William Jones, eldest son of Richard and Aurelia Jones, possesses an unassuming stature with pale green eyes and light blonde hair, his polished Victorian suits, top hats, and ascots mirroring his family’s affluent status. Formal tuxedos mark his presence at elite events, though his reserved nature lingers from childhood—shaped by timid interactions with his strict governess, Kelly Stownar. Despite adolescent propriety, his inherent kindness and open-mindedness defied aristocratic norms, culminating in a forbidden romance with Emma, a housemaid. Their bond clashed violently with his father’s ambitions to wed him to Eleanor Campbell for social advancement. Emma’s abrupt disappearance forced William to assume his role as heir, outwardly mastering business dealings and high-society obligations while concealing private anguish. This emotional distance strained ties with siblings Grace, Arthur, Vivian, and Colin, as well as his sharp-witted confidant Hakim Atawari, an Indian prince and Eton companion whose camaraderie balanced cultural friction with steadfast loyalty.

Years later, a fateful encounter with Emma at his engagement to Eleanor shattered his cultivated façade. Defying his father’s wrath and the Campbells’ scorn, he severed the betrothal, pursuing Emma even as adversaries abducted her. Determined, he scoured global shipping records and dispatched telegrams, leveraging privilege to reclaim their fractured future. Their eventual marriage saw Emma adopt the Stownar surname, honoring her mentor, while a faint scar from a bramble thicket—a testament to their tumultuous path—remained etched on his skin. The manga closes on this union; the anime extends their legacy, depicting them decades later nurturing four children.

William’s journey traces a youth’s transformation into a tempered patriarch, reconciling duty with desire. His choices—a rebellion against class divides, a testament to love’s resilience—ripple through family tensions and Victorian rigidity, etching a legacy where heart and heritage collide.