Chapter: 01
In the early morning, with a chill in the air, the luxurious residential district lined with splendid townhouses was still fast asleep.
Most of the people out on the streets at this hour were servants working at the mansions in the neighborhood.
A maid on her way to buy freshly baked bread, a grocer’s worker delivering milk and ingredients, and a newspaper boy hurried about, exchanging familiar greetings with one another.
The peaceful and quiet routine of the morning was shattered in an instant. Suddenly, an old-fashioned carriage burst out from the end of the street and charged into the neighborhood, dragging a tremendous racket behind it.
“What kind of lunatic is driving like that this early in the morning?!”
The carriage raced along furiously without slowing down even after entering the street. Its wheels splashed through a puddle, sending filthy black water flying everywhere, and cries of protest echoed from all directions.
“This isn’t even a main road! Why aren’t they slowing down here? Are they going to pay for our laundry bills?”
Sharp glares followed the carriage as it disappeared down the street at full speed. Several senior servants who had been on their way to work narrowed their eyes, determined to find out which household that reckless carriage belonged to.
“Could it be the servants from Count Milton’s house?”
“I—I work at the Miltons’ house. No one went out last night….”
“Then it must be the house next door. The young footmen from the Marquess Fallon’s residence! I’ve seen them several times, drinking all night at the taverns and then stumbling into the carriage in the morning!”
This townhouse district was one of the most luxurious residential areas in the capital, where renowned aristocratic families from all across the country came to stay during the social season.
Even the lowest-ranking servants who merely ran errands in the kitchens were paid wages incomparably higher than those in other neighborhoods. The servants took great pride in serving noble masters.
Naturally, anyone whose behavior was improper could expect a harsh scolding from their superiors, and such incidents were an everyday occurrence.
“We need to find out which household those servants belong to. They’ll only learn their lesson after getting a good dressing-down!”
The servants working in different mansions banded together, determined to identify the people disgracing their neighborhood. They hurried around the corner, intent on seeing which house the carriage entered.
After all, servants were servants. With just a few connections, most of them knew one another, so it would only be a matter of time before they figured out who they were….
“Wait. Isn’t that the Bennett family’s house? The carriage is stopping…?”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
It was then that one of the servants, who had been squinting as he watched the troublesome carriage, suddenly gasped.
“Wait! Stop!”
He hurriedly waved his hands, stopping those who were about to chase after the carriage.
“He’s not a servant. He’s a member of the Bennett family! You know, Patrick Bennett! I think he’s returned!”
“What?”
“Patrick? You mean Viscount Bennett?”
At the mention of the name after so many years, the atmosphere instantly changed. Those who had been angrily complaining about what kind of troublemaker was driving the carriage began murmuring among themselves.
“The viscount? It’s been a long time since we’ve seen him. He’d been away from home for years.”
“Move aside. Let me see!”
Servants and maids from various houses, grocers’ delivery workers, and even a messenger from the post office—more than a dozen people crowded against the iron fence.
They peered across the street at the entrance to the Bennett residence.
But then….
“Is that really the viscount…?”
A young man wearing a simple tweed jacket and a flat hunting cap was personally unloading a large piece of luggage. Even then, his face was difficult to see because the enormous carriage blocked the view.
“Isn’t he a tutor?”
“No. He’s the only son. Patrick is the only child of the Count of Bennett. There’s no reason for a tutor to be coming and going.”
“I saw him. I’m telling you, that’s definitely Viscount Bennett!”
Just then, the carriage departed, revealing the full figure of the tall young man carrying a leather bag at his side.
“Wow….”
The handsome young man standing tall across the street was unmistakably Patrick Bennett.
As he removed his hunting cap and casually smoothed down his flattened hair, the young maids couldn’t take their eyes off him.
The golden strands scattered throughout his thick brown hair glittered brilliantly beneath the warm morning sunlight, making him look almost unreal.
“The social scene is going to be buzzing this season.”
One of the maids whispered, her voice filled with excitement.
“Who wouldn’t be?”
“He’ll be everyone’s most sought-after husband.”
Indeed, Patrick Bennett had grown into an exceptionally handsome man, incomparable to the pretty boy he had been as a teenager. His build had become sturdy and well-proportioned, while his sharper eyes and more defined nose gave him a mature appearance.
“He hasn’t been in the capital all this time, has he? I heard he studied biology or something in the countryside.”
“Don’t most noblemen go into politics? If he didn’t major in law, what is he going to do in the future?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh, my! Who’s that?!”
Just then, a maid carrying a bundle of freshly baked bread hurried over, lifting her skirts as she rushed to join the gathering spectators.
“Why is our young master already back? We were supposed to send a driver to the station on the day he was scheduled to arrive.”
“He came without sending word?”
“That’s right. Oh, dear. I suppose there’ll be another huge commotion today.”
As the maid fidgeted nervously with the bundle of bread in her arms, a young maid from the neighboring house whispered enviously.
“You must be so lucky. To have such a handsome young master. I want to work in that house too.”
“Oh, child… You don’t know what you’re saying.”
The Bennett maid let out a deep sigh as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“He may look refined and handsome, but his temper is anything but ordinary. And he’s so stubborn that no one can ever get him to back down. Who knows what he’ll do this time to turn the mistress’s world upside down….”
Halfway through speaking, the maid suddenly realized something and looked startled. She was supposed to be the one reaching the kitchen before the young master.
“Oh, my goodness! I shouldn’t be standing around like this. I’ll be going first!”
The maid adjusted her grip on the bundle of bread and hurried across the street before disappearing.
The new maid who had been watching her enviously couldn’t contain her curiosity and urged the others around her.
“Is what she said really true?”
An elderly gardener who worked at the neighboring Bennett residence kindly answered her.
“Of course. He’s a very, very famous stubborn fellow.”
Soft morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains hanging by the window. Three steaming cups of tea were neatly arranged on the coffee table.
“I thought you wouldn’t be coming for another three days. You certainly hurried back.”
Patrick noticed the welcome in his parents’ eyes, but deliberately pretended not to see it and placed a hand on his leather bag.
“I came as soon as I finished packing. I wanted to show you my diploma as soon as possible.”
Patrick took a large cylindrical case from his bag, placed it on the table, and stepped back a couple of paces.
The count glanced at the case, which was lined with luxurious velvet, exchanged a look with his wife, then took out the diploma and unfolded it.
“Collins University, Faculty of Natural Sciences. First-class honours degree… Patrick William Bennett.”
The count’s expression was ambiguous as he slowly read the gold-embossed letters. Patrick straightened his shoulders as he faced his father.
“I graduated at the top of my class. I received the highest marks in every subject. And, as promised, I lived as an ordinary student without spending a single penny of the Bennett family’s money. I completed my studies entirely through my own efforts.”
“Top of your class? Patrick! That’s wonderful. We’re so proud of you.”
The count merely listened to his son’s words in silence, while the countess beside him subtly interrupted. Her reaction seemed strangely overenthusiastic, and before long, the subject was smoothly changed.
“You’ve studied what you wanted to for quite some time, so why don’t you take a little rest for now and attend some of the social gatherings this season? It’s about time you started looking for a suitable bride….”
“…I have no intention of getting married.”
“Patrick, I’m not saying you have to get married right away, am I? In any case, it’s time for you to start attending the House of Lords and find your place. You can take your time and meet various young ladies before deciding….”
“No, Mother. Politics isn’t suited to me.”
Patrick took a deep breath and raised his head.
“I intend to get a job.”
…Twenty-five-year-old Patrick William Bennett.
He was the heir to the Bennett family, a house that had produced countless lawyers and politicians for generations. Yet he was the first historical aberration, an oddball, a misfit who had chosen to stray from the family’s established path.
Just as he had abruptly packed his belongings and left five years ago to major in biology, he had once again dropped an uncompromising bombshell on his family.
“You—you little brat! Not again…!”
His horrified mother’s mouth slowly fell open, but Patrick remained completely unmoved as he steadfastly continued what he had to say.
“For the time being, I’ll carry my diploma around, attend interviews, and look for a position in a university laboratory or the curatorial department of a museum….”
“Patrick-William-Benneeeett!”
