Chapter : 44
The Dowager Duchess of Chamberlain, after offering her farewell, moved toward the banquet hall. A maid who had bowed to her soon passed by Windsor.
He stood there blankly, watching the Duchess’s retreating figure.
As if he were bewitched.
Or perhaps… as if he had finally found the bluebird he had been searching for all along—right in his own home.
As Windsor rubbed his chin with his dry hand, Jacqueline’s smiling face surfaced in his mind—the one where she had said, “I knew it would turn out this way.”
He let out a faint chuckle.
A softened voice slipped through his fingers as he stroked his chin.
“Perhaps… she was right.”
Mrs. Brown’s house could hardly be called a mansion, but it was the largest in the area. With five servants, she could at least be considered fairly wealthy.
The red-brick house looked crude compared to the refined interiors of the capital, yet it carried the warm charm unique to the countryside.
From the hand-knitted tablecloths and carpets to the well-worn wooden floors polished smooth with age, everything bore the touch of its owner.
At mealtimes, the smell of food drifted into the living room, and outside the windows, stray sheep would occasionally wander by.
Lady Somerset, however, seemed to hate this place where the scent of hay lingered in the air like oxygen.
But Jacqueline quite liked Southfield.
The vast green plains, the endless blue sky, and the leisurely grazing sheep—just looking at them made it easy to forget the complexities of the world.
But today, neither the wide plains nor the white sheep could bring her peace.
Because of the man sitting in front of her, stirring her sense of caution.
Jacqueline turned her gaze to her mother seated beside her, then asked in a firmer tone than usual,
“Who is this gentleman?”
The answer came not from her mother, but from the man.
With a polite smile, he handed over a business card.
“My name is Parker O’Brien, a lawyer.”
Jacqueline picked up the card from the table.
He belonged to the most prestigious law firm in the kingdom.
It was also a place she had a faint connection to—if it could even be called a connection.
Jacqueline looked at him expressionlessly, unlike her usual self.
The reason her mother had summoned her here—even going so far as to send a false letter—
stood right before her, wearing an arrogant smile.
“……”
Jacqueline was not like her father, Baron Somerset.
She was no longer a naïve noble lady raised in luxury, nor a sheltered flower who could be deceived by pretty lies.
She was a “destitute noblewoman” who had endured all sorts of hardships—and she spoke in a cold voice.
“What brings a lawyer here? As far as I remember, all of my father’s debts have been repaid. Were there more victims I didn’t know about? Did you bring the promissory notes?”
“I am not here regarding your father.”
Leaning back in his chair, Parker smiled leisurely, brimming with confidence as if he knew he had the upper hand.
“Jacqueline, show some manners to the gentleman.”
Her mother’s disapproving voice came from beside her.
Jacqueline wondered why her mother was taking the lawyer’s side.
What kind of news had he brought?
“Then what is this about? Unfortunately, I don’t think I can spare much time.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point.”
Only then did he lean forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
He examined Jacqueline with cold eyes before speaking carefully.
“What I’m about to say is confidential. If word gets out, you will be responsible for the consequences.”
It sounded almost like a threat.
Jacqueline pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Instead, her mother answered, “Very well.”
Jacqueline frowned at her.
Her mother, like a greenhouse flower, had no idea how harsh the outside world was—or how even a small promise could come back to bind them.
“I am His Majesty the King’s lawyer.”
The King.
Jacqueline’s brows furrowed.
Why would the King—
Ah.
Suddenly, she recalled a conversation she had had with Walter. It must have been the day before she went to the Preston estate.
—It’s an open secret that tensions between the royal family and the Marquess of Preston’s house are strained over Benjamin’s guardianship. I worry you might get caught up in that storm, Jackie.
What had she said back then?
If she remembered correctly: “Why would that happen?”
Well, it’s happening now, Uncle. Your foresight really is something.
Pushing aside her thoughts, Jacqueline stared at Parker.
Expecting her to be shocked, Parker instead looked surprised by her composure.
Rubbing the corners of his lips with his thumb and forefinger, he finally stated his purpose.
“His Majesty is preparing for a trial against Lord Windsor Preston. The matter concerns who should be the legal guardian of young Benjamin Preston.”
“And?”
“We would like Miss Somerset to testify as a witness for our side.”
“As a witness for His Majesty… you mean I should testify that Lord Preston should be stripped of custody?”
“Straight to the point—I like that. Just as intelligent as I’ve heard.”
Parker smiled with satisfaction, rubbing his hands together.
The gesture reminded Jacqueline of a praying mantis, and she instinctively leaned back.
It felt as though she might be devoured if she wasn’t careful.
“It’s simple. You just need to testify that Lord Windsor Preston is unfit as Benjamin’s guardian. For example, that he treated the boy harshly, or that he was negligent in raising him.”
At that, Jacqueline quietly curled her lips.
As if expecting it, Parker smiled as well, his gaze filled with anticipation.
“The Lord Preston I’ve seen has shown great interest in Benjamin’s upbringing. He even checks in detail what the tutor is teaching. And he’s not harsh either. He may be a bit blunt, but there’s no doubt he loves his nephew. Benjamin trusts and follows him as well. They’re quite an ideal uncle and nephew.”
For a moment, Parker frowned deeply.
Leaning back, he glared at her before letting out a breath.
“You don’t seem to understand, Miss Somerset.”
“No, I understand perfectly. You’re asking me to give false testimony in favor of His Majesty.”
“False testimony…”
He murmured the words before nodding.
“Your words are excessive, Jacqueline,” her mother scolded.
Parker leaned forward again, smiling confidently.
“As expected, you have quite the nerve. Very well—100 million gold.”
“……”
“If you testify, you will be paid 100 million gold as compensation.”
Her mother quietly gasped.
But Jacqueline’s expression didn’t change.
If anything, her voice grew colder.
“So you’re asking me to sell my conscience for 100 million gold.”
“Hm.”
Parker raised his brows, then nodded generously.
“Impressive resolve. Fine—300 million gold. That’s my limit.”
“Ha.”
Jacqueline let out a small laugh.
Thinking she had been persuaded, Parker laughed as well.
“Now then, please sign this contract—”
“No.”
Jacqueline shook her head firmly.
The laughter vanished, replaced by a heavy silence.
“I cannot do that.”
Parker narrowed his eyes, as if suspecting she was trying to raise the price.
A mocking smile curled his lips.
“You’re being too greedy. Trying to restore the fallen Somerset family through this is excessive ambition. And anything beyond 300 million is beyond my authority—it would require His Majesty’s approval—”
“It seems you’re the one who doesn’t understand me.”
Her sharp reply cut him off.
“No matter how much you offer, my answer will not change. I believe Lord Preston is an excellent guardian.”
“Jacqueline!”
A sharp voice rang out.
Her mother glared at her.
“Mother, I can’t give false testimony just for money. Lord Preston and Benjamin—”
“So you want me to rot in this filthy countryside for the rest of my life?!”
Lady Somerset’s pale face flushed red with anger.
Her frail body trembled uncontrollably.
“Mother, please calm—”
“Calm down? Over something so trivial? Is that more important than me? Can’t you do at least that much for me?!”
Jacqueline said nothing.
Suddenly, Windsor’s indifferent face came to mind.
No matter how kindly one put it, he wasn’t a warm uncle.
But in his own way, he loved his nephew—and tried to protect him.
Benjamin, on the other hand, always tensed up around him.
His shoulders stiffened, his expression vanished.
But he wasn’t afraid of Windsor.
If anything, he liked him.
That was precisely why he didn’t want to disappoint him.
To testify for the King would mean betraying both of them.
And Jacqueline couldn’t do that.
Not when she was already so deeply entangled with them.
She slowly turned her head toward the lawyer and spoke calmly,
“Why has His Majesty suddenly taken an interest in Benjamin?”
“It’s not sudden. After the boy’s father passed away, His Majesty is merely asserting his rightful claim.”
“A rightful claim? Now—after two years?”
“Lord Preston may be Benjamin’s uncle, but he is, after all, of illegitimate birth. Their blood ties are weak. However, His Majesty is the boy’s maternal grandfather.”