Come to think of it, there was a somewhat stiff atmosphere from the moment I entered the mansion.

The maids I encountered were expressionless, and every object was in its place without the slightest misalignment. The curtains were stiff as if freshly ironed, and the carpet formed a perfect right angle with the wall.

It was a suffocatingly perfect sight. Thinking it might be due to the owner’s temperament, Jacqueline pulled the corners of her mouth into a slightly tense expression.

She bent her knees and then straightened them as she offered a sociable greeting.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Preston. I’m Jacqueline Somerset. My close friends call me Jackie.”

She didn’t say “You can call me Jackie,” but he couldn’t have missed the implication. She looked at him with a friendly gaze.

“Miss Somerset will suffice.”

“…Yes.”

Windsor slowly looked her up and down as if appraising an object. Jacqueline unconsciously straightened her back and corrected her posture.

His emotionless gaze seemed rather bleak at first glance, but strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant. For her, who was accustomed to curious glances directed at the “penniless lady,” Windsor’s indifferent gaze was rather comfortable.

Her first impression of Windsor Preston wasn’t as bad as rumored, and the man was more courteous than Jacqueline had expected. Separately, he didn’t seem like he would be an easy employer.

Eventually, Windsor’s gaze was withdrawn. He nodded almost imperceptibly. She only realized a moment later that this was a sign of approval.

“I heard you’re the daughter of Earl Somerset.”

“Yes.”

The two were meeting for the first time. The noble society was surprisingly small, and they should have encountered each other somewhere, but unfortunately, that hadn’t happened. Windsor had appeared in noble society just after Jacqueline had left it.

She unconsciously tensed her back, fearing that the story of her father’s accident might come up. Based on her experience so far, the words that followed “Earl Somerset” were predictable.

Starting with “I’m sorry” and ending with “I heard they went bankrupt paying off debts, have they really become paupers?”

“I heard you attended Bristol Girls’ Boarding School, is that correct?”

“…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Jacqueline missed her chance to answer. It was already her second mistake.

Receiving Windsor’s impassive gaze, she hurriedly nodded. His gray-blue eyes seemed thoughtful on one hand, but also as cold as a winter sky.

Gulping, Jacqueline answered, trying to maintain a composed expression.

“That’s correct, Lord Preston.”

“Continental history must have been a required subject. How were your grades?”

Jacqueline became increasingly perplexed. However, she didn’t have the nerve to maintain silence in front of his statuesque gaze.

Windsor showed no interest in Jacqueline Somerset, now more famously known as the “penniless lady.” Rather, he seemed curious about her abilities.

“I passed the graduation exam on my first attempt, so I think they were excellent.”

“How many instruments can you play?”

“I’m proficient with the piano and violin, and I can play a bit of flute and cello as well.”

“Can you ride horses or shoot?”

“I’ve never learned to shoot, but my horsemanship is excellent. I’ve been riding since I was ten.”

At that moment, Windsor’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Jacqueline’s eyes showed a hint of tension at this subtle change.

“Excellent, proficient, excellent. Personally, I prefer precise expressions over vague ones, Miss Somerset.”

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Jacqueline forced herself to maintain a sociable smile by pulling at the corners of her mouth. Otherwise, she felt she might frown at any moment.

Windsor nodded lightly and continued his questions.

“Do you have sufficient artistic accomplishments?”

“Of course, Lord Preston. Especially in art, I have a very deep… I am deeply knowledgeable.”

“Do you know any foreign languages?”

“I can speak Slenish and Nortish.”

“That’s good. The previous tutor was teaching Benjamin Nortish. It’s better to learn the language of an allied country in advance, isn’t it?”

With those words, Windsor stood up. Tall as he was, he exuded a much greater presence standing than sitting.

His broad shoulders and disciplined gait were somewhere between that of a nobleman and a soldier. Suddenly, his nickname came to mind.

The Devil of the Black Fleet.

Jacqueline stared at his face, forgetting that it was rude. She remembered reading somewhere that devils are much more beautiful than angels. It was because they had to captivate human hearts at first sight.

In that sense, Windsor Preston was certainly a devil.

Windsor took out a pocket watch. The sound of the lid opening was heard.

“At this time, Benjamin should be reading in his room. Follow me.”

“…Yes.”

Jacqueline, who had momentarily held her breath under his imposing presence, very naturally extended her hand. Windsor, who was about to pass her by, paused.

Swish.

His eyes moved slowly, looking at Jacqueline’s hand once, and then at her face once.

“Ah.”

Belatedly realizing her mistake, Jacqueline flinched. She quietly withdrew her hand, having naturally assumed that Windsor would escort her.

This wasn’t a ballroom, and Windsor was her employer.

“Let’s go.”

Jacqueline strode ahead as if nothing had happened. Only when Windsor was behind her did her expression gradually contort. Her silent scream circled only in her mouth.

“Which way should we go, Lord Preston?”

Jacqueline turned around gracefully as they entered the corridor. As if she had made no mistake, she wore a haughty expression.

“To the left.”

Windsor passed her with measured steps, and Jacqueline, swallowing another sigh, followed behind him.

Good heavens, why did I make such a mistake there of all places…!

Behind Windsor’s back, her face contorted comically.

There was no waste in Windsor’s movements. Following behind him, Jacqueline unconsciously straightened her back to match his disciplined gait.

Somehow, it felt like she shouldn’t make any more mistakes. Like the stiff curtains and the carpet forming right angles with the wall, she too felt she must be perfect.

Windsor, walking ahead, stopped at one of the identical-looking doors. He knocked lightly and opened the door. Jacqueline stood on her tiptoes and quickly scanned over his shoulder.

Clean ivory wallpaper, heavy wooden furniture, and neatly arranged items. It looked more like the room of a stern old man than a child’s room.

A boy reading alone slowly raised his head. It was Benjamin Preston.

Upon seeing Windsor, the child stood up abruptly with a tense expression. Thud, the book he was about to put down on the table fell to the floor.

“!”

His round eyes widened slightly, then immediately took on a gloomy light. The child bit his lower lip tightly and picked up the fallen book, placing it on the table.

Six years old, was it?

Wearing shorts with white stockings and suspenders, Benjamin looked much more mature than his peers. The child greeted Windsor politely.

“Good afternoon, Uncle. I was reading a book.”

“This is Miss Jacqueline Somerset I told you about this morning. She will be your new tutor. Greet her.”

Benjamin’s gaze shifted slightly. Only then did Jacqueline, who had entered the room, make eye contact with the child. She reflexively smiled.

Benjamin was as adorable as if he had just stepped out of a fairy tale book. Perhaps even more so than Colin, Jacqueline’s favorite teddy bear.

His curly hair was like red cotton candy, and his brown eyes were like shiny marbles.

His white cheeks were chubby as if he was holding candy in his mouth, and there were faint freckles sprinkled across the bridge of his nose, visible only upon close inspection.

Benjamin smartly placed his right foot next to his left. His hands didn’t leave his thighs.

While Jacqueline’s eyes widened, the child spoke first.

“Pleased to meet you, I’m Benjamin Preston. I look forward to your guidance, Teacher Somerset.”

“…”

The greeting was impeccable. It was clear how much Jeffrey Preston, or Windsor Preston, had paid attention to education.

However, Jacqueline unconsciously made a perplexed expression.

After looking at the expressionless face, tense posture, and stiff eyes in turn, Jacqueline turned her gaze to Windsor.

“What’s the matter, Miss Somerset?”

A tone that was clearly a question, yet without any inflection. The man didn’t even understand what the problem was.

“It’s nothing, Lord Preston.”

Shaking her head, Jacqueline took a step. Passing by Windsor, she walked straight to Benjamin.

The gaze burning into her back was intense, but she didn’t bother to turn around. Kneeling on one knee in front of Benjamin, she whispered kindly.

“Hello, Benjamin. I’m Jacqueline Somerset. You can call me Jackie if you like. That’s what my friends call me.”

“He is to be the future Marquess Preston. It would be better to maintain proper etiquette, Miss Somerset.”

A stern voice immediately flew over. In an instant, Jacqueline and Benjamin’s eyes met.

Benjamin squared his shoulders at the mention of being the future Marquess Preston. He lifted his chin and pressed his lips together. Like a little soldier.

Jacqueline frowned at an angle where Windsor couldn’t see from behind. It was a comical expression, as if she had bitten into a sour lemon, but Benjamin didn’t laugh.

Oh, that’s strange?

When she made this expression, her classmates would forget all about ladylike behavior and burst into laughter. Even the dormitory matron, known for her strictness, would soften her anger and forgive her with just one warning.

Blink, blink.

Silently opening and closing her eyes, Jacqueline rose from her seat with graceful movements.

“I’ll be mindful, Lord Preston.”

“I understand this is Miss Somerset’s first time as a tutor. Please prepare a curriculum for the next month and report it to me before dinner.”

“By this evening…?”

Jacqueline looked at him with wide eyes. Windsor asked in a dry voice.

“Is it impossible?”

She turned to Benjamin with a pitiful expression. Like an innocent young lamb being oppressed by a vicious lion.

But Benjamin didn’t laugh this time either. Jacqueline turned her head back with an awkward smile.

“No, it’s possible. I’ll prepare the curriculum and come to see you before dinner this evening.”

Instead of answering, Windsor just nodded once and then left the room. Only after the regular sound of footsteps on the carpet faded away did Jacqueline let her tensed shoulders drop.