Chapter 19

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“I am very happy that the Countess has come to my art exhibition.”

It was as if he was encouraging Ines to cheer up, saying, “You don’t have to be discouraged by people’s eyes.”

In addition to the greeting, Enoch gently lifted Ines’s gloved hand.

Smooch.

Ines felt a light kiss on the back of her hand.

Basically, it was a gentleman’s courtesy to a noble lady.

But the people were astonished and looked at Enoch and Ines.

“Ah, did you just see that?”

“The Duke of Sussex… … !”

Even so, that etiquette also had a different meaning.

That’s right, ‘the respect for those below.’

The nobles of the Kingdom of Lancaster took an oath of allegiance by kissing the back of the king’s hand.

Therefore, although it was basically a ritual for a lady and a gentleman, it wasn’t the duty of a high-ranking person to a subordinate.

Enoch had never taken this example except for his older brother, the king and queen.

That meant.

Enoch showed everyone how much he respected Ines by his actions.

“Oh, Duke?”

Ines herself was even more surprised and looked up at Enoch with surprised rabbit eyes.

Enoch parted his lips softly.

“Thanks to the paintings submitted by the Countess, my art exhibition is very popular.”

“…… It’s my honour.”

Ines, who swallowed dry saliva, answered.

In fact, it was difficult just to keep her voice from shaking.

‘What should I do, I’m so nervous I feel like I’m about to collapse!’

In the first place, Ines had never received the attention of so many people at once.

Was it like that at the debutante party that felt far away now?

Besides, the person who has paid tribute to her now was Enoch von Lancaster, the one and only Duke of the kingdom!

“Let’s go. I will guide you myself.”

Was that all?

Enoch naturally escorted Ines into the exhibition hall. Ines had to work hard not to stumble as her whole body was stiff.

“Countess, I won’t eat you.” 

At the same time, an evil whisper was heard.

“So there is no need to be so nervous.”

“…”

Enoch looked down at Ines, shining his dark blue eyes playfully.

Ines narrowed her eyebrows without realizing it.

“Are you telling me not to be nervous? In this situation?”

“I didn’t tell you not to be nervous.”

When Ines lowered her voice and asked back, Enoch responded sarcastically.

“I said there was no need to be nervous.”

“That’s what…… !”

Ines, who was furious, suddenly looked at a place in the exhibition hall as if possessed.

Two paintings hanging in the distance. Painted at different times in the same place, under the names of the Brierton couple side by side.

Countless people were standing in front of the paintings that looked like a series of works.

“You mean Count Brierton and the Countess drew these paintings?”

“It seems like the work of one person is too much for that to be true….”

“Even if it’s a married couple, should they draw the same thing?”

“Isn’t that a bit strange?”

People had doubts about Ines’ paintings.

Staring at that figure, Ines felt a lot of emotions intersect. It was the first time.

Showing pictures to everyone in the name of ‘Ines’ rather than ‘Ryan’.

Just then, Enoch went one step ahead. People who had been observing the paintings for a long time looked back in surprise.

“Most of you here probably know, but let me introduce again.”

“Oh, Duke?”

Surprised, Ines looked up at Enoch. But Enoch only spoke calmly.

“This is Countess Ines Brierton. Also…… ”

Enoch glanced at Ines.

Their eyes met.

It was hard for Enoch to take his eyes off her dark green eyes.

Those dazzling eyes, sparkling with a passion for art.

Gently looking into those eyes, Enoch continued.

“She’s also the creator of this beautiful painting.”

“…”

“…”

All the spectators were staring at Ines as if frozen.

Enoch, who took his gaze away from Ines, opened his lips lightly as he faced the audience.

“Please pay attention to this outstanding artist I just discovered.”

The moment Enoch’s words fell.

As if by magic, the spectators began to move like magic.

The spectators each asked questions to Ines with curious faces.

“Is that really what the Countess Brierton did?”

“The style of painting is very similar to that of the Count, so what are the paintings that the Count has submitted so far?” 

Hearing the countless questions pouring in, Ines felt her heart swell. Finally, she took the first step out of Ryan’s shadow. As proof of that, everyone was looking at her.

Ines, not Ryan.

****

“Ahhhh!”

As the colorful lace curtains were removed, the bright sunlight dazzled into the room.

It had been a long time since the sun had risen high already. Ryan wrinkled his forehead angrily and crouched down.

“I guess I drank too much yesterday.”

It felt like someone was banging his head with a hammer, so Ryan bit his molars, making a painful noise.

“Ugh….”

“Oh, no! Ryan! Ryan!”

But he was just about to go back to sleep again. Someone shook him, who was fast asleep, to wake him up. Ryan tossed and turned under the covers.

“Ugh, what?!”

“Look at this, it’s a big deal!”

Regardless, Charlotte held the newspaper in front of Ryan’s nose.

It was an article from Elton.

“What’s the matter…?”

Ryan, who was nervously blurring the end of his words, opened his eyes wide for a moment. It was because the headline that was embedded in the top of the newspaper caught his eyes.

“Hey, what the hell is this!”

Ryan raised his voice like a scream and snatched the newspaper from Charlotte’s hand. The content of the newspaper was truly speculative.

“Ines, this is… … ?!”

Ryan gritted his teeth. Charlotte looked at Ryan worriedly.

“Ryan, what should we do?”

“What the hell, I have to go and fix it right away!” 

Ryan screamed out in frustration, and got up urgently.

After a while.

Ryan, who had dressed roughly, rushed outside.

****

He had no idea how he got to the exhibition.

‘Ugh, I think I’m going to vomit.’

Ryan managed to calm his upset stomach with excessive drinking and got out of the carriage.

He stumbled a couple of times from the drunkenness that didn’t go away, but he got into the exhibition hall anyway.

At the same time, the eyes of the audience immediately turned to Ryan.

“Isn’t that Count Brierton?”

“That’s right! He came in after all this fuss…”

“What the hell is he thinking?”

The ladies covered their mouths with their fans and nodded.

They lowered their voices, but he could hear everything.

Was that all?

Some of the older gentlemen were clicking their tongues.

Among them were the men who played poker with him and drank with him at the club!

‘Sh*t!’

Ryan chewed a curse word inwardly. Looking around, he saw Ines standing in the distance.

She seemed very happy, seeing her smiling brightly while surrounded by people.

‘That!’ Sparks bounced off Ryan’s eyes.

‘That position belongs to me!’

The audience who would look up to him, their sweet voices admiring the genius.

Thousands of people who would want a single piece of attention from him.

‘It’s mine. That….all mine… !!’

Although all the attention he had was because of Ines’ paintings, what’s wrong with that?

When the husband’s outside work goes well, the wife will be happy too!

If you were born as a woman, you should be courteous and supportive!

“Ines!!”

Ryan shouted loudly.

The spectators, startled by the loud resounding voice, turned around. Ryan was taken aback for a moment by the numerous gazes, but then he put strength on his shoulders and walked in.

People scattered like grains of sand, and Ines, standing in the middle, became closer.

Ryan grabbed Ines’ shoulder.

“How the hell did this happen!”

At the claw-like grip, Ines’ shoulders stiffen.

A faint fear crept across her face.

But it was only for a short moment.

“Let go of me.”

Ines, who shook off Ryan’s hand, took a couple of steps back. 

Then she straightened her back and looked into Ryan’s eyes.