“Hmm.”

Jacqueline fell into thought as she walked silently. Sometimes this happened. Moments when her former occupation suddenly came to mind.

Those must have been unimaginable days for Jacqueline. Drifting on the vast, invisible sea, engaging in fierce battles with pirates.

Perhaps he is still in the midst of a battlefield. A battlefield where guns and swords are more familiar than canes and gloves.

“Fortunately for Lord Preston, I have quite a meticulous personality.”

Jacqueline took quick steps to walk beside him, faster than usual. Unlike the child, Windsor walked quite briskly.

“I’m good at keeping track of things others have lost.”

A glance.

His gaze touched Jacqueline’s cheek.

At some point, her pace slowed. She no longer needed to take quick steps. Nevertheless, the two were walking side by side.

“But I think Lord Preston should pay more attention to Benjamin. Of course, you’re doing your best now, but Benjamin seems to like you quite a bit.”

Windsor walked towards the carriage standing in the distance, listening to her nagging.

Although the whispers pouring in from all directions hadn’t changed at all since the two first arrived at the department store, all he could hear was Jacqueline’s nagging.

It wasn’t too bad.

***

Miss Somerset must really be a fairy.

Benjamin exclaimed inwardly, glancing at Windsor’s face from time to time. The child couldn’t believe it at all. This situation of having tea time with his uncle, that is.

Although he had been living with his uncle for two years, Benjamin had never had a meal or tea with him.

So Benjamin pinched his cheek lightly, wondering if he might be dreaming right now.

Ouch.

The child, swallowing his groan, threw his gaze at Windsor again. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t take his eyes off him.

Benjamin kept glancing at his uncle even while drinking lemonade.

Even the act of drinking tea was full of discipline for his uncle. Benjamin imagined Windsor drinking tea on a ship, recalling a piece of an article about his uncle he had seen in an old newspaper.

Windsor drinking tea nonchalantly on a deck shaken by rough waves, that image suited him very well too.

He must be like a devil of the Black Fleet. Pirates would probably tuck their tails and run away just at the sight of uncle.

“I have something to tell you both before the banquet.”

At that moment, Jacqueline opened her mouth in a rather serious tone. Only then did the child’s gaze, which had been glancing at Windsor, turn to Jacqueline for the first time.

“The banquet is not just a place for socializing. It’s a battlefield without gunfire. A place where both people who like me and people who dislike me all gather together, that’s what a banquet is.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin nodded earnestly, as if receiving a lesson. Windsor, who could now drink tea quite plausibly, cast a quiet gaze.

He couldn’t guess what her business was. Jacqueline was still a woman as unpredictable as popcorn.

“After Sir Jeffrey Preston passed away… I’m sorry, Benjamin. Your father’s death was truly regrettable.”

“It’s alright, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin answered maturely. Jacqueline looked at the child with sympathetic eyes and then nodded quietly. Hoping that someday Benjamin would truly be alright.

“After that incident, you two stayed in the estate for a while, right? You probably had few opportunities to interact with the nobles in the capital. The nobles in the capital, unlike provincial nobles… well, they’re quite picky.”

Jacqueline, carefully choosing her words, swallowed the word ‘malicious’ that had risen to the tip of her tongue.

“Benjamin, you’re the main character of this banquet. You’ll have chances to greet those attending the banquet. I’m going to tell you a few things to be careful about, so listen carefully.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin looked at her with intelligent eyes. Then he glanced at Windsor sitting next to him. Wondering why his uncle was here.

Ah.

Benjamin nodded inwardly. It was because of the recent Nortier lesson. Then too, Windsor had observed Jacqueline’s lesson.

Uncle still doesn’t seem to trust Miss Somerset. I should work hard to restore Miss Somerset’s honor.

Benjamin, making a determined promise, looked at Jacqueline with his eyes full of strength.

“I looked at the list of attendees, and there are a few people to be cautious about.”

Saying so, Jacqueline briefly glanced at Windsor. With one leg crossed and a cup in his hand, he was leaning back in his chair, listening attentively to her words.

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

She unconsciously smiled at Benjamin’s enthusiastic appearance. An eager student was certainly better than one who pretended not to listen.

“Alright, Benjamin. Now remember what I say.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

“First, there’s Baron and Baroness Landers. They lost their beloved youngest daughter a few years ago. It was a tragic accident. She couldn’t get out of the river while playing in the water. So it’s best not to ask about their children in front of them.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset. I won’t mention children at all in front of them.”

Benjamin, who had been wearing a sympathetic expression, nodded. Jacqueline, scanning the list of attendees with her eyes, opened her mouth saying, “Next.”

“Baron Heinz will also be attending. I heard he’s feeling quite dejected because a business he invested in a few years ago has been stagnant. It’s forbidden to talk about business in front of him. Instead, he likes horse racing. He’s someone who could talk for hours about horses. It might be good to ask about the horse he owns. The name is… right, Thunderbolt.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And, um.”

Jacqueline’s eyes, which had been moving downward, paused. Windsor’s gaze, which had been looking at the table indifferently, moved to her.

Windsor slightly narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jacqueline’s slightly wrinkled nose bridge.

“Count Saltrain is, um…”

Jacqueline chose her words more carefully than ever. Finally, a word popped out from between her teeth.

“It’s better not to get involved if possible.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin nodded like an excellent student. The question came from Windsor.

“Why is that?”

Whisk, whisk.

Benjamin’s head quickly went back and forth between Windsor and Jacqueline. It was because Windsor, whom he thought was a mere observer, had opened his mouth.

The child wore a worried expression, wondering if Windsor might be persecuting Jacqueline.

“His character is just… not quite admirable.”

Jacqueline, giving up on sugar-coating it, wore a relieved expression after saying those words.

“He’s obsessed with finding fault with everyone. There are countless people who have been caught off guard by him. But we can’t not send an invitation because of his status as a count. If I had to compare him to something, he’s like the raisins in bread. You wish they weren’t there, but for some reason they always are.”

Benjamin nodded again at her words. And he decided not to tell Miss Somerset that he actually liked raisins. The child didn’t want to disappoint her.

“It’s better to deal with him moderately while being careful not to ruin the atmosphere. There’s no need to turn a small enemy into a big one unnecessarily.”

“You’re wrong.”

At that moment, Windsor refuted her words. Benjamin turned his head with wide eyes. Worried glances once again busily went back and forth between Windsor and Jacqueline.

“Are you saying I’m wrong?”

Sure enough, Jacqueline’s voice became a bit sharper.

However, while Benjamin noticed it, Windsor didn’t seem to. Only the child was fidgeting, unable to sit still.

Windsor slowly put down the teacup he was holding. A small sound was heard.

He’s such a bright student who never forgets what he’s learned once.

Jacqueline quickly restrained her lips that were about to spread in satisfaction. Then she cast a challenging gaze at Windsor.

“Does Lord Preston prefer to grow small enemies into big ones?”

“No.”

Windsor shook his head firmly. His gray-blue eyes took on a cold light. An emotionless voice flowed from between his teeth.

“I prefer to crush them more thoroughly before they become big enemies. Whether they’re big enemies or small enemies, I prefer not to leave any future troubles.”

“!”

Jacqueline wore an expression of being caught off guard, while Benjamin’s eyes sparkled brightly. The child looked like he wanted to cheer, “As expected of the devil of the Black Fleet!”

Seeing Benjamin’s face, Jacqueline eventually sighed.

“This is a problem without a correct answer, Benjamin. Whether you ignore small enemies to avoid making them bigger, or uproot them before they become big enemies, that’s a choice you have to make.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

Benjamin’s voice was louder than usual.

Jacqueline had a somehow ominous feeling. It was because she imagined that child, who should bloom into a gentle flower, thoroughly crushing small enemies.

“Hmm.”

After letting out a short hum, she moved her gaze back to the list. Jacqueline’s lecture continued for a while after that, and Windsor quietly listened to her nagging.

***

Jacqueline, who was coming down the spiral staircase, paused. The sight of a man crossing the corridor was quite familiar.

A face with a goatee and prominent cheekbones. He was definitely James Hemington. He was moving with angry steps, wearing a displeased expression.

Jacqueline faintly furrowed her brow, recalling that an unfamiliar carriage had arrived just before. It seemed that fellow had come to see Windsor.

Only after Hemington had completely disappeared from view did she start walking again. As soon as she reached the first floor, the door of the reception room opened and Windsor came out.

“Good afternoon, Lord Preston.”

Instead of greeting, Windsor just nodded once. He headed towards the stairs, rummaging through his pocket. However, as if he couldn’t find what he wanted, his hand remained inside his pocket for a while.

“Are you looking for this, perhaps?”

Jacqueline held out a handkerchief in her hand. Windsor raised one eyebrow slightly.

“I found it in Benjamin’s room.”

“I must have left it there when I dropped by earlier to check this week’s progress.”

“He said so. I thought Lord Preston had agreed to respect my educational methods, was there some misunderstanding in our conversation?”

Jacqueline asked with a slight smile.