Roman leaned forward eagerly, as if truly curious. Windsor’s brow furrowed deeper as the distance between them decreased.

“If I die, Benjamin will lose his last guardian.”

“Ah. And the Preston family will fall into the hands of the royal family.”

Roman nodded as if he finally understood. He leaned back and frowned.

“I don’t understand why the noble world is so complicated. If someone seems like an enemy, just kill them. Everyone’s smiling and laughing on the outside, so I can’t tell who’s an enemy or not. My head’s about to explode. Don’t you feel the same, Duke?”

It was a simple and straightforward complaint, typical of Roman. For someone who rushed out smiling when naval battles broke out, the insidiousness of the noble world must have seemed frustrating.

But instead of answering, Windsor held out one hand. Roman shook his head and placed a bundle of documents in his hand.

Even in the shaking carriage, Windsor sat up straight and lowered his gaze to the papers in his hand.

Roman added an explanation.

“I investigated Miss Jacqueline Somerset, but so far it seems she has had no contact with the royal family. The royal side must still be assessing the situation.”

The light tone from earlier disappeared, replaced by a rather serious voice.

“She graduated from Bristol Girls’ Boarding School with excellent grades, and her reputation is quite good. Due to her father’s business failure, she couldn’t debut in society and ended up where she is now, but she’s clearly a young lady of high culture and education. I believe she’s sufficiently qualified as a governess.”

Roman Miller was Windsor’s direct subordinate during his navy days. He was also the only person Windsor brought with him when he came to the Preston mansion.

Though he sometimes seemed loose in a way unbefitting a soldier, he was a man you could rely on in crucial moments. In other words, if you took away that sloppy personality, he was a perfect subordinate.

“Even for an earl’s family, to collapse so suddenly. The ways of the world are truly unpredictable. She must have been a promising young lady once, but now she’s reduced to being a governess. Don’t you think so?”

Roman asked as if seeking agreement, but Windsor’s lips remained sealed. Used to his superior’s silence, Roman smoothly changed the subject.

“I’ll keep a close watch on Miss Jacqueline Somerset’s movements. It won’t be long before His Majesty the King makes separate contact.”

“The question is how long it will take this time. I hope the educational gap won’t be too long.”

“It shouldn’t be more than a month or two, right? No governess has ever rejected His Majesty’s offer before. What good is an impressive letter of introduction? They all fall for His Majesty’s words in an instant. Is Miss Somerset the twelfth or thirteenth?”

The carriage, which had been gradually slowing down, came to a complete stop. Roman got out first and held the door with one hand. His other hand was behind his back.

Windsor glanced at him with a slightly mocking look, as he had already reverted to his poised assistant demeanor. He stretched out his long legs and stepped out of the carriage.

“Even the ninth governess attempted to kidnap Benjamin, though she failed.”

Windsor frowned slightly as he buttoned his jacket. As if to say, the chatter still wasn’t over?

Windsor took heavy steps towards the mansion. William was waiting for them in front of the entrance.

“Welcome back, master. It’s been a while, Mr. Roman.”

Roman, who had been looking around with exaggerated movements, gave a light greeting to the butler.

“Have you been well, William? It’s always so quiet here. Like a mouse has died…”

“Kyaaaa!”

Before Roman could finish his sentence, a sharp scream rang out. The sound instantly shook the quiet mansion.

“…”

For a moment, Roman and Windsor’s gazes met. William, who had turned around with a startled face, muttered with a confused expression.

“Young Master Benjamin is on the second floor…”

“What did you say!”

Roman’s eyes widened. Windsor also furrowed his brow. Both men recalled the same incident. The ninth governess, acting on the king’s instructions, had attempted to kidnap Benjamin.

The next moment, Windsor and Roman sprang into action simultaneously. It was unheard of for a nobleman to run, but no one reproached Windsor.

By the time they reached the stairs leading to the second floor, Roman was in the lead, but when they finished climbing the stairs, Windsor had somehow overtaken him.

Still a monster, I see.

Roman clicked his tongue as he watched Windsor’s back disappear in the blink of an eye. It seemed his physical prowess hadn’t diminished at all despite leaving the navy years ago.

Windsor headed straight for Benjamin’s room. As soon as he turned the corner, he saw a maid sitting on the floor.

Covering her mouth with both hands, she stared into the room with a shocked expression. A tray with tea lay scattered carelessly at her feet.

Damn it.

Windsor swallowed the curse that was rising in his throat. Once upon a time, he had lived with such words on his tongue, but since becoming the Duke of Preston, he had never uttered them aloud.

Suddenly, he recalled Jacqueline’s face, staring at him intently with emerald eyes.

I heard she hadn’t made contact with the king yet.

It seemed he had let his guard down, uncharacteristically. He hadn’t expected something like this to happen in just one day. Clicking his tongue softly, he quickly crossed the corridor.

“Move aside!”

As Windsor entered the room, leaping over the maid at the door.

“…”

He stopped in his tracks. Round green eyes and clear brown eyes were staring at him.

Blink, blink.

“Duke, what’s the matter…!”

Roman arrived a beat late. Pushing aside the maid and entering the room, he clamped his mouth shut just as Windsor had done moments ago.

“Uncle.”

Benjamin, who had been sitting on the floor, slowly stood up. As if finally gaining a sense of reality, a troubled look flashed across the child’s eyes.

Benjamin hunched his shoulders and lowered his head. His small hands tightly gripped his pants.

Seeing this, Jacqueline also stood up. She stepped forward as if to protect Benjamin and faced Windsor.

Windsor’s gaze, which had been moving slowly, passed over the child and stopped on her.

“What in the world…?”

Roman, who had belatedly realized what had happened in the room, opened his eyes wide with a blank expression.

Windsor met Jacqueline’s gaze as she looked at him confidently. Her emerald eyes hadn’t lost any of their light.

Windsor’s gaze turned back to the wall. The wall that was now mottled with various colors.

He pressed his temples firmly, then straightened his posture and spoke.

“What is all this, Miss Somerset? If I remember correctly, this morning’s lesson was supposed to be a discussion on new trends in art, or am I mistaken?”

“No, Lord Preston. You remember correctly. You have an excellent memory.”

Jacqueline straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin slightly. A confident voice flowed from between her teeth.

“The kingdom’s painting has evolved from realism and impressionism to today’s fauvism. There are minor branches within these, but those three trends form the main current. I thought it would be better to show Benjamin directly rather than explaining a hundred times with words, so we did a practical exercise together.”

“A practical exercise, you say, Miss Somerset?”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Windsor’s voice seemed to have gotten a bit lower. As ominous as if it were coming from the bottom of a well.

“Yes, Lord Preston. As you know, practical exercises are a very important part of the educational process. Just as explaining how to ride a horse a hundred times is not as helpful as actually riding once, the same applies to art. I thought it would be more helpful to experience fauvism techniques directly rather than explaining them a hundred times verbally. At boarding school, they also place great emphasis on practical skills.”

“Is Miss Somerset’s idea of a practical exercise done on walls rather than canvases?”

At those words, Jacqueline turned slightly to look behind her. She saw the lovely wall decorated with colorful pictures. The corners of her mouth turned up.

“Doesn’t it look much more like a child’s room now?”

“Miss Somerset.”

At the same time, Benjamin’s shoulders flinched. The child’s gaze sank endlessly downward. To the deep sea, and even deeper.

“Lord Preston. Shall we discuss the rest of this separately? I don’t think a conversation between the primary caregiver and the educator is appropriate in front of the child.”

Windsor’s brow furrowed at her mischievous suggestion. Jacqueline glanced at Benjamin with a smiling face.

Only then did Windsor notice Benjamin standing behind her. The child’s shoulders drooped as if he had been scolded. His tightly pressed lips were as red as blood from the force.

Understanding Jacqueline’s meaning, he quietly took a deep breath. Then he slowly turned around.

“Very well. Come to my room in thirty minutes, Miss Somerset.”

“Thirty minutes from now? Not right away?”

Jacqueline opened her eyes wide with a puzzled expression. Windsor replied without looking back.

“Judging by the paint on Miss Somerset’s dress, I might find it difficult to control my emotions. For a rational conversation, I suggest you change into different clothes.”

“Yes, I understand, Lord Preston.”

Windsor turned his back and left the room. The maid, who had finally come to her senses, busied herself picking up the dropped teacups.

Mrs. Ritz sent all the maids who had gathered due to the commotion back to their places and scolded the maid who had screamed.

“To scream over something so trivial. How many times have I told you that a maid of the Preston mansion must remain calm no matter what happens!”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ritz.”

Glancing around the room one last time, Roman followed Windsor and whispered quietly.

“What an exasperating young lady.”

“…”

“She had a good reputation among both teachers and students, so I wonder what happened in the past three years? Did her mindset change when the earl’s family went bankrupt? Perhaps she decided to go all out, having nothing left to lose?”

Windsor gave him a cold look, and the sharp-witted Roman promptly shut his mouth. As if wary of the sparks flying his way.

The brief silence was broken soon after they arrived at the office. Standing in front of the desk, Roman began in a rather serious tone.

“An invitation has arrived from the royal family.”

Windsor’s eyes turned cold. As ruthless as a soldier just before setting sail.

Roman respected his superior. He had dealt with many superiors before, but he had never seen anyone as rational and cool-headed as Windsor.

Even when their patrol ship discovered a merchant vessel surrounded by ten pirate ships, he didn’t lose his composure.

His terrified subordinates clamored that they should wait for allied support, but Windsor directed the operation from the front.

The sight of a single warship destroying ten pirate ships one by one was like a scene from hell. Theoretically, it was an impossible feat.