The touch on her fingers was soft, and the beige fur had a pleasant scent. It was a comfortable feeling as if sleep would come pouring in.

“Happy birthday once again, Benjamin. I’m very glad to have met you.”

“!”

At that moment, the child’s eyes widened. As if he had heard something unexpected. Jacqueline, smiling kindly, turned her back.

“Then I’ll see you later. I hope you have a good birthday party.”

“Thank you, Ms. Somerset. ……I’m glad to have met you too.”

A belated greeting flew from behind her back. Jacqueline just waved her hand lightly instead of turning back to the child.

As she was crossing the hallway to return to her room at that time.

“What do you mean by that.”

William’s muffled reprimand was heard. It was quite an angry voice, and Jacqueline unknowingly stopped in her tracks.

What’s going on?

When a perfect butler like him, as if out of a book, gets angry, it means a quite serious situation has occurred.

Jacqueline, looking around, leaned her upper body out over the railing and stretched her neck out. The sound was coming from downstairs.

Next to William stood a man who appeared to be a member of the orchestra. The baton in his hand wandered in the air, having lost its place.

Not a member, but the conductor.

As William’s face turned red, the conductor’s head lowered.

“What are you saying now? Do you know what kind of banquet this is today? It’s a banquet to celebrate young master Benjamin Preston’s birthday.”

“I’m well aware, butler.”

“And yet you’re trying to ruin this banquet like this.”

“I’m ashamed.”

“So what are you going to do? The banquet is about to start soon, are you going to perform without a piano? Do you think the guests won’t notice? If you’re determined to tarnish the honor of the Preston family, I’d say you’ve succeeded.”

“A replacement performer as soon as possible……”

“You should look for a different job from now on!”

William’s threat flew towards the man. The conductor’s face turned ashen, knowing that it might not end as a simple threat.

“What’s going on, William?”

At the sudden voice, William looked around and then slowly tilted his head back at her whisper, “Here, here. Up.”

“Young lady Somerset!”

Jacqueline ignored the butler’s startled exclamation and leaned her upper body further forward.

“You’ll fall…… be careful……”

“What’s really going on?”

William took a few steps back so she could see better. Only then did Jacqueline’s upper body retreat behind the railing.

Breathing a sigh of relief, William muttered again with an angry face.

“The piano player was hit by a carriage on the way to the mansion. Of all things, his fingers are broken. It seems the orchestra is determined to ruin the banquet.”

“Oh my! Is the performer alright? Is he badly hurt?”

William blinked his eyes slowly at her question. As if he had just thought of that fact for the first time.

“Ahem.”

William cleared his throat. To him, the upcoming banquet was more important than the well-being of the piano player.

However, Jacqueline wore a worried expression, concerned that the unknown performer might have been seriously injured.

William replied in an even stiffer voice, as if trying to hide his embarrassment.

“More importantly, it will take at least an hour for a new performer to arrive. The banquet should start soon.”

“Oh dear.”

“Young master Benjamin’s birthday celebration banquet will be the talk of the town. In a bad way, of course.”

“I fully understand William’s concern.”

Jacqueline nodded with a sufficiently sympathetic expression. The conductor’s head lowered more and more. He looked as if he might dig into the ground altogether.

Watching this scene, Jacqueline lightly raised her eyebrows. As if a good idea had just occurred to her, she looked down at William with sparkling eyes.

“I think I might be able to help?”

“Pardon? You, young lady?”

William asked back with a puzzled face.

Instead of answering, Jacqueline disappeared beyond the railing. Soon, light footsteps approaching were heard.

William’s expression became increasingly perplexed.

***

As Windsor entered the reception room, those who had arrived earlier rose from their seats. Windsor exchanged light handshakes with them and exchanged formulaic greetings.

“Thank you for attending.”

“Not at all, this is a banquet that should be attended as a top priority. Other households holding banquets today will have to accept having no guests.”

The room filled with only men was full of tobacco smoke. As those who had exchanged greetings sat down, they exchanged secretive glances among themselves.

It was very rare for Windsor Preston to attend a banquet. In fact, it would be more accurate to say it almost never happened.

He did occasionally hold banquets in his territory, but even that was not many times. It was because it was a period of mourning for Jeffrey Preston.

But today was a banquet to celebrate Benjamin Preston’s birthday, and it was impossible for him not to attend.

So this banquet was the perfect opportunity to confirm the rumor that had been circulating in social circles recently. The rumor that Windsor Preston was ignorant of noble etiquette.

That rumor, whose origin was unknown, swept through social circles in an instant. Come to think of it, it was a plausible story.

He was the son of an opera singer, and his former profession was a soldier. It didn’t seem likely that he would have enough depth of knowledge to master the intricate etiquette of the nobility.

While conversing, they closely observed Windsor’s every move out of the corner of their eyes. Like hyenas eyeing rotten meat.

“It’s been a while, Lord Preston.”

“It’s good to see you, Lord Saltrain.”

Windsor greeted the Earl of Saltrain and naturally took a seat. Teacups and a teapot were already placed on the table. He poured his share of tea into an empty cup.

―Be careful not to make a sound when pouring the tea.

It was as if he could hear Jacqueline’s voice from somewhere. He unknowingly let out a small laugh, then put on a stern expression as if he had never smiled.

However, there were those who witnessed that momentary instant. They all wore surprised expressions as if they had seen the sun rise in the west.

Windsor, holding the teacup, leaned back deep in his chair and spoke in a leisurely voice.

“The subtle aroma isn’t bad.”

And he brought the teacup to his lips. The action and tone, everything was perfect without any excess. The eyebrows of those watching him twitched.

“It’s tea from the Preston household, they must have prepared good tea, wouldn’t they?”

“Imported tea is trendy these days, but when it comes to tea, Noyard’s, boasting history and tradition, is considered the best. In my opinion, this tea also seems to be from Noyard.”

“Of course, Noyard tea is considered the best, but personally……”

―They’re people with a lot of money but nothing to do. They’re dying to talk, so if you just open the floodgates, they’ll chatter away on their own. Lord Preston, you just need to nod appropriately.

―Aren’t you teaching me too roughly?

―I’ll be able to prove how excellent a tutor I am through this banquet.

Jacqueline was confident. And her advice was accurate.

Windsor just nodded appropriately as he watched the conversation flow from the origin of the tea to tobacco.

His tutor was scathing and piercing, yet extremely competent.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think Lord Preston smoked cigarettes?”

As the topic turned to him, Windsor answered while holding his teacup. His expression was indifferent and his tone was impassive.

“I haven’t yet felt the charm of cigarettes.”

“Oh my. Not knowing this good thing, it’s truly a pity.”

Viscount Jeffman shook his head with a genuinely regretful expression. Earl Saltrain spoke with an air of arrogance.

“I heard all soldiers were heavy smokers, but it seems that’s not always the case.”

“……”

For a moment, the reception room fell silent as if cold water had been poured. Those who had been chatting in groups of two or three all closed their mouths. It meant they had been listening intently to this conversation.

Instead of hastily opening their mouths, they watched Windsor’s reaction. Only Earl Saltrain, who had dropped the bomb, was calmly blowing out cigarette smoke.

Just as an inexplicably precarious atmosphere was flowing, at that time.

“Hahaha. These days, the tobacco produced in Slenn is quite good in quality too. If you invest in a merchant importing tobacco from there, you won’t lose. Trust my words.”

Viscount Jeffman changed the subject as if nothing had happened. Others chimed in to change the atmosphere.

“Ah, I’ve tried it once too. It feels a bit light, but it was surprisingly excellent. Which company imports tobacco from Slenn?”

“Well, that’s……”

Windsor gave his attention to Baron Heinz while letting the resumed conversation flow past him. Sitting with a disinterested expression as if his mind was elsewhere, Heinz raised his head when he felt Windsor’s gaze.

Since their eyes met, Windsor spoke first.

“I heard Baron Heinz’s horse has been achieving quite good results lately.”

At once, Heinz’s eyes sparkled. His face, which had been bored until just now, became flushed. He leaned his upper body forward and sat close to Windsor.

“How did you know that, Lord Preston? Finally, Thunderbolt is repaying my faith. He was in poor condition for a while, but he’s made up for it in the last few races.”

Just as he was about to launch into a long speech, faint music seeped in from beyond the door. A servant stood in front of the door announcing the start of the banquet.

Baron Heinz ended the conversation with a regretful expression, saying, “Please drop by my stable sometime.”

“I will.”

Windsor nodded lightly and rose from his seat. The men who left the room in order went to the room where the women were to find their partners.

Those who attended alone headed straight for the banquet hall. Windsor followed them at a leisurely pace.

Everything was perfect. The music was sweet, and the banquet hall was splendid. Satisfied smiles played on the lips of the gentlemen and ladies entering arm in arm.

The children occasionally seen were looking around with curious eyes. They seemed to want to dash out right away, but were trying their best to hold back under their mothers’ stern gazes.

At that moment, William approached silently. He whispered briefly to him and then disappeared.

“……”

Windsor’s indifferent gaze moved slowly. The destination of his grayish-blue eyes was the dark brown curtain. Behind it was the orchestra.