LPST 19

Chapter : 19

“Since you’re a former soldier, your coordination shouldn’t be too bad. Alright, let’s begin. Start with your left foot. One-two-three, one-two… ah.”

Jacqueline, who had been moving smoothly, suddenly frowned. The moment they began, Windsor had kicked her in the shin.

How on earth do you miss someone’s foot and kick their shin instead?

Jacqueline looked at him in disbelief. Windsor slightly furrowed his brow. Noticing her gaze, he spoke in a low voice.

“My apologies.”

“…It’s alright. It’s your first time, so that’s understandable. Shall we try again?”

Jacqueline smiled brightly, encouraging him. She was quite a good teacher and didn’t give up on her students over something like this.

“Relax your body. One-two-three, one-two—ugh.”

This time, Windsor pushed her with his shoulder. Jacqueline staggered backward, her upper body tipping, but Windsor quickly pulled her back into his arms.

She straightened herself from the half-fallen position. Forcing a smile, she looked up at him.

“……”

Windsor met her silence and whispered quietly,

“Once again, my apologies, Miss Somerset.”

“…Haa. Alright.”

Jacqueline took a deep breath. Every student in the world had their own potential, and it was a teacher’s role to help it bloom.

Reminding herself of her noble mission, she smiled gently once more.

“You’re too stiff, Sir Preston. Try to move a bit more fluidly. Start with your left foot. That’s right. One-two-three, one—ah!”

Windsor’s elbow struck her temple.

This time, she didn’t even groan. No—more accurately, it hurt too much for her to make a sound.

Windsor looked uncharacteristically troubled.

“No, seriously, how does your elbow even…? Are you mistaking me for a pirate instead of a lady? We’re dancing, not fighting, Sir Preston.”

“…Hmm. I sincerely apologize.”

“…Alright.”

Jacqueline released the hand she had been holding.

Windsor’s gaze lingered on his now empty hand. Jacqueline, who had taken his hand without hesitation, let go just as easily.

He slowly clenched his fist, then lowered his arm. Folding his hands behind his back, he looked at her.

She was smiling—but her eyes were not.

Even someone as oblivious as Windsor could tell she was angry.

“It seems dancing with a lady at the banquet may be beyond us.”

At last, she raised both hands in surrender.

“That is why I said from the beginning there was no need for me to learn dancing.”

“We just need more time, Sir Preston. Don’t give up so easily. If not this banquet, then the next one.”

Stopping there, Jacqueline lightly lifted her skirt and curtsied.

“Let’s end today’s lesson here. It’s time to begin Benjamin’s afternoon class. Please excuse me.”

Without looking back, she left the office. Only after the door closed did she stop and let out the sigh she had been holding.

Then she slowly lowered her gaze to her hands.

They felt as if they were burning. They were trembling faintly, too.

Suddenly, her throat went dry. It was a thirst that tea couldn’t quench. Pressing her flushed cheeks gently, Jacqueline began to walk again.

“……”

Windsor, who had been listening to her footsteps, only turned his gaze away after they faded into the distance.

On the table sat nothing but a cup of cold tea. The one who had been chattering and nagging there moments ago was gone.

“…Like a storm.”

Yes—if you thought about it, she was like the wind.

To a naval man, the wind was an adversary.

A harsh wind rocked ships and threw sailors into chaos. Storms struck without warning. Towering waves threatened to swallow vessels whole, only to calm just as suddenly.

The feeling of gazing upon a quiet sea, bathed in golden sunlight, after barely surviving such a crisis—was a luxury only the living could know.

Predicting the whims of the wind was beyond human ability. Fighting against it was, too. All a fragile being like a human could do was yield to the vast forces of nature.

Jacqueline Somerset was just as unpredictable.

Returning to his desk, Windsor cast another glance at the closed door.

It felt as though ripples had formed in his otherwise calm life—circles spreading in unexpected directions at unexpected moments.

“…Regrettable.”

Muttering to himself so no one could hear, he lowered his gaze. When he picked up a pen in his empty hand, the hollow feeling faded slightly.

The sky was blue, the breeze gentle, and the sunlight soft. As always, a new day began with the rising sun.

“Colin.”

Jacqueline cupped her old friend’s cheeks. As she squeezed with both hands, Colin’s plump cheeks flattened, making his lips pout outward.

Puh.

At the ridiculous sight, her eyes curved into crescent shapes.

“I quite like the Preston estate. What about you?”

Colin was taciturn. Whether Jacqueline shared secrets or occasionally spoke ill of others, he always kept her confidence in silence.

He had played a considerable role in helping her graduate from the strict Bristol girls’ boarding school.

“When you meet Benjamin, I’m sure you’ll like him too. He’s a very lovely child.”

Puh.

Colin said nothing, simply staring at her with protruding lips. His bead-like eyes gleamed.

“William, Mrs. Ritz, Bettina, and Emma may seem cold on the outside, but they’re all kind people. And, well…”

As she thought, Jacqueline’s lips curled upward.

“Sir Preston is a fine student too. Though his dancing is absolutely dreadful.”

A laugh slipped through her teeth.

Puh.

Colin remained silent. A loyal friend, he pretended not to hear her gossip once again.

“But he’s better than I expected.”

Puh.

“Alright, let’s have a great day today. I’m off, Colin. See you later.”

Puh.

After one last glance in the mirror, Jacqueline waved at Colin and stepped out energetically.

At that moment—

“!”

A small shadow suddenly popped out. Jacqueline was so startled she couldn’t even scream. Her heart dropped.

“Good morning, Miss Somerset.”

Only after hearing the familiar voice did she realize it was Benjamin. Relieved, she instinctively smiled.

“Good morning, Benja—min?”

Her expression slowly faded as she looked at him.

The child wore shorts with suspenders and a straw hat that fit perfectly on his head.

“…Hm?”

Jacqueline let out a blank sound. Benjamin looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

“You said we’d go explore the garden on the other side this morning, so I’ve been waiting.”

“Ah…!”

Caught off guard, Jacqueline bent her knees slowly.

For a moment, her throat tightened. She didn’t know why. It felt as if something hot was blocking her voice.

“For me… you were waiting in front of my door?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“About an hour ago.”

Oh my.

Jacqueline glanced toward the hallway window. The dim dawn had only just turned fully bright.

She hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

“Um… did I come too early?” Benjamin asked hesitantly. “You said morning, but I didn’t know when morning starts.”

Jacqueline smiled warmly.

“No. You must’ve been bored waiting, but you didn’t call for me.”

“My uncle said it’s improper to disturb a lady’s morning.”

She raised her brows slightly at the unexpected answer, then nodded.

Now that she thought about it, it sounded very much like Windsor. He was more polite than he appeared.

“Alright, we still have time before breakfast. Shall we begin our adventure?”

“Yes, Miss Somerset!”

Benjamin nodded with a determined expression. The two marched down the hallway in step like soldiers.

Just then—

“Good morning, Miss Somerset.”

Windsor greeted her as he stepped out of the morning room. Jacqueline instantly changed her demeanor and gave a graceful nod.

“Good morning, Sir Preston.”

“Benjamin has been waiting in front of your door for an hour.”

“So I’ve heard. He could have knocked.”

Jacqueline looked down at the child affectionately. Benjamin fidgeted, waiting for the conversation to end.

“I heard he caused trouble for the maid by bustling about since dawn.”

Benjamin flinched, his eyes darting.

“Would it not be better to set a precise time next time? If you agree that ambiguity only tires both parties, Miss Somerset.”

There was a faint edge to Jacqueline’s voice.

“Are you always that precise, Sir Preston?”

“Yes.”

“…Ah, I see. That must be nice.”

Thinking she would have a lot to tell Colin today, Jacqueline strode forward briskly.

“Let’s go, Benjamin.”

Windsor’s voice followed from behind.

“Benjamin is—”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten that he is the future Marquess of Preston. Nor do I intend to.”

Without turning back, Jacqueline pushed open the front door and stepped outside.

Windsor raised an eyebrow slightly, then turned toward his room.

He couldn’t understand why she had suddenly turned sharp after smiling just moments ago.

But storms were not something you predicted.

Nor could you avoid them even if you did.

All one could do was yield to the wind as it came.