Chapter : 21
“Hmm.”
Jacqueline walked on in silence, lost in thought. Sometimes this happened—moments when his former life surfaced without warning.
They must have been days she could never even imagine. Drifting across a vast, endless sea, locked in fierce battles with pirates.
Perhaps, even now, he still stood in the middle of a battlefield. A place where guns and blades were more familiar than staffs and gloves.
“Fortunately for Sir Preston, I happen to be quite meticulous.”
Jacqueline quickened her pace with small, brisk steps to match him. Unlike a child’s stride, Windsor’s pace was rather fast.
“I’m quite good at keeping track of things other people lose.”
A glance.
His gaze brushed against her cheek.
At some point, her steps slowed. She no longer needed to hurry—yet somehow, they continued walking side by side.
“Still, I think you should pay a little more attention to Benjamin, Sir Preston. Of course, you’re already doing your best, but… it seems he likes you quite a bit.”
Windsor listened to her nagging as he walked toward the carriage waiting in the distance.
The murmurs surrounding them hadn’t changed at all since they first arrived at the department store, but to him, only Jacqueline’s voice reached his ears.
It wasn’t unpleasant at all.
Teacher Somerset really must be a fairy.
Benjamin stole glances at Windsor, marveling inwardly. He simply couldn’t believe this situation—having tea with his uncle.
He had lived with him for two years now, yet not once had they shared a meal or even tea together.
So Benjamin lightly pinched his own cheek, wondering if he might be dreaming.
Ouch.
Suppressing a groan, the boy looked at Windsor again—or rather, it would be more accurate to say he had never taken his eyes off him.
Even as he drank his lemonade, he kept sneaking glances.
Even the way his uncle drank tea was precise and controlled. Benjamin recalled an old newspaper article about him and imagined Windsor drinking tea aboard a ship.
On a deck rocked by violent waves, calmly sipping tea—it suited him perfectly.
He’d look like the devil of the Black Fleet. Pirates would flee with their tails between their legs at the mere sight of him.
“Before the banquet, there’s something I need to tell you both.”
At that moment, Jacqueline spoke in an unusually serious tone. Only then did Benjamin’s gaze finally shift away from Windsor and toward her.
“A banquet isn’t just a place for socializing. It’s a battlefield without gunfire. It’s where people who like you and people who dislike you all gather in one place.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset.”
Benjamin nodded eagerly like a diligent student. Windsor, now quite adept at drinking tea properly, cast a quiet gaze toward her.
He couldn’t guess what she was getting at. Jacqueline was still as unpredictable as ever.
“After Sir Jeffrey Preston passed away… I’m sorry, Benjamin. Your father’s death is truly regrettable.”
“I’m alright, teacher.”
Benjamin answered maturely. Jacqueline looked at him with gentle concern and gave a small nod, hoping that someday he truly would be.
“After that incident, the two of you stayed in your territory for quite some time. You probably didn’t have many chances to interact with the nobles of the capital. Unlike provincial nobles… the capital’s nobles are, well, rather… difficult.”
Choosing her words carefully, Jacqueline swallowed the word insidious before it reached her lips.
“Benjamin, you’re the main figure of this banquet. You’ll likely have many opportunities to greet the attendees. I’ll tell you a few precautions now, so listen carefully.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset.”
Benjamin looked at her with bright, intelligent eyes—then briefly glanced at Windsor beside him, wondering why his uncle was present.
Ah.
He nodded inwardly, recalling a previous lesson. Windsor had observed Jacqueline’s class then as well.
Uncle still doesn’t trust Teacher Somerset. I’ll work hard and restore her reputation.
Firm in his resolve, Benjamin fixed his gaze on Jacqueline with determination.
“I looked over the guest list, and there are a few people you should be careful around.”
As she spoke, Jacqueline briefly glanced at Windsor. Reclining comfortably with one leg crossed and a glass in hand, he listened attentively.
“Yes, Teacher Somerset!”
Seeing Benjamin so full of enthusiasm, she couldn’t help but smile slightly. An eager student was always better than one who pretended not to listen.
“Good. Now, Benjamin—remember this carefully.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset!”
“First, Baron and Baroness Landers. They lost their beloved youngest daughter a few years ago. It was a tragic accident—she drowned while playing in the river. So it’s best not to ask them about their children.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset. I won’t mention children in front of them.”
Benjamin nodded, his expression turning sympathetic.
“And next…”
Jacqueline scanned the list again.
“Baron Heinz will also be attending. I heard that a business he invested in a few years ago hasn’t been going well, so he’s quite disheartened. Avoid talking about business with him. Instead, he loves horse racing. If you talk about horses, he’ll go on for hours. You could ask about one of his horses—what was the name… ah, yes, Thunderbolt.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset. I’ll remember.”
“And… hmm.”
Her eyes stopped midway down the list.
Windsor, who had been idly looking at the table, shifted his gaze toward her. Seeing the slight crease on her nose, his eyes narrowed faintly.
“Count Soltrain is… well…”
Jacqueline chose her words more carefully than ever. Finally, she said:
“It’s best not to get involved with him if you can help it.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset.”
Benjamin nodded dutifully.
“Why is that?”
The question came from Windsor.
Benjamin’s head darted back and forth between the two. He hadn’t expected Windsor—whom he thought was merely observing—to speak.
Worried, the boy wondered if his uncle might be pressuring Jacqueline.
“Well… his character isn’t exactly… admirable.”
Having abandoned any attempt at sugarcoating, Jacqueline looked oddly refreshed after saying it.
“He’s always looking for something to pick at. More than a few people have suffered because of him. But we can’t simply leave him off the invitation list—he is a count, after all. If I had to compare him to something… he’s like raisins in bread. You’d rather they weren’t there, but somehow, they always are.”
Benjamin nodded again—then silently decided not to mention that he actually liked raisins. He didn’t want to disappoint her.
“It’s best to deal with him carefully and avoid ruining the atmosphere. There’s no need to turn a small enemy into a big one.”
“You’re wrong.”
At that moment, Windsor refuted her.
Benjamin’s eyes widened as he quickly turned his head again, his gaze anxiously bouncing between them.
“My advice is wrong?”
Sure enough, Jacqueline’s tone sharpened slightly.
Benjamin noticed—but Windsor did not. The only one fidgeting nervously was the boy.
Windsor slowly set down his teacup. Clink.
A faint sound echoed.
He’s a clever student who never forgets what he learns.
Jacqueline quickly suppressed the satisfied smile that almost formed and shot Windsor a challenging look.
“Do you prefer to turn small enemies into big ones, Sir Preston?”
“No.”
Windsor shook his head firmly. His gray-blue eyes gleamed coldly.
“I crush them thoroughly before they become big enemies. Whether they’re large or small, I prefer not to leave any loose ends.”
“!”
Jacqueline looked taken aback, while Benjamin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He looked ready to cheer, ‘As expected of the Devil of the Black Fleet!’
Seeing his expression, Jacqueline let out a sigh.
“There’s no single correct answer to this, Benjamin. You can either ignore small enemies so they don’t grow—or uproot them before they become large. That choice is yours.”
“Yes, Teacher Somerset!”
Benjamin’s voice rang louder than usual.
For some reason, Jacqueline felt uneasy. She imagined that gentle child growing into someone who crushed small enemies without mercy.
“…Hmm.”
After a brief murmur, she returned her gaze to the list.
Her lecture continued for quite some time after that, while Windsor quietly listened to her nagging.
Descending the spiral staircase, Jacqueline suddenly stopped.
A man crossing the hallway looked very familiar.
With a goatee and sharply protruding cheekbones—there was no doubt. It was James Hammington. He was walking with an irritated, almost angry stride.
Jacqueline frowned faintly, recalling that a strange carriage had arrived earlier. It seemed he had come to see Windsor.
Only after Hammington disappeared from sight did she start walking again.
When she reached the first floor, the drawing room door opened just then, and Windsor stepped out.
“Good afternoon, Sir Preston.”
Instead of replying, Windsor merely nodded once. He rummaged through his pocket as he headed toward the stairs, but his hand lingered there as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for.
“Are you perhaps looking for this?”
Jacqueline held out a handkerchief.
Windsor raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I found it in Benjamin’s room.”
“I stopped by earlier to check this week’s lesson progress. I must have left it there.”
“So I was told. I thought you had agreed to respect my educational methods, Sir Preston… but was there perhaps some misunderstanding in our conversation?”
Jacqueline asked with a pleasant smile.
