A moment later, Evan, who had been wearing a stunned expression as if he’d been hit on the back of the head, soon smiled and nodded. He belatedly stood up and shook Windsor’s hand.

“Let’s do that. You’ll probably end up contacting me again.”

He spoke confidently with a gentle face. Windsor, who had been frowning slightly, turned around and left the room.

Roman, who had been waiting by the door, asked, “Did your conversation go well?” Then, seeing Windsor’s stern expression, he glanced beyond the door.

“Oh? That person…?”

Roman was about to greet the familiar-looking young man when he followed behind Windsor, who was walking away with heavy steps.

Windsor, who got into the carriage after being seen off by the butler, only opened his tightly closed mouth after leaving the gates of the Chamberlain mansion.

“Look into Evan Knox. What kind of person he is as a lawyer, and…”

“And?”

Windsor turned his head towards the window and closed his mouth. Roman waited for a moment for an answer, but no response came.

Tilting his head, Roman replied, “Understood.” The carriage slowly crossed the long private property lined with palm trees.

Cicadas chirped noisily. The season had already crossed the threshold of summer.

***

Although Windsor knew who the owner of the calm footsteps walking down the corridor was, he did not raise his head. As if deliberately trying to ignore the sound.

The visitor who asked for permission with a knock opened the door. Only then did Windsor lift his gaze from the densely arranged numbers and slowly raise his head.

The door opened, and Jacqueline, dressed in outdoor attire, entered the office.

Windsor stared intently at her face. She, who would normally walk in with a bright smile, hesitated at the door with her eyes lowered.

Phew.

A cold laugh escaped from between his teeth. Windsor expected to see what expression she would make or what she would say to him.

Only after a brief silence did Jacqueline take heavy steps. She was still looking down at her feet as she walked to the desk.

“…”

Jacqueline unconsciously clutched her dress. Perhaps she was nervous, he thought.

Suddenly, she recalled the time she had faced him here before going down to Southfield. At that time, she was not in her right mind either. She had half lost her senses at the letter saying her mother was critically ill.

And Windsor had consistently calmed her down calmly. His voice was as monotone as usual, but not unkind.

His calm voice reassured her in her confusion. He had arranged the fastest train and booked a first-class seat, and also ordered William to escort her to the train station.

If it hadn’t been for him, Jacqueline wouldn’t have been able to head to Southfield so quickly. She gripped her dress tightly once more and raised her lowered head.

“I’m back, Lord Preston.”

I’m back.

As she said those words, Jacqueline realized she felt relieved.

Relief from what? Relief from escaping her mother? Or relief at returning to the Preston mansion? Or maybe…

She looked at Windsor with wavering eyes and hesitated. His eyes, staring intently at her, were extremely cold.

Jacqueline, with a perplexed expression and wide eyes, called out, “Lord Preston?” After a long while, Windsor’s lips finally parted.

“Is your mother’s health alright?”

At those words, Jacqueline lowered her gaze again. She couldn’t look him straight in the eye.

Windsor had sincerely worried about her mother. Yet her mother had criticized him. Urging Jacqueline to choose between the two of them.

It was terribly sorry and miserable. The fact that he had received undeserved insults, the fact that the person who had condemned him was none other than her own mother, was sorrowful and wretched.

She looked down at her feet and replied bitterly.

“…Yes, thanks to your concern.”

So Jacqueline didn’t see the cynicism in his gray-blue eyes. He asked in a seemingly nonchalant voice.

“That’s good. Was there anything unusual there?”

At this pointed question, Jacqueline once again clutched her dress tightly. The already worn dress became a mess in her hands.

“…”

There were many unusual things. There was much she wanted to say.

But she couldn’t tell Windsor anything. Because to do so, she would have to start by condemning her own mother.

She couldn’t betray Preston and Benjamin. At the same time, she couldn’t let go of her mother’s hand.

If even Jacqueline turned her back on her mother, she would truly fall apart. Maybe this time she would actually carry out her threat to die.

I’m a coward.

Jacqueline smiled bitterly, self-deprecating her pathetic self. Then she realized that Windsor was still waiting for her answer.

She slowly raised her head and met his eyes. She forced her lips to curve. The corners of her lips trembled slightly.

“Yes. Nothing… happened. Mother wasn’t in such a serious condition. Thank you for your concern, Lord Preston.”

At that moment, Windsor’s lips twisted. His expression hardened coldly, knowing her words were a lie.

Only then did he realize he was disappointed. Being disappointed meant that expectations had been shattered, and shattered expectations meant that he had hoped for something from Jacqueline.

I hoped for something from her? What?

Perhaps Windsor thought she might tell him the truth. Although she had unintentionally met the royal lawyer, she might confide in him about what had happened there.

How foolish.

Windsor clicked his tongue at his own naivety. He stared at Jacqueline with eyes devoid of any warmth. At her, looking straight at him and wearing a false smile.

What did I expect? That she was different from others? Ridiculous.

Cynicism scattered from the corners of his lips. Windsor called her in a stiff voice.

“Miss Somerset.”

“Yes, Lord Preston.”

Jacqueline nodded as if to say go ahead. But he closed his mouth.

Windsor should have fired her at this moment. It would have been right to expel Jacqueline Somerset from the Preston mansion.

He was not generous enough to overlook traitors, nor was he reckless enough to carry on with a ticking time bomb. And yet.

“…”

Where would she seek refuge if expelled from the Preston mansion? Where would this penniless young lady go?

Suddenly, the face of Evan Knox came to mind. He who had confidently claimed he would make her his current fiancée rather than his former one.

It’s none of my business. Whoever Jacqueline Somerset relies on, that’s her choice.

Although he made a rational judgment in his mind, Windsor still couldn’t continue speaking. It felt as if someone was choking him.

“Lord Preston?”

As Windsor remained silent for a long time, Jacqueline’s eyes took on a puzzled light. The shadow that had been deeply settled in her green eyes gradually lifted.

She looked at Windsor with her usual gaze.

“…”

Damn it.

Windsor clenched his fist tightly. Then, lowering his gaze to the desk, he grasped the pen he had put down. A hoarse voice escaped through his heavy lips.

“You may go.”

“…Yes.”

Although Jacqueline looked bewildered, she nodded obediently.

She turned around immediately and left the office. Right now, just organizing her complicated thoughts was overwhelming enough. She had no energy to spare for his unusual behavior.

Click.

Only after the door closed did Windsor raise his head again. His gaze fixed on the closed door. His piercing eyes glared at the innocent door as if extremely angry.

“It would be better to endure until I find the fourteenth governess. Benjamin’s education gap shouldn’t be prolonged any further.”

A feeble excuse escaped his lips.

Noticing this fact, Windsor clicked his tongue and loosened his tie. It still felt suffocating, as if someone was choking him.

Nevertheless, Windsor couldn’t remove the root cause. He couldn’t punish the traitor. It was a very un-Windsor-like behavior.

***

“Miss Somerset.”

“Ah, Benjamin.”

Jacqueline, who had come downstairs, gently curved her lips towards the child looking up at her with round eyes.

Benjamin, watching her carefully, asked cautiously.

“Are you alright?”

It wasn’t the kind of worry a child should have. Jacqueline nodded, deliberately smiling brightly.

“Of course. I’m fine. How have you been these past two days?”

The two walked side by side to the living room. Even without forcing it, Jacqueline and Benjamin’s steps moved at the same pace.

The child, who had sighed in relief upon seeing her expression, moved his lips busily.

“Olivia came to visit again, can you believe it? She barged in without notice, and William and I were quite flustered. This morning, the Countess sent an apology card and a gift of paints with 52 colors.”

As Benjamin sat on the sofa, his short legs dangled. The child swung his legs back and forth.

“Paints?”

“Yes. Actually, I was going to collect cicada shells with Olivia, but since you weren’t here, we couldn’t shake off the nanny. So we had no choice but to paint together. Olivia enjoyed it very much, so I think that’s why they sent the paints as a gift.”

“Painting, you say? On the walls of your study room?”

“No. On canvas.”

Benjamin looked at her with an expression that suggested it was absurd. As if painting on walls wasn’t something a conscious child would do.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Jacqueline scratched the bridge of her nose. Sometimes there were moments like this. When it felt like the roles of teacher and student were reversed.

“Ahem. I see.”

“Olivia painted a cat. It’s the cat she keeps, named Maggie. A white cat with very long fur. It wears a silver bell around its neck.”

Benjamin decided not to mention that Olivia had rolled around on the floor laughing at Jacqueline’s painting. The child knew that sometimes it was better to remain silent.

Benjamin liked Jacqueline and didn’t want to make her sad. Especially now, when her face was clouded with worry.

So Benjamin deliberately put on an even more excited expression.

“Since Maggie is a white cat, Olivia said she didn’t need to color it, and while I was coloring, she ate all the cookies by herself.”

“Is that so? You must have been upset. By the way, I should check later to see how good Olivia’s painting skills are.”

“Yes, Miss Somerset. Olivia was very impressed when she saw my uncle’s painting. It seems that even to others, my uncle’s painting skills are excellent.”