How to Capture an Indifferent Fiancé

Chapter 10.2

“Why would anyone intercept the letters? For what reason?”

“To drive a wedge between us, I suppose.”

“Was it your personal guard? They don’t seem that spiteful….”

Though they gossiped about Ophelia, Cedric’s personal guard had never directly harassed her. They wouldn’t dare, knowing the backlash would be significant. They didn’t seem like the culprits.

“It’s not them. They’ve never actually caused trouble for me, even if they’re annoying.”

Cedric seemed to agree with her assessment.

“Then who could it be?”

It seemed likely that one of the Young Ladies who admired Cedric had done it, but it was impossible to know who.

“Catching the culprit won’t be too difficult. If I write another letter, the culprit will intercept it again. We just need to wait until then.”

“That’s true.”

Until they caught the culprit, Ophelia decided to hold off on criticizing Cedric for his seemingly indifferent behavior. If they continued the conversation now, it would just go in circles. Instead, Ophelia changed the subject. There were still unresolved questions that needed answers.

“Was it because you were busy acting as the Duke of Bristol’s proxy that you were so indifferent to me? And did you only start going on dates recently because the Duke’s condition has improved?”

“Yes. You didn’t know?”

“I had no idea. I just heard about it from my father a moment ago.”

“What?”

Cedric was momentarily flustered, staring silently at Ophelia. She nodded with a confident expression, and only then did Cedric seem to grasp the situation, his face turning into one of disbelief.

“So that’s what it was. I should have told you earlier myself….”

“It’s fine as long as it’s cleared up now. But why did you suddenly change your attitude recently? You were being kind to me for a while, but then you abruptly stopped contacting me.”

“I sent you a letter, but it seems you didn’t receive it. Something urgent came up.”

“What was it?”

Suddenly, she recalled the Earl of Granville’s conversation with his butler. They had mentioned that the Duke of Bristol’s health had taken another turn for the worse.

“My father’s condition improved after taking your new medicine. But it seems the effects were only temporary, as he started experiencing pain again. So I had to take care of the matters he couldn’t handle.”

“Because of my medicine?”

“Yes. Recently, the royal palace has been researching that medicine again. My father has high hopes for you.”

Although she had developed the new medicine with Violet’s help, she had thought it was still incomplete, which was why the royal palace was continuing its research.

But to think the Duke of Bristol had such high expectations of her…. She wasn’t sure whether to feel honored or burdened by it.

As she pondered this, a realization struck Ophelia. Come to think of it, wasn’t it around the same time that she developed the new medicine, Young Lady Somerset obtained the fake love potion, and Cedric’s behavior changed?

Ophelia widened her eyes and stared at Cedric.

“Was it all just a coincidence?”

“Yes. When my father’s condition improved, I approached you, but you misunderstood and thought I only came to you because of the potion. You assumed I had feelings for you because of it.”

Although she hadn’t mentioned the love potion, Cedric seemed to understand what she was referring to. Her embarrassment grew even stronger.

How could this be? What kind of misunderstanding had I been holding onto all this time?

When she looked at Cedric with a confused expression, he smiled faintly.

“I’ve been expressing my feelings to you all this time. The one who didn’t believe it was you, Ophelia.”

Now that she thought about it, that was true.

She had convinced herself that his feelings were caused by the potion. That was why she couldn’t accept them as genuine.

“So it wasn’t because of the potion….”

Ophelia couldn’t finish her sentence.

Was it real? Truly?

“You really like me?”

“Why would I lie about that?”

“….”

His confession, his proposal—everything had been sincere. Her heart raced, and her mind went blank. She didn’t know how to process Cedric’s feelings.

She was happy, but at the same time, there was a strange sense of unease that she couldn’t quite describe. Was it because she still didn’t fully understand the situation?

“Me? Why?”

Ophelia had always been compared to Cedric. Even she thought they didn’t suit each other. She didn’t find herself particularly attractive. Her nickname was “Gloomy Sisters,” wasn’t it? How could someone like her ever fit with someone as dazzling as Cedric?

“Why is my fiancée so lacking in confidence?”

Cedric looked at Ophelia with a disapproving expression.

“Listen carefully. I’ll tell you step by step. Every little thing you do is adorable. There have been times when I’ve barely restrained myself from pulling you into my arms. And I think you’re the most beautiful woman at the Academy….”

“Okay, okay! Stop!”

It was too much for her to handle. Ophelia covered her ears with her hands and turned her head away. Cedric’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at her lovingly.

“What? I still have more to say.”

Cedric leaned closer, lowering his face to whisper softly in her ear. Startled, Ophelia pushed him away and shouted urgently.

“That’s enough!”

“Then will you believe me now?”

Cedric straightened his posture, his playful expression replaced with a serious gaze. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, she felt she could trust his words. But even so, Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze.

To think that all of this was just a series of misunderstandings caused by coincidences. It wasn’t because of the love potion—it was simply that Cedric had finally found the time and emotional space to approach her.

Ah, how embarrassing.

She felt like crawling into a hole. Ophelia wanted to erase all the moments when she had mistakenly believed Cedric had changed because of the love potion. If only she hadn’t mentioned the potion to Cedric, it wouldn’t have been as embarrassing. Yet here she was, the foolish idiot who drunkenly confessed everything in a moment of weakness.

Staying near Cedric made her feel as though her embarrassment might explode at any moment. Her face was already red enough, and she wanted nothing more than to flee home immediately. But she suppressed the urge and spoke instead.

“Please forget about the ridiculous things I did while drunk.”

“Why would I? You were adorable that day.”

“No, I was pathetic.”

Ophelia’s head dropped so low it looked as though she was trying to drill into the ground. Cedric reached out to lift her chin, but Ophelia shook her head and refused.

“I said you were adorable.”

“No, not adorable at all.”

“You’re so embarrassed that I’ll be honest about my own flaws too.”

Cedric grabbed Ophelia’s wrist and placed it on his lap. Feeling the firm, swollen sensation, Ophelia’s head shot up in surprise.

“Now you’re finally looking at me.”

Cedric’s gaze was heavy with desire. Just meeting his eyes made Ophelia’s body flinch involuntarily.

“I’ve always been like this whenever I look at you. Does that make me seem like a pervert? Do you hate me for it?”

“No, of course not!”

“I feel the same way. No matter what you do, you always look adorable to me.”

If he truly felt that way, she could only be grateful. But still, she felt uneasy. If anyone else found out about what Ophelia had done, she would never be able to hold her head up again.

“You’ll keep what I did a secret, right?”

“Of course. It’s a secret just between the two of us, so naturally, I’ll protect it.”

Cedric pulled Ophelia closer, locking her in his embrace.

“But there’s a condition.”

“What condition?”

“I haven’t heard the answer I want yet. So I’d like you to say it now.”

The answer he wanted?

Cedric stared at Ophelia intently, as if demanding her response. His intense gaze felt as though it was consuming not just her body and mind, but her very soul.

Normally, she would have been too embarrassed to meet his eyes, but not now. Now, she had to express her feelings honestly.

“I… I like you.”

Her shy confession was met with a kiss from Cedric. He cupped the back of her head and shared a passionate kiss. Ophelia wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling him completely.

Now that all misunderstandings had been resolved, her indifferent fiancé had transformed into the most affectionate partner in the world.

And they were no longer just a formal betrothed couple—they had become true lovers.