She slowly moved her steps to stand beside Windsor. Elizabeth, who received a champagne glass from a passing servant, added casually:

“I’ve known Jacqueline for a long time too. We attended boarding school together.”

Windsor’s gaze, which had been meaninglessly observing the dancers, turned to her once again. Elizabeth only met his eyes after taking a sip of champagne.

“!”

For a moment, she felt dizzy. Whether it was due to the champagne or the man before her, she couldn’t tell.

One thing was clear, though: the man standing with an expressionless face under the brilliant chandelier light looked extremely ascetic.

Elizabeth tried to hide her agitation by affecting a haughty expression as she lowered her eyes.

“So you were a friend of young lady Somerset.”

“Yes, well…”

Elizabeth trailed off ambiguously.

It was closer to a bad relationship than friendship, but there was no need to say that.

She opened her mouth while keeping her gaze on the spinning people. Dresses of all colors whirled chaotically.

“Is Jacqueline doing well in her work?”

“As you know, she’s an excellent governess.”

“Is that so? How surprising. She used to cause quite a bit of trouble for the teachers at school. You know? Occasionally pulling some outrageous stunt. Oh, I’m sorry if you didn’t know. I seem to have said something unnecessary.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose adorably, as if it were a mistake. Windsor stared at her intently.

The longer his gaze lingered, the more Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Windsor Preston possessed looks far more perfect than the rumors suggested. His golden hair, bathed in the light, shone brilliantly, and his blue-grey eyes were solemn.

His thick eyebrows and angular jaw were masculine, and his prominent nose was arrogant. It was clear why his name appeared in newspapers even without participating in social activities.

Moreover, he exuded an air of a ruler. Something like an unapproachable charisma.

It wasn’t something that could be learned through study, nor could it be acquired through effort. It was an innate nature.

He was certainly not someone to cower beneath others. Rather, he was a man destined to stand above all. One more accustomed to giving orders than receiving them.

“…”

Realizing this, Elizabeth straightened her back. She didn’t want him to know that she was attracted to him.

At least not until those words came from his mouth first.

“Young lady Somerset is Benjamin’s thirteenth governess.”

“Is that so?”

Elizabeth unwittingly turned her head at the unexpected remark. Her eyebrows curved beautifully.

His baritone voice, mixed with the music, came across weightily. Even that blended harmoniously like an instrument.

“And among them, she is the most perfect governess. Of course, she’s also my nephew’s favorite.”

“…Is that so? I’m glad Benjamin likes Jacqueline.”

The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth stiffened slightly. Windsor’s sharp eyes didn’t miss this.

“Do you know what Jacqueline’s nickname was during her school days? It was ‘Mood Swing’, ‘Mood Swing Jacqueline’. She had such an emotional personality that she’d be angry one moment, then laughing the next, and crying soon after. It’s really fortunate that such a Jacqueline has become a perfect governess.”

Mood Swing.

Windsor’s eyes softened slightly. It was a nickname that suited her very well. Of course, Jacqueline wouldn’t agree.

“Lord Greenwood also recommended young lady Somerset as an excellent governess.”

“Father did?”

This time, Elizabeth’s mouth twisted noticeably. She could no longer hide her inner feelings and showed her displeasure.

Windsor looked at her and slowly opened his mouth. His voice was full of certainty.

“You’re not a friend of young lady Somerset.”

Hit right on the mark, Elizabeth tensed her lips. Windsor took his eyes off her and cast a meaningless glance at the spinning people.

Elizabeth sighed lightly and nodded.

“I admit it. Jacqueline and I aren’t exactly close. We’ve known each other for a long time, but time and affection aren’t always proportional.”

“I understand.”

Windsor replied indifferently without even turning his head. Elizabeth, who had been frowning slightly, noticed that all his attention had been withdrawn.

Suddenly, she felt impatient. She wanted to regain the gaze that had been focused on her until just now. So she blurted out a question.

“Why aren’t you dancing, Lord Preston?”

Windsor casually raised one eyebrow. It was a trite question. He maintained silence, hiding his bored expression.

Elizabeth looked at Windsor’s profile. Faced with his gaze that still wouldn’t turn to her, she added in a prim voice.

“You must be aware of the rumors circulating in social circles, right? Wouldn’t it be better to dance today, if only to dispel those rumors?”

So even an invitation to dance can be phrased like that.

Windsor swallowed his rising sneer and feigned indifference.

Suddenly, he recalled Jacqueline’s words. What she had said while sighing in resignation after being hit on the temple by him.

―We just need a little more time, Lord Preston. Don’t give up so easily. Let’s aim for the next party, not this one.

A light laugh escaped between Windsor’s teeth. Her face had looked resigned as she said those words. Probably without realizing it herself.

“!”

At that moment, Elizabeth’s eyes widened. Even with just a softened expression, the atmosphere surrounding him changed instantly.

If before he had felt like a perfect work of art that one couldn’t approach carelessly, now he seemed like a more approachable work of art.

“I haven’t yet met someone I want to dance with.”

“Someone… you want to dance with?”

Elizabeth repeated dazedly. She didn’t even realize that it was a rejection.

Windsor took a sip of the champagne he was holding, then set it down on an empty table.

“I should be going now. I hope you have a pleasant evening, Miss Greenwood.”

After a polite farewell, Windsor quietly left the ballroom. Only after his figure had completely disappeared did Elizabeth let out the breath she had been holding.

“Miss Liz, would you like to dance with me?”

Her fiancé, who had been glancing this way for a while, approached and asked for a dance. Elizabeth unconsciously shook her head. She brought one hand to her forehead.

“I’m a bit tired. I’d like to rest today.”

“…I see.”

Her fiancé scratched his nose bridge awkwardly before turning away. Elizabeth’s gaze once again followed Windsor.

In the meantime, Windsor was in the middle of saying goodbye to Hines. The baron seemed satisfied enough just by Windsor’s attendance at his party.

“Take care on your way, Lord Preston. I’ll visit you separately soon. Let’s have a drink and chat.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Windsor nodded lightly and crossed the corridor alone, declining the servant’s escort. Suddenly, he stopped.

An elderly lady was walking from the opposite direction. The woman, with her gray hair elegantly coiled up, exuded dignity.

Windsor gave a curt eye greeting and stepped aside to let her pass comfortably.

The plump woman with kind wrinkles around her eyes suddenly curled her lips. She stopped in front of Windsor.

“It’s Lord Preston.”

At those words, Windsor narrowed his eyes slightly. Even on second look, it wasn’t a familiar face. As a hint of perplexity crossed his eyes, the maid standing behind her spoke up.

“This is the Grand Duchess Chamberlain.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Only then did Windsor greet her politely. Grand Duchess Chamberlain naturally extended her hand, and Windsor, after a moment’s hesitation, kissed the back of her hand.

He remembered Jacqueline’s explanation that she had once reigned as the queen of social circles. She still wielded considerable influence, and it was said that all noble connections were only complete after going through her.

“I hear my granddaughter is indebted to your nephew?”

The Grand Duchess Chamberlain spoke in a more friendly manner than expected.

Belatedly, the name Olivia came to Windsor’s mind. He had heard that she had a great time playing at the Preston mansion a few days ago.

There was also some talk about cicada molting or something, but since both Jacqueline and Benjamin had kept their mouths shut at the same time, he couldn’t find out more.

Windsor replied in an nonchalant voice.

“It seems Benjamin has made a good friend.”

“Whatever magic Benjamin has worked, she pesters me every day about when she can visit the Preston mansion again. Oh, Olivia is staying at my mansion these days. She says it’s so I won’t feel lonely, but I’m sure they’re just pawning off a mischief-maker.”

“I heard from young lady Somerset that Olivia is polite and intelligent. Please tell her she’s welcome to visit anytime. We’ll be looking forward to young lady Riley’s visit. Well then, I hope you have an enjoyable party.”

Windsor nodded to her and was about to take a step when.

“You’re looking for a lawyer, aren’t you?”

The Grand Duchess Chamberlain asked in a low voice. Windsor stopped and slowly raised his head.

As their eyes met, she smiled with a kind face. The wrinkles around her eyes made her look even more gentle.

Windsor stared at her with an expressionless face, but the Duchess’s smile didn’t fade in the slightest.

“As a thank you for welcoming Olivia, I’d like to introduce you to a good lawyer, if you’re interested.”

“A lawyer, you say?”

“I can vouch for their ability. Oh, of course.”

The Grand Duchess Chamberlain paused for a moment and smiled leisurely.

“Needless to say, it’s someone beyond the reach of His Majesty the King’s influence.”

―Perhaps even a mere cicada molt could protect Benjamin, who might become the future Marquis Preston.

Jacqueline’s voice seemed to be heard from somewhere. It was a voice tinged with a faint smile.

Windsor stared intently at the Grand Duchess Chamberlain with a loss for words. Forgetting even that it was impolite.

“Hohoho.”

She let out a light laugh and added, “This is not the place to discuss such matters.”

“If you’re interested, come and see me. Just as Olivia is welcome to visit the Preston mansion anytime, I too welcome your visit anytime. Well then, I’ll excuse myself first. Actually, I’m already quite late.”