Chapter : 45
Bastard.
At that word, Jacqueline’s expression turned cold.
Even though he had become the Marquis of Preston—someone no one dared treat carelessly—he was still unable to escape the shadow of his birth.
Jacqueline wanted to snap back at him, but no words came out. Instead, she clenched her fists and glared sharply at Parker.
He raised an eyebrow and continued.
“His Majesty pities young Benjamin. What could he possibly learn under a lowly man like Lord Preston? For Benjamin’s sake, shouldn’t his guardian be replaced?”
“……”
“Think carefully. Which of the two would be a better protector for him? Benjamin himself would likely prefer becoming a member of the royal family.”
Jacqueline remained silent to the end. If she opened her mouth now, she wasn’t sure what she might say in anger.
Seeing her sitting there stiff as a statue, Parker took a step back.
“I fully understand that it’s difficult for you to make a decision right away, Miss Somerset.”
Rising from his seat, he looked down at her with composed eyes.
“I’ve conveyed His Majesty’s will, so I’ll take my leave for today. I must apologize for the discourtesy of arranging this meeting behind Lord Preston’s back—I wished to speak with you privately. You may send your answer once you return to the capital. Please come see me anytime. I trust you will make a wise decision, Miss Somerset.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. O’Brien.”
Lady Somerset stood up to see him off, a faint smile appearing on her lips for the first time in a while.
“I’ll take responsibility for persuading my daughter. Please tell His Majesty he has nothing to worry about.”
“I will, madam. I’ll be sure to convey, without omission, how much effort you’ve made for His Majesty.”
“Oh my, that won’t be necessary—but I’d appreciate it if you did.”
Jacqueline stared blankly at the contract laid out on the table. Her mind was tangled like a knotted thread—she didn’t even know where to begin unraveling it.
Soon, the sound of the carriage departing from the front of the house echoed faintly. Jacqueline bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
Neither Jacqueline in the drawing room, nor Lady Somerset standing at the entrance, nor even the cautious Parker noticed the shadow hidden behind the bushes.
“Say that again.”
In an instant, Windsor’s voice turned icy. It felt as though the temperature in the room had dropped sharply.
Roman instinctively straightened his back. His face, unlike usual, was tense.
The man before him was no longer the courteous Marquis of Preston, but the Devil of the Black Fleet—Lieutenant Colonel Preston.
He must not forget that.
Roman clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his chin slightly, speaking like a newly enlisted soldier under strict discipline.
“Miss Somerset met with Parker O’Brien, a lawyer representing the royal family. He visited Southfield this morning and stayed at Mrs. Brown’s residence for about an hour before leaving. I’m not sure what was discussed, but it likely isn’t far from what we expected.”
Windsor shot him a cold stare, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Roman’s shoulders stiffened further.
After a moment of silence, Windsor spoke again.
“Lady Somerset’s health.”
Roman swallowed dryly. Windsor’s tone had no inflection, yet his anger was unmistakable.
A voice devoid of warmth—it alone was enough to pressure anyone. And unfortunately, today that target was Roman Miller himself.
“Cough.”
Roman cleared his throat and forced himself to speak.
“There don’t appear to be any particular issues. She didn’t go out, but that’s normal. Most importantly, no doctor visited the house. When she came out to see O’Brien off, there were no visible signs of illness.”
“…I see.”
Windsor gave a faint nod. His cold gaze fixed on empty space. Then, suddenly, the corner of his lips lifted.
“So the story about her mother being ill was just an excuse to shut me out. And in that place, she met the king’s lawyer…?”
“Didn’t you already expect this would happen? Whether sooner or later, His Majesty’s side would approach Miss Somerset.”
Yes, he had expected it.
Just a few days ago, he had even wished for that day to come quickly—so he could firmly turn her away.
Then why was he this angry?
He stared at the storm of emotions raging within him, bewildered. His inner world had always been like a calm sea.
No matter how good things were, he never felt overwhelming joy. No matter how infuriating something was, he never lost control in anger.
The moment he lost his composure, he knew he could no longer make rational decisions. And that was not a trait befitting a commander responsible for countless lives.
Then why was he this angry?
Windsor asked himself again, slowly curling his hand into a fist on the desk. Yet his anger showed no sign of fading.
He recalled her pale face as she tearfully insisted she had to return to Southfield because her mother was gravely ill. The fragile look in her eyes, tears trembling on the verge of falling.
So it had all been an act. An act to deceive him.
And yet, unaware of the lie, Windsor had been completely fooled—pressuring William like a fool to secure the fastest train and prepare a carriage.
That must have been amusing. Very amusing indeed, Jacqueline Somerset.
Windsor’s sharp expression tightened as his jaw clenched. His eyes, fixed on the air, curved slightly as if smiling.
He was not the kind of man to forgive betrayal.
A cold voice slipped through his teeth.
“Find a new governess.”
“Yes, sir. That would make the fourteenth one.”
Roman let out a deep sigh and scratched his head, muttering about needing to contact the employment agency—then froze.
His gaze shifted to Windsor’s eyes, sharp as a blade.
Was he… angry?
So far, twelve governesses had been dismissed by Windsor. The ninth had even tried to kidnap Benjamin.
Even then, Windsor hadn’t been angry. If anything, he had been frighteningly rational—the governess had ended up kneeling and begging.
Windsor Preston was the most rational man Roman had ever met. Even when subordinates made foolish mistakes, he never raised his voice.
Instead, he would dissect their errors point by point with chilling precision.
Roman vividly remembered a young soldier once breaking down in tears after being reprimanded.
—“Sir, it would be better if you just yelled at me or kicked me. Listening to you makes me feel like the stupidest man alive…”
Even as a bystander, Roman had felt as though his bones were being pierced. It might have hurt less to be stabbed.
Now, snapping out of his thoughts, Roman stared at Windsor.
Is he really angry? And the one who managed to anger him… isn’t His Majesty, but Miss Somerset?
Windsor’s face was undeniably cold with anger—yet he neither shouted nor threw anything.
Ah… I see. Miss Somerset isn’t here. There’s no one for him to direct his anger at.
“Do you have anything else to report, Roman Miller?”
“…No, sir. I’ll take my leave.”
Startled at hearing his full name, Roman saluted and exited the office. Only after the door closed behind him did he scratch his head.
“I wonder when Miss Somerset will arrive. I can’t miss a spectacle like that.”
Muttering under his breath, mindful of his sharp-eared superior, Roman strode down the hallway.
He needed to stop by the employment agency first. No noble was willing to recommend a governess to Windsor Preston anymore.
Jacqueline stepped out of her room, holding her luggage in one hand. As she descended the stairs, Mrs. Brown bid her farewell with a regretful expression.
“You’re leaving already? I wish you could stay a little longer.”
“I still have things I need to do.”
“You’ve been through so much, Jackie.”
Mrs. Brown pulled her into a warm embrace, gently patting her back.
“But don’t forget—you can always come back here when things get hard. If you don’t mind this quiet, sleepy countryside, you’re always welcome. I can at least afford to feed one more person.”
“Thank you, Aunt. I’ve always missed this place—peaceful, tranquil Southfield. But right now, I want to see how far I can go. I have to take responsibility for my own life. I can’t keep relying on others anymore. And I shouldn’t.”
“That tiny little girl has grown up so much.”
Mrs. Brown’s eyes filled with tears as she cupped Jacqueline’s cheeks lovingly.
At that moment—
“Don’t forget what I told you, Jackie.”
A stern voice struck from behind.
Jacqueline slowly turned around.