If Emily thought learning to dance would be easy, she was doomed.
As Cedric had promised yesterday, Lady Ava arrived this morning to stay for three weeks at the Archibald residence to help Emily and Anna learn dancing and etiquette.
Philip decided that Anna should join the lessons as well, just in case she needed to remind Emily if she suddenly forgot something in a particular situation.
Ava is the third daughter of Count Artion, Arthur’s father.
Although they are siblings, their personalities are completely different.
If Arthur is a reserved and aloof knight, then Ava is the exact opposite.
She appears elegant, friendly, and outgoing.
“Allow me to introduce Miss Ava, Sir Arthur’s younger sister, My Lady,” said Philip, pointing toward the girl who was about the same age as Emily.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Emily.
Starting today, we’ll be learning together,” the girl said, bowing her head in greeting.
“I’d look forward to it,” Emily replied.
Then Ava lifted her head and smiled meaningfully, uttering words that sent a chill down Emily’s spine.
“I will make Lady Emily the most exemplary noblewoman in all of Malakar.” ‘What does this ominous sign mean?’ Emily wondered.
— A week later — Emily took back her words about Ava and Arthur having nothing in common.
There was one thing they had in common.
They were both merciless.
It had been a week since Emily and Anna had been practicing how to dance, how to have a tea party, how to eat and drink at a banquet—even the way they walked didn’t escape Ava’s attention.
Emily had already shown quite good progress.
This was all thanks to having a perfectionist teacher like Ava.
Her meticulousness was incredibly annoying.
Does this person have OCD whenever she sees others make mistakes?
Ava didn’t hesitate to correct and scold Emily whenever she made a mistake.
It felt as if Emily were being supervised by her former professor back at the hospital.
And while Emily was busy studying, Grand Duke Cedric had temporarily taken over the clinic again.
He asked Philip to send doctors from the medical academy in the Grand Duchy to take turns on duty at the clinic each week.
Cedric really wanted Emily to focus on her studies.
Every morning through noon, Emily and Anna would practice dancing.
Then, from noon until night, Emily and Anna would study etiquette and general knowledge.
Emily was grateful to have Anna as a fellow sufferer.
Otherwise, she felt she might go crazy.
Even her medical studies back then weren’t this harsh, so every day Emily pushed herself and studied very hard.
But doesn’t everyone reach a breaking point?
And today was the first time in her life that Emily did something irresponsible.
After finishing her dining etiquette lesson at lunchtime, Ava excused herself to meet her older brother because she had something to take care of, promising to return in half an hour.
Emily certainly didn’t let this opportunity go to waste; she asked Anna to help her escape.
… Knock… Knock… Knock… The sudden sound of a knock on the door made Cedric look up from the documents he was reviewing.
Although she hadn’t been given permission to enter yet, the door was already slightly open and Emily’s head poked in to peek inside Cedric’s office.
“Your Grace, it’s Emily,” Emily whispered.
“I know.
Come in,” Cedric replied, finding it hard to believe what his fiancée was doing.
Wasn’t she supposed to be learning about etiquette?
What on earth was going on here?
Emily quickly stepped inside, closed the door to Cedric’s office, and ran to the front of his desk, panting heavily.
“Your Grace, just this once, please save me!” Emily said frantically.
“What’s going on?” Cedric asked, startled.
Who would dare to threaten his fiancée’s safety in his own home?
“Lady Ava is chasing me.
She’s absolutely terrifying!” Emily replied, so upset she felt like crying.
“…huh?” “You don’t understand, Your Grace.
I’m going crazy.
She’s obsessed with perfection!
She wants to turn me into a noble robot!” Emily complained.
“Hahaha” Hearing Emily’s complaint, Cedric couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re so wonderful when you laugh, Your Grace,” Emily said, gazing at Cedric’s face.
Come to think of it, Cedric had been laughing more often lately—which was a good thing.
“Hmm… Hmm” Hearing Emily’s sudden compliment, Cedric could only turn away, his face flushing with embarrassment, as he cleared his dry throat with a nervous cough.
“I’m not lying, Your Grace, you—” Knock… knock… knock… Suddenly, before Emily could finish her sentence, there was a knock on the door from outside.
“Who is it?” Cedric asked.
“It’s Ava, Your Grace,” came the reply from outside.
Emily immediately panicked, unsure of where to hide.
There wasn’t a space large enough to hide in this office.
Until, suddenly, she slipped under the desk where Cedric was sitting.
“Hide me, Your Grace,” Emily whispered, crouching in front of Cedric’s knees.
“Emily, this is a bit—” “Shhh!” Emily cut him off, placing her index finger over her mouth, signaling Cedric not to speak to her.
Hah… “Come in,” Cedric replied, trying to stay calm, even though the room was starting to feel unbearably hot.
Ava then carefully opened the door to Cedric’s office and looked around intently.
“Your Grace, forgive me for disturbing you, but I’m looking for Lady Emily.
Has she been here?” Ava asked, sensing that something was off.
“…Emily?” Cedric was a little taken aback; Ava must have a sixth sense or something.
Cedric glanced at Emily, who was hiding under the desk.
Emily crossed her arms in front of her face as if to signal that she wasn’t there, her expression one of sheer panic.
“N-no.
Yes, she’s not here,” Cedric replied, looking back at Ava.
“So is she here or not, Your Grace?” Ava asked, confused by Cedric’s words.
Cedric, who never lied, grew even more nervous under the pressure of her questions.
Emily then tapped Cedric’s knee, signaling him to stay firm.
“She’s not here,” Cedric replied, trying to sound more confident.
“All right then, Your Grace.
Please excuse me for taking up your time,” Ava said as she took her leave.
Emily felt her breath—which had been caught in her throat the whole time—return to normal as she breathed a sigh of relief.
But just as Ava was about to leave and opened the door, Cedric suddenly called out to her again.
“What are you doing, Cedric?” Emily grumbled irritably.
“Ava, you can take a day off from teaching Emily tomorrow,” Cedric said suddenly.
“Pardon?” “We have something we need to do in town all day tomorrow.
So you can rest.
Thank you for all your hard work,” Cedric said.
“All right, Your Grace.
I’ll take my leave.” Ava said her goodbyes, walked out of the room, and closed the door to Cedric’s office behind her.
…
“She’s gone, Emily,” Cedric said.
“Huh?” Emily realized she was still crouching under the desk; her face flushed with embarrassment.
She tried to get out from under there.
Thud… “Ouch.” And as she tried to stand up, her head accidentally hit the desk.
She winced in pain while holding her head.
“Are you okay?
I’m sorry—I’m not being thoughtful.
I should’ve helped you out.
Do you need a doctor?” Cedric asked frantically as he rubbed Emily’s head.
“Your Grace?
It seems like this position is a bit…” BLUSH… They looked at each other, their faces as red as boiled crabs.
“This is pretty dangerous,” Cedric thought.
Then he helped Emily up from the desk and made sure her head didn’t hit it again.
Emily finally managed to stand in front of Cedric, who was still sitting in his office chair.
“Hmm, thanks for hiding me, Your Grace.
Did you see how Ava flipped your place upside down looking for me like a psychopath?
She doesn’t give up easily!” Emily said, trying to lighten the mood.
Suddenly, Cedric pulled Emily by the back, causing her to be thrust forward and fall into Cedric’s arms as he sat in his office chair.
“…huh,” Emily was startled by Cedric’s sudden action.
“Just call me Cedric when it’s just the two of us, Emily,” Cedric said.
“Ce-Cedric, what are you doing?” Emily asked nervously, even though she already knew where this was headed.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been just the two of us.
Don’t you miss me?” Cedric asked.
CRAZY!
In the novel, Cedric is described as a cold and indifferent man.
‘I was supposed to be the wife he tossed out for betrayal, so why is he so obsessed with me now?’ ‘ Emily thought.
Still, Emily nodded.
Finally, Cedric pulled Emily closer to him, so she would sit on his lap.
Ever since meeting Emily, it felt like Cedric had lost his mind.
With Emily sitting on his lap, they gazed into each other’s eyes face-to-face, their faces mere inches apart.
“I don’t think I can wait any longer, Emily.” Suddenly, Cedric leaned his head against Emily’s shoulder, acting all cutesy.
“…Huh?
Pardon?” Cedric then lifted his head again and looked into Emily’s eyes with conviction.
“After King Killian’s wedding, let’s get married right away,” Cedric suggested.
“G-get married?” Emily replied in surprise.
“You don’t mind, do you?” Cedric whispered in Emily’s ear.
MOTHER, YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED Suddenly, in a state of shock, Emily couldn’t respond to Cedric’s proposal, but she nodded as firmly as she could.
Cedric smiled as he brushed a strand of Emily’s hair from her forehead.
“May I?” Cedric asked.
“You don’t need to ask,” Emily replied, wrapping both her arms around Cedric’s shoulders.
Smooch… In an instant, Cedric’s lips found Emily’s.
And just as quickly, Emily returned Cedric’s kiss with passion just as intense.
Ever since that kiss on the hill, things had grown increasingly intimate between Cedric and Emily.
Whenever they had a chance to be alone, they would seize the opportunity.
‘Is this the effect of my unfulfilled desires from a past life?’ Emily wondered.
But it turned out Cedric felt the same way.
Before they knew it, their kiss had grown even more passionate.
“Haa… ahh…” Cedric didn’t stop showering Emily with kisses on her lips, neck, and the cleavage slightly visible beneath her dress.
In his entire life, Emily was the only person who could make him lose his mind like this.
“Ahh… Cedrick… Cedric…” Emily moaned, calling out Cedric’s name over and over, as if begging for more, while clutching his back.
Their breath felt hot and ragged.
Cedric’s office was now filled only with their moans and the sounds of their lips and tongues intertwining.
Cedric knew that kissing Emily’s lips was like drinking saltwater; the more you drank, the thirstier you’d become and the more you’d crave.
Suddenly, Emily broke the kiss and looked at Cedric with a panicked expression.
“Ce-Cedric…” “Yes?” Cedric asked between gasps for breath.
“I think I feel something down there?” Emily asked.
“Sorry, that happens naturally.
I think we should stop here,” Cedric replied with a small laugh.
“D-do you think that big thing will fit later?” Emily asked curiously with a serious expression, since she’d never dated anyone before.
“We’ll never know until we try,” Cedric replied with a smile.
No matter how much Cedric desired Emily, he was trying his hardest to wait until they were officially married.
‘I can do this, right?’ Cedric thought.
Suddenly… Knock… Knock… Knock… “Your Grace, it’s Philip,” Philip’s voice called from outside.
Did Philip have a sixth sense that told him when Cedric and Emily were getting intimate?