***
***
“Ines, I am your only friend. I just want to be with you…”
So, as a friend of Ines, Charlotte entered the central social circle.
“Are you looking for Ines? Ines was tired and went to rest for a while.”
Using Ines as an excuse, she exchanged friendships with numerous noble ladies.
“Hello, are you Ines’s husband?”
And knowing that Ines truly loved Ryan, Charlotte deliberately became Ryan’s lover. She cleverly isolated Ines. It was quite fun to watch Ines being swayed by every word she said.
However.
‘That girl… Something has changed lately.’
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
She did not know that the timid Ines would publicize her work by exhibiting her paintings at the Duke of Sussex’s exhibition.
‘I don’t think Ines notices the relationship between me and Ryan.’
Charlotte swallowed dry saliva.
‘I think I’ll have to lay low for a while.’
With that in mind, Charlotte dug into Ryan’s arms.
Anyway, isn’t she currently in charge of Ines’ husband?
‘I beat Ines.’ (*you can have that trash forever)
The sense of victory was very sweet.
***
Inside the office of Sussex’s mansion.
Only the sound of the pen nib scratching on the paper rang out.
But after a while.
“Hmmm.”
Enoch put his hand on his forehead and let out a short sigh.
He couldn’t concentrate on work at all.
Enoch glanced away and looked at the desk calendar. There was only one day left until the Countess Brierton’s divorce proceedings.
‘So I guess that’s why I can’t focus.’
Maybe it was because the court date was just around the corner, and his thoughts kept focusing on the Countess.
‘She’d be quite upset with her by now.’
In fact, since Enoch had lent his villa to Ines, he deliberately tried not to think about Ines.
His mind was complicated.
So he didn’t even visit the villa as much as possible.
It wasn’t that he didn’t take into account the gazes around him at all, but rather. Because he was constantly bothered by the Countess.
Enoch wrinkled his brow.
Was it because he was fascinated by her sparkling talent?
It was Enoch who never lost his composure under any circumstances.
But now, just thinking about Ines made his head go haywire. He was so unfamiliar with the status quo that he thought it would be better if he didn’t meet Ines.
It was all in vain.
At least with his superhuman patience, he had stopped himself walking to the villa countless times.
But somehow, he thought about her more because he didn’t see her face.
Enoch bit his lip and grabbed his pen. He glanced down at the papers once more, but the white ones were paper and the black ones were just handwriting.
“….”
After sitting like that for a long time, Enoch eventually got up.
It was because he decided that it would be difficult for him to concentrate on work any longer if he kept sitting still. With an urgent hand, he picked up his jacket, which he had hung on his chair.
‘Yes, this is to check on Countess Brierton’s condition.’
Enoch tried to convince himself that way.
Even in order to protect his stellar genius, Ines’s divorce was essential. And in order to smoothly proceed with her divorce case, Ines must be at her best.
‘So this visit to the Countess because I’m her boss.’
But in fact, Enoch himself knew.
He was receiving periodic reports of Ines’s condition from his servants, so he didn’t have to check with his own eyes.
Noticing his own contradictions, his mood worsened even more.
Nevertheless, Enoch did not stop his urgent steps.
As he stepped out of the building, the waiting driver found Enoch and bowed his head.
“Where shall I take you, sir?”
Enoch answered with a sigh.
“I’m going to Meldon House.”
Meldon House.
It was the name of the villa he had lent to Ines.
***
Ines sat on a large, sunny window sill.
Her dark green eyes were watching the outside, and she was busy on the sketchbook he held in her arms.
She teased the pencil.
While she was so absorbed in painting.
“Huh?”
Ines, who was casually scanning the surrounding landscape, widened her eyes.
It was because she could see a luxurious carriage running in the distance.
The appearance of the carriage was somehow familiar.
“The Duke?”
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Surprised, Ines got up from her seat.
Her eyes weren’t wrong.
As soon as she saw Enoch disembarking from his carriage, Ines hurried down to the first floor.
“The Duke of Sussex!”
“Ah, Countess Brierton.”
Enoch found Ines and smiled, gently bending his eyes.
“How are you?”
“I’m good. How have you been, Your Excellency?”
“Yes. I’ve been fine too.”
Ines looked at Enoch with a somewhat new feeling.
‘By the way, I think it’s the first time we’ve seen each other since the Duke rented me this villa.’
Meanwhile.
Ines tilted her head.
‘What is this feeling?’
Recently, she has been strangely depressed and even skipped her meals. But as soon as she met Enoch, her melancholy seemed to melt away.
‘As expected, the Duke is amazing.’
How could she explain this feeling?
The desire to be recognized by someone itself was very different from the past when she wanted to be recognized by Ryan.
And.
‘His Excellency is different from Ryan.’
Unlike Ryan, with whom she had rational affection, her feelings for Enoch were pure respect.
Ines convinced herself.
Anyway, when she was with Enoch, she felt comfortable and free as if she was wearing clothes that fit her body well. She didn’t have to watch out for the opponent’s mood or tried to fit in.
How pleasant it was to be with someone who looked at her positively. Just then, Enoch glanced at Ines’s hands.
“You must have been painting.”
“Ah yes.”
Ines smiled embarrassedly.
As the situation was not so good, she brought along all of her sketchbooks and pencils.
Enoch lightly suggested.
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
“A walk?”
“Yes. I heard that you were only inside all the time, it must be stuffy.”
Ines hesitated a bit without realizing it.
She didn’t hate going for a walk with Enoch. But.
“But, if anyone around finds me, the reputation of the Duke will…”
“Didn’t I tell you before that this area is private land? Don’t worry, the surroundings are tightly controlled.”
Perhaps he had noticed Ines’s concern, Enoch reassured her casually.
“And I don’t really care if anyone actually sees the Countess.”
“What? But…”
“The Countess did nothing wrong. But why do you care so much about other people’s opinions?”
“…”
With such a calm face, Enoch asked a question that pierced her lungs.
Ines was speechless.
Enoch added his words calmly.
“People who did nothing wrong hide themselves, and people who do wrong run around outside. I don’t like that.”
“… that.”
“Of course, I understand the Countess’ discomfort. But what I want to tell you is.”
Enoch gave strength to his voice.
“The Countess can be more confident.”
Ines stared blankly at Enoch.
Every time Enoch spoke so decisively, Ines’s heart beat faster and faster. Upright, unshaken by any words, and not concerned with the gaze of others.
He persevered in what he believed was right. Its appearance itself was shining brightly.
He was a completely different person from herself who was always withdrawn……
At the same time, Enoch asked a question playfully.
“Now that I’ve explained this to you, would you like to go for a walk together?”
After being silent for a moment, Ines smiled and nodded her head.
“I would like that.”
So the two walked slowly along the path in the forest.
The fresh air of the countryside filled the lungs.
Although the weather was still cold, it felt refreshing rather than cold.
Every time the heels of the shoes trampled on the frozen leaves, the sweet yet refreshing winter smell hit the tip of the nose.
Enoch glanced down at Ines and opened his mouth.
“Now there is only one day left until the divorce. How do you feel?”
“Well … I don’t know.”
After pondering for a moment, Ines answered cautiously.
“I am excited and looking forward to it…… ”
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As Ines continued to speak, she lowered her eyes.
Her expression suddenly became gloomy like a cloudy sky.