They were not the main characters of the banquet, and it was customary for them to play instruments behind the curtain so as not to disturb the nobles’ entertainment.

Occasionally, the conductor checked the situation outside through the curtain, but the performers were not visible at all.

They welcomed the guests with lively melodies until all the nobles had entered. Piano, violin, flute. Various other instruments blended together to boast beautiful harmonies.

Suddenly, Windsor narrowed his eyes. As if he could see right through the curtain.

At that sight, a young lady let out a muffled exclamation. She covered her mouth with her fan and whispered in a small voice.

“Look over there, Lord Preston. Doesn’t he look like a sculpture made by angels?”

“Considering his nickname, shouldn’t we say it’s a sculpture made by demons rather than angels?”

“That’s not the point. How can I get him to ask me for a dance?”

“Remember that Lord Preston has never danced with anyone before. The chances of him asking you to dance are very slim.”

Windsor Preston was a figure who drew attention, for better or worse. Perhaps that’s why there were so many rumors surrounding him.

As much as there were people trying to tear him down, there were just as many who admired him on the opposite side. Especially considering his achievements during his navy days, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a hero.

Moreover, the atmosphere around him was different from that of ordinary nobles. Air so tense it felt suffocating.

It served to amplify Windsor’s charm while also acting as a barrier that prevented people from approaching him carelessly. Thanks to this, the young ladies could only watch him from afar.

“Entering now is the main guest of today’s banquet, Benjamin Preston!”

With the servant’s announcement, the music changed. William, standing at the top of the stairs, whispered to Benjamin, “You can start now,” and gently pushed his small back.

Pop.

Unintentionally popping out from behind the wall, Benjamin stood at the top of the spiral staircase.

The child swallowed dryly and looked down. Dazzling lights fell on the red carpet.

He could feel invisible gazes pouring in from all directions. Suddenly his legs began to tremble. His two feet stuck firmly to the ground, refusing to move.

“Young Master Benjamin, you need to go now.”

William, hidden behind the wall, urged the child in an anxious voice. The music grew increasingly grand, and the soft chatter that had been floating around the hall suddenly ceased.

Everyone was watching Benjamin Preston, the future Marquis of the Preston family.

I have to go. I can’t disappoint Uncle.

Benjamin forcibly put strength into his trembling legs. He took one step, then another. The guests cheered at Benjamin’s appearance.

Gulp.

At the thunderous applause, Benjamin swallowed dryly again.

His heart was pounding as if he had run from one end of the garden to the other. It was beating so hard that if he let his guard down even a little, it felt like it might jump out of his mouth.

Suddenly, he felt like crying. Everything became scary. The hundreds of eyes watching him and the burdensome situation where not even a moment’s mistake was allowed.

I can’t cry. Uncle is watching.

As Benjamin bit his lower lip and unconsciously turned his head, at that moment.

“Huh?”

The child’s eyes widened. It was because he had made eye contact with the person playing the piano behind the curtain.

At a banquet, the orchestra was like the herbs in cooking. Very similar in that they enhance the flavor of the food, but can’t be the main dish.

The orchestra, invisible from the hall, was clearly visible from the top of the stairs. And Benjamin realized that the face of the piano player looked very familiar.

“…Miss Somerset?”

The child murmured with a blank expression. Jacqueline put one hand over her lips and whispered, “Shh.”

She looked at Benjamin with kind eyes. Lively piano notes popped from her white fingertips.

The melody that came floating over seemed to push his back. Benjamin nodded once towards her.

I can do it! Miss Somerset is watching.

Benjamin slightly raised his chin and took a step forward. The piano melody that flew over landed on the child’s shoulders.

Jacqueline Somerset was Benjamin’s tutor. More precisely, the thirteenth tutor.

However, she was different from the tutors up until now. If asked what was different.

It’s fun!

Benjamin thought so as he took another step. His legs, which until just now had been stuck to the ground as if glued, moved naturally.

He recalled memories of collecting cicada shells with Jacqueline. He also remembered freely drawing on a large wall.

With each step down the stairs, more fun memories kept coming to mind. Benjamin slightly turned his eyes to look at Jacqueline again.

When their eyes met, she made a funny face, but Benjamin didn’t laugh. He had learned that it was a gentleman’s duty to pretend not to notice a lady’s mistake.

So even if Miss Somerset makes a strange face, I shouldn’t act like I noticed.

The piano melody kept pace with the child, and Benjamin made his entrance confidently and proudly. Finally, Benjamin descended the spiral staircase completely and stood with both feet in the hall.

Jacqueline was no longer visible, but the piano melody still lingered around Benjamin. Cheerful and kind, like her smile.

The conductor who had been peeking outside the curtain hurriedly waved his baton, and only then did the music stop. Benjamin looked around at the adults with a rather nervous expression.

The words he had practiced many times in front of Colin flowed eloquently from his lips.

“Thank you for celebrating my birthday.”

Baron Heinz burst into laughter.

“As expected of the future Marquis of the Preston family, he’s quite mature. Quite different from my children.”

“Thank you, Baron Heinz. I’d like to meet Thunderbolt sometime.”

“Goodness! You know about Thunderbolt! Of course, of course. Tomorrow, I could talk to Lord Preston and…”

“Happy birthday, Benjamin.”

Cutting off Heinz’s words that were about to get longer, Viscount Jeffman offered his congratulations. Benjamin didn’t forget to thank him as well.

At that moment, Count Saltrain spoke in a voice full of mockery.

“Whether he’ll become the future Marquis of the Preston family remains to be seen, doesn’t it? We’ll have to wait and see if Lord Windsor Preston will pass on his position to his nephew. Or if he’ll swallow up the Preston family whole.”

“…”

He poured cold water on the situation once again. Viscount Jeffman made a “Hahaha” sound as if he had heard a joke, but the hollow laughter only served to make the atmosphere more tense.

Viscount Jeffman glanced at Windsor and said,

“It seems Count Saltrain has already gotten drunk from drinking too much champagne.”

Only then did Benjamin realize that the man full of spite was Count Saltrain. Benjamin’s eyes took on an uncharacteristically sullen look.

Miss Somerset told me not to get involved if possible.

“Who’s drunk? You’re all thinking the same thing. Don’t act all prim and proper, just say it honestly.”

“That’s enough, Count Saltrain.”

Viscount Jeffman tried to restrain him while once again checking Windsor’s reaction. Benjamin also glanced worriedly at his uncle.

Windsor quietly pulled up the corners of his mouth. It was a smile, if you could call a chilly smile devoid of any warmth a smile.

Windsor Preston was a man of great patience. Enough to endure mockery directed at himself.

However, there were many watching eyes here. If he remained silent, Saltrain would become more arrogant, and people would take his words as truth.

Moreover, today was a banquet celebrating Benjamin’s birthday. As his uncle, he could no longer stand by and watch Saltrain ruin the banquet.

―There’s no need to turn a small enemy into a big one.

He recalled Jacqueline’s words of admonishment. Windsor let out a small laugh.

You’re still wrong, Miss Somerset. Small enemies should be crushed before they become big ones.

Just as Windsor was about to open his mouth.

“It’s been a while, Count Saltrain.”

A voice with a faint hint of laughter came from behind. Windsor and Saltrain turned their heads simultaneously.

Jacqueline walked out from behind the curtain with a sociable smile. Saltrain, who had been staring intently at her, belatedly nodded and said, “Ah.”

“Who would have thought, it’s the daughter of Count Somerset. Though calling him a count is ridiculous now. But why are you there…”

He trailed off for a moment before finally bursting into a sneer.

“Ah, I see. It seems you’re not only a tutor but also working as a performer. How pitiful, how pitiful.”

Ha.

Windsor tilted his head left and right. There was a cracking sound as his joints popped. Benjamin’s eyes sparkled as he watched.

The Devil of the Black Fleet!

Just as Windsor took a step towards the rude guest, Jacqueline passed right by him. With a lightly smiling face.

Whispers could be heard from all around.

“Oh my, who is that? Isn’t that Miss Jacqueline Somerset?”

“You mean the penniless young lady?”

“They say even rich people can last three generations after going bankrupt, but Count Somerset lost all his fortune. They’ve become completely penniless, I hear.”

“They say you can’t shake a penny out of them.”

Ignoring the whispers directed at her, Jacqueline greeted Saltrain.

“Is it 3 years, or 4 years? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but you’re still the same.”

At those words, Saltrain straightened his shoulders and put on airs. He took a big breath as if to show off his physique.

“Hmm. Eating well, dressing well…”

“Especially that mouth of yours that invites trouble. I still remember vividly, as if it were yesterday, how you caused a disturbance at Duke Buttley’s banquet and were thrown out, unable to receive invitations to any banquet for a while after that.”

“Y-You…!”

Saltrain glared at her with a reddened face. However, Jacqueline maintained her calm smile.

“But I’m relieved to see you’re still the same. If Count Saltrain had changed, I would have felt uneasy. They say people change before they die, don’t they? I’m glad you seem like you’ll live a long life. Of course, you’ll probably live long because you eat well.”

“I, I…”

Saltrain, seemingly too dumbfounded to speak, kept moving his lips with a face that alternated between red and blue. Giggling laughter could be heard from somewhere. It was in agreement with Jacqueline’s words.

“Considering Count Saltrain’s nickname is ‘The Outlaw of Banquets’, Miss Somerset’s words aren’t entirely wrong.”

“The banquets ruined because of Count Saltrain are too many to count on two hands, aren’t they?”

“The other day, he even chased out all the guests at a banquet I hosted. How embarrassing. Now, there are even people who say they won’t come if Count Saltrain is on the guest list.”

“All this time, no one has said it outright, but Count Saltrain should really exercise some self-restraint.”