Chapter 4
“It’s not a good time to scream,” Jacqueline said, smiling warmly as she sat across from the child. The head of the table remained empty. Glancing briefly at the vacant seat, she turned her gaze to Benjamin.
“I’m looking forward to the first meal at Preston Manor.”
“…”
The child still didn’t say anything, only looking ahead with a tense expression.
Not long after, the dining room door opened again. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Jacqueline widened her eyes at the exact 7 o’clock indicated by the hour and minute hands.
Winthrop, accompanied by the butler, paused at the door. His gaze passed over Jacqueline and Benjamin in turn.
“Well, Miss Somerset is here, so let’s dine together…”
The child mumbled as if making an excuse. Benjamin, who was seated at the table later than usual, gradually lowered his head as if he had committed a grave mistake.
Winthrop pointed out in an indifferent tone, “When you speak, speak clearly, and never blur the end.”
“Yes, sir!”
With that one word, Benjamin straightened his shoulders with a tense expression. Then he raised his head and looked straight ahead.
“I thought you’d join us for dinner since Miss Somerset is here.”
“I’ll eat later.”
Winthrop then left the dining room as it was.
Benjamin’s shoulders slumped, and his expression grew gloomy. Even without words, Jacqueline could tell how disappointed the child was.
William began serving the two of them as if nothing had happened. The food arrived one by one.
Jacqueline unfolded a neatly folded napkin and placed it on her lap. Whispering softly, as if offering comfort, she said, “It seems Lord Preston didn’t want to dine with me. We had a minor difference of opinion earlier.”
So, Jacqueline’s realization was that Winthrop left because of herself, not because of the child.
Jacqueline made a wry expression when William wasn’t looking, but Benjamin remained stoic as ever. With a resigned expression, she reached for a piece of bread.
Then, Benjamin’s sullen voice came from across the table. Sensing the hidden meaning, Jacqueline whispered affectionately, “So? From now on, you’ll dine with me.”
The child nodded, his expression unreadable. Jacqueline thought life at Preston Manor might not be as smooth as she expected, and she sighed, picking at her bread.
Fortunately, the chef’s skills were excellent. Holding the spoon elegantly yet swiftly, she devoured her food faster than usual.
It dawned on her belatedly that this meal was the first proper one she had today.
***
Five hundred twenty-two, five hundred twenty-three, five hundred twenty-four…
Jacqueline, gazing up at the dark ceiling, finally let out a deep sigh. She had counted sheep up to five hundred twenty-four, yet her eyes remained wide open.
It had been a day that passed like a storm. Jacqueline hadn’t consciously realized it, but she seemed quite tense. Judging by the fact that sleep hadn’t come until this hour.
“Well, it’s not strange to be tense. It’s a new place with unfamiliar people,” Jacqueline comforted herself with affectionate self-talk. She added, “Considering it’s the first time, I’m doing great.”
“Hmm, a cup of tea would be nice.”
Having given up on sleep, she finally threw off her blanket and got up from her bed. She knew that moving her body was better at times like this.
Although the late spring day was mild like a mother’s embrace, the night still carried a chilly breeze. Jacqueline, pondering for a moment while staring at the curtains, eventually lifted her head.
It was late. Most of the maids would be resting in their quarters by now, and only a few footmen would remain on duty at the mansion.
They might be dozing off curled up in narrow beds, not knowing when the bell might ring.
“Sorry for waking you.”
As she reached for the door, Jacqueline paused.
Jacqueline had always been a child with a rich imagination. It could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the situation, and unfortunately, today it acted as a disadvantage.
The dim hallway seemed to stretch like the mouth of a gaping monster. Jacqueline, hesitating like someone about to put their head into the monster’s mouth, slowly turned her head.
“What’s wrong, Colin? Are you scared to be alone? You’re still like a child. Well, can’t be helped, let’s go together.”
Returning to her bed, she hugged the teddy bear that lay at the head. Then, she bravely stepped into the dark corridor.
When walking through a long tunnel with no end in sight, even a little warmth can provide reassurance. And Jacqueline was still in the middle of that long tunnel.
Somewhere along the road that “Poor Little Cinderella” should walk.
She couldn’t tell how far she had come or how far she had left to go. She simply hoped not to tire out along the way. If she did, she might not be able to turn back or move forward.
Fortunately, she didn’t get lost on the way to the kitchen. She had been introduced to it by Benjamin, and there was a particularly warm atmosphere emanating from there.
Even with steam engines running and trains crossing the continent, the primary duty of the household staff remained keeping the kitchen fire burning.
Arriving safely at her destination, Jacqueline lit the oil lamp with the remaining embers. It only illuminated a small area, but for her, who had been plunged into deep darkness, it was enough.
The monster that had seemed to loom right in front of her retreated as far as the light reached.
“Now, where’s the kettle… Oh, where could it be?”
Navigating through the unfamiliar kitchen to boil water for tea wasn’t as easy as it sounded. However, Jacqueline persevered and eventually succeeded in placing the kettle on the stove.
Next, she scanned the row of jars lined up on the shelf. Among them, the fourth one contained tea leaves. As she opened the cupboard, she paused.
“Hmm?”
She thought she heard footsteps. She strained her ears but heard nothing.
“Did I mishear?”
Hoot, hoot.
An owl hooted nearby.
With a puzzled expression, she took out the tea caddy. After confirming the aroma, she scooped an appropriate amount of tea leaves with a spoon. Then, she stopped again.
“Huh?”
She heard clearer footsteps this time. Whipping around, she saw no one. Only the deep darkness stared back at her.
The monster’s gaping maw, its hair standing on end. Jacqueline, swallowing dryly, gathered her courage.
“Who’s there?”
Her voice sounded tense, almost trembling. At that moment, a strong wind blew in from outside the window.
Eeeeeeeeee.
The sound of wind slipping through the crack in the window echoed like a woman’s scream.
“C-Colin, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”
Jacqueline instinctively pulled Colin close. Her heart raced loudly, racing as if it were going mad.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Her heart seemed to pound incessantly. As she turned around again…
“!”
A black shadow suddenly appeared from behind the wall. Jacqueline, realizing it belatedly, widened her eyes and opened her mouth.
“Aaah…!”
Just as she was about to scream, a large hand covered her mouth, muffling her voice. Her heart skipped a beat as she fell to the ground with a thud.
The terror of seeing the monster that had only existed in her imagination become a reality was indescribable. In her mind, she could already see her gruesome end.
Oh, God!
As she murmured her final prayer, a solemn voice sounded from above. It was too polite to belong to the monster.
“Not a good time for screaming, Miss Somerset.”
“……Wh-Who are you?”
Her pronunciation, muffled between her palms, finally emerged. Only then did the hand covering her mouth fall away.
“Lord Preston?”
Jacqueline asked again, her words clear and steady. She scrutinized the shadow lurking in the darkness with suspicion.
Perhaps it was a monster mimicking Lord Preston’s voice. She remembered reading such books.
Her vivid imagination began to churn. Jacqueline brought the oil lamp closer to Windsor’s face.
“Oh, it really is Lord Preston.”
She breathed a sigh of relief belatedly. Her tense body relaxed like a wet sponge.
Windsor frowned slightly and took a step back from the lamp. His indifferent voice filled the gap.
“Miss Somerset, what are you doing here at this hour?”
Suddenly, Jacqueline brought the lamp closer again, as if fearing that if he stepped out of the light, he might transform into a monster.
The lines on Windsor’s forehead deepened slightly.
“Oh!”
At that moment, Jacqueline’s eyes widened. Windsor looked at her, eyes narrowed, seemingly without any intention to answer her question.
Was he avoiding the question?
But then…
“You resemble Benjamin…”
Suddenly, her pupils dilated like crescent moons. Windsor silently stared at her face. Even in the darkness, her green irises emitted a vivid glow.
“During the day, with your hair slicked back with pomade, I didn’t notice, but it’s as fluffy as cotton candy. Just like Benjamin.”
Windsor’s furrowed brow tightened slightly. He seemed to be trying to gauge what Jacqueline was thinking.
He was more observant than most, with keen eyes and ears. Whether it was because of his mother, who had been an opera singer, or a habit developed during his time in the military, no one knew for sure.
However, he was always the first to notice any subtle changes. After Windsor moved, even the slightest sound of an enemy’s approach could set off alarms.
His aide, Roman, once joked, “Don’t you even have a radar?” but received a chilly response in return.
In his attentive ears, he heard the quiet footsteps crossing the corridor. They were different from those of a maid—much more refined and elegant.
In an instant, Windsor recognized the owner of those footsteps. He wondered why she was moving around at such a late hour, avoiding people’s eyes.
Checking the time on his watch, he slowly rose from his seat. Roman had mentioned that she hadn’t contacted the king yet, but even that was subject to Windsor’s doubts. He was not one to regret after the fact; he was cautious and prudent.
“Next time, please give some warning. I was really surprised.”
Her voice carried a hint of resentment. Her gaze was sharper than usual.
Suddenly, Windsor’s eyes shifted downward. He faintly furrowed his brows as he noticed Jacqueline’s arms tightly embracing a teddy bear.
Sensing his scrutiny, she hurriedly opened her mouth to explain.
