Epilogue 2

“F-Forgive me. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” 

The man knelt before Ophelia and Cedric, pleading desperately, while the two stared at him with hardened expressions. 

Cedric remained silent, standing still, while it was Ophelia who interrogated the man. Her sharp gaze bore down on the culprit who had been intercepting their letters. 

“Why on earth did you do such a thing?” 

“I-I’m sorry.” 

The man’s face was pale, and his body was trembling as he cowered. Just from his appearance, it was clear how terrified he was. 

Coward. 

Ophelia let out a sigh, exhausted by the sight of him. To think that she and Cedric had been at odds all this time because of someone like this. When she thought about the past, she felt utterly exasperated. 

As expected, the culprit had been caught quickly, and he turned out to be an entirely unexpected figure. 

‘Jake?’

‘Yes, the guy who confessed to you.’

When Cedric revealed who the culprit was, Ophelia couldn’t believe it. That quiet man who always sat in a corner of the laboratory, absorbed in his research, had done something so bold? It didn’t make any sense. 

But when the knights of Bristol brought Jake into Cedric’s office not long after, she had no choice but to believe it. 

“I-I knew I’d get caught eventually. I didn’t expect to go unnoticed for so long either.” 

Jake had noticed the relationship between Ophelia and Cedric and planted spies in both their households to intercept their letters. 

It was a sloppy plan, and if the two of them had even briefly discussed the matter, it would have been uncovered immediately. 

But because their relationship was so strained that they didn’t even have simple conversations, this ridiculous situation had occurred. When Jake explained himself, Ophelia couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in her chest. 

“What difference does it make if you intercept the letters?” 

“I-I thought if things weren’t going well between the two of you, I’d have a chance.” 

So that’s why he confessed to her, even knowing she was engaged to Cedric. It seemed his audacity came from the fact that he’d already tried to drive a wedge between them. 

He’d always been timid, yet he’d acted so boldly in this instance. You really can’t judge someone until you’ve experienced their true nature. 

If this incident hadn’t happened, Ophelia would have continued to think of Jake as a kind and innocent friend. But now, she realized how deceitful he truly was. 

The same went for Cedric. She had once thought of him as an irredeemable scoundrel, but after getting to know him, she had been captivated by his kind and gentle side. 

She let out a hollow laugh, astonished by the absurdity of it all. As she continued to look at Jake with disdain, Cedric spoke. 

“What do you want to do with him? I’ll leave it up to you.” 

“What do you think?” 

“I’d like to tear him limb from limb, but I’m holding back and leaving it to you.” 

No matter how angry Cedric was, such a suggestion was clearly unreasonable. So, it seemed he was entrusting the decision to Ophelia instead. 

“You won’t object to whatever punishment I decide on?” 

“I won’t.” 

“Then let’s just accept his apology and leave it at that.” 

“What? Why are you being so lenient? Don’t tell me you have even the slightest feelings for him?” 

Cedric’s gaze toward Jake was sharp and filled with hostility, causing Jake to tremble even more. 

“Of course not. If you think about it, neither of us handled things well, did we? That’s why I’m opting for a light punishment.” 

It wasn’t that Jake wasn’t at fault—his actions had been serious. But Ophelia also believed that she and Cedric had been equally at fault. 

If either of them had brought up the matter of the letters, the culprit would have been exposed much sooner. Their lack of communication had only allowed misunderstandings to pile up. 

So, they decided to accept Jake’s apology and dismiss the maids who had been complicit in intercepting the letters. There was no point in dwelling on the past now that she and Cedric had reconciled. 

“I don’t want to waste any more time thinking about Jake. Instead, Cedric, I want to ask something of you. From now on, tell me everything directly. Don’t send letters—just speak to me.” 

“I’ll ask the same of you. Don’t jump to conclusions on your own. Ask me directly. I’ll be honest with you about anything.” 

It felt almost ridiculous that she hadn’t realized how much the man she loved cared for her until now. Their lack of communication had caused all of this. Ophelia resolved to ensure that such a misunderstanding would never happen again. 

“Then can I be honest about how I feel right now?” 

“Of course.”  

Cedric immediately dismissed everyone from his office. 

Just what was he about to say that he had to ask first?

As Ophelia looked at Cedric with a puzzled gaze, he grinned. His sly eyes and a smile filled with ulterior motives made her uneasy.

“I want to be inside you right now.”

As expected. Though she had anticipated it, Ophelia’s face quickly flushed. She knew that the Duke of Bristol was working in his study. If even a hint of a moan escaped, how could she ever face him?

“But the Duke is here.”

“My office and Father’s office are far apart. So there’s no need to worry about anyone hearing.”

“That’s true, but just in case….”

Cedric embraced Ophelia, who was hesitating and fidgeting with her hands. He lowered his nose to her nape and inhaled deeply. Then, in a low voice, he whispered,

“Do you think I can endure when you’re spreading such a sweet scent? Take responsibility.”

That sweet, resonant voice burrowed into her mind, sapping all her resistance. While she stared blankly at Cedric, he pulled her closer by the waist, pressing their bodies together. She could acutely feel the firmness of his arousal.

“There’s even a sofa here, so it’s fine, isn’t it?”

At that moment, Cedric’s eyes flashed like a predator spotting its prey. Their lips met in an instant. He softly and carefully nibbled and sucked her lips, and soon the kiss deepened.

When Ophelia came to her senses, she was lying n*ked on the sofa. On the floor, both her clothes and Cedric’s were scattered.

Cedric, his face buried between her legs, slid his supple tongue into her narrow entrance. As he teased her sensitive spot, waves of tingling pleasure shot through her body.

As her secret place overflowed with nectar, he began to devour her like a starving beast. Slurp. Sluuurp. The loud, wet sounds heated the air around them.

“Ah, ah!”

“Do you like it? You love it when I suck you like this, don’t you?”

When he sucked hard again on her weak spot, Ophelia shook her head, letting out a moan. She couldn’t withstand the overwhelming sensations. No matter how many times she had joined bodies with Cedric, the pleasure he gave her was always different, and the moment of climax always brought a whirlwind of intense ecstasy.

“Mmm, ah!”

She collapsed onto the bed, and before she could savor the afterglow, Cedric pressed his swollen tip against her entrance, rubbing it. Every time the tip brushed her sensitive bud, she felt goosebumps race over her skin.

What had already seemed thick now swelled even larger. As their bodies pressed together, his prec*m and her own nectar began to mix.

With a smooth glide, a wet squelching sound filled the air. The pace of his rubbing quickened, and Cedric began to tease her entrance, pushing his tip in and out.

Then, without warning, a hot pillar forced its way through her narrow opening.

“Ugh!”

She felt a pressure filling her belly and a dull ache at the same time. As she tried to brace herself, wrinkling the sheets, Cedric leaned over her. Ophelia wrapped her arms around his neck, gasping for breath.

“Haah. Ugh!”

After pushing himself all the way in, Cedric slowly began to move.

“Is it still too much for you?”

“I-it’s fine.”

She had gotten used to it, but it was still overwhelming. However, as Cedric pressed gentle, moist kisses to her lips and slowly stretched her from within, her breathing gradually eased. Each time his veined, hard length rubbed against her sensitive spot, a rush of pleasure bloomed.

As her entrance grew so wet it was almost dripping, his thrusts became even smoother. At the same time, Cedric’s pace quickened.

Thud—. The intense ache from deep inside made Ophelia’s head fall back. The deep thrusts left her unable to think straight.

“Ah… it’s too deep.”

“You love it when I go deep, don’t you? I’ll do anything you want, so don’t give any other man a chance.”

“I-I never have.”

“Never? Then what about that Jake?”

“He’s just a fellow researcher…. Ah!”

He gave her no time to answer. Forcing his way into the tight space, his tip scraped along her inner walls, making Ophelia tremble.

“If it were just that guy, I’d be relieved. You probably didn’t notice because you weren’t interested, but do you know how many men have been eyeing you lecherously since you started dressing up?”

“I-I don’t know about that!”

Ophelia writhed in ecstasy. Cedric gripped her hips even more firmly and drove into her roughly. Thud. With each powerful thrust that felt as if her body would break, her vision flickered.

“Do you know how anxious I was every time? You have no idea how afraid I was that you might leave me.”

“Th-that could never happen.”

“I love you, Ophelia. Always keep your eyes only on me. From the past to now, I’ve only ever seen you. You’ll always be mine.”

“I-I love you, t—ah!”

Ophelia couldn’t finish her confession, swept away by Cedric’s rough movements. It felt as if her body would melt under his passionate motions. The intense pleasure left her unable to think.

Bathed in the clear sunlight pouring through the window, the two of them, lost in desire, deeply savored each other.

* * *

On graduation day, all the students of the Academy gathered in the auditorium.

Just as Ophelia was working as an apprentice court physician, the other students had also already found their places before graduation, but for the ceremony, all the graduates were gathered together for the first time in a while.

Ophelia confidently attended the graduation ceremony, holding Cedric’s hand. Those who thought Cedric’s feelings had changed were greatly shocked by his affectionate demeanor. They seemed especially surprised that the way Cedric looked at his fiancée was completely different from before.

Since many believed that Cedric had returned to being a cold fiancé after the potion’s effect wore off, their reactions were only natural.

“So the rumor that they weren’t getting along must have been false.”

“Right? I thought the engagement was going to be broken, but I guess not.”

Ophelia walked past them with her shoulders squared proudly. Seeing them reminded her of the contrasting reactions her father and Mary had shown.

‘I told you, didn’t I? You never know what will happen between a man and a woman.’

The Earl of Granville had laughed heartily and congratulated Ophelia on her decision.

‘Miss, I won, didn’t I?’

Mary, with a triumphant expression, had even claimed her prize.

It was a day when Ophelia felt embarrassed by her own arrogance, realizing her thoughts were wrong and that her father and Mary had been right.

Today would be the last time she would see those reactions from others. Because of that, she felt she could look at them with a generous heart. Ophelia smiled as she looked at Cedric standing beside her, feeling at ease.

“Why?”

“Because I’m happy.”

Perhaps pleased with her answer, Cedric smiled gently as well, and the two exchanged glances, gazing at each other. Maybe out of annoyance at the sight, Young Lady Somerset approached Ophelia as she was moving to her seat and spoke.

“It seems the effect of the potion lasts a long time.”

With a sarcastic remark, Young Lady Somerset’s eyes were filled with hostility.

“Didn’t you hear from your brother?”

“Hear what?”

“That potion was a fake.”

Since Young Lady Somerset had brought up the potion first, Ophelia saw no reason to hide it. The love potion was a fake, so even if others found out, nothing would change. Only those who didn’t know about the potion would be surprised.

“That’s a lie! It’s a lie!”

As expected, Young Lady Somerset looked as if she couldn’t believe the potion was fake at all.

“Didn’t you pick up the potion from the trash can in Young Master Somerset’s room?”

But when Ophelia mentioned how Somerset had come to possess the potion, Young Lady Somerset’s face twisted in anger. She glared at Ophelia, breathing heavily.

“How could he choose you over me? I’m so much better.”

Young Lady Somerset seemed completely unable to accept that she had lost to Ophelia, whom she had always looked down on. Not only Young Lady Somerset, but several other young ladies also looked at Ophelia with similar eyes.

They tried to approach Ophelia with reproachful looks, but as the graduation ceremony began, they had to return to their seats.

With the principal’s congratulatory address, the graduation ceremony began. The awarding of diplomas, teachers’ remarks, and congratulatory performances by the juniors all proceeded in order, and finally, Cedric, the valedictorian, went up to the podium to give the graduation speech on behalf of the graduates.

He shared his feelings about attending the Academy and expressed his gratitude to the Academy professors and fellow students. And lastly, he mentioned Ophelia.

“Lastly, I would like to say a few words about my fiancée, Ophelia. She was my first love, the one who taught me humility for the first time, when I was full of arrogance. So, I hope there will be no more unfounded speculations.”

Seeing that Cedric mentioned Ophelia at the end of his congratulatory speech, it seemed he had just heard Young Lady Somerset’s scream of frustration. He paused for a moment, clearing his throat, and then spoke with a face full of tension.

“Ophelia, will you marry me?”

To be proposed to at the graduation ceremony—Ophelia’s face showed a look of astonishment, and everyone’s gaze turned to her.

She had only ever been used to looks of ridicule and criticism; it was the first time she received eyes full of envy, so she felt shy and embarrassed. With her face flushed bright red, Ophelia lowered her head.

However, since she could finally give the answer she had postponed for so long, today she had to convey her feelings to Cedric. Glancing around her, Ophelia lifted her head and looked at Cedric with a straight and upright posture.

“I’d love to.”

Ophelia beamed with a bright smile, and the graduates, who had been staring at Ophelia and Cedric in a daze, belatedly started clapping to congratulate them.

It was a moment to smile, but Ophelia burst into tears. Cedric, flustered, suddenly came down from the podium, causing the graduation ceremony to become a mess, but for Ophelia, it was a graduation she could never forget for the rest of her life.

It was one cool autumn day, when the heat had finally let up.