Only after blurting it out did Windsor inwardly click his tongue. He hadn’t meant to say that. The words came out before he could think. It was an uncharacteristic hastiness for him.

Jacqueline opened her eyes slightly wider and wore a faint smile.

“Lord Preston wouldn’t have wanted to reveal his ignorance of aristocratic etiquette. With unfavorable glances already coming his way for his late entry into noble society, he wouldn’t have wanted to add any more unpleasant rumors. He also wouldn’t have wanted the Preston family’s reputation to be tarnished. So he couldn’t tell anyone. I understand completely.”

Having said that, Jacqueline met his eyes. Her gaze was empathetic to his anguish. As if offering warm comfort.

Windsor, instead of answering, gave a slight nod as if to say ‘continue’.

“It’s extremely difficult to know what you haven’t learned. If you try to imitate poorly, you’ll immediately be ridiculed. You can see that in the nasty behavior of nobles towards businessmen. But fortunately, I’m well-versed in aristocratic etiquette, and even more fortunately, I’m currently employed as the Preston family’s tutor. In other words, there’s no one more suitable than me.”

Jacqueline’s eyes crinkled. Her smile deepened a bit more.

“Besides, believe it or not, I’m quite good at keeping secrets. I have the loyalty to take secrets to the grave.”

Windsor said nothing. He couldn’t carelessly take her hand. The moment he admitted the truth, the honor of the Preston family would fall to the ground.

Even at this moment, Windsor was cautious and careful.

Nevertheless, the reason he couldn’t leave the room, leaving her behind, was.

The King.

Windsor thought of him. Until now, he had avoided meeting him under the pretext of staying in his territory. Finally, unable to wait any longer, the King prepared for a trial to take away custody.

Knowing this, Windsor couldn’t rashly seek an audience with the King. If he revealed his ignorance to him, it was obvious it would work against him in the trial.

The King would argue that Windsor, of humble origins, was of no help to Benjamin. No, he might even argue that he was harmful.

It wasn’t entirely wrong. And that was why Windsor was concerned about Benjamin’s education.

At that moment, Jacqueline leaned her upper body slightly forward and whispered softly. Secretly and sweetly, just like when she was tempting Benjamin.

“I’ll teach Lord Preston the etiquette of noble society. Without anyone knowing.”

“You mean the unnecessarily complicated and cumbersome etiquette?”

He raised his eyes slowly and rebutted as if testing her. But it was of no use to Jacqueline. She wasn’t naive enough to fall for Windsor’s words.

“You didn’t want even the household servants to find out. Not even Benjamin. Isn’t that why you ate alone? Ironically, sometimes complicated rules can bring freedom. How long will you not dance at banquets, and not attend social gatherings under the excuse of being ill? Isn’t it time to play your role as the Marquis of Preston?”

Every word was right. Windsor too was beginning to feel his limits. It felt as if a huge wall was blocking his way.

But now a door appeared there. A door that he could enter just by opening it.

However, it wouldn’t be free. He had learned earlier than anyone that nothing in the world is free.

“What does Miss Somerset gain from this?”

Windsor asked bluntly. He didn’t think she had brought it up out of goodwill. She must have something she wanted.

For instance.

Yes, since the Somerset earldom had fallen, perhaps a substantial amount of money.

Windsor’s indifferent eyes rested on her face. Jacqueline made a startled expression, as if her inner thoughts had been exposed. She subtly turned her head, avoiding Windsor’s gaze.

Heh.

A chuckle escaped from between his teeth. Only then did he realize that he had been disappointed in Jacqueline.

Why? What had he expected from her?

All the nobles he had met so far were different on the inside from how they appeared on the outside. The nobles he met in the army acted like patriots in front, but in the back, they were in charge of the rear with frightened faces.

The nobles he met in social circles smiled friendly on the outside, but inwardly laughed at him. She probably wouldn’t be much different.

“Speak comfortably.”

“Yes, then…”

Hesitating, Jacqueline raised her head straight. Finally, as if resolved, she met his eyes with a determined expression.

“Please respect my educational philosophy.”

“…”

This time, Windsor truly lost his words. It was a proposal he hadn’t thought of at all. He unconsciously furrowed his brow.

He couldn’t understand what Jacqueline was thinking at all. This was usually the case, but he had never felt as perplexed as he did now.

“You said to respect your educational philosophy?”

So he asked again, uncharacteristically. Jacqueline nodded ambitiously, as if to say ‘that’s right’.

“It won’t be a proposal that will disadvantage Lord Preston. Although the Somerset family has lost its former glory, I was born a countess. I received an excellent education and graduated from Bristol Girls’ Boarding School with outstanding grades. I will be a good tutor not only for Benjamin but also for Lord Preston. I guarantee it.”

Her voice rang out confidently. Windsor placed one hand on the table and tapped his index finger, as if lost in thought.

Jacqueline spoke with a smiling face, but in a rather strict tone.

“You shouldn’t tap the table with your finger, Lord Preston. It’s against etiquette. Please lower your elbows below the table.”

Pause.

His long fingers stopped in mid-air. Windsor’s gaze slowly turned towards her.

Jacqueline smiled brightly, as if there could be no better proposal than this.

“I can make Lord Preston into a gentleman praised in high society. The perfect Marquis of Preston that no one would dare to criticize.”

Her sweet voice was as subtle as when she had offered the cicada to Benjamin.

“Why are you going to such lengths?”

But Windsor was stronger against temptation than Benjamin. He doubted before readily accepting her proposal.

She said she hadn’t contacted the King, but could he believe that? Or was she trying to catch his weakness?

“Reason…”

Jacqueline, who had been repeating his words with her eyes slightly lowered, quietly pulled up the corners of her mouth. Windsor’s eyes shone at her suddenly changed appearance.

“Because I want to see Benjamin’s smiling face.”

“…”

“I haven’t seen that child smile sincerely yet.”

Windsor said nothing. Instead, his sharp gaze scanned every corner of Jacqueline’s face. As if trying to uncover her hidden inner thoughts.

Jacqueline slowly raised her head and met his gaze. It was her sincere feeling.

She quite liked Benjamin and wished for the child to smile. Perhaps there wouldn’t be many days for Benjamin to smile in his life.

After all, the position of Marquis of Preston was not an easy one, as Windsor had said. So at least now.

“Very well, Miss Somerset. The negotiation is settled.”

Eventually, Windsor nodded. He still couldn’t understand what Jacqueline was thinking, but he finally took the hand she had extended.

It was too attractive a proposal to refuse, and Windsor was cornered. If she was the King’s pawn, he would make her pay a sufficient price.

Unaware of how terrifying Windsor’s thoughts were, Jacqueline responded with a smile.

“You’ve made a good decision, Lord Preston. …William.”

At her call, the dining room door opened and the butler entered. He waited for the two’s orders with a rigid posture like a stick.

“Would you prepare the meal? Lord Preston must be very hungry. I’ve wasted exactly 23 minutes of Lord Preston’s dinner time.”

“…Yes, Miss Somerset.”

William, who had been watching the two for a moment, quietly withdrew. As if it had been prepared in advance, the dishes came in one after another without much wait.

Jacqueline turned her gaze back to William. Her voice carried a more authoritative air than usual.

“You may step out for a moment, William.”

“Yes.”

William didn’t know why Jacqueline was sitting in front of Windsor, who always dined alone.

However, he had no right to ask questions. A butler was not someone who asked questions, but someone who followed the master’s orders.

As the door closed, Jacqueline spoke softly, with her hands on her thighs.

“Please eat comfortably, Lord Preston.”

Windsor narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure out what her intentions were. Jacqueline looked at him with an innocent expression, as if she didn’t have the slightest ulterior motive.

“I need to see how Lord Preston eats to give advice. I’ll prove with results how helpful I can be.”

Windsor unfolded his napkin with a rather reluctant face. Watching this, Jacqueline suddenly spoke up.

“A gentler motion would be better. That motion just now looked like you were planting a flag on a fleet. Good, the folded napkin should be placed on your lap.”

“I know how to use a napkin at least.”

Windsor replied with a gruff expression. She swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out and struggled to maintain a refined expression.

“This style of serving all dishes at once is the Renchian style. I hear that the Nortic style, where dishes are brought out one by one, is popular these days. Next time, let’s learn the Nortic dining etiquette. Ah, when putting down the knife, always make sure the blade faces inward.”

“Why should the blade face inward when putting down the knife?”

Windsor asked indifferently as he flipped the knife.

“Hmm.”

Jacqueline rolled her green eyes. She didn’t know the reason either. Instead of answering the difficult question, she put on a stern expression.

“Be careful not to scrape the bottom of the bowl with the spoon. A soup bowl with handles on both sides means it’s okay to hold and drink from it.”

“You shouldn’t scrape the bottom of the bowl, but it’s okay to hold and drink from it? What’s the reason for that?”

“Hmm.”

Jacqueline rolled her eyes again. She didn’t know the reason this time either. It was just how she had been educated.

This student has quite the inquisitive mind.

She skillfully changed the subject.

“Ah, you shouldn’t flip the fish like that, Lord Preston.”

Pause.

Windsor’s hands, which had been moving leisurely, stopped at Jacqueline’s firm correction. He raised only his eyes to look at her.

Dissatisfaction swirled in his blue-gray eyes. Jacqueline continued in a nonchalant tone.