Chapter 3.2

“Ophelia, is something wrong?” 

Violet’s voice broke through Ophelia’s thoughts. She had been sighing deeply and failing to concentrate on her research. Since they were nearing the final stages of their study, Violet, who was usually indifferent to anything unrelated to research, seemed concerned about Ophelia’s distracted state. 

Should I tell Violet about what I had overheard? It had been a secret conversation I wasn’t supposed to hear, and I hadn’t seen anything with my own eyes. 

What if it wasn’t true? Could she even bring it up? 

“Well, it’s just that…”

After some hesitation, Ophelia decided to tell Violet the truth. If anyone might know about the love potion, it would be her. 

“Professor, have you ever heard of a love potion? It’s not something you can easily find, is it?” 

“Hmm. I’ve read about it in books. Why are you suddenly asking about something like that?” 

Violet gave Ophelia a curious look, as though wondering why she would bring up such a topic. Her tone was indifferent, suggesting she didn’t have much interest in the matter. 

“I heard that one of the students at the academy managed to get their hands on it.” 

“Is that true? That’s not something that can be obtained easily.” 

For a moment, Violet’s previously indifferent expression sharpened, her eyes glinting with interest. She shook her head, clearly finding it hard to believe. 

“I thought it was just a legend too, but I was surprised to learn it actually exists. Do you think it really works? Does it truly turn someone into your captive the moment they drink it?” 

“If the books are to be believed, then yes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been recorded in documents.” 

The books didn’t contain false information. If someone had created the potion and it had proven effective, it would have been documented. 

“Could the people who made the potion have gathered the ingredients from the Spirit’s Mountain?” 

“That’s highly likely.” 

The Spirit’s Mountain earned its name because everyone who ventured there ended up lost and mysteriously returned to the mountain’s entrance, as if guided by an unknown force. It was an uncharted land, and despite many attempts to conquer it, no one had ever reached its peak. 

Ophelia herself had once climbed the Spirit’s Mountain in search of rare ingredients but had never found anything. 

If someone truly managed to obtain the love potion, it was highly probable that they had sourced the ingredients from the Spirit’s Mountain. 

“Did you happen to see the color of the potion?” 

“The illustration in the book showed a dark gray, but the actual potion was much lighter. It was in a transparent glass vial, so I don’t think the color was distorted.” 

As Ophelia described the potion, Violet’s expression grew darker and more serious. 

“Don’t tell me… the rumor hasn’t spread, has it?” 

“No, I don’t think so. I overheard a secret conversation. So, please, Professor, pretend you don’t know anything.” 

“Of course. You know I can keep a secret.” 

Violet covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, as if to reassure Ophelia. 

“I know. That’s why I confided in you.” 

“Not that you’d ever use it, but if you do happen to get your hands on the love potion, don’t give it to anyone right away. Bring it to me first.” 

There was something unsettling in Violet’s gaze. While she didn’t explicitly say so, her firm demeanor made it clear that drinking the potion was out of the question. 

“Why? Is there some kind of problem with it?” 

“Rare potions often come with significant side effects. That’s why it’s necessary to analyze its ingredients before anyone consumes it.” 

Judging by Violet’s displeased expression, the side effects must have been quite severe. Would Cedric, who had already drunk the potion, experience any of those side effects? Though she felt a bit guilty for thinking this, Ophelia couldn’t help but be curious about what might happen to him. 

* * * 

Ever since learning of the potion’s existence, Ophelia found her gaze unconsciously drawn toward Cedric. Every time she ran into him on campus, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. 

She was curious to see how Cedric, who had always been indifferent toward her, would act in front of the woman he was now attracted to. She couldn’t stop wondering. 

Surely, he would treat the woman he liked well, wouldn’t he? 

Every time Cedric appeared, Ophelia would steal glances at him. What surprised her, however, was that she wasn’t the only one watching him. 

It seemed that the rumor about Young Lady Somerset acquiring the love potion was only known to a select few, but it was easy to tell who they were just by their gazes. 

Whenever Cedric and Young Lady Somerset appeared together, these individuals would exchange glances, silently communicating with one another.

Did you hear about the potion? You too?

Their eyes seemed to say, and there was no way Ophelia wouldn’t notice. 

They appeared surprised to realize that Ophelia also knew about the situation. How far had the rumor spread? While they seemed puzzled, they also gave her sympathetic looks. 

To have her fiancé taken right in front of her… how cruel, even if it’s because of a potion.

However, their pity for Ophelia was fleeting. Their primary interest lay in how passionately Cedric and Young Lady Somerset were in love. Like Ophelia, they were curious to see just how much Cedric would change.  

Whenever Cedric and Young Lady Somerset were seen together, those who knew about the potion would all turn their attention to the couple in unison.

After observing them for three days, however, it became clear that their relationship hadn’t changed at all. When Young Lady Somerset initiated a conversation, Cedric maintained his usual demeanor, keeping an appropriate distance as he interacted with her. Anyone could see that this was not how one treated someone they were in love with.

Was he keeping his distance because their relationship wasn’t proper and there were too many eyes on them? Did he want to avoid being discovered?

Cedric, being meticulous by nature, likely didn’t want others to see him in love. This made it entirely possible that he was meeting her in secret to avoid rumors.

As if to confirm Ophelia’s suspicions, new rumors began circulating the next day—rumors that Cedric and Young Lady Somerset were enjoying secret rendezvous. The locations where they had supposedly been spotted varied.

Late at night, they were said to have been seen on a date in the academy’s garden. Another time, they were spotted in the plaza late at night. Some even claimed to have seen them riding in a carriage together late into the night.

So, he has no intention of showing his feelings in public….

The situation wasn’t unfolding as expected, leaving Ophelia feeling drained. Perhaps because of this, her determination to observe Cedric began to wane as the days passed.

“Instead of sneaking around, he should just break off the engagement already!” 

Her anger flared, but she couldn’t stay mad for long. After all, Cedric consuming the potion had unexpectedly brought her some advantages too. 

“How can Young Lady Somerset be so uncultured? She doesn’t suit the Young Duke at all.” 

“Exactly. She pretends to be elegant, but the way she stabs people in the back shows she’s unfit to be a duchess.” 

The women’s focus had shifted entirely away from Ophelia. All the attention that had once been directed toward her was now squarely on Young Lady Somerset. Everywhere she went, she could hear people gossiping about her. 

Ophelia, having dealt with similar situations in the past, could brush it off easily. But could Young Lady Somerset endure such humiliating remarks? 

Whenever Ophelia happened to encounter Young Lady Somerset, she would carefully observe her expression. How would she react to the whispers deliberately spoken within earshot? 

Whenever mocking comments reached her ears, Young Lady Somerset’s face would flush red, and she would fume with anger. Yet, her expression also showed indignation, as if she felt wronged. To an outsider, it might seem as though she was being unfairly criticized despite doing nothing wrong. 

What baffled Ophelia the most was that whenever their eyes met, Young Lady Somerset would glare at her with a sharp, hostile gaze. The murderous intent in her eyes made it clear that she harbored ill feelings toward Ophelia. 

Why is she directing that at me?

It wasn’t Ophelia who had been spreading rumors; it was the other young ladies. She couldn’t understand why Young Lady Somerset was misdirecting her anger. 

Even when Ophelia had been Cedric’s fiancée, Young Lady Somerset had never looked at her with such cold eyes. They had barely interacted, exchanging no more than a passing glance when they happened to cross paths. 

So why was she acting like this now, after giving Cedric the potion?