Whoosh. Whoosh.

Jacqueline and Benjamin turned their heads simultaneously. Windsor, resting his chin on one hand, alternately examined the two people’s drawings with a discerning eye like an art critic.

His gaze moved to Benjamin’s drawing.

“It seems to be a war between the main god and the sea god. You’ve expressed the weapon held by the sea god well.”

“Oh, thank you, Uncle.”

Benjamin lowered his gaze with a shy expression. It was quite rare to receive praise from Windsor.

So the child didn’t know what to do and just fidgeted with his fingers. Windsor added in a calm tone.

“But the sea is too calm for a battle between two gods. With that level of power, there should be waves as big as houses physically.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Benjamin looked at him with sparkling eyes. When it came to the sea, Windsor’s words couldn’t be wrong. He was the devil of the Black Fleet, after all.

“……”

This time, Windsor’s gaze moved to Jacqueline’s drawing. After looking at it longer than Benjamin’s, he slightly furrowed his brow.

“Putting aside that the person holding the lightning is the main god, what are those flies buzzing around him?”

At those words, Jacqueline’s brow furrowed in turn. Her voice turned prim.

“Flies? They’re the gods born from his thigh, you know.”

“Hmm.”

Windsor turned his head back to Benjamin.

“I arranged for a capable painter for you, but it seems unnecessary now.”

“Um, Uncle. What you saw before wasn’t a dog with five legs, it was actually a horse.”

“Is that so.”

At the child’s words, Windsor cast a questioning glance at Jacqueline. She nodded glumly.

“Yes.”

“Do you perhaps need a painter? If you want to learn painting instead of Benjamin……”

“I don’t need one!”

Jacqueline cut off his words sharply. And glared at him with sharp eyes. Windsor didn’t know why her mood had changed so suddenly.

Didn’t she like painting?

He remembered hearing from her before that she was interested in art. His memory couldn’t have been wrong.

Windsor observed the painting she had drawn in detail. The god of abundance born from the main god’s thigh still looked like an insignificant fly.

Liking something doesn’t necessarily correlate with talent. For someone who likes painting, her skills were poor.

Then shouldn’t she want to improve? But why was she angry?

Jacqueline, who had been glaring at him askance, slightly raised her chin and provoked him.

“Then why don’t you try drawing, Lord Preston? There’s a big difference between hearing about something and doing it yourself. This is why practice is important.”

At those words, Benjamin nodded. The child hadn’t thought at all that his skills would surpass Jacqueline’s until he tried painting himself.

Then he glanced at her furtively. As if worried she might have caught his thoughts just now.

Whew.

As Benjamin sighed in relief, she forcibly placed a brush in Windsor’s hand. Windsor, frowning slightly, looked down at his hand.

Jacqueline gestured haughtily as if telling him to hurry up and draw. Her voice took on a smug tone.

“It’s not as easy as it sounds. Since Lord Preston is a complete beginner, why don’t you try drawing something light like a leaf? Or clouds would be fine too. Just that will be enough to realize how difficult it is to implement the image in your head onto canvas.”

Benjamin watched Windsor with sparkling eyes. Windsor stepped briskly in front of the wall.

After gauging the brush for a moment, he leisurely dipped it in paint. At last, the neat brush tip touched the wall.

There was no hesitation in Windsor’s hand movements. It was as if he was doodling carelessly. He didn’t sink into deep contemplation with a serious expression like Jacqueline, nor did he focus too intently like Benjamin.

“……”

But wherever his brush tip touched, lush grape vines appeared. The green leaves held glistening dew, and the ripe grapes looked like they might burst at any moment.

The vines climbing up the tree were full of vitality, as if they would stretch to the ends of the sky.

“Wow!”

An exclamation burst from Benjamin’s lips. The child stamped his feet, not knowing what to do. He even momentarily forgot that such behavior was unbecoming of the future Marquis Preston.

The devil of the Black Fleet was even good at painting. The child was genuinely proud of the fact that his uncle was a perfect man.

And someday, he wanted to become a perfect man like his uncle.

“It’s amazing, Uncle! It looks like real grapes! Ah, the god of abundance was the god of wine. So that’s why you drew grapes!”

“……Hmm.”

Jacqueline stared intently at the painting he had drawn, at a loss for words. She wanted to find fault, but there was nothing to criticize.

He was skilled enough to be called a professional painter, let alone a beginner. Jacqueline spoke in a sullen voice.

“It’s a realistic style. Well, not bad skills. But my painting is mainly in the Fauvism style. The two schools can’t be compared on the same level.”

“Is that so.”

“Though realism is fading……”

Jacqueline, who had been avoiding his gaze awkwardly, whispered softly. A hint of envy mixed into her sulky voice.

“I guess you inherited your mother’s artistic sense.”

Windsor merely raised an eyebrow once before stepping back. The realistic grape background stood out in stark contrast to the childlike scribbles.

Glancing at Benjamin’s painting, he replied nonchalantly.

“It might be talent from my father’s side.”

“……Talent.”

Jacqueline muttered that word and pouted her lips.

Talent could be cruel at times. It wasn’t given to those who needed it, while being gifted like a present to those who weren’t desperate for it.

Clack.

Windsor put down the brush he was holding. Then suddenly, he looked down at his hand. Green paint was smeared on his finger joints.

He rummaged through his pocket with his clean hand. But nothing came to hand. Perhaps he had left that non-life-threatening item somewhere again today.

It wasn’t the first time. Losing gloves, a cane, or glasses. He didn’t think it was a big deal.

As Windsor was turning away indifferently, a handkerchief suddenly popped up in front of his eyes. When he slowly raised his head, Jacqueline was wearing a grumpy expression.

“Weren’t you looking for this? You probably left your handkerchief somewhere again.”

At those words, Benjamin looked shocked. That his perfect uncle had left behind a handkerchief. It was an unbelievably shocking story.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Windsor accepted the handkerchief she handed over. He didn’t know why Jacqueline’s eyes had become sharp. He merely went along with the approaching storm.

He slowly wiped his hands. The pale pink handkerchief had a faint scent of roses. The green paint stained the clean cloth deeply.

“……”

Windsor stuffed the dirtied handkerchief into his pocket. Jacqueline had already turned her back and was engrossed in her own work.

―Do you really think I did that without any thought, just for my own amusement?

He recalled something she had said once. It must have been the day she first drew on the wallpaper.

Benjamin standing blankly and Jacqueline absorbed in painting.

Anyone could see that Jacqueline was the one having more fun, and Benjamin was just playing along with her. Windsor nodded lightly to the child who met his eyes.

“The afternoon lesson was basic mathematics, wasn’t it.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

That was the end of it. Windsor turned around and left the room. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned back.

Benjamin was still staring at him.

“It’s admirable that you kept the secret for the lady’s honor, even though you were misunderstood for a painting you didn’t draw.”

“Thank you, Uncle!”

The child replied with an extremely excited expression. His flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes clearly revealed the joy Benjamin felt.

Only after seeing Windsor leave the room did Jacqueline put down her brush and roll her eyes.

Misunderstanding, lady’s honor.

“What exactly is wrong with my painting? Does he mean it’s a painting that damages a lady’s honor?”

Words she couldn’t say in front of Windsor tumbled out in mutters. Then she turned to the child and said firmly.

“Benjamin. I’ll say it again, but Lord Preston’s painting and mine can’t be compared on the same level. This is just a difference in style.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

“We don’t have much time left. Let’s hurry and finish up.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset.”

Windsor, with his unusually sharp hearing, chuckled as he walked down the corridor. Then suddenly, he clenched his fist. It seemed like there was a faint scent of roses coming from somewhere.

Summer was coming to Preston Manor as well.

***

Benjamin glanced at the clock with slightly nervous eyes. The child tilted his head, looking at the hour and minute hands pointing exactly to 2 o’clock.

“Miss Somerset.”

“Yes, Benjamin?”

Jacqueline was sitting on the reception room sofa, leisurely reading an illustrated newspaper. Benjamin asked cautiously.

“It’s 2 o’clock as we agreed, but I don’t hear the sound of a carriage arriving. Do you think they might have forgotten about our meeting today?”

At those words, Jacqueline let out a light laugh. Benjamin glanced at the clock again, as if he couldn’t understand.

The minute hand had already passed one mark. It meant it was 2:01.

“Benjamin.”

Jacqueline called the child’s name in a gentle voice. Benjamin, who had been anxiously looking at the clock, finally turned his head towards her.

The child slightly tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand why she was smiling.

Sometimes there were moments like this. Moments when this small, lovely child seemed very similar to the blunt Windsor.

They say children are mirrors of adults, and it seems to be true. Perhaps Benjamin will grow up to be a blunt adult like Lord Preston? That’s a bit of a shame.

Jacqueline whispered affectionately to the child.

“It’s very common for nobles to be late for appointments. From as little as 10 minutes to as much as an hour or two. They worry about looking like they have nothing to do if they arrive exactly on time.”

“But that’s too inefficient.”

“Ahaha.”

Jacqueline ended up laughing out loud. She remembered hearing those words from Windsor once. Perhaps the child had also heard them in passing.

And tucked them away firmly in his mind.

“Why? Why are you laughing, Miss Somerset?”

Benjamin tilted his head and pressed her. Jacqueline lightly wiped her eyes and stood up.

“It’s nothing, Benjamin. More importantly, it seems the carriage has arrived. I guess Olivia isn’t that inefficient of a friend.”

“……Yes.”

Benjamin adjusted his bow tie. He also smoothed down his fluffy hair. It seemed he was quite nervous in his own way about a friend visiting for the first time.

The sound of footsteps walking down the corridor could be heard. Benjamin straightened his back and raised his chin. There was a knock and the door opened.

“Miss Olivia Riley has arrived.”