Behind William appeared a girl wearing a dress with many frills. She looked at Benjamin with intelligent blue eyes.

“Hello, Olivia.”

“Hello, Benjamin.”

Behind Olivia was her nanny. Jacqueline gave her a slight nod. She responded with a smile.

Benjamin turned to William and recited as if rehearsed:

“William, could you prepare refreshments in the greenhouse? I’d like to have tea time with Olivia there.”

“Yes, young master.”

They headed straight for the greenhouse. The late spring air was mild as summer approached. It was slightly warm, but not uncomfortably so.

Betty set the refreshments on the table. Olivia ate cookies and drank lemonade with familiarity. All the while, she kept glancing at the maids, wondering when they would leave.

Olivia whispered to Benjamin so only he could hear:

“You didn’t forget your promise to let me collect cicada shells, right?”

“Of course not. Why don’t we send your nanny away first?”

At those words, Olivia looked at her nanny. Standing a step behind, she asked, “Do you need anything?”

“Benjamin, could you arrange for Mary to rest?”

“Certainly. William, provide Mary with a room and tea. We’ll chat here, so everyone else can leave. Ah, except for Ms. Somerset. She’s our guardian.”

“Yes, understood.”

William looked at Mary, as if asking what she would do.

She glanced worriedly at Olivia. Olivia responded casually:

“Go rest a bit, Mary. I won’t move an inch from here. What are you worried about? This is the Preston mansion.”

“Yes, understood, Miss Olivia.”

Finally, Mary followed William with lighter steps. Jacqueline looked at the two mischievous children with fresh eyes, wondering where they learned such clever tricks.

Suddenly, she recalled herself at six years old. She too had told countless lies to escape her parents’ watchful eyes. Though transparent to adults, she was quite serious.

“Come on, let’s go collect cicada shells!”

As soon as Mary disappeared from sight, Olivia urged Benjamin. For her, this was a time-limited escape. She couldn’t help but feel rushed.

Benjamin nodded maturely and headed out of the greenhouse.

“Follow me. I know a place with lots of cicada shells.”

“Great!”

Jacqueline followed leisurely a couple steps behind the two children. There was no need for her to intervene.

After all, Benjamin was eager to share what he knew with his new friend.

“Uh… um…”

But moments later, Benjamin let out a confused groan, rolling his eyes. Olivia furrowed her brow. The large ribbon tying her hair swayed.

“There are no cicada shells, Benjamin.”

“That’s strange. There were always cicada shells here…”

Benjamin muttered dejectedly, looking around. Then his eyes widened as he reached for a leaf.

Snap.

The insect caught in the child’s hand belatedly struggled. Benjamin turned to Olivia with a proud expression.

“It’s a ladybug. Isn’t it pretty with the black spots on its red shell?”

“Oh my, really! Can I touch it too?”

“Of course. Here.”

Benjamin placed the ladybug on Olivia’s tiny palm. Olivia stared at it as if mesmerized.

Then she brought it to her chest. As Jacqueline’s eyes widened, Olivia smiled brightly.

“How is it? Doesn’t it look like a brooch?”

“Wow, it’s really pretty.”

“Thank you.”

Ugh.

Amidst the excited children, only Jacqueline frowned and stepped back. The brooch’s legs wriggled.

“Ugh.”

Finally, a groan escaped Jacqueline’s lips. She used to like ladybugs when she was young, but now she couldn’t understand why they seemed so creepy.

Perhaps humans become more fearful as they age.

Just then, Benjamin placed a stag beetle on Olivia’s head.

“It looks like a hairpin. The stag beetle’s horns make it look super strong!”

“Really? Thank you.”

With a stag beetle on her head and a ladybug on her chest, Olivia cupped her cheeks with both hands and smiled the most adorably in the world.

“I want to catch one too.”

“Just approach carefully so the stag beetle doesn’t notice, then snatch it quickly.”

“Okay. I’ll give it a try!”

Jacqueline scratched her arms, feeling itchy all over. No matter how much she scratched, the itchiness wouldn’t go away.

As she scratched her neck, she unconsciously tilted her head back. In that moment, Jacqueline’s eyes widened.

Sunlight poured through the leaves. Like Windsor’s hair, thin golden threads mercilessly pierced the foliage.

Through it all, the laughter of Benjamin and Olivia could be heard. A gentle smile formed on her lips as well.

“Benjamin, Olivia. Look up.”

At her words, the children catching beetles tilted their heads back.

“Wow!”

“It’s so beautiful!”

Benjamin and Olivia exclaimed, squinting as if dazzled. Light and shadow danced across the children’s faces.

Jacqueline rolled up her sleeves, hoping this moment would become a precious memory for the two.

“Well then, shall we start our exploration in earnest?”

“Yes!”

They took a bold step into a new world. The cicadas clinging to the trees chirped more loudly than usual.

***

Windsor strode down the corridor with impeccable posture. William, following behind, handed him his hat.

As Windsor received it and was about to step out the front door, a carriage crossing the garden came to a stop. Windsor stood there for a moment, watching the carriage door open.

A young lady was alighting from the carriage, taking the hand offered by the coachman. She wore an elaborate dress with pink frills.

Her plump cheeks looked as if she were sucking on candy, and her small stature didn’t even reach Windsor’s shoulder.

As she walked with her maid, she noticed Windsor standing at the entrance and stopped in her tracks. Her round eyes grew even rounder.

She stared at Windsor, waiting for him to greet her first.

―You shouldn’t keep a lady waiting. A gentleman should greet first.

Jacqueline’s nagging voice could be heard from somewhere. Windsor finally descended the stairs and offered a light greeting.

“Good day, Miss Humble. I heard you were visiting today.”

“Hello, Lord Preston. Thank you for allowing my visit.”

Samantha curtsied slightly, holding her dress. Then she looked at him again.

She couldn’t take her eyes off his golden hair shimmering in the sunlight and his mysterious gray-blue eyes.

Just as her eyes took on a dreamy look, Windsor’s polite voice disrupted her reverie.

“I heard you’re a friend of Miss Somerset. Welcome, my lady. William, treat Miss Humble as you would my guest.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I express my sincere gratitude for Lord Preston’s kindness.”

“Not at all, Miss Humble. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

He bowed slightly and boarded the Preston family carriage. Samantha followed his retreating figure with her eyes until the carriage disappeared beyond the garden.

“Samantha!”

Just then, the front door opened and Jacqueline rushed out. Samantha finally tore her gaze from the carriage’s rear and hugged her tightly.

“Have you been well, Jackie?”

“What brings you here? Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

Jacqueline asked worriedly as she gently pulled away. Samantha chided her with a mischievous smile.

“What do you mean? I said I’d come back, didn’t I?”

“Well, yes, but…”

The words “I didn’t expect you to come so early” dissipated before they could take shape. Besides, this wasn’t her house.

As Jacqueline glanced awkwardly at William, Samantha took the lead as if she were the host.

“Come on, let’s go inside. We can talk over tea.”

Jacqueline followed her, shaking her head with a resigned smile.

The two headed straight for the reception room, where Betty, informed by William, politely served the guest. Her already impeccable manners became even more courteous.

Samantha gave Betty a slight nod before taking a seat. Only after refreshments were prepared did the two women’s earnest conversation begin.

“Jackie, I’m so glad to see you again. I mean it.”

At those words, Jacqueline smiled softly. Conflicting emotions swirled in her mind.

Joy at meeting her closest friend coexisted with the desire not to show her own wretched circumstances.

Now, an uncrossable river lay between her and Samantha. Jacqueline softened her gaze at the innocent expression devoid of any malice.

Samantha hadn’t changed. Only Jacqueline had changed.

“I saw the news of your engagement in the newspaper. Congratulations, Sammy, though it’s late.”

“Thank you. Um, Jackie…”

Samantha’s bright smile faded. She hesitated for a moment, as if about to say something difficult. Jacqueline looked at her quizzically.

Surely she wasn’t going to ask to borrow money from a penniless lady?

Samantha, who had been gauging Jacqueline’s reaction, carefully opened her mouth.

“If there’s anything I can help with, I hope you’ll feel comfortable telling me anytime, Jackie.”

“…Okay. I’ll do that, Samantha.”

Jacqueline finally smiled, her eyes crinkling. It seemed Samantha had been concerned about her when she was struggling through difficult times.

Flailing in the strong current, trying not to be swept away, Jacqueline had failed to notice her friend on the riverbank.

Only after barely grasping a rock to stop herself from drifting away did she finally see her. She saw how worriedly Samantha was looking at her.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you, Sammy. Back then, I was so preoccupied just dealing with the problems piled up in front of me.”

“No, I understand, Jackie. I would have done the same. You don’t need to apologize to me, of all people, not at all.”

“Thank you.”

Finally, Samantha reached for a cookie with a more relieved expression. Typical of Samantha, the queen of desserts. It seemed her taste for sweets hadn’t changed a bit.

And surprisingly, this provided great comfort to Jacqueline. The fact that some people remain unchanged while everyone else changes.

Crunching on the cookie, Samantha suddenly looked up as if something had just occurred to her.

“Oh, Jackie.”

“Yes?”