Chapter : 43
She slowly walked over to stand beside Windsor. Elizabeth, who had taken a glass of champagne from a passing servant, added casually,
“I’ve known Jacqueline for quite a long time. We even attended the same boarding school.”
Windsor, who had been idly watching the dancers, turned his gaze back to her. Only after taking a sip of champagne did Elizabeth meet his eyes.
“!”
For a moment, she felt dizzy. She couldn’t tell whether it was from the champagne—or the man standing before her.
One thing, however, was certain: beneath the brilliant chandelier lights, the man standing there with an expressionless face looked strikingly restrained, almost ascetic.
Trying not to reveal her agitation, Elizabeth lowered her eyes with a composed expression.
“You were Miss Somerset’s friend?”
“Yes, well…”
Elizabeth trailed off vaguely.
It was closer to a bad connection than a friendship, but there was no need to say that.
Keeping her gaze on the swirling crowd, she spoke again. Dresses of all colors tangled together in a blur.
“Is Jacqueline good at her work?”
“As you know, she’s an excellent governess.”
“Really? That’s surprising. Back in school, she caused quite a bit of trouble for the teachers. You know how she was—occasionally getting into strange incidents. Ah, if you didn’t know, I apologize. I must have said something unnecessary.”
Elizabeth scrunched her nose charmingly, as if embarrassed by her mistake. Windsor watched her quietly.
The longer his gaze lingered, the more her cheeks flushed faintly.
Windsor Preston was far more handsome than rumors suggested. His golden hair shone brilliantly under the light, and his blue-gray eyes were steady and composed.
His thick brows and sharp jawline were masculine, and his high nose carried an air of arrogance. It was easy to see why his name appeared in newspapers even without him engaging in social activities.
Moreover, he exuded the aura of a ruler—an untouchable charisma.
It wasn’t something one could learn or acquire through effort. It was something one had to be born with.
He was not a man who would bow beneath others. Rather, he was someone destined to stand above all—far more accustomed to giving orders than receiving them.
“……”
Realizing this, Elizabeth straightened her back. She didn’t want him to notice that she was drawn to him.
At least, not until he said it first.
“Miss Somerset is Benjamin’s thirteenth governess.”
“Is that so?”
Caught off guard, Elizabeth turned her head. Her brows curved neatly.
His low voice blended heavily with the music, as if it were another instrument in the orchestra.
“And she is the most perfect one among them. Of course, she is also my nephew’s favorite.”
“…Is that so? I’m glad Benjamin likes Jacqueline.”
The corner of Elizabeth’s lips stiffened slightly. Windsor’s sharp eyes did not miss it.
“Do you know what Jacqueline’s nickname was in school? ‘Mood swings.’ ‘Mood-swing Jacqueline.’ She was so emotional—she’d be angry one moment, then smiling the next, and before long, on the verge of tears again. For someone like her to be a perfect governess… that’s truly a relief.”
Mood swings.
Windsor’s eyes softened faintly. It was a nickname that suited her very well—though Jacqueline herself would probably disagree.
“Lord Greenwood also recommended Miss Somerset as an excellent governess.”
“My father did?”
This time, Elizabeth’s expression clearly twisted. She could no longer hide her feelings and let her displeasure show.
Windsor looked at her and spoke slowly, his voice filled with certainty.
“You’re not her friend.”
Struck directly at the core, Elizabeth pressed her lips together. Windsor turned his gaze away from her and cast a meaningless glance at the swirling dancers.
After letting out a small sigh, Elizabeth nodded.
“I admit it. We’re not particularly close. We’ve known each other a long time, but time and affection don’t always go hand in hand.”
“I understand.”
Windsor replied indifferently without even turning his head. Elizabeth frowned slightly, realizing that all of his interest in her had vanished.
Suddenly, she felt a sense of urgency. She wanted to reclaim the gaze that had been fixed on her just moments ago. So she abruptly asked,
“Why aren’t you dancing, Lord Preston?”
Windsor casually lifted one eyebrow. It was a tiresome question. He hid his boredom and remained silent.
Elizabeth looked at his profile. When his gaze never turned toward her, she added in a slightly sharp tone,
“You must be aware of the rumors circulating in society, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it be better to dance tonight, if only to put those rumors to rest?”
So that’s her way of asking for a dance.
Windsor swallowed a rising smirk and maintained an indifferent expression.
Suddenly, Jacqueline’s words came to mind—the ones she had said with a resigned sigh after being flicked on the temple by him.
—We just need a little more time, Lord Preston. Don’t give up so easily. If not this ball, then the next one.
A faint chuckle slipped from Windsor’s lips. When she said that, she had looked like she’d already given up—though she probably didn’t realize it herself.
“!”
At that moment, Elizabeth’s eyes widened. With just a slight softening of his expression, the atmosphere around him changed instantly.
Before, he had felt like a flawless work of art—too perfect to approach. Now, he felt like a piece of art that was, somehow, more approachable.
“I haven’t yet met someone I wish to dance with.”
“Someone… you wish to dance with?”
Elizabeth repeated blankly, failing to realize that she had just been rejected.
Windsor took a sip of champagne and set the empty glass down on a nearby table.
“I’ll be taking my leave now. I hope you enjoy the evening, Miss Greenwood.”
After a polite farewell, Windsor quietly left the ballroom. Only after his figure completely disappeared did Elizabeth finally release the breath she had been holding.
“Miss Liz, may I have this dance?”
Her fiancé, who had been glancing over earlier, approached and asked her. Without thinking, Elizabeth shook her head and brought a hand to her forehead.
“I’m a bit tired. I’d like to rest tonight.”
“…I see.”
Her fiancé scratched the bridge of his nose awkwardly before turning away. Elizabeth’s gaze drifted back in search of Windsor.
Meanwhile, Windsor was saying his farewells to Heinz. The baron already seemed satisfied just by Windsor’s attendance at his event.
“Travel safely, Lord Preston. I’ll pay you a visit soon. Let’s share a drink and talk.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
With a light nod, Windsor declined the servant’s escort and walked alone down the corridor. Then, suddenly, he stopped.
An elderly lady was approaching from the opposite direction. Her gray hair was elegantly styled, and she carried herself with grace.
Windsor gave a brief nod of greeting and stepped aside to let her pass.
The plump woman, with kind wrinkles around her eyes, suddenly smiled and stopped in front of him.
“Lord Preston.”
At her words, Windsor narrowed his eyes. He didn’t recognize her.
As a flicker of confusion crossed his gaze, the maid standing behind her spoke,
“This is the Dowager Duchess Chamberlain.”
“A pleasure to meet you.”
Only then did Windsor greet her properly. The duchess naturally extended her hand, and after a brief hesitation, Windsor bent to kiss the back of it.
He recalled Jacqueline mentioning that she had once reigned as the queen of high society—and that even now, she wielded immense influence. It was said that all aristocratic connections were only truly complete after passing through her.
“My granddaughter seems to be indebted to your nephew?”
The Dowager Duchess spoke in a surprisingly friendly tone.
Only then did Olivia’s name come to Windsor’s mind. He had heard that she had recently visited the Preston estate and had a wonderful time.
There had also been some talk about cicada shells again, but Jacqueline and Benjamin had both clamped their mouths shut, preventing him from learning anything further.
“It seems Benjamin has made a good friend.”
“Whatever magic Benjamin used, she keeps pestering me every day, asking when she can visit the Preston estate again. Ah, Olivia has been staying with me lately. She says it’s because she doesn’t want me to feel lonely—but in truth, I suspect they’ve simply passed the little troublemaker off to me.”
“I’ve heard from Miss Somerset that Olivia is polite and intelligent. Please tell her she’s welcome to visit anytime. I’ll be looking forward to Miss Riley’s next visit. I hope you enjoy the evening.”
Windsor dipped his head and began to step away—
“You’re looking for a lawyer, aren’t you?”
The Dowager Duchess spoke softly.
Windsor stopped and slowly turned his head.
Meeting his gaze, she smiled kindly, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening.
Windsor looked at her expressionlessly, but her smile did not fade in the slightest.
“As a token of gratitude for welcoming Olivia, I’d like to introduce you to a good lawyer. Though, I’m not sure what your thoughts are.”
“A lawyer, you say?”
“I can vouch for their skill. And, of course…”
She paused briefly, then smiled with composed confidence.
“It goes without saying—they are not under His Majesty’s influence.”
—Perhaps even something as trivial as a cicada shell might one day protect Benjamin, the future Marquess of Preston.
It felt as though Jacqueline’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, laced with a subtle smile.
Windsor stared intently at the Dowager Duchess, momentarily forgetting even basic courtesy.
“Hohoho.”
She let out a soft laugh and added, “This isn’t the place for such a conversation.”
“If you’re interested, come find me. Just as Olivia is always welcome at the Preston estate, I too will always welcome your visit. Now, if you’ll excuse me—I’m already quite late.”
With that, she turned and departed.