Ophelia roamed around the county as she explored the streets of the small town. Many shops lined the sidewalks, displaying their colorful wares and enticing passersby.
The sunny weather made her stroll even more enjoyable. The spring in the small town filled the air with a sweet floral scent.
It was the perfect day for a leisurely walk through the bustling streets of the county.
Many flowers in the small town were in full bloom, captivating the attention of passersby. The wall county was in an aesthetic state of bliss, with vibrant colors and a peaceful atmosphere.
Ophelia's walk in the street was only brief with her servants, as she had a scheduled dinner with the territory lord's family and needed to prepare for the evening.
The dinner was a formal affair, requiring Ophelia to wear her finest gown and engage in polite conversation with the count. They engage in talking about politics and current issues in the kingdom, mentioning recommendations and suggestions for improvement.
Ophelia, being well-informed and eloquent, effortlessly contributed to the discussion, impressing the count with her intelligence and wit.
Ophelia silently sighed inwardly out of relief at the success of the dinner.
As the evening progressed, the dinner turned into a delightful exchange of ideas and perspectives, leaving both Ophelia and the count with a sense of intellectual fulfillment.
Ophelia survived because of the original Ophelia's education, which she somewhat inherited.
The day after, Ophelia visited the famous field of flowers with Zaden only because she wanted to enjoy the beauty of nature on her own but needed someone to look after her.
"Your grace," Zaden called.
Ophelia turned around and saw Zaden following behind her.
"Should I lay down the blanket here?" he asked.
Ophelia nodded her head, then turned back to face the flowers in front of her.
She smiled as she closed her eyes and smelled the scent of the flowers, tingling her senses. The warm sunlight bathed her face, making her feel at peace.
Zaden laid the blanket on the soft grass and took out the delicacies inside the basket, ready for Ophelia to be eaten.
Once he finished taking out the food, he looked in Ophelia's direction, who was still gazing at the flowers.
He couldn't help but admire her peaceful expression and couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of tranquility they were sharing.
As much as he wanted to express the brewing feelings within him, he couldn't find the right words to say, nor did he have the guts and courage to express his emotions, especially since there's a huge status gap between them.
The case of his situation only worsened when his family came from a clan serving the Lockhart family for multiple generations since the first duchess. His feelings and duty as a servant were constantly at odds with each other.
He struggled to find a way to bridge the gap between them.
"Your grace," he called as he approached her and stopped at a decent distance.
"Ophelia," she said.
"Pardon me, Your Grace."
She turned to face him. "I said, call me Ophelia."
"Your grace, you know I can't do that," he responded with a complicated expression.
"No," she insisted. "Call me by my name. It's an order."
Ophelia hasn't heard anyone call her by name and has only addressed her as your grace. She slowly lost her sense of identity when no one ever called her by her name.
It was as if her name had become a distant memory, buried beneath the weight of her title. The realization hit her with a pang of sadness, and she longed for the simple familiarity of being addressed by her own name once again.
She wants someone to remind her of her current identity as a person, not as a duke.
"I understand, your- miss Ophelia," he stammered, his voice filled with uncertainty. "But it's just... it's been ingrained in me to address you as your grace. It's a sign of respect and tradition."
Ophelia sighed, feeling the weight of her title pressing down on her.
She longed for a connection that went beyond her position, yearning for someone who saw her for who she truly was, not just as a figure of authority.
Ophelia nodded her head, totally understanding his hesitation. "It's fine, but call me by name," she added with a warm smile.
"Yes, miss O-ophelia," he stammered, finally addressing her less formally.
Ophelia smiled. "Shall we eat- ahhh--"
"Are you hurt, Miss Ophelia?"
Zaden asked with a tone laced with concern when Ophelia stepped into a shallow hole and stumbled forward.
"I'm fine," she said, trying to regain balance. "Ahm, you can let me go now," she added, her voice betraying a hint of discomfort.
"Ahh, y-yes," Zaden stammered, releasing his grip on Ophelia's arm.
Ophelia took a deep breath, shaking off the tension between them, before regaining her smile and turning to Zaden. "Let's eat what we got," she said, trying to ignore the awkwardness.
Zaden nodded, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan," he replied, attempting to mask his uneasiness.
Ophelia couldn't help but notice the lingering awkwardness between them as they sat on the blanket and then started eating the delicacies that Zaden had bought.
The silence hung heavy in the air. They both focused on their food, avoiding eye contact and struggling to find something to say. Ophelia desperately wished for a lighthearted topic to break the tension, but the words eluded her.
"How many days are we staying here, Miss Ophelia?" Zaden asked, breaking the silence between them.
Ophelia sighed inwardly with relief, grateful for Zaden bringing up a topic.
She thought for a few seconds before responding, "I'm not sure, Zaden. Maybe one or two more days."
Zaden nodded his head. "How about our next destination? Do you have something in mind?"
She thought for a moment before responding, "I haven't decided yet, but I'll let you know soon."
Zaden nodded his head again.
Silence enveloped them once more, and they had nothing to say in another small conversation.
"Ehem," she said, clearing her throat.
"Do you want some water?" he asked while extending her a bottle of water.
Ophelia accepted the bottle of water reluctantly, even though she was not thirsty at all.
"Shall we get going?" she said as she stood up.
"Yes, Miss Ophelia," he replied, and he started putting the things they used inside the basket before going back to the mansion.
---
Ophelia stayed in the territory where the flower field was famous for a few days before departing for her next destination.
Every place she ever wanted to go seemed to have its own unique charm and beauty.
A forest where mystical creatures lived and whispered secrets among the trees. A cave where minerals sparkled and glowed in the dim light, and many more incredible destinations awaited her, each offering a different enchantment to behold.
Ophelia has been living the life she ever wanted, but somehow, she feels a longing for something more.
She had already explored many places on land and even went underground. How about the air and sea.
Ophelia did hear about the mystical creatures that fly freely in the sky, but that kind of creature was out of reach for her. She can't experience the air without the help of those who possess wings or the ability to fly.
As for the sea, Ophelia can experience walking along the beach or riding a boat.
That's the only way she can immerse herself in the vastness and beauty of the ocean at the moment.
Maybe in the future, she can have the chance to travel in the sea, find an opportunity to ride the mystical creatures with wings, and experience seeing the world from the highest perspective in the sky.
That idea made Ophelia decide on her next destination. It was the ocean.
Her next destination was the famous port, under the rule of another noble family.
It took them weeks to arrive at the port city.
When Ophelia's carriage stopped in front of the lord's mansion, she noticed the busy atmosphere of the place.
Many people are hurrying in and out of the mansion, carrying various items, and conversing with one another. She wondered if there was an important event or celebration happening.
"My apologies for my late welcome, your grace," a butler said as he approached her.
"Please forgive the chaos, as preparations are underway for the grand ball tonight," the servant explained.
Ophelia nodded understandingly, her eyes scanning the bustling place filled with servants.
"Please follow me. I'll guide you to your room, your grace," the servant said, leading Ophelia and her servants through the maze-like corridors of the mansion.
Ophelia was given a huge room for her stay in the opulent mansion.
She lay down in bed and sighed contentedly, grateful for the comfort and luxury surrounding her.
"Miss Ophelia," someone called her.
She sat up and looked at Zaden, standing straight in front of her bed.
Her eyes finally met his, and he started speaking.
"Ehem, I will relay a message from the head butler," he started.
"The head butler said that the engagement between Lady Claudia St. Clair and Marquis Samuel Archer has been officially approved."
Ophelia's heart skipped a beat at the news. She had been eagerly awaiting this announcement, knowing that it meant her own future was a few steps away from happening.
It finally happened. It's been a few months since the hero and heroine left the archer's estate, but Ophelia didn't hear anything from them. She even wondered if something bad had happened to them, but her worry was for naught.
It seems the hero and heroine were just delayed.
Now that the hero and heroine's engagement has been approved, it means that their engagement is already spreading everywhere.
It will not take long for the hero to sign the divorce papers.
Ophelia couldn't help but feel a sense of relief for the heroine, knowing that she would soon be liberated from the shackles of their toxic marriage.
Their secret marriage and divorce will go unnoticed, allowing the hero to continue his public image unscathed. However, Ophelia didn't mind that, as long as she could finally be free and live a life of her own choosing.
That also means that she won't be branded as the ex-wife of Marquis Archer and could pursue her own dreams without being overshadowed by his reputation.
Ophelia hoped that the hero and heroine would find happiness and fulfillment in their newfound freedom.
And she hopes they will also do so in return.
***