Chapter 3.1

“Ophelia, what about lunch?”

“I’ll eat separately.”

“Well, I guess eating here would be a bit much.”

The moment Ophelia stepped into the student cafeteria, she could feel the weight of the stares directed at her. Many students glanced her way, whispering in hushed tones as if discussing something of great interest. 

Though their voices were too low to make out clearly, Ophelia could easily guess what they were talking about. It was undoubtedly related to the rumors that had spread earlier that morning. 

The only difference from before was the expressions of the young ladies. Their faces were dark and heavy, as if storm clouds had settled over them. It seemed they were deeply shocked by the news that Cedric had finally found someone he loved. 

Because of this, they directed resentful gazes at Ophelia. With the Young Lady Somerset nowhere in sight, it appeared they had chosen Ophelia as the outlet for their frustration. 

The simultaneous sting of pity and hostility in their gazes began to irritate her. Though she knew these whispers would vanish the moment her engagement to Cedric was annulled, she had no desire to endure them any longer. Staying here to eat felt unbearable, as if she might lose her appetite entirely. 

Ophelia decided she would have to eat alone, quietly, for the time being. 

Predicting that things would only grow noisier, she decided it would be better for her peace of mind to avoid people’s attention altogether. After purchasing her lunchbox, she left the cafeteria. 

Within the academy, there were several secluded spots rarely visited by others. Places like the shaded walls where sunlight barely reached, or muddy patches of ground next to the garden. 

Ophelia headed toward one of these shaded walls, finding a suitable spot where she spread out a large handkerchief and sat down. 

Though the location was slightly uncomfortable, she thought it was a decent place to eat alone. But her assumption turned out to be wrong. 

As she was enjoying her meal, the voices of young ladies grew louder and closer. Judging from their hushed tones, they seemed to have come here to share secrets. 

Ophelia had no interest in overhearing someone else’s secrets. She decided to let their words pass through one ear and out the other. However, the constant movement of several people made her feel awkward. 

So, this place isn’t safe either.

She thought to herself. 

Should I leave first? 

Just as she was about to move, she froze mid-step. 

Cedric’s name suddenly came up in their conversation. 

“Do you really think the Young Master of Bristol has fallen for Young Lady Somerset?” 

What are they talking about? Wasn’t it already a widely spread rumor that the two had been enjoying secret rendezvous? Why were they questioning Cedric’s feelings for her? 

Though she didn’t want to get involved, Ophelia couldn’t help but feel curious. After all, she had unintentionally become part of the story they were discussing. 

For a moment, she decided to focus on their conversation. 

“He must have fallen for her if they’ve been having secret meetings, right?”

“Don’t you think it’s strange how suddenly the Young Master of Bristol has changed? Until now, he hasn’t shown interest in any woman, not even his fiancée.” 

“That gloomy woman? Do you think he got engaged to her out of genuine affection? It’s only natural he treated her coldly.” 

At the sound of their mocking laughter, Ophelia felt as though her heart had dropped. At the same time, Cedric’s words to his friend from the past flashed through her mind. 

‘I didn’t want the engagement either, so stop bothering me about it already.’ 

Until now, those words hadn’t bothered her. But now that she knew Cedric had someone he loved, his words felt like sharp blades piercing her heart. 

Feeling guilty for eavesdropping just because she heard Cedric’s name, Ophelia cautiously tried to move away. But at that moment, something intriguing caught her attention. 

“Does it make sense for a man who ignored Young Lady Somerset for six years to suddenly change like that? I think it’s because of that drug.” 

A drug?

Ophelia’s ears perked up as she focused on their conversation. 

“What drug? Did you hear something?” 

“Well, I overheard Young Lady Somerset whispering to one of her close friends. It seemed like she got her hands on some suspicious drug. I saw her holding a gray vial the other day. That must be it.” 

A gray vial? They were undoubtedly talking about the drug Ophelia had seen in Young Lady Somerset’s hand. She hadn’t figured out what it was back then, but now it seemed she might find out. 

“What kind of drug is it?”

“It’s a potion”

A potion? There was only one drug that could make someone fall in love—none other than a “love potion.” 

“Are you talking about a love potion?”

“Yes”

Shortly after, the exact word slipped from their lips. 

The love potion was a drug that caused the heart to race for the first person of the opposite s*x seen after drinking it. Whether it actually made someone fall in love was uncertain, but it was known to accelerate the heartbeat and create the illusion of love—though only toward one specific person. People simply mistook the feeling for love. 

It could be compared to the suspension bridge effect, where physical arousal caused by external stimuli is misattributed as an emotional response. Similarly, the love potion heightened the sensation of a racing heart, tricking the individual into feeling attracted to the other person. 

However, there was no guarantee that it would work exactly as theorized. The accounts of those who had supposedly created it existed only in records, and no one had ever seen the potion itself. It was a drug that had been passed down purely as legend. 

And now, they were claiming that someone had actually acquired such a potion? Could the scene Ophelia had witnessed yesterday—Cedric enjoying a secret meeting with Young Lady Somerset—have been the result of that potion? 

“If I’d known earlier, I would’ve gotten it first. Where did Young Lady Somerset even get that potion?” 

“She must’ve come across it by chance. But do you think it really works?” 

“Well, she’s been having secret meetings with Cedric, hasn’t she? So it must.” 

Would someone go so far as to use a drug just to win Cedric’s heart? It was nothing but an illusion. The effects of the potion would only be temporary—what would happen when its effects wore off? Why would someone resort to using such a thing? 

Ophelia found Young Lady Somerset to be utterly pathetic. If she truly wanted to win his heart, she should have tried to do so sincerely. Why resort to a potion? 

“But honestly, isn’t it too shameless to try to win someone’s heart with a drug just because the Young Duke won’t let her near him?” 

The young ladies engaged in the conversation seemed to share Ophelia’s opinion, openly criticizing Young Lady Somerset without hesitation. Judging by their reactions, it seemed this incident was going to cause quite a stir within the academy. 

Ophelia prayed silently. 

Please, let this be resolved without any major issues. 

She hoped the matter would remain between Young Lady Somerset and Cedric, without dragging her into it simply because she was his fiancée. 

Ophelia stayed hidden until the young ladies’ conversation ended and their figures disappeared completely from her sight. Only then did she finally turn toward the laboratory. 

What were the symptoms and effects of a love potion again? 

As she walked, her thoughts were consumed by the topic of the love potion. Her curiosity flared, and she suddenly felt an urge to read about it immediately. 

Since she still had some free time, Ophelia decided to head to the library within the laboratory. The library housed a variety of books, and surely one of them would mention love potions. 

[Potions to Captivate Others], [You! Want to Be My Prisoner?], [How to Seduce the One You Love.] 

The titles varied, but all of them were about love potions. 

The love potion, as recorded, was something that hardly anyone had ever seen in person. It had never been commercialized due to the difficulty of obtaining the herbs required to create it. 

But now, someone claimed it actually existed! Was it really the potion’s effects that had caused Cedric and Young Lady Somerset to enjoy secret meetings? 

For a moment, Ophelia found herself wondering what Cedric would look like if he were in love. 

Up until now, he hadn’t shown kindness or affection toward any woman—not even Ophelia herself. It was impossible to imagine. 

Would he wear a tender expression during their secret meetings? 

Though she couldn’t say for certain, one thing was clear: his demeanor would be completely different from how he acted toward her. 

Even the mere thought left her feeling strangely bitter. The idea of her indifferent fiancé showing a side of himself to someone else that he had never shown her didn’t sit well with her. 

As a researcher, she wanted to observe Cedric’s transformation. But as his fiancée, she found the thought of it unpleasant. 

However, now that she knew he had consumed the potion, she had to set aside her feelings as his fiancée. With her curiosity burning brightly, she resolved to observe his changes as objectively as possible.