It happened one evening during those terribly difficult days in the past.

“Ophe, Ophe! I have wonderful news!”

A voice overflowing with excitement rang through the house, completely unlike usual.

Her father, who had been visiting merchant companies all day, held a contract tightly in his hand.

“Father! Did you finally find a merchant willing to trade with us today?”

“I did! And not only that, they said they’ll buy all our goods at three times the market price!”

“What? Really?”

On the contract her father waved excitedly was the crest of a roaring lion trampling a serpent beneath its paw.

The merchant company belonged to the Winches ducal family.

Baron Dauer continued speaking in an emotional voice.

“They praised the quality of the goods I brought today and bought everything immediately! For a while, we won’t have to worry about medicine costs or living expenses anymore!”

Ophelia still remembered the joy on her father’s face that day vividly.

Thanks to that incident, the Dauer family had managed to survive their financial crisis once again.

‘If I think about it that way, I’ve received the duke’s family’s kindness twice now.’

Though His Grace himself probably had no idea.

Still, Ophelia knew she would never forget what happened back then for the rest of her life.

“E-Excuse me, Secretary. Hello.”

At that moment, a cautious voice came from beside her.

Lost in thought, Ophelia startled and turned her head.

A maid dressed in the ducal household uniform bowed politely.

“You’re the new secretary joining us today, right? My name is Meryl.”

She was a young maid with short hair and freckles scattered across her cheeks, giving her a bright and cheerful appearance.

“I’ll show you the room you’ll be staying in from now on!”

“Ah, thank you.”

Once she confirmed Ophelia had risen from her seat, Meryl quickly skipped ahead.

Following behind the maid, Ophelia looked around the enormous estate interior.

It was not just the reception room that was extravagant.

Every part of the residence was incomparable in scale to the Roswell estate where she had spent her entire life.

After walking for quite some time, Meryl finally stopped before a massive door adorned with golden engravings.

“This will be your room from now on, Secretary.”

Smiling brightly, Meryl opened the door.

Sunlight flooded the room so intensely that Ophelia had to squint.

And once her eyes adjusted to the brightness, her mouth fell open.

It was larger than any room she had ever seen in her life.

The first thing she noticed was the enormous study, furnished with a desk far too large for one person alone.

On top of it were already prepared ink bottles, dozens of kinds of stationery and envelopes, and various pens neatly arranged.

One of the hallways branching from the room led to the bedroom.

Inside stood a magnificent bed large enough for three people to sleep comfortably.

The smaller hallway on the opposite side led to the bathroom and dressing room.

And inside those rooms hung indoor clothing and dresses perfectly tailored to Ophelia’s exact measurements, as though someone had already taken them beforehand.

Meryl excitedly guided her around every corner of the suite, but Ophelia’s thoughts moved elsewhere entirely.

No matter how grand the Winches estate might be, how could they possibly give such a luxurious room to a mere secretary—

Especially one forcibly hired because of a scandalous incident?

“Would you like to see the garden now?”

Meryl asked cheerfully.

But Ophelia stiffened and shook her head.

“No. I want to see the duke. Something about this is wrong.”

“P-Pardon?”

“Could you take me to His Grace?”

***

“It is true that investors are closely observing the ducal family’s reputation because of the young lady’s letter scandal. However, it does not appear likely to become a major issue.”

The butler explained while handing over the report.

Cedric nodded, already of the same opinion.

The grand art gallery scheduled to open in the very center of Edent was one of the largest projects the Winches ducal family had undertaken in years.

The art gallery, which had been under construction for several years, was now nearing completion.

Its grand opening was just around the corner.

Of all the projects Cedric had undertaken, this gallery was the one he had poured the most care into.

But the reason was not because he held any deep appreciation or passion for art itself.

Knock. Knock.

At that moment, a sudden knock echoed through the office.

Without even lifting his head, Cedric’s brow twitched faintly.

‘She’s here.’

The very person who had caused him to begin the gallery project had arrived right on cue.

Ophelia.

Truthfully, he had expected her to come at exactly this timing.

Only after noticing the corner of his lips curving upward unconsciously did Cedric hurriedly smooth his expression again.

After checking who the visitor was first, the butler, Sherman, approached him with a troubled look.

“The new secretary wishes to see you.”

“Tell her to come in.”

After giving the brief order, Cedric willingly set down the pen he had been holding.

Not long after, she appeared.

Dark brown hair tied neatly together.

Large green eyes filled with confusion.

Flushed cheeks colored by embarrassment.

And lips pressed tightly together, as though she had come here carrying firm determination.

If even that expression of yours feels lovable…

Would it seem as though I have waited for you far too long?

Cedric felt desires he had long forgotten slowly, and relentlessly, beginning to awaken again.

By the time Ophelia reached him, she clearly looked as though she had much to say.

Yet perhaps because she was nervous, her fists were clenched so tightly her fingertips had gone pale.

Even that looked unbearably adorable to him.

Cedric nearly laughed aloud.

Instead, he set the documents down with an audible tap and composed himself.

“What brings our secretary here?”

“Your Grace. I believe there’s been some mistake regarding my room.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

Cedric leaned back comfortably in his chair.

If he could, he wanted time itself to slow down and linger in this moment.

“Is there some problem with your room?”

“I heard servants’ quarters are usually located on the fourth floor, not the second. But my room is very close to Your Grace’s office. And I don’t understand why I’ve even been assigned a personal maid.”

Ophelia finished speaking carefully, emphasizing each word with determination.

Judging by her reaction, her newly assigned maid had likely broken into quite a sweat trying to explain things already.

Keeping his expression unreadable, Cedric answered calmly.

“The room assigned to Miss Dauer is indeed correct. A secretary is fundamentally different from ordinary servants.”

“But… I have no reason to receive treatment like this.”

No reason?

You have no idea that you were the reason I remained alive for so long.

From now on, all you need to do is accept what I choose to give you.

Swallowing down the thoughts lingering inside him, Cedric slowly parted his lips.

“Is the room perhaps too small? Should I move you somewhere larger? There happens to be another empty room on the same floor.”

Flustered, she immediately waved both hands in denial.

“No! That’s not what I meant! But I only came here because of my own mistake, and this is all so different from what I expected…”

Ah. Truly—

She still did not know how to simply receive kindness.

Just like before.

She had always been that way, even as a child.

A girl who could never accept unconditional goodwill, insisting she did not deserve it.

And yet someone who endlessly gave away everything she herself possessed…

‘Nothing about you has changed at all.’

Why did that realization comfort him so much?

Lost briefly in the flood of old memories washing over him, Cedric looked away for a moment before turning back toward her again.

Staring at Ophelia, who still stood there looking utterly overwhelmed, he barely managed to disguise the smile threatening to escape him beneath a professional expression.

“Miss Dauer. I understand your concerns very well. In fact, that is precisely why I assigned your room there.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

Maintaining an easy smile, he continued.

“The second floor has very few people coming and going. Other than the butler, my attendants, and your maid, almost no one enters that area.”

“……”

“In other words, it is the ideal place to keep your privacy concealed. Naturally, that arrangement is far more convenient for me as well.”

Cedric continued his explanation smoothly.

“And a secretary’s quarters are originally meant to be close to the office.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Ophelia part her lips slightly, finally seeming to understand.