Lord Preston's Secret Tutor (47 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 33
“I was worried Lord Preston might be bored, so I thought I’d stay with you.”
Jacqueline sat down confidently, claiming the long chaise lounge. Windsor’s lips twitched upward slightly. A faint breath escaped through his teeth.
It resembled a smile at first glance.
He crossed his arms and sank deeply into the chair. Jacqueline lay down, resting her head on her own arm.
“…….”
Once again, a thick silence settled over them. No—perhaps it wasn’t complete silence. Thunder still rumbled, rain poured down furiously, and Benjamin’s soft, even breathing could be heard.
Yet, to Windsor, it felt utterly quiet. Though not drowsy, he slowly closed his eyes, as if to fully savor this moment of peace.
The night deepened along with the relentless downpour. At some point, another steady breath joined the uneasy quiet.
Windsor pushed aside all other sounds and quietly focused his ear on that one. As he did so, even his own breathing gradually grew rhythmic.
All the world’s clamor could not disturb the tranquility within the room.
***
His throat ached. His consciousness, submerged in sleep, slowly drifted upward, stirred by the faint pain.
Windsor became aware he was waking and slowly opened his eyes. His clear gaze was so sharp it was hard to believe he had just been asleep.
It was dark all around, as if in the middle of the night. But Windsor knew it was already 6 a.m.—no matter what time he had gone to bed the previous day, he always awoke at six.
It was an old habit formed ever since he’d enlisted in the navy.
Despite the season drawing closer to summer, such deep darkness at this hour was likely due to the rain that had fallen all night long.
Though the sound of rain had ceased, the clouds still hung low. It might rain all day again.
Did he have any important engagements today?
As always, the moment he opened his eyes, Windsor recalled his schedule for the day. As he did so, his vision grew a little clearer.
Ah, the asset manager was due to arrive at 10 a.m. A representative from a religious institution would visit at 11 a.m.—they’d probably bring up donations. And in the afternoon……
At that moment—
“…….”
All the detailed plans filling his mind vanished instantly. In their place, Jacqueline’s peacefully sleeping face quietly took hold.
Only then did last night’s memory return.
So she never went back to her room after all.
Jacqueline lay curled tightly, breathing evenly with soft little snores. Windsor observed her carefully, as though examining a strange creature entirely unlike himself.
Being afraid of thunder was incomprehensible to him. Fear of the dark, or talking to a teddy bear—none of these things existed in his world.
Heh.
Suddenly, a quiet chuckle slipped through his teeth. He recalled how boldly she’d closed the door behind her and sunk into the chaise lounge.
Just then, he felt a sharp gaze on his cheek. Slowly, Windsor turned his head—and met wide, bright eyes.
It was Benjamin. The boy had evidently been awake for a while, watching him intently.
“Did you sleep well, Uncle?”
“Good morning.”
“Yes.”
Benjamin’s eyes sparkled shyly. He buried his face briefly against Colin’s belly, then slowly lifted his head again.
He stared fixedly at Windsor, as if doubting whether the smile he’d just seen on his uncle had been real.
Windsor had stayed by the boy’s side all through the stormy night. It had been an oddly unfamiliar feeling—especially since Benjamin had always believed his uncle found him a nuisance.
Maybe… he didn’t actually dislike me after all? Could it be… he actually likes me?
At that moment, Windsor slowly rose from the sofa. Benjamin tilted his head back to look up at him.
Windsor stared for a moment at the stuffed toy the boy clutched tightly, then spoke—his voice softer than usual,
perhaps out of consideration for Miss Somerset, who might still be sleeping.
“It’s time to get up.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
At those words, Benjamin, who had been fidgeting under the blanket, promptly sat upright. The movement made Jacqueline stir, and she curled her body into an even tighter ball.
Windsor glanced at her briefly, then returned his gaze to Benjamin. His look was gruff but not cold.
“You must be tired from last night’s banquet. It’s fine if you lie down a bit longer.”
“……Yes.”
Benjamin tilted his head slightly. It sounded less like something meant for him and more like a message for someone else.
Besides, no matter what had happened the previous day, Windsor always taught him to stick to a regular routine. Allowing him to sleep in was entirely unlike his uncle.
“Tell a maid to wake you in an hour.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Benjamin’s voice also dropped to a whisper. Windsor, who had begun walking slowly toward the door, suddenly stopped.
He walked over to the chaise lounge, took off his robe, and gently draped it over Jacqueline. Then he stood there, quietly gazing down at her.
Suddenly, he reached out. After brushing the hair that had fallen across her forehead behind her ear, he finally turned away.
“!”
Benjamin caught his breath in surprise. Eyes wide with disbelief at what he’d just witnessed, he clapped both hands over his mouth to keep from crying out.
Miss Somerset really was a fairy—there was no doubt about it!
Windsor, already turning to leave, paused at the door and looked back once more.
“Benjamin.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Benjamin nodded tightly, as if he’d never been startled at all.
“Thunder is merely an electrical discharge caused by unstable atmospheric conditions.”
Windsor almost added that there was nothing to be afraid of—but stopped himself. Benjamin nodded.
“……Yes, I know. Mr. Robinson taught us about it in science class.”
“That’s good enough.”
With that, Windsor left the room at once. The door closed behind him with a faint click.
Only then did Benjamin let out the breath he’d been holding and quietly wriggled back under the covers. He still couldn’t quite grasp what had just happened.
But Jacqueline’s breathing remained steady, and Colin’s soft belly pressed warmly against his cheek. Benjamin soon drifted back to sleep.
Sleeping in after so long felt sweeter than chocolate.
***
Benjamin’s eyes widened as he saw Jacqueline wearing an apron. She quickly gave instructions to Betty, who had followed her into the room.
“Today, we’ll be painting on that wall over there, Betty—please move the chair to the opposite side.”
“……Yes, Miss.”
Betty’s usually perfectly composed expression wavered slightly, but she quickly gathered herself and pushed the chair aside.
Jacqueline walked toward the now-clear ivory-colored wall and squeezed paint onto her palette. A soft puff of air escaped as she did.
Benjamin followed closely behind, eyes sparkling. Interesting things always happened when he was with Jacqueline—that’s why he loved this fairy-like teacher.
“Today, I’ll restore my honor.”
Jacqueline gripped her brush with determined solemnity and murmured confidently. She turned to Benjamin and said,
“We’re abandoning Fauvism and returning to Realism. Realism means depicting people and objects exactly as they are—for example, rendering facial expressions, wrinkles, and muscle movements with great detail and vitality.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin nodded earnestly, his face full of enthusiasm. Jacqueline gave a firm nod, then fixed her gaze on the blank wall.
“Let’s paint the myths of the continent here.”
“The myths of the continent?”
“Do you happen to know anything about the continent’s myths?”
Benjamin nodded confidently, as if the answer were obvious.
“Yes. Last year for my birthday, Uncle gave me the complete collection of the continent’s myths.”
“Oh, right… of course.”
Jacqueline’s eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance, and she shrugged her shoulders. Taking a step toward the wall, she said,
“I’ll paint the birth of the gods, and you, Benjamin, paint the war among the gods beside me.”
“……Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Though he had a nagging feeling his part sounded far more difficult, Benjamin silently nodded. He’d eat even stale cake without complaint if Jacqueline asked him to.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset!”
Both began painting with great solemnity. Even as she focused deeply on her work, Jacqueline continued speaking intermittently—never forgetting she was Benjamin’s tutor.
“There’s a reason why ‘Myths of the Continent’ has become the bestselling gift for five-year-olds. You can find references to these myths everywhere in daily life—not just in frescoes on cathedral ceilings or carvings on ancient buildings. Almost any household will have at least one or two items tied to the myths.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin responded absently, concentrating fully on his own painting. Unlike the birth of the gods, the war among the gods involved far too many details to manage:
intense facial expressions, dynamic muscle movements, and a variety of different weapons. He struggled to recall scenes from the book and reproduce them accurately.
“The gods of the continent are remarkably human—they fall in love, feel jealousy, and even betray one another. That’s why artists’ imaginations have produced such diverse works based on these myths.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
“As you know, the continent’s myths remain one of artists’ favorite subjects. Even after thousands of years, new myth-inspired artworks continue to appear. Understanding the myths themselves helps you appreciate these works more fully.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
“Hmm… Benjamin, are you even listening to me?”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Jacqueline glanced sideways at him suspiciously. His replies suddenly felt strangely lifeless compared to usual.
Then, as if realizing why, she offered gentle advice in a kind voice,
“You don’t need to rush, Benjamin. Remember what I said—you’re already quite skilled for your age. It’s just that I’m exceptionally talented, so the comparison isn’t entirely fair…”
“The five-legged dog apparently wasn’t from Benjamin’s painting after all.”
At that moment, a detached voice came from behind them.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
2 Comments
Chapter Comments (71)
aaww, His first playmate. I believe Jacqueline once said that Olivia came from a family of influence. We will never know, it might help them in the future
Awwwwwww~ So cute Benjamin,. I feel like they might develop feelings soon after with Olivia😆 when they grow up
The Devil of the Black Fleet being an art critique😆😆😆
…first playdate with a friend 🙂🙂🙂
Inline Comments (1253)
“But that’s terribly inefficient.”
Very Windsor-coded 😅 i’m glad he has Jacqueline as his governess. I hope he could enjoy his childhood more ❤️
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
and also this cute little baby. he loves his governess a little bit too much, doesn’t he? 😆
Shouldn’t she then want to improve? So why was she angry?
My goodness. His ‘T’ is trully 100%. He has no ‘F’ at all in his personality 💁🏻♀️
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TehShy
Me to Benjamin…eyes wide…clapped both hands over the mouth to keep from squealing🤭🤭🤭
Ashiel_26
AHAHAAHAHAHAHA the five-legged dog😆