Lord Preston's Secret Tutor (47 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 39
“No, I…”
Just as she was about to refuse, Evan smiled even more brightly.
“I believe Miss Somerset is well aware that the status of the middle class has risen considerably these days.”
Caught off guard by his deft interruption, Jacqueline once again wore an expression of surprise. She still knew so little about Evan.
“Yes.”
“They aspire to aristocratic society—they long to become part of it, yet simultaneously fear being fully accepted into it.”
“Are you perhaps referring to the complicated etiquette of aristocratic society?”
At her words, Evan’s eyes sparkled. His fondness for her seemed to rise once more.
Jacqueline belatedly leaned back with a soft “Oops,” but Evan’s goodwill showed no sign of waning. He moved forward just as much as she had pulled away.
As a result, the distance between them remained exactly as it had been at first.
“Precisely. That’s why I plan to publish a book explaining aristocratic etiquette specifically for the middle class.”
“Oh…”
Jacqueline blinked blankly, caught completely off guard. It was an idea she’d never once considered—but admittedly, it sounded quite tempting.
“They wish to enter aristocratic society, yet in reality, they hesitate to take that step because of its intricate etiquette. They understand better than anyone that half-learned, clumsy manners bring nothing but disgrace.”
“I recently read an article stating that the number of middle-class attendees at social gatherings has increased exponentially. Wealthy merchants are now being invited to aristocratic-hosted events or even hosting such gatherings themselves.”
“Exactly. And that’s precisely when they’ll need aristocratic etiquette—regardless of gender. This book will directly target that desire.”
“So you’re asking me to write it, then.”
Evan’s lips curled upward. A self-assured smile spread across his face.
“I dare say this book will surely succeed. Who could possibly resist buying a systematic guide to aristocratic etiquette? It’s the perfect business opportunity to satisfy the middle class’s vanity. And if the book succeeds, Miss Somerset will earn a considerable sum herself.”
It was an enticing offer. The Jacqueline of the past would have nodded without hesitation.
But Jacqueline, who had weathered countless trials, wasn’t so easily swayed. High risk, high reward—such ventures always came with commensurate dangers.
She narrowed her eyes and fixed Evan with an intense glare.
“But the moment I do, I’ll become public enemy number one in aristocratic society. Just think—why did their etiquette become so unnecessarily complex and burdensome? Because they never intended to share their culture with outsiders. To them, I’d be nothing short of a traitor.”
“Hmm…”
Evan let out an awkward groan, looking as though she’d pointed out something he’d never considered, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline’s voice grew sharper.
“Or is that precisely why? Since no one else would dare take on this task, you assumed the ‘impoverished noblewoman’ with nothing to lose would be the perfect candidate?”
“No!”
Evan waved his hands in flustered denial, yet Jacqueline’s piercing gaze remained unrelenting.
“I only wished to help Miss Somerset through this opportunity… Though admittedly, I also hoped I could use the book as an excuse to see Miss Somerset more often.”
His candid admission, laying bare his ulterior motive, softened Jacqueline’s expression. There was no doubt he spoke sincerely.
Upon careful reflection, Evan’s proposal wasn’t bad at all—indeed, it might even benefit her greatly. If the book succeeded as he claimed, she stood to earn a substantial amount.
Moreover, it wasn’t even a difficult task for her. Teaching Windsor already covered much of the same material—it would simply be a matter of formalizing all the little lectures she’d given him.
Having made up her mind, Jacqueline looked at Evan with bright eyes.
“Would it be acceptable to publish under a pseudonym?”
“!”
At her words, Evan slapped his knee in sudden realization. The gloom in his eyes instantly lifted with renewed vitality.
“That’s a brilliant idea! How could I not have thought of that myself? Yes, let’s do it that way.”
“But then, Mr. Knox, you might become the public enemy instead—simply for publishing such a book. You might even face pressure to reveal the author’s identity.”
Despite her warning, Evan simply smiled gently, his expression as calm as ever.
“Thank you for worrying about me, Miss Somerset. But every business venture carries some risk—and I’ve already anticipated this possibility. It won’t be a problem at all.”
Jacqueline stared silently at his confident face, looking at him with surprise and unfamiliarity—as if she were seeing a new side of him.
Regardless of whether she could accept his goodwill, Evan was clearly trustworthy—a man of honor and a true gentleman. She had no reason to believe he’d betray her.
After a moment, Jacqueline nodded.
“Alright, then. Let’s go ahead with that. When should we draw up the contract? I prefer something written down over a verbal agreement.”
She replied with a bright smile. Watching her, Evan narrowed his eyes slightly—as if dazzled once again, just like on the night they first danced together.
***
Roman narrowed his eyes as he stared at Windsor. His suspicious gaze lingered on Windsor’s face for a long time.
Though the carriage rattled and swayed, Roman’s stare never wavered. Finally unable to contain himself, he abruptly spoke.
“What is that?”
His eyes shifted to Windsor’s hand—clutched within it was something no larger than a palm.
The problem was that it was a beautifully wrapped gift—and the wrapping paper was pink, of all colors. The shade most utterly unfitting for Windsor in the entire world.
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like ‘nothing.’ My lord, could it be you’ve been secretly meeting with a young lady behind my back?”
“Nonsense.”
“No, seriously—what exactly is it?”
Windsor, annoyed, shoved the gift into his pocket. Yet Roman’s doubtful gaze remained fixed—now squarely on Windsor’s pocket.
Windsor turned his head toward the window as if to escape Roman’s nagging and smoothly changed the subject.
“Look for another lawyer.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The lawyer they’d met today had failed to meet Windsor’s expectations. The man, with two sharply defined partings in his hair, had trembled like an aspen before the Marquess of Preston.
He’d been so nervous he couldn’t utter a single coherent sentence before Windsor stood to leave.
“I—I graduated from the Royal University’s School of Law… with— with—with outstanding, outstanding, outstanding grades…”
Remembering him, Windsor frowned and clicked his tongue in irritation. A complaint slipped out before he could stop it.
“How could someone so tongue-tied possibly argue a case in court?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Roman let out a long sigh. It had been a mistake to let Windsor meet the lawyer without prior vetting, based solely on the claim that he was untouched by the King’s influence.
With an embarrassed expression, he added as if in defense,
“I verified his elite educational background—checked his alma mater and academic records—but in my haste, I neglected to speak with him beforehand. That was my oversight. I’ll ensure this doesn’t happen again…”
“Stop the carriage.”
“Huh? Ah—yes, my lord.”
At Windsor’s command, Roman cut himself off mid-sentence and hastily rapped on the carriage wall. The slowly moving carriage quickly came to a halt.
Windsor’s gaze turned toward the window. Noticing his intense fixation on something outside, Roman followed his line of sight.
His eyes widened instantly. Seated by a café window bathed in late spring sunlight was a familiar young woman.
“That young lady…”
It was Jacqueline Somerset. She was sitting across from a young man—and both burst into laughter at the same time.
“A perfect match.”
Roman murmured absentmindedly, then quickly fell silent. The atmosphere around Windsor had suddenly turned icy-cold—just like before a naval engagement, the air now sharp and ominous.
Gulp.
Roman unconsciously swallowed dryly. This was precisely the chilling aura that had earned Windsor the nickname “The Devil of the Black Fleet.”
An atmosphere so sharp it felt as if anything touched would be instantly cut.
Why?
Frowning, Roman belatedly realized the reason. His expression turned meaningful as he lowered his voice.
“I’ll find out who that young man is—whether he’s connected to the King or not. It’s about the time His Majesty would begin approaching the new governess.”
“Never mind.”
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, Roman’s eyes widened in shock. Windsor had already turned back inside the carriage. His face was utterly expressionless, frozen in cold rigidity.
“Evan Knox.”
“…”
“That’s his name.”
Roman quickly searched his memory—but found nothing. Though the surname “Knox” felt vaguely unsettling, “Evan Knox” didn’t match any data he had.
“Who is that?”
Roman finally returned the question—but Windsor offered no reply. Just as Roman’s expression turned puzzled, Windsor spoke again, cutting off any follow-up questions.
“Let’s go.”
Feeling the icy chill filling the carriage, Roman instinctively hunched his shoulders before nodding. He turned toward the driver’s hatch and gave the order to depart.
The halted carriage slowly began to move once more.
Evan Knox.
Windsor softly repeated the name under his breath. He was the complete opposite of him—a man whose bright, shadowless smile clung stubbornly like a mirage.
And so did Jacqueline’s face as she smiled radiantly at him.
“A perfect match.”
Roman had been right. Had Earl Somerset not gone bankrupt, the two would likely be married by now.
Married.
“…”
Windsor unconsciously clenched his fist. He couldn’t explain why—but an unpleasant feeling coiled around his feet like thick, damp fog, sticky and suffocating.
He turned his eyes back toward the window. Late spring sunlight painted the streets in brilliant hues.
Amid that light, Jacqueline’s face resurfaced—the way she’d smiled at Evan like spring sunshine itself.
She had smiled wholeheartedly not only at Windsor but also at Evan with equal warmth. Suddenly, his stomach twisted. A hot lump surged up his throat.
“Roman Miller.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Investigate Miss Somerset more thoroughly.”
“More thoroughly… meaning?”
Roman asked cautiously—an uncharacteristic hesitance in his tone. Windsor’s expression as he ordered the investigation of Jacqueline Somerset, instead of Evan Knox, seemed far from ordinary.
His eyes alone were cold and sharp enough to slaughter enemies on sight.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
3 Comments
Chapter Comments (54)
One after another, they were just happy then another second the sad news of her mother.. 🙁
…jealousy, that destructive emotion that makes you grouchy😬😬😬
I hope her mother’s alright. Fl has been through so much already.
Inline Comments (1210)
There had been no such signs. Yet, he felt it might be better to dismiss Jacquel
Oh man, dont be so petty of a man than you’d rather dismiss her because of jealousy
If so, that was her misunderstanding. Windsor truly didn’t care who she met.
the denial stage when seconds before he was already thinking of dismissing her lol
“My mother is critically ill. I must go—right away. I know I’m failing in my dut
I hope her mother gets better and that he can decipher his feelings.
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
Jane
I just hope that she wont pour put those frustration to Jacqueline and be rude towards her. Because technically, she’s innocent
TehShy
…No, Roman you fool…why did you have to say that🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Ashiel_26
UGH! I felt his heart too seing her with another man. 😭