“I wanted to keep Lord Preston company in case he gets bored.”

Jacqueline sat down on the long couch with a confident expression. The corners of Windsor’s mouth turned up slightly. A faint breath escaped from between his teeth.

It somewhat resembled a smile.

He crossed his arms and sank deep into the chair. Jacqueline lay down, resting her head on her arm.

“……”

Once again, a thick silence descended. No, it wasn’t complete silence. Thunder still rumbled, rain poured down furiously, and Benjamin’s wheezing breaths could be heard.

However, Windsor thought it was utterly quiet. Though sleep didn’t come, he slowly closed his eyes. As if trying to fully enjoy this moment of peace.

The night deepened along with the pouring rain. At some point, another steady breathing mixed in with the noisy silence.

Windsor pushed away other sounds and quietly listened to that sound. Meanwhile, even his own breathing became regular.

The clamor of the world couldn’t disturb the tranquility inside the room.

***

His throat hurt. The consciousness that had been submerged below sleep gradually floated up with the faint pain as a trigger.

Windsor slowly opened his eyes, aware that he was waking up. His clear eyes were so sharp that one could hardly believe he had just been sleeping.

It was dark all around as if it were the middle of the night. However, Windsor knew it was 6 AM. No matter what time he went to bed the night before, he always woke up at 6.

It was an old habit that had formed since joining the navy.

Despite the season approaching summer, the thick darkness at this hour was likely due to the rain that had fallen all night long.

The sound of rain was no longer audible, but the clouds seemed to still be hanging low. It might rain all day today as well.

Was there any important schedule?

As always, Windsor recalled the day’s schedule as soon as he opened his eyes. Meanwhile, his vision became a little clearer.

The asset manager was scheduled to visit at 10 AM. At 11, someone from a religious institution was supposed to come. They would probably bring up the topic of donations. And in the afternoon…

At that moment.

“……”

All the detailed schedules filling his mind disappeared at once. Instead, Jacqueline’s peacefully sleeping face took their place.

Only then did the memories of last night come back.

So I didn’t return to my room after all.

Jacqueline was breathing evenly, curled up tightly. Windsor observed her intently, as if looking at an unfamiliar creature of a different species.

Being afraid of thunder was incomprehensible to him. Being scared of the dark or talking to a teddy bear were also things that couldn’t happen in his world.

Heh.

Suddenly, laughter escaped from between his teeth. It was because he remembered her closing the door and burying herself on the couch with a brazen expression.

At that moment, he felt a sharp gaze piercing his cheek. Windsor slowly turned his head. At the same time, he met wide-awake eyes.

It was Benjamin. The child had been awake for some time, looking at him with bright eyes.

“Did you sleep well, Uncle?”

“Good morning.”

“Yes.”

Benjamin’s eyes took on a shy light. After briefly burying his face in Colin’s belly, Benjamin slowly raised his head.

And stared at Windsor. As if doubting whether the smile he had just seen on his uncle’s face was real.

Windsor had stayed by the child’s side all night as thunder roared. It was a very strange feeling. Especially for Benjamin, who thought his uncle found him bothersome.

Maybe he doesn’t actually dislike me? Surely… he couldn’t like me?

At that moment, Windsor slowly rose from the sofa. Benjamin tilted his head back to look up at him.

Windsor stared down at the doll the child was tightly hugging, then spoke. His voice was lower than usual.

Perhaps it was consideration for Miss Somerset, who might still be sleeping.

“It’s time to get up.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Benjamin, who had been fidgeting under the blanket, sat up abruptly at those words. At the sound, Jacqueline stirred. Then she curled up even tighter into a ball.

Windsor glanced at her, then turned his gaze to Benjamin. It was a stern look, but not cold.

“You must be tired from yesterday’s party, so you may lie down a bit longer.”

“…Yes.”

Benjamin tilted his head in confusion. Somehow it sounded more like he was speaking to someone else rather than to him.

Moreover, Windsor had taught that one should maintain a regular lifestyle regardless of what happened the day before. So allowing him to sleep in was not at all like his uncle.

“I’ll tell the maid to wake you in an hour.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Benjamin’s voice became quieter as well. Windsor, who had been walking slowly, suddenly stopped.

He walked to the couch and took off the robe he was wearing to cover Jacqueline. Then he stood there, quietly looking down at her.

Suddenly, he reached out. Windsor tucked the hair scattered on her forehead behind her ear before turning away.

“!”

Benjamin swallowed a startled breath. The child widened his eyes in disbelief at what he had seen. He covered his mouth with both hands, lest he cry out.

Miss Somerset must really be a fairy after all!

Windsor, who had turned to leave the room, stopped with his hand on the doorknob and looked back again.

“Benjamin.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Benjamin nodded with a tense expression, as if he had never been surprised.

“Thunder is merely an electrical discharge phenomenon caused by unstable air.”

Windsor was about to add that there was nothing to be afraid of, but stopped. Benjamin nodded.

“…Yes, I know. Mr. Robinson taught us in science class.”

“That’s good then.”

With those final words, Windsor left the room immediately. The door closed with a very faint click.

Only then did Benjamin let out the sigh he had been holding and slowly crawled back under the blanket. He still couldn’t quite understand exactly what had happened.

But Jacqueline’s breathing was steady, and Colin’s belly felt soft against his cheek. Benjamin soon fell back asleep.

The rare chance to sleep in was sweeter than chocolate.

***

Benjamin widened his eyes at the sight of Jacqueline wearing an apron. She quickly gave instructions to Betty, who had followed her in.

“We’ll be painting on that wall today, so push the chairs to the opposite side, Betty.”

“…Yes, miss.”

Betty’s expression, as straight as if measured with a ruler, wavered slightly. However, she overcame that moment and moved the chairs to one side.

Jacqueline walked towards the now exposed ivory-colored wall, squeezing paint onto her palette. There was a “pop” sound of air being released.

Benjamin followed her with sparkling eyes. Something fun always happened when he was with Jacqueline. That’s why the child liked this fairy-like teacher.

“Today I’ll restore my honor.”

Jacqueline muttered ambitiously, gripping her brush with a solemn expression. She turned to Benjamin and said:

“We’re going to move away from Fauvism and return to Realism. Realism is about depicting people and objects as they truly are. For example, expressing a person’s expressions, wrinkles, and muscle movements in detail and with vitality.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin nodded with an eager face. “Good,” Jacqueline nodded and then turned her gaze to the empty wall.

“Let’s paint the mythology of the continent here.”

“The mythology of the continent?”

“Do you know anything about the mythology of the continent?”

Benjamin nodded matter-of-factly at her question.

“Yes. Uncle gave me a complete collection of the continent’s mythology as a birthday present last year.”

“Ah, right… That’s true…”

Jacqueline puffed out her cheeks, shrugging her shoulders. She took a step towards the wall and said:

“I’ll paint the scene of the gods’ birth, and you, Benjamin, paint the war of the gods next to me.”

“…Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Although he felt his share might be more difficult, Benjamin nodded silently. The child was prepared to eat even spoiled cake without complaint if Jacqueline said so.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

The two moved their brushes with a rather solemn air. Even while immersed in her work, Jacqueline continued the conversation intermittently. She hadn’t forgotten that she was Benjamin’s home tutor.

“There’s a reason why the mythology of the continent has become a steady seller as a fifth birthday gift. We can find things related to mythology very commonly in every aspect of our lives. Not just in ceiling paintings of temples or sculptures carved on old buildings. If you enter any ordinary home, you’ll find one or two items related to mythology.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Benjamin responded half-heartedly, focusing on his own work. Unlike the birth of the gods, the war of the gods had too many aspects to pay attention to.

From the fierce expressions and dynamic muscle movements to the different types of weapons for each god. The child tried hard to recreate the scenes he had seen in books.

“The gods of the continent are very human-like. They fall in love, feel jealous, and even betray each other. That’s why artists can create more diverse works by adding their imagination.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

“As you know, the mythology of the continent is one of the favorite subjects for painters. You can see that even after thousands of years, works related to mythology are still pouring out. To fully enjoy these works, it helps to understand what the mythology of the continent is about.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

“Hmm… Are you listening to me, Benjamin?”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Jacqueline glanced at the child with a doubtful expression. Somehow, unlike usual, his responses seemed to lack soul.

As if realizing the reason, she advised in a generous voice:

“You don’t have to think too hastily, Benjamin. I told you, didn’t I? That you’re quite skilled compared to your peers. It’s just that I’m too exceptional for comparison…”

“It seems the dog with five legs wasn’t Benjamin’s drawing after all.”

At that moment, an indifferent voice came from behind.