Chapter 1898: Chapter 1898

Miss Windsor had by now completely mastered the art of conversation with Jenkins. He would never compromise for his own gain or loss, but he might for the sake of others—especially those he held dear. Miss Windsor wasn't entirely sure how she'd come to this sudden realization, but she suspected the other Windsor was helping her. After all, that one had been a queen for a time.

"Yes... alright. You're right. I shouldn't just keep piling all the responsibility and burdens on you. But..."

"Oh, Jenkins, forget those damned 'buts.' I know what you're thinking. Now, answer me this: am I not beautiful?"

"No, you're very beautiful."

"So, you're only rejecting me because you're bound by your engagements?"

She posed the question skillfully, deliberately avoiding asking if he liked her. It spared them both the awkwardness, but it also stripped Jenkins of his only way to put an end to this.

"I truly don't understand," Queen Windsor chimed in. "You pledged to marry four different women, and yet here you are, talking to me about fidelity..."

The other Windsor blinked. This was something she genuinely hadn't foreseen; no one had mentioned it to her moments ago.

"I don't want to be crude, but do you honestly think you're in the right?"

Miss Windsor gave Jenkins no opportunity to respond, stating her intentions plainly:

"Agree to her request. Take her away from here. When we get back to our reality, I'll speak to your other... ladies. I'll tell them about us, and I'll make it perfectly clear that I want you."

Even after steeling her resolve and mustering her courage, a faint blush still crept up her cheeks. Yet, aside from Jenkins, the other two women were deeply impressed with Miss Windsor. They were well aware that she was interfering in someone else's relationships, that it was immoral. But Jenkins himself was hardly a paragon of virtue when it came to his own betrothals. When they weighed her actions against his, Jenkins seemed far more in the wrong. Consequently, they felt mostly admiration and praise for Miss Windsor; any sense of disapproval was faint at best.

"I've already gone this far. Are you really going to shrink away again?"

She asked one last time. Jenkins met her gaze, and in her eyes, he read a clear intention. If he backed away now, he feared something terrible would happen.

But he wouldn't back down this time. Just as she'd said, if Miss Windsor was willing to go to such lengths, Jenkins knew he would despise himself if he retreated again.

Before answering, he asked himself a few questions:

"Do I like Miss Windsor?"

"Yes. I admire a woman like her. She's beautiful, remarkably strong-willed, full of life and optimism... She could even be a great help to me professionally."

"Then why not agree to her and Queen Windsor's request?"

"Because it conflicts with the promises I've made to others."

"But now Windsor herself has promised to handle it. Do you have any other excuses?"

"But if I agree, I'll become a despicable man—someone I myself would scorn."

"There's also the guilt I'd feel toward the others."

"Have you asked them what they think?"

"Is that even a question? What woman wouldn't be furious if her husband took up with someone new?"

"But this is different. Her reasoning is sound: for the sake of what's to come, she has to be by your side."

He finally spoke. Whatever he did now would be wrong. The only question was who he would wrong: the women waiting for him, or Miss Windsor.

"I'll talk to them about this when we get back. You're right... you need a reason to be by my side."

"Is that all?" Follow current novels on novel✶fire.net

Miss Windsor refused to yield.

"Alright. As for you... you're a very charming woman."

At Jenkins's somewhat awkward admission, a captivating smile finally blossomed on Miss Windsor's face.

"Of course," he continued, "I don't want you to stay by my side just because you want to help me."

He went on, trying to make her understand the gravity of what she was doing.

"Of course not. I know exactly what I want, and I know exactly why I'm helping you. I'm well aware that I'm despicably meddling in your relationships. I know that. But I also know that I truly like you. Of that, I'm certain."