Chapter : 49
Benjamin wore a proud expression, as if he were boasting about something. Jacqueline, who had frozen slightly, looked at the child with a doubtful gaze.
Sensing her stare, Benjamin tilted his head in confusion. Jacqueline spoke meaningfully.
“Did you perhaps talk to Olivia about Fauvism?”
“Um… no.”
“Oh dear. If you didn’t explain that, Olivia might have misunderstood my painting. In that case, next time we meet, we should have a proper discussion about Fauvist style. In art, there’s no such thing as superiority.”
“…Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin rolled his eyes and avoided her gaze.
“Actually, Miss Olivia saw Miss Somerset’s painting and rolled on the floor laughing…”
William, who had just returned with tea, cut into their conversation. Benjamin’s eyes widened and he quickly pressed a finger to his lips.
“She saw my painting?”
Jacqueline asked casually. William cleared his throat unnecessarily, placed the tea down, and turned away.
Benjamin quickly changed the subject.
“What kind of place is Southfield, teacher? I’ve never been there before, so I’m curious.”
“Southfield? It’s a quiet, peaceful place. A countryside village where all you can see wherever you look are meadows and sheep. Benjamin, do you like sheep?”
“I’ve never actually seen one, so I’m not sure.”
Benjamin shook his head. Jacqueline smiled warmly, thinking how talkative the usually quiet child had become.
“Let me tell you about it. Eat some cookies while you listen.”
Just sitting across from the child and talking about trivial things made the emptiness in her heart feel warmer. Benjamin was her comfort—her rest.
Jacqueline’s voice softened naturally.
“If you go there, you’ll see so many sheep you’ll get tired of them. Maybe even more than the ants in the manor garden.”
“Really?”
Benjamin’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe such a thing was possible. Jacqueline proudly nodded.
“Of course.”
“Though everywhere you go, it does smell like sheep droppings.”
At the mention of “droppings,” Benjamin suppressed a laugh and then added politely,
“I’d like to visit someday.”
“Alright.”
Jacqueline looked at him gently, her eyes curving.
At that moment, she made a decision.
No matter what choice she made, she would never make Benjamin sad.
And if her decision ever made him cry, she would abandon whatever stood on the other side of the scale without hesitation.
“Someday, we’ll go together.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin kicked his legs lightly while drinking lemonade. Jacqueline slowly turned her gaze toward the window.
Leaves that had been light green not long ago had deepened into a rich green. While she had been away, the foliage had grown thicker, and the sound of cicadas had become louder.
—Then please make a wise decision.
As Parker O’Brien had said, she was carefully thinking in order to make the right choice.
Windsor, Benjamin, and her mother. A decision that would allow her not to abandon any of them.
Jacqueline sat at the dining table, staring at the quietly burning candle. Even a moment of distraction brought her mother’s cold, piercing gaze to mind.
—If you don’t want to ruin my life, go find Mr. O’Brien as soon as you arrive in the capital, Jacqueline.
The sharp voice echoed in her ears as if it were right beside her.
And yet, she still hadn’t gone to see the lawyer.
“If Mother finds out, she’ll collapse.”
At her own mutter, the candle flickered. It looked as though it was mirroring her.
Her inner self was still fragile enough to tremble at the slightest breeze.
Three years ago, after her father’s accident, she had been through countless storms—things most people might experience only once in a lifetime.
Because of that, she had believed she was strong now. She had arrogantly thought she was no longer a greenhouse flower, but a weed that could survive hardship.
But she was wrong. She was still like a helpless child—torn between choosing her mother or her father’s legacy, ultimately breaking into tears.
—If this succeeds, His Majesty will call us back to the capital. He may even announce us before the nobles. He might introduce me as someone he trusts most. Then we will return to society in glory, Jackie. Imagine how proud we will be. Everyone will envy us.
“Mother, we are not the glorious Somerset family of the past.”
Her quiet reply slipped through her teeth. The candlelight flickered as if her mother were glaring at her from within it.
—How could you do this to me! If you don’t understand me either, what am I supposed to do? How can you betray me like this? Just tell me to die! If that’s what you want, I will!
Jacqueline covered her ears with both hands, trying to escape the shrill voice. But it only grew louder and clearer.
—If your father were here, he wouldn’t allow this! Or is it because you think I’m worthless without him?
“No, Mother. I’m just trying to face reality…”
At that moment, the dining room door opened.
Jacqueline quickly lowered her hands and straightened her posture, turning her face with an elegant expression.
“You’re late, Lord Preston. It’s already three minutes past din—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
William stood at the door instead.
He adjusted his slipping glasses and looked at her.
“Lord Preston is dining in the guest dining room.”
“….”
Jacqueline was speechless.
William looked apologetic for her.
“He said he will be having meals alone from now on.”
“Lord Preston… said that?”
Jacqueline repeated it in disbelief. Her eyes trembled slightly as she looked at William. A cold wind seemed to blow through her chest.
Suddenly, she remembered a similar feeling from the past.
Ah.
She nodded unconsciously.
The day she left for the capital to find work—when she hugged her mother before leaving.
Her mother had been furious at her for leaving alone, and Jacqueline had to soothe her.
—I need to earn money. I can’t keep relying on my aunt forever. I’ll look for a governess position since I have nowhere to stay. I can’t take you with me.
—Excuses! You’re just abandoning me in this miserable countryside while you go off to the capital alone!
—That’s not true. I’ll save up money and bring you there soon.
She had gently held her mother’s hand.
And then—
—Enough!
Her mother had thrown her hand away.
Jacqueline had stared at her own abandoned hand in silence.
Her hand had nowhere to go.
For a moment, she had felt like crying. She had felt hurt, angry, and deeply wounded.
Endurance had always been her role.
Even now, it was the same.
But this time, her mother had simply thrown her hand away without hesitation.
“Yes. That is what he said.”
Jacqueline lowered her gaze to her own hands on her lap. Then she lifted her head again and smiled gently at William.
“Alright, William.”
“Yes, miss.”
William left the dining room. Click.
The door closed.
Jacqueline slowly turned her head.
In the flickering candlelight, there was no angry mother—only Windsor, expressionless.
“At least I don’t have to scold you for sprinkling salt and pepper before meals anymore.”
As if speaking to herself, she murmured quietly and stood up. Her fingers slowly curled into a fist.
Despite her calm expression, something inside her was violently swirling.
She swallowed hard and left the dining room, her posture perfectly straight.
As if, if she didn’t, she might collapse this time.
“I’ve been waiting for your contact.”
Evan smiled brightly at Windsor.
Windsor said nothing, instead recalling what Roman had told him the day before.
—About Evan Knox…
Roman, who had gathered information faster than expected, continued in a slightly impressed tone.
—He’s quite capable. Graduated second in his class from law school, worked at Cloud, the kingdom’s top law firm. As you know, Cloud belongs to his father, Count Brandon Knox. And Count Knox is one of the king’s closest aides.
Roman paused briefly, scratching his head.
—He handled several major cases there, though not alone. He worked in teams with other lawyers. You’ve probably heard of the Clark Shipping case. Cloud argued under territorial law that goods transported outside the kingdom’s waters weren’t Clark property, so they were excluded from seizure. That case gave Clark the capital to recover.
—So he just rode on his father’s name?
—I dug deeper. He actually led the strategy and courtroom arguments himself. His father’s influence probably helped, but his ability is real. It seems his connection kept him off our radar.
Roman took a breath.
—In short, he’s not just a figurehead.