“Um… It’s better to come here and see it when I just want to look at it. Of course, if my uncle allows it.”

“Is that so?”

The flowers Benjamin held emitted a sweet fragrance. Her job was simply to help ensure those flowers wouldn’t wither in harsh winds.

It was enough to move them to a sunny spot, catch the bugs eating the leaves, and diligently let them hear footsteps.

The child had the strength to bloom his own flowers.

Jacqueline’s eyes sparkled as she pointed to the almond tree.

“Oh? Benjamin, there’s a longhorn beetle over there. Shall I catch it for you?”

Benjamin was about to nod with a bright expression, but stopped. A hint of minor concern filled the brown eyes glancing at her.

She thought she knew what the child was thinking. Jacqueline placed her hands on her hips and said confidently:

“Benjamin, don’t worry. I won’t scream again. I was just startled that time. I’m not a fragile lady who’s afraid of cicada shells.”

“Yes!”

Only then did the child seem reassured and reached out towards the longhorn beetle. The carefully outstretched hand suddenly grasped the beetle.

The longhorn beetle, struck by lightning out of the blue, belatedly flailed its legs, but it was already too late.

“Ah! I caught it! It’s a giant longhorn beetle, Miss Somerset!”

Benjamin turned to her with a bright smile. His round eyes narrowed into thin lines, and his lips spread wide.

“!”

Suddenly, Jacqueline’s eyes widened. It was because she saw the child’s smile for the first time.

It was a much more innocent and radiant smile than she had imagined. And it was a smile that made even the observer happy.

Eventually, Jacqueline too gently crinkled her eyes.

“You’re brave.”

Benjamin carefully observed the longhorn beetle. The wriggling legs, hard shell, and valiant horns.

Jacqueline felt her back tickle for some reason every time the beetle’s legs moved, but she did her best to maintain composure.

“Next time an insect flies into my room, will you catch it for me? I’m not quite mentally prepared to catch insects yet. Not that I’m afraid, mind you.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset! Call me anytime!”

“How reassuring.”

The child’s interest soon shifted to cicadas, and this time a loudly chirping cicada was caught on his small finger.

Jacqueline tilted her head, wondering if the insects living in the Preston family garden lacked a sense of danger, or if Benjamin was particularly skilled at catching insects.

After a while, she looked up at the sky and called an end to the adventure.

“Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go back and have some lemonade.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

The child, who had been playing so enjoyably, nodded immediately without throwing a tantrum. Then he lifted the cloth covering the bucket.

Longhorn beetles and cicada shells were all jumbled together. Benjamin only dusted off his hands after putting them all back in their place.

The child stared at Jacqueline with brown eyes, as if ready to go.

“Alright. Back to the mansion we go. Let’s celebrate our safe return.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

The two headed towards the mansion, matching their steps. Just as they arrived at the entrance, a carriage crossing the garden came to a stop. It was a carriage engraved with the Preston family crest.

Benjamin straightened his posture, alert. He brought his legs together and raised his chin.

Windsor, getting out of the carriage, slowly turned his head as he sensed their presence. His indifferent gaze passed over Jacqueline and stopped on the child.

Flinch.

Benjamin’s shoulders stiffened. The child’s expression took on a rather tense look. Only then did he realize his own mud-covered appearance.

It wasn’t quite a desirable image for the future Earl of Preston. His tightly closed lips took on a dejected look.

The brown eyes that had been sparkling until just now instantly became gloomy. Benjamin quietly lowered his gaze, imagining the scolding that would come from his uncle.

He was afraid of disappointing his uncle again. Afraid that he would eventually give up on him.

But then.

“Welcome back, Lord Preston.”

Jacqueline greeted him with a lightly smiling face. Windsor’s gaze shifted back to her.

He took out a pocket watch from his pocket, checked the time, and said gruffly:

“I hope the afternoon lessons will proceed without delay, Miss Somerset.”

“Of course, Lord Preston. I’ve left enough time for a cup of tea.”

Windsor merely nodded once before moving on. William, who was at the entrance, bowed politely to him.

“Welcome back, master.”

At the same time, Benjamin’s mouth fell open. The child stared blankly at the closed front door, as if unable to believe that Windsor hadn’t scolded him.

Then he slowly turned his head towards Jacqueline. His light brown eyes twinkled like stars in the night sky.

Noticing that the emotion nestled in those eyes was admiration, she straightened her shoulders and said boastfully:

“I told you, Benjamin. Lord Preston agreed to respect my educational philosophy.”

“Miss Somerset, are you perhaps…”

Benjamin’s lips moved with a dreamy expression. Jacqueline put on a smug face, as if to say whatever he wanted.

“A fairy?”

“Hm?”

She made a momentarily taken aback expression at the unexpected question. Benjamin excitedly spoke rapidly:

“I read it before, when I was five years old, in a book. It said fairies can melt even the coldest person’s heart. Ah, not that I mean my uncle is a cold person, but… Um, well, so, are you a fairy, Miss Somerset?”

Jacqueline, who was about to answer that it was an achievement made through rational persuasion and logical conversation, brought her index finger to her lips.

“Shh.”

“!”

“How did you know? It’s a secret.”

The child’s eyes grew as big as fists. Jacqueline looked around pretendingly and lowered her voice. Benjamin’s eyebrows rose at her meaningful expression.

“You mustn’t tell anyone. If people find out, I’ll have to go back to where I came from. And I’d like to stay at Preston Manor a little longer.”

Instead of answering, Benjamin covered his mouth with both hands. And nodded his head vigorously.

“Let’s go. If we hurry a bit, we’ll have plenty of time for lemonade before the lesson starts.”

The child kept nodding, his hands still covering his mouth. Jacqueline swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out and took the lead.

No matter how calm and mature, the child was only six years old. A little child completely fooled by an adult’s lie. Perhaps still believing in Santa Claus.

That foolishness was endearingly lovable.

“Hm?”

Just then, Jacqueline’s eyes widened as she passed by the carriage. It was because she spotted a cane standing alone inside the carriage.

Tom, the coachman, scratched his head and said “Oh dear” as he was about to close the door. He smiled amiably as his eyes met Jacqueline’s.

“He left it behind again.”

“I’ll take it to him since I’m on my way.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset. Thank you.”

Tom handed her the cane. Jacqueline lightly swished the cane in her hand. Like a fairy casting a spell.

Benjamin’s eyes sparkled even more. Jacqueline swallowed the laughter that was seeping out and walked alongside the child.

“Of course, you must study hard in your lessons too. That was my promise with Lord Preston.”

“Yes.”

Benjamin nodded as if it were obvious.

“But outside of lesson time, you’re free. How about going on another adventure tomorrow morning? There might be other living things on the opposite side of the garden. The book I read said that depending on the nature of the land, the insects living there can vary.”

“Really?”

The child’s eyes widened round, as if he had received an unexpected gift. Soon, his brown eyes took on a look of admiration.

Benjamin really seemed to think she was a fairy. Not bad.

Jacqueline stomped her feet in front of the entrance.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep. And it’s better to shake off the dirt on your shoes before going in. So the maids don’t have to work so hard, you know.”

At her words, Benjamin stomped his feet along with her. The child’s eyes were now full of trust.

The child looked like he would believe Jacqueline even if she said she could make bread out of sand. At this rate, she could become the puppet master controlling the future Earl of Preston from behind the scenes.

Of course, she had no such ambition.

“Young Master Benjamin, what in the world…!”

The two marched valiantly down the hallway until Mrs. Ritz made an aghast face upon seeing the mud-covered Benjamin.

Jacqueline whispered in a small voice into the child’s ear. The cane in her hand drooped limply downwards.

“I’m sorry, Benjamin. Even fairies can’t do anything about Mrs. Ritz’s nagging.”

Instead of answering, the child nodded his head maturely and squared his shoulders. As if to say he would handle that level of scolding himself.

“Don’t worry, Ritz. I’ll change clothes right away.”

“Yes, young master.”

Only then did Mrs. Ritz’s nagging cease. Benjamin immediately headed up the stairs to the second floor, and Mrs. Ritz hurriedly followed behind.

The child turned his head slightly and looked back at Jacqueline. His sparkling brown eyes sent an accomplice’s glance.

At that moment, Jacqueline stopped still in her tracks. And stared intently at Benjamin’s face.

“…”

Suddenly, she wondered if that child might not be the fairy. Hadn’t the child melted her heart from the moment she first saw him?

“Yes, that could be it.”

Jacqueline burst into silent laughter.

Dozens of carriages came and went to Preston Manor every day. Those who had barely managed to make appointments to meet the Earl visited at different time slots.

They put on clown-like smiling faces and kept praising Windsor. After stringing together compliments, they would finally say, “This is just for you, Earl,” and get to the point.

Generally, it was proposals requesting investments or suggesting partnerships. Sometimes they would shamelessly ask for donations.

What they needed wasn’t Windsor, but the Earl of Preston. Or rather, the vast funds of the Preston family.

Those who couldn’t even manage that sent mail instead of visiting Windsor. Enclosing letters with long-winded stories and mixed flattery.

Picking out the useful ones from among them was as difficult as panning for gold in sand. No, there might not even be any gold to begin with.

“Hah.”

Windsor let out a light sigh as he looked at the pile of documents on his desk. No matter how diligently he checked the documents, the same amount of new documents would pile up again every day.

Just then, there was a light knock. Windsor stopped what he was doing and looked up.

The door opened and Jacqueline entered. She had already changed clothes and said with a smiling face:

“You left your cane in the carriage when you got out.”

“Ah.”

She approached the desk and held out the cane. Windsor casually leaned it against the side of the desk.

Jacqueline, who thought she would turn around right away, was still standing in front of the desk. Windsor gave her his attention.

“Do you have more business?”