As the whispers directed at him intensified, Count Saltrain looked around with fierce eyes. Those who had been whispering just moments ago averted their gazes and pretended to be busy.

However, the unfriendly atmosphere was palpable. Viscount Jeffman grabbed his arm.

“Let’s rest in the lounge for a moment. We can smoke a cigar while we’re at it.”

“If I let this insult slide…”

“I actually have something to discuss with you about the canal. We couldn’t find the time earlier, but we happen to meet here.”

At that moment, a person casually walked out from the crowd. He resolved the situation with a kind face.

Uncle Walter?

Jacqueline opened her wide eyes in surprise. Earl Greenwood winked at her and then turned his gaze to Saltrain.

“It’s been a while, Lord Greenwood.”

“I have something important to discuss.”

Walter lowered his voice meaningfully. Saltrain reluctantly allowed himself to be led away by his hand. Only then did the banquet hall return to its original atmosphere.

Benjamin approached Jacqueline’s side and whispered softly, covering his mouth with both hands. The child’s voice, having endured persistently according to her teachings, was mixed with half resentment and half elation.

“You’ve turned a small enemy into a big one, Miss Somerset.”

“Hmm.”

Jacqueline rolled her eyes slightly. As if he had been watching her, her gaze immediately met Windsor’s.

He raised his eyebrows. This caused three thick wrinkles to form on Windsor’s forehead. They were sensual wrinkles.

“I couldn’t just stand by and let Lord Saltrain ruin your birthday.”

Jacqueline smiled affectionately and only then took a step back. The child’s cheeks turned bright red.

William cleared his throat with a “Ahem” and shouted loudly.

“We will now unveil the birthday gift sent by His Majesty the King!”

The attention that had been focused on her suddenly shifted to the gift. Everyone had expectant faces, wondering what the King’s gift would be.

Windsor whispered softly to Jacqueline, who was slowly backing away.

“Instead of becoming a great enemy of the Preston family, Lord Saltrain has become a great enemy of Miss Somerset.”

“He’s a person with great influence in society. He’s called the outlaw of social gatherings, yet he’s someone who can’t be left uninvited.”

“Like raisins in bread?”

“Exactly.”

Jacqueline laughed lightly. Windsor was indeed an excellent student. He hadn’t forgotten even a single joke from his teacher.

“If Lord Preston had shamed him, Lord Saltrain wouldn’t have let it slide. If he was insulted in front of many onlookers, how long would that grudge last? He would interfere with everything Lord Preston does. Don’t underestimate his connections.”

Windsor looked taken aback by those words. So that meant Jacqueline had acted preemptively, fearing he might step in.

As Windsor’s gaze deepened, she turned her head with a smiling face.

“But what could he do to me? I’m already a penniless lady. Isn’t it better for me to incur his wrath instead?”

At that moment, the expression disappeared from his face. Windsor stared at her with piercing eyes.

Could she have calculated everything in that short time?

“Shh. I’m looking forward to seeing what His Majesty’s gift is.”

Jacqueline looked at the white cloth with shimmering eyes. William, with his shoulders squared, lifted the cloth and announced loudly.

“It’s a complete set of the kingdom’s history books with gold-embossed covers!”

“Wow!”

People let out soft exclamations of admiration. A set of history books was placed on the black cloth. The gold-embossed covers gleamed brilliantly under the chandelier light.

Exclamations of admiration kept coming from the mouths of the onlookers.

“There’s nothing better than a set of the kingdom’s history books for a sixth birthday gift.”

“An excellent choice. I would have chosen the kingdom’s history books too. After the collection of continental myths, naturally comes the history book collection.”

“And history books with gold-decorated covers, it must be a one-of-a-kind set made by a master craftsman. It’s clear how special His Majesty considers Benjamin.”

Despite the praise pouring in from all directions, there was no change in Benjamin’s expression. The child simply turned to William with a dignified look.

“Please convey my thanks to His Majesty.”

“Yes. Now, I will unveil the gift from Duke Butler, who couldn’t attend due to unavoidable circumstances.”

Pft.

At that moment, a cold sneer escaped Windsor’s lips. The kingdom’s history books are usually a gift given by the parents of the birthday child.

Since Benjamin’s parents had both passed away, that should have been Windsor’s role as his guardian. Yet the King had gifted the history books. As if to disregard him.

And not just any history books, but lavishly decorated ones with gold. If Windsor had bought history books as Benjamin’s birthday gift, it would have been immediately compared to the King’s gift.

If that was the King’s intention, it was an extremely petty act.

While Windsor inwardly chewed on his anger, William successively removed several white cloths. Each time, the child thanked them with a composure unbefitting a six-year-old.

“Lastly, we have the gift prepared by Lord Preston.”

The scattered gazes converged once again on the table. The last remaining white cloth exuded a unique presence under the chandelier.

Without lengthy explanation, William removed the cloth in one go. Simultaneously.

“……”

The banquet hall fell into a brief silence. They stared intently at the glass case placed on the table.

“What is that……”

Following someone’s gasp, Benjamin’s eyes widened. Inside the large glass case was a majestic ship.

The flagship of the Black Fleet.

The model, an exact replica of the real thing, was so lifelike it seemed ready to set sail at any moment. There were even miniature naval figures placed in strategic positions.

Particularly eye-catching were the saluting sailor on the deck and the sailor holding a telescope in the crow’s nest.

“Uncle, thank you!”

Benjamin broke into a bright smile for the first time. The child’s eyes were filled with joy and delight.

For a moment, Windsor hesitated. It was a sight he had never seen before.

―I want to see Benjamin’s smiling face.

Suddenly, he recalled Jacqueline’s words. He slowly turned his head. Jacqueline, who had been watching Benjamin affectionately, raised her head as she felt his gaze.

Their eyes met. She quietly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

See? Didn’t I tell you Benjamin would like it?

Jacqueline’s eyes were triumphant. Just as Windsor was about to say something, the children who had been quietly holding their mothers’ hands rushed towards the glass case.

“Wow, it’s amazing!”

“It’s a ship from the Black Fleet! I saw it in the toy store!”

“This is the flagship where the admiral rides among the Black Fleet! You can tell just by the flag!”

“Father, please buy me one too! I want one!”

“Oh, Justin. Come here right now!”

The hall quickly became noisy with the children’s commotion. Parents who couldn’t control their children looked around nervously, checking others’ reactions.

Benjamin was still looking up at him with sparkling eyes. Windsor replied in a low, slow voice, “You’re welcome.”

“Ah!”

Belatedly noticing the children crowded in front of the ship, Benjamin ran out with a pale face. As if afraid his birthday gift might be taken away.

Benjamin hugged the glass case with his arms spread wide. And unlike the dignified heir he usually was, he stubbornly insisted.

“This is mine. It’s my birthday gift from Uncle. No one else can touch it.”

“It’s okay if we just look at it for a bit.”

“Move aside! I can’t see well!”

The nobles closed their mouths at the sight of the squabbling children. Even those who had sneered at Windsor’s gift now wore embarrassed expressions.

The King’s gift was excellent. It was the standard for a sixth birthday gift, and it was incomparably luxurious. No one could dispute that fact.

However, the gift Benjamin liked the most was Windsor’s. Enough to make the child who had been calmly expressing gratitude burst into a bright smile and run out.

The contest between the two ended in Windsor’s judgment victory. And it was quite an unexpected result.

People couldn’t hide their inner surprise at the fact that the taciturn Lord Preston knew his nephew’s interests so well.

Perhaps the rumor that Windsor would swallow up the Preston family might not be true after all, a thought that emerged for the first time.

“It’s becoming more and more interesting to see how the custody battle between His Majesty and Lord Preston will unfold.”

“I thought Lord Preston had forcibly become Benjamin’s guardian, but it seems their relationship is quite affectionate.”

“You think so too, right?”

“Of course. Otherwise, how could he give such a gift?”

People began to predict the outcome of the upcoming trial in lowered voices. Those supporting Windsor and those supporting the King, the arguments from both sides were evenly matched.

Watching this, Jacqueline quietly turned to leave. It was time to make a silent exit.

“There you are, Miss Somerset. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

At that moment, a friendly voice came from behind her. Jacqueline, who had unconsciously turned her head, opened her eyes wide.

Windsor’s gaze, which had been moving slowly, also turned towards her shoulder.

“Mr. Evan Knox?”

A young man with a good-natured appearance smiled brightly at her. He was a brown-haired young man with slightly downturned eyes, giving him a docile impression like a puppy.

If he had a tail, he would have been wagging it non-stop. That’s how much joy filled Evan’s face.

“Have you been well? I sent a few letters, but I was worried when there was no reply. I even visited the mansion, but the owner had already changed.”

At those words, Jacqueline unconsciously let out a bitter smile. The last image of Earl Knox angrily telling her never to contact his son again came to mind.

There’s no need to mention that.

It wasn’t hard to understand Lord Knox’s feelings. Even she would have reconsidered the engagement if her son’s fiancée had gone bankrupt.

Jacqueline answered gracefully with a sociable smile on her face, hoping her appearance didn’t look too shabby.

“There’s no need to forcibly maintain a relationship that has already ended. For both our sakes.”

At those words, the young man with the innocent impression immediately looked hurt. Somehow, she felt a pang of conscience.

While Jacqueline was biting her lip in bewilderment, Evan quickly returned to a smiling face. He added a word as if in excuse.

“I don’t know if you read the letter, but the broken engagement wasn’t my will.”

For a moment, Windsor’s eyes narrowed. As if he had just realized who Evan Knox was, he slowly scanned him from head to toe again.