, Zenon stole another light kiss from her lips.

Then, like a child begging for attention, he rested his forehead against hers and nuzzled into her hair.

“Hmm? Tell me… was I the only one who missed you?”

In the end, Emeline gave in.

“…I missed you.”

Only then did he lower his arms, which had been trapping her on both sides. Instead, Zenon wrapped her in an embrace.

“Then why were you planning to stay away for so long? Do you hate me?”

“You’re the one who left a single note and didn’t even show your face. I know you’re busy, but… sometimes I’d only get to see you after two whole days…”

The more she spoke, the more Emeline wanted to bite her tongue.

It felt embarrassing to admit she had acted so childishly because she couldn’t endure such things.

But Zenon’s expression shifted unexpectedly.

“I always have to leave early, and I thought you wouldn’t like it if I woke you. I figured you might find it annoying…”

“You thought I’d be annoyed? At you? Why would you think that?”

“You’ve never liked it when I followed you around or bothered you.”

“What?”

Emeline blinked in disbelief.

Then, narrowing her eyes, she asked in confusion, “You used to do it just fine before. Why are you trying to stop now?”

“Back then, you were far away… but now we’re much closer. I just didn’t want to do something you’d hate…”

“……”

“Was I wrong?”

Zenon looked into her eyes as he asked, perhaps sensing her strange reaction.

Emeline let out a breath of laughter.

“…Idiot.”

“Huh…?”

“Zenon Trancium, you’re such an idiot…”

With so many conflicting emotions rushing in, Emeline didn’t know what kind of face she should make.

Then again, was he really the only fool here?

Emeline was definitely a fool too.

Their relationship had changed too suddenly, and they didn’t know each other deeply enough—this mess was the result.

Feeling a mix of resignation and disbelief, Emeline let out a small laugh and looked him straight in the eyes.

At last, she felt like she understood the heart of this man.

“You were trying to be considerate of me?”

“…Yeah.”

“I’m already used to you constantly tagging along, you know? After bothering me so much, now that I don’t mind, you suddenly stop—it’s shocking. What kind of person is the Zenon Trancium I acknowledged as a friend?”

“…That guy who used to follow you around.”

“Then what about the Zenon Trancium I acknowledged as my husband?”

Zenon, who had been listening quietly, widened his eyes.

In his clear green eyes, surprise and joy spread quickly.

“Really?”

“That was a question, not a statement.”

“It’s me…. the one who used to follow you.”

“Right. And now you say I find you annoying? No way. Actually…”

Emeline hesitated for a moment, then trampled her pride and finished.

“Actually, I felt hurt. It seemed like you didn’t care about me at all. Like I didn’t matter to you anymore…”

“That can’t be. Right now, you’re my top priority.”

Zenon met her eyes seriously.

There was no room for doubt in that gaze. Not a trace of falsehood—just his characteristic certainty.

Caught by his eyes, Emeline stared at him for a moment before letting the corners of her lips lift into a faint smile.

“Really?”

“The reason I was so busy for a while… it was because I was trying to get things done so we could go on a trip. I was rushing to finish everything.”

“What?”

“If I told you in advance, you’d probably say it’s ridiculous to go on a trip during such a busy time and tell me to focus on work…”

“…I thought I was the fool, but it turns out you’re even more of one.”

Emeline, briefly dumbfounded, let out a small laugh.

What started as light laughter gradually became full of emotion.

“I actually really like the things you do for me, more than you think…”

“So you mean you like the idea of going on a trip together?”

“Yeah.”

At Emeline’s answer, Zenon’s eyes curved brightly.

His green eyes, mirroring the lushness of summer, and his golden hair shining like sunlight, were more dazzling than ever.

Emeline held onto the arms that gently embraced her as if handling something precious and said, “Let’s go back to the villa. I want to have tea and talk with you.”

“Let’s do that.”

Since they knew so little about each other, they would need many conversations to understand and share what they wanted.

So that something foolish like this would never happen again.

***

Back at the Hilbert villa, Emeline was met with surprising news.

“Mother and Father already left?”

They were supposed to leave for their trip in three more days, but it turned out the two had departed early while Emeline was away.

“I think they left right after saying goodbye to me.”

Zenon explained the situation further to Emeline.

When he came looking for her, the Delzeier couple, relieved by his arrival, had said they’d step away first.

“Then we should go back to Elvarto too…”

“You said you wanted to stay here for a week. Let’s stay a little longer.”

“But you’re busy.”

“Nothing is more important than you.”

At his sudden words, Emeline’s heart fluttered like the summer breeze.

The main reason she had wanted to stay in Hilbert was now gone, but Emeline nodded willingly.

“Let’s do that.”

That night, Zenon, who ended up staying in the same room, joined her on the bed.

She had been leaning against the headboard reading a book, but when he approached, she set it aside.

Both of them were still warm from a recent bath. Their damp hair gave off a soft floral scent.

“Tell me the rest of what you were saying earlier.”

Though they had talked a lot about themselves during the day, there were still many things Emeline wanted to say and hear from him.

His most memorable childhood memory, what foods he disliked, what books he liked.

He was so articulate that it was genuinely enjoyable just listening to him.

“Zenon.”

“Yeah.”

As she looked at him sitting beside her, Emeline took the initiative and kissed him.

Then, as she slightly sat up from leaning against the bed, Zenon wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her in one motion.

In an instant, Emeline ended up on top of him. As they continued to kiss for a while, she pulled back and checked their position.

Zenon was still leaning against the headboard, with her sitting on top of him, his arms around her back.

When his hands relaxed and slipped down to her waist, Emeline straightened up and looked down at him.

“…The view from here feels unfamiliar.”

“It may be unfamiliar, but I like it. You look even prettier.”

“What?”

Not the least bit embarrassed, Zenon chuckled after saying that. Emeline couldn’t help but laugh along.

Suddenly, he raised a hand and brushed her loose hair.

He stroked it from the bottom, letting it slip through his fingers, then cupped the crown of her head with his large hand and gave it a gentle pat.

They had paused their conversation, and this action followed naturally.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re just too cute.”

“Earlier you said I was pretty, and now I’m cute? You’re flattering me a bit too much.”

“You call this flattery? No way. Anyone could tell I’m just making a move. And I’m only speaking the truth.”

Zenon, chuckling, wrapped his hand around her head and pulled her in. Holding her tightly, he nuzzled against her hair.

Emeline laughed at his ticklish gesture.

Earlier, she had brushed off his compliments as flattery, but now, she found his playfulness unbearably endearing.

“Emeline.”

“Yeah.”

He placed a light kiss on her soft hair and loosened his hold just slightly.

Thanks to that, she could lift her head a little from where she had been buried in his arms.

Their eyes met, both still holding each other.

Though Zenon’s gaze held mischief, there was a deeper emotion beneath it.

Seeing his face, Emeline lost her words for a moment and simply stared.

Then, Zenon curved his eyes in a half-moon smile—very beautifully.

“I love you.”

At his whisper, Emeline momentarily forgot to breathe.

Her dazed mind slowly returned.

Her whole body relaxed, and a radiant smile spread across her face.

Her eyes, filled with a clear light, shimmered with emotion and joy.

“I love you too, Zenon.”