“As a former soldier, your physical coordination shouldn’t be bad. Well then, let’s start. Left foot first. One-two-three, one-two… Oh.”

Jacqueline, who had been moving smoothly, suddenly frowned. Right from the start, Windsor had kicked her shin.

How on earth could one manage to kick the shin instead of just stepping on the foot?

Jacqueline looked at him with incomprehensible eyes. Windsor faintly furrowed his brow. Noticing her gaze, he spoke softly.

“I regret it.”

“…It’s alright. It can happen since it’s your first time. Shall we start again?”

Jacqueline encouraged him with a bright smile. She was quite a good teacher and didn’t give up on a student this easily.

“Relax your body. One-two-three, one-two… Ugh.”

This time, Windsor pushed her with his shoulder. As Jacqueline staggered backward, Windsor quickly pulled her back and embraced her.

Jacqueline straightened her half-bent upper body. Forcing a smile, she looked up at Windsor.

“…”

Observing her silence, Windsor whispered in a low voice.

“Once again, I express my regret, Miss Somerset.”

“Hoo, alright.”

Jacqueline took a deep breath. Every student in the world held their own potential, and a teacher was there to help it bloom.

She reminded herself of this noble mission and once again put on a gentle smile.

“Your body is too stiff, Lord Preston. It would be better to move a bit more softly. Start with your left foot. That’s right. One-two-three, one… Ah!”

Windsor’s elbow struck her temple. This time, she didn’t let out a groan. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say it hurt too much even to groan.

Windsor wore an uncharacteristically embarrassed expression.

“No, how on earth did the elbow… Are you mistaking me for a pirate instead of a nobleman? We’re dancing, not fighting, Lord Preston.”

“Hmm. I sincerely express my regret.”

“…Alright.”

Jacqueline let go of the hand she was holding.

Windsor’s gaze lingered on his now empty hand. Jacqueline, who had readily taken his hand, let go without any hesitation.

He quietly clenched his fist and lowered his arm. Then, putting his hands behind his back, he looked at Jacqueline.

She was pulling up the corners of her mouth in a smile. However, her eyes weren’t smiling at all. Even the socially inept Windsor could easily guess that she was angry.

“It seems our desire to dance with you at this banquet was our own conceit.”

Finally, she raised both hands and declared surrender.

“That’s why I said from the beginning that there was no need to learn how to dance.”

“We just need a bit more time, Lord Preston. Don’t give up so easily. Let’s aim for the next banquet instead of this one.”

Jacqueline paused there, then grasped her dress and curtsied slightly.

“Then let’s end today’s lesson here. It’s time to start Benjamin’s afternoon lesson. I’ll take my leave first.”

She left the office without looking back. Only after the door closed did Jacqueline stop walking and let out the sigh she had been holding in.

Then she slowly lowered her gaze to look at her own hand. It was burning hot. It was also trembling faintly.

Suddenly, her throat felt dry. It was a terrible thirst that couldn’t be quenched with tea. Jacqueline pressed her flushed cheeks and slowly moved her feet.

“…”

Windsor, who had been listening to her footsteps, only slowly turned his gaze after the steps that had paused at the door faded away.

On the table, only cold tea remained lonely. The one who had been chattering and nagging there until just now was gone.

“Like a storm indeed.”

Yes, come to think of it, she was like the wind.

To a navy man, wind was like a natural enemy. Rough winds shook ships and threw sailors into chaos.

Storms struck without warning. Waves as tall as houses would crash down as if to swallow the ship, then subside just as suddenly.

The feeling of looking at the calm sea with golden ripples after barely surviving a near-death crisis was a luxury only those who had returned alive could feel.

Predicting the capricious wind was not within human capacity. Neither was standing against the wind. All that a tiny existence like a speck of dust could do was submit to the vast forces of nature.

Jacqueline Somerset was also unpredictable. Windsor, who had returned to his desk, once again cast his gaze at the closed door.

It felt like ripples were spreading in his peaceful daily life. The circular waves moved in unexpected directions at unexpected moments.

“Regrettable.”

He muttered to himself words that no one could hear, then dropped his gaze to the desk. When he grasped a pen in his empty hand, the feeling of emptiness dissipated a little.

***

The sky was blue, the wind was mild, and the sunlight was gentle. Another new day began with the sun rising without fail.

“Colin.”

Jacqueline held her old friend’s cheeks. As she applied pressure with both hands, Colin’s chubby cheeks thinned out and his lips protruded.

Poo.

Jacqueline’s eyes curved like claws at Colin’s comical appearance.

“I like the Preston mansion, what about you?”

Colin was taciturn. He always kept silent about the secret stories Jacqueline shared and the occasional gossip about others she let slip.

Colin played a significant role in helping her graduate from the strict Bristol Girls’ Boarding School intact.

“When you meet Benjamin, I’m sure you’ll like him too. He’s an incredibly lovable child.”

Poo.

Colin still said nothing. He just stared at Jacqueline with his lips pursed. His button-like eyes gleamed.

“William, Mrs. Ritz, Betty, and Emma may seem gruff on the outside, but they’re actually good people. And umm…”

Jacqueline, thinking up to that point, unconsciously pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“Lord Preston is also an excellent student. Of course, his dancing skills are terrible, but…”

Laughter burst from between her teeth.

Poo.

Colin still said nothing. The loyal friend consistently remained silent, pretending not to hear her gossip this time as well.

“But he’s a better person than I expected.”

Poo.

“Alright. Shall we start another day wonderfully? I’ll be going now, Colin. See you later.”

Poo.

Jacqueline took one last look in the mirror and waved at Colin. Then she stepped out the door bravely. At that moment.

“!”

A small shadow suddenly popped out. Jacqueline was so startled she couldn’t even scream. Her heart sank.

“Good morning, Teacher Somerset.”

Only after hearing the familiar voice did she realize that the owner of the shadow was Benjamin. Stroking her chest, she reflexively put on a smile.

“Good morning, Benja…min?”

The expression gradually faded from Jacqueline’s face. She blinked as she looked at Benjamin’s attire. Her long eyelashes slowly lowered and then slowly rose again.

The child wearing shorts with suspenders had a straw hat that fit perfectly on his head.

“Hmm?”

Jacqueline unknowingly made a dumbfounded sound. Benjamin looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

“You said we’d go on an exploration to the opposite garden in the morning, so I’ve been waiting.”

“Ah…!”

Jacqueline wore an expression of being caught off guard. After silently losing her words, she slowly bent her knees.

For a moment, her throat choked up. She didn’t know why. It just felt like a hot lump was blocking her throat. Meeting Benjamin’s eyes, she forced out a voice that wouldn’t come.

“So you’ve been waiting for me in front of the door?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“From an hour ago.”

Good heavens.

Jacqueline’s gaze turned to the hallway window. The world that had been dim until just now had now completely brightened.

It was even before breakfast time. Seeing her surprised face, Benjamin hesitantly continued speaking.

“Um… Did I come too early? You said we’d go in the morning, but I didn’t know when morning starts…”

Jacqueline smiled kindly.

“No, it must have been boring waiting for me without calling out.”

“Uncle said I shouldn’t disturb a lady’s morning carelessly.”

She slightly raised her eyebrows as if hearing unexpected words. Then she nodded. Thinking about it again, it was a very Windsor-like statement. He was unexpectedly polite, contrary to appearances.

“Alright, we have time before breakfast, shall we start our exploration?”

“Yes, Teacher Somerset!”

Benjamin nodded with a rather solemn expression. As the two were marching down the corridor in step like soldiers.

“Good morning, Miss Somerset.”

Windsor, coming out of the morning room, greeted her. Jacqueline, who had been walking briskly until just now, quickly changed her attitude and nodded gracefully.

“Good morning, Lord Preston.”

“Benjamin has been waiting in front of Miss Somerset’s door for an hour.”

“So I’ve heard. He could have knocked.”

Jacqueline looked down at the child with loving eyes. Benjamin fidgeted with his fingers, waiting for their conversation to end quickly.

“I heard he caused trouble for the maid by bustling about since dawn.”

At those words, Benjamin flinched. The child who heard gossip about himself right in front of him rolled his eyes towards the road.

“How about making exact time promises from now on? If Miss Somerset agrees that ambiguity only tires both parties, that is.”

“Are you always so precise in everything, Lord Preston?”

There was a faint sting in Jacqueline’s voice. However, Windsor didn’t notice this fact at all. As Benjamin rolled his eyes to the opposite side, he calmly nodded.

“That is correct.”

“Ah, yes. How nice it must be to be so precise.”

Jacqueline thought that she would have a lot to tell Colin today as she took a rough step forward.

“Let’s go, Benjamin.”

Windsor’s voice flew from behind her back.

“Benjamin is.”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten that he’s the future Marquess of Preston. Of course, I don’t intend to forget in the future either.”

Jacqueline retorted without looking back. She strode out the front door briskly.

Windsor slightly raised his eyebrows, then headed to his room. He couldn’t understand why she suddenly turned prickly when she had been smiling just moments ago.

After all, storms are not to be predicted. Even if predicted, they can’t be avoided. He simply submitted to the blowing wind.