For a brief moment, Windsor carefully observed the emotions flitting across her face. While he couldn’t name all of those emotions, they didn’t seem to be pleasant ones.

After all, she who habitually smiled upon seeing him unconsciously averted her gaze.

“……”

Windsor glanced at her with cold eyes and then moved on. He passed by her without even a word of greeting.

“!”

Jacqueline turned her head to follow him with wide eyes. And she stared at Windsor’s receding back.

Her eyes wavered. Her shoulders trembled faintly. Her parted lips closed tightly.

Roman looked back and forth between the two with a meaningful expression. Windsor was frighteningly cold, and Jacqueline… well.

Unfortunately, Roman, who had been rolling around in the military, didn’t have the skill to read the delicate hearts of women.

“Mr. Knox is in the reception room.”

Roman said that and followed after Windsor. She, who had unknowingly clenched her fists, quietly took a breath and stepped forward.

When Jacqueline opened the door to the reception room, Evan stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting. He was an excellent gentleman and never lost his politeness anywhere, anytime.

“It’s been a while, Miss Somerset.”

“Indeed it has, Mr. Knox.”

“You’re dazzlingly beautiful today as well. Even the summer sun would pale in comparison.”

A pause.

Jacqueline, who had been walking with a gloomy attitude, instantly put on an elegant expression. She nodded gracefully and took a seat.

“Thank you, Mr. Knox.”

“Not at all. Oh, we have 19 minutes left.”

“Pardon?”

Jacqueline reflexively asked with wide eyes. Evan laughed pleasantly.

“It seems the rumors about Lord Preston being interested in Benjamin’s education are true. 22 minutes, ah, now 18 minutes left. Anyway, he said Benjamin’s afternoon lesson will start soon, and asked to finish our conversation before that.”

“Ah……”

Jacqueline unknowingly let out a bewildered groan. And she glanced at the wall clock.

There was not 18 minutes, but 1 hour and 18 minutes left until the next lesson. She checked the clock once more, but she hadn’t misread it.

Then there was only one answer: Windsor had miscalculated the time.

How strange. For someone who’s usually so precise.

However, Jacqueline wasn’t cruel enough to point out her employer’s mistake to others. Even if she was angry at being ignored by him.

She smiled brightly and turned her gaze to Evan.

“What did you want to see me about, Mr. Knox? Oh, I heard you were appointed as Lord Preston’s defense attorney this time. I didn’t think you would accept this job…”

Evan replied casually as he took out documents from his bag.

“I owe a lot to the Grand Duchess Chamberlain. She introduced me to many people when I was setting up the publishing house. I’m glad I can help her in return.”

“But the royal legal team is…”

Jacqueline trailed off with a dark expression. Evan gave her a thoughtful look, as if he knew exactly what she was going to say.

“If I had been worried about my father, I wouldn’t have started a publishing house in the first place. Miss Somerset, have I ever told you about my dream?”

“No.”

“Since I was young, I wanted to be a novelist.”

“A novelist?”

Jacqueline made a surprised expression at the unexpected words. Evan’s eyes curved like a clear summer sky. Suddenly, it felt like a gentle breeze was blowing.

He was always an unchanging person. Kind, gentle, and friendly. Being by his side would always feel as warm and comfortable as an early summer afternoon.

“Of course, I’ve never told my father about it. No, not just my father, but anyone.”

“I can imagine.”

Jacqueline nodded understandingly, thinking of the hot-tempered Count Knox. Evan laughed out loud.

Belatedly, she waved her hand with an embarrassed expression.

“I didn’t mean… It’s not about Count Knox… It’s just that noble children are generally like that. Continuing the family line takes priority over what they want to do.”

Suddenly, she let out a soft groan, “Ah.” Benjamin would probably be the same. The child’s future was already decided.

The next Marquess Preston.

Benjamin didn’t even have the luxury to dream. This wasn’t limited to just Benjamin.

However, the fact that it felt particularly bitter was because it was Benjamin’s life. It was pitiful that the life of this lovable child was set like a rail.

“Everyone knows about my father’s personality, so feel free to speak comfortably. When I decided to become a novelist and left home, I was already disowned by my father. He said he never wanted to see my face again. So there’s nothing to lose by arguing for the opposite side. What could be worse than being disowned?”

“Hmm… You must have had a hard time.”

After pondering for a moment, Jacqueline uttered a consolation that seemed neither here nor there, and then tightly closed her lips. Evan checked the clock and handed her the documents.

“14 minutes left.”

“What is this?”

Jacqueline looked at him with a puzzled expression. Evan replied nonchalantly.

“It’s a contract.”

“A contract?”

“A contract for the book Miss Somerset will write. Let’s start by publishing a book on etiquette in high society. If the response is good, we can discuss a sequel.”

After skimming through the contents, Jacqueline took the pen in her hand.

“Do I sign here?”

At those words, Evan slightly furrowed his brow. He advised with a serious expression, as if he was genuinely concerned for Jacqueline.

“It’s better to examine contracts more carefully before signing, Miss Somerset. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.”

“But Mr. Knox is a trustworthy person.”

“!”

Evan, who was about to say something, closed his mouth. He stared blankly at Jacqueline as if caught off guard.

Realizing her mistake, she added as if making an excuse.

“No, I mean… Mr. Knox was a lawyer, so you must have drafted the contract well. Besides, you wouldn’t try to deceive someone you know. And I don’t have any assets to be swindled out of. Isn’t the profit distribution quite generous?”

“Miss Somerset. I’d like to advise you that you shouldn’t trust someone unconditionally just because you know them. Fraud cases occur much more frequently between acquaintances than complete strangers. However.”

Evan paused there and smiled brightly.

“I see. I won’t betray Miss Somerset’s trust. Not for the rest of my life.”

With those words, Evan gazed at her intently. A faint heat flickered in his blue eyes. The emotion contained within couldn’t be mistaken.

Nor the weight of the word ‘lifetime’.

However, Jacqueline pretended not to notice anything and quietly lowered her gaze. Then she signed the contract. The lingering gaze fell away.

Evan checked the clock only after dividing the contract into two copies.

“6 minutes left. I’ll take my leave for today. I can’t interfere with Miss Somerset’s work. Please start working on the manuscript.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Jacqueline stood up to see him off. Then she paused and lowered her gaze.

A familiar pair of glasses lay on the table. Glasses worn for style by a man with good eyesight.

She quietly reached out and grasped the glasses. And she stared at them blankly. For a man, glasses were just a cumbersome object not essential to life.

Something that didn’t matter if lost.

Suddenly, she thought that her existence was like these glasses. To him, Jacqueline was someone who could be there or not, it didn’t matter either way.

That’s why his attitude could change overnight.

Just as Jacqueline was biting her lower lip,

“Miss Somerset?”

“Yes…? Ah.”

Belatedly noticing Evan’s presence looking at her, she shook her head saying, “It’s nothing.”

The two headed to the entrance side by side. Evan suddenly turned to her.

“When are you free next time? I’d like to have a meal together. I also want to have a relaxed conversation.”

Jacqueline faltered at the attack that came in a moment of carelessness. This is why straightforward people were hard to deal with.

Once again averting her gaze, she gave an awkward smile. Otherwise, she felt she might succumb to his kind gaze.

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll be busy for a while.”

At her polite refusal, Evan looked hurt. But only for a moment, he soon smiled again like a roly-poly toy that springs back up when knocked down.

“I suppose so. You’ll be busy writing the manuscript for a while. And you have your governess duties too. Then I’ll have to visit Preston Manor more often.”

“Mr. Knox…”

“I’ll be going now.”

Evan cut off her words rather ungentlemanly and said goodbye. Even for someone as resilient as him, if he were rejected once more, it might take quite a long time to get back up this time.

“Ah.”

Then he turned to her with an expression as if he suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, could you be a witness for Lord Preston in this trial? Your testimony as the current governess would be quite important to the court.”

“!”

Jacqueline’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. She just opened and closed her mouth with a bewildered expression.

At that moment, her mother’s face flashed in her mind. If she became a witness for Windsor, her mother would be overcome with a terrible sense of betrayal. She might even suffer from severe depression that medication couldn’t alleviate.

―I only have you, Jackie. You’re not thinking of finishing me off like this, are you?

She could almost hear her sharp voice. Her head hurt. Jacqueline bit her lower lip with a pale face.

“……”

When she didn’t give any answer, Evan nodded with a generous expression.

“I understand, Miss Somerset. It’s a difficult proposal to decide on easily. I’ll give you time, so please think it over carefully.”

Evan turned his back. At that moment.

“No.”

Jacqueline spoke in a firm voice. Evan turned to look at her with a puzzled expression.

Jacqueline answered while clenching her trembling fist. Her neck strained as she swallowed the rising emotions, but she didn’t notice.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Knox. I don’t think I can be a witness for Lord Preston.”

“…Is that so?”

Evan made a puzzled expression. His gaze, scrutinizing her, seemed to be gauging if there was some problem between Jacqueline and Windsor.

Then he smiled brightly. As if he was always on Jacqueline’s side.