Chapter 14

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Ines looked at Ryan with an expressionless face, and there was still no answer.

Irritated, Ryan began to gently soothe Ines.

“Ines, will you draw me? Yes?”

Undoubtedly, if Ines does not draw a picture, he will not be able to exhibit at that art exhibition.

‘This is a God-given opportunity!’

What a chance to be noticed by the Duke of Sussex!

Ryan, who was imagining a rosy future, bit his molars.

He must not miss this opportunity. Even if he had to go out of his way to convince Ines.

Ryan tickled Ines in annoyance.

“Why don’t you answer me, did you even listen to me?”

At the same time, the tip of Ines’ lips twisted. She put the fork down loudly.

Clank!

Surprised, Ryan looked at Ines.

“Ines?”

“You know what, Ryan?”

Ines stared at Ryan with a cold gaze.

“This is the first time since last month that you had dinner with me.”

“Is that so?”

Ryan couldn’t hide his embarrassed face.

“That, you know. If a man has a social life, he may not be able to come home.… ”

“So, in the midst of such a busy social life, do you come home early only when you ask for a favor?”

Ryan felt speechless.

Ines sighed deeply and shook her head.

“I guess it is.”

He was surprised by Ines’s cold response, and began to beg Ines like a child.

“Oh, so you’re not going to draw it for me?”

“….”

“Ines, huh?”

“…”

“I will come home earlier from now on. Yes, we’ll try to eat together once a week..”

It was just pathetic to see him fuss. 

Besides, the only way to convince her was to eat ‘once a week’.

‘How funny I look.’

Ines, who was biting her lip, pretended not to win.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you, Ines!”

Facing Ryan’s brightly lit face, Ines thought to herself.

‘Thank you? It’s a trap I set myself to bring you down.’

‘Thank you so much, Ryan.’

‘Because you crawled into the trap yourself.’

Ines smiled softly.

It was a smile like a sharp blade.

****

After that.

Ines met Enoch once more.

“Ryan asked me to draw a picture for the art exhibition.”

Their plan was simple.

They would exhibit the paintings in the names of Ryan and Ines at the same time, and leave the judgment to the public.

Naturally, both paintings would be drawn by Ines.

The confusion caused by the two identical paintings had been decided to be published exclusively in Elton.

“I don’t know, but it will be quite a scandal. 

“Yes, I think so.”

Enoch, who clicked his tongue briefly, asked a question carefully.

“Isn’t it a burden?”

This art exhibition had been attracting a lot of people’s attention even before its opening.

Among them, female artists also submitted their work.

There was a lot of talk about Enoch.

If Ines submitted a picture in that situation.

Even in the process of the entry, the emerging artist Count Brierton’s substitute painter would be revealed.

If it was known that the substitute painter was Ines….She would certainly be engulfed in great controversy.

Ines let out a short sigh.

“Actually… … … It would be a lie if I said it wasn’t burdensome.”

But for a while.

Dark green eyes shone resolutely.

“Still, it’s what I want to do.”

“Countess.”

“If it’s to get my life back, I can bear this. No, I must endure it.”

Enoch looked at Ines with wide eyes.

In the last few days, there was something that Enoch realized while dealing with Ines. Outwardly, Ines was just a weak lady, but surprisingly, she had a strong heart and boldness.

‘It’s really different from me.’

Whether it was political affairs or expectations of Enoch in aristocratic society.

Unlike himself, who tried to avoid everything, Ines did not hesitate to confront any problem.

It’s amazing, it’s unique, it’s a little bit….. ‘Respectful.’

Enoch nodded quietly.

”I see. Great.”

“Thank you. I would not have even had this opportunity without the Duke’s help.” 

Ines smiled brightly.

That smile somehow remained in Enoch’s sight like an afterimage.

Enoch made an official proposal out of the blue.

“If you need a separate place to paint, I will support you.”

Then Ines shook her head. “Thank you for your consideration, but it’s okay. I can manage it myself.”

“Wouldn’t it be a bit cumbersome to find a place where you could completely avoid Count Brierton’s eyes?”

To Enoch’s worrying question, Ines confidently answered.

“I also have somewhere in mind. Do not worry.”

“You have something in mind. So you already decided what to paint?”

“Yes. I want to draw the scenery of Hwabang street.”

“Hwabang street?”

Enoch was a little surprised by the unexpected answer.

Hwabang Street.

It was a street where all kinds of art galleries, small art dealers, and boarding houses where poor artists mainly rent were gathered. However, Ines was one of the highest nobles in Lancaster.

Normal aristocrats rarely go to the commoners’ district, so he thought Ines wouldn’t visit there either. However, Ines had a rather puzzled face and only looked at Enoch.

“You can buy art supplies on Hwabang Street.”

“Ah, Countess directly purchases the painting tools from the art shop?”

It must be so, because ordinary nobles tend to send servants to buy necessary items. However, Ines only shrugged her shoulders lightly. 

“Yes. I feel comfortable looking at the things I will be using.”

“I see.”

Enoch swept his chin awkwardly.

Whenever he talked to Ines, he kept getting caught off guard.

But strangely, instead of feeling bad…it was interesting.

Enoch stared at Ines.

“Since I go back and forth often, it’s a bit fun to see the streets.” Ines smiled softly and added more. “And, Ryan hates going in and out of the streets of commoners, saying it’s vulgar, so there’ll be no encounter.”

“That’s certainly true.”

“Yes. So, I’m going to rent a room there and use it as a temporary studio. There are also boarding houses on Hwabang Street.”

Ines, who had been chatting with excitement for a while, suddenly made an awkward face.

“Oh my God, the Duke is probably not interested in it. I was so excited that I kept talking about it.”

“No. It was interesting because it was the first time I heard of it.”

Fortunately, Enoch did not have a boring face.

Ines, who was relieved inwardly, asked to be excused.

“Then can I get up first?”

“Are you leaving already?”

‘Oh, that’s weird.’

Ines blinked her eyes.

Somehow, the Duke of Sussex seemed to be disappointed. 

‘Am I mistaken?’

‘Ha, it’s because I’m too sensitive.’

Ines, who shook her head inwardly, answered.

“Ah, I was thinking about renting a studio after leaving here.”

Enoch jumped up to his feet.

“I’ll take you.”

“What?”

Ines doubted her ears.

However, Enoch only looked at Ines with a dignified face. 

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever been outside Langdon.”

“Oh … ?”

“I am ashamed that even though I am a member of the royal family of a country, I wasn’t too interested in the lives of ordinary people.” 

At the words that flowed out like a clear stream, Ines’s mind became dizzy.

“So I would like to visit it with the Countess. Of course if you feel uncomfortable…..”

“Oh, no!”

Ines, who came to her senses, hurriedly waved her hand.

“Let’s go together! Your Excellency is so considerate, how can I refuse?”

“Aha, thank you.”

Enoch smiled with a bright face.

Ines, who had been staring at Enoch for a long time, pouted her lips and murmured inwardly. 

‘Really, the Duke has a surprisingly mischievous side.’

Anyway, the two headed for the market in a carriage.