Chapter 29

***

***

Just then, the carriage stopped.

‘Okay, let’s go.’

Taking a short deep breath, Ines opened the carriage door.

At the same time, a cold sweat ran down her back.

‘It’s really…. It’s enormous.’

The first sight that Ines, who stepped outside, encountered was countless people gathered like clouds at the entrance of the court.

It was a divorce case that caused an uproar in the kingdom, so the number of spectators who wanted to attend this case was considerable.

In the meantime, reporters from various media outlets were mixed with each other.

In order to somehow beat Elton, they ran like a hyena.

“Countess Brierton!”

“Countess, please look here just once!”

The back of her neck stiffened from the tension as she heard the reporters calling her out.

Ines tried to shake off the feeling of pressure that was crushing her whole body, putting strength on her shoulders. 

“How do you feel about the trial today?”

“Just one word please!”

‘… No, I can’t even think of going through it.’

It was when Ines frowned without realizing it.

“You are here, Countess.”

A characteristic elegant voice rang out.

Ines lifted her head in a flash.

“Sir Duke of Sussex?”

It was Enoch.

Ines felt her tension release immediately.

Enoch approached Ines with a slow pace. The densely packed reporters scatter like waves with every step Enoch took.

“Come this way.”

Enoch politely reached out to Ines.

It was a gentleman’s escort to the Lady.

Ines placed her hand over his, as if possessed.

Enoch, who gently grabbed her hand, looked around with a cold gaze.

“Everyone, stay out of the way.”

Even with just a single word, a strong sense of intimidation was felt. The reporters unknowingly retreated back.

At the same time, court officials came and started moving the reporters.

“Everyone, please step aside!”

“What are you doing in front of the Sacred Court?” 

During that time, Ines and Enoch were able to get out of the place.

After such a long distance from the reporters. Stepping into the courtroom, Ines thanked him.

“Thank you, Duke.”

Then Enoch bent his eyes mischievously.

“The reason I stopped the reporters was not for the Countess, but for me.”

huh?

Ines tilted her head.

Enoch shrugged his shoulders proudly.

“As the owner of Elton, don’t I have a duty to protect our precious scoop provider?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I am in a position to be responsible for the sales of our newspaper.”

A playful reply rang out.

Ines, who was looking at Enoch like that quietly, covered her mouth and burst out laughing briefly.

“Haha.”

Then, she was startled and opened her eyes wide.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh at the Duke…”

“Usually, I would ask for a charge of contempt of the royal family, but this time I’ll let it slide.”

“….If the Duke jokes like that, I’m really scared. It sounds real.”

Ines gently complained.

Then Enoch asked quietly.

“I think you’ve come to your senses now. Are you relieved?”

Ah.

Ines blinked her eyes.

‘So, now, did he make a joke like that to relieve my tension?’

A small smile crept over her red lips.

“Yes, I think so.”

“I’m glad.”

Enoch, who was nodding his head with a smile, suddenly narrowed his brow.

He felt strange.

‘Why?’

Just seeing the Countess smile made me feel so relieved.

Enoch narrowed his eyebrows in his puzzlement, but he could not dwell on the question for long.

Because the royal servant ran to Enoch.

“Duke of Sussex! His Majesty the King is looking for you!”

“My brother?”

For a moment, Ines looked at Enoch’s beautiful face, the expression of annoyed to death passed by.

‘Huh?’

However, that expression disappeared in an instant, and Enoch, who had a normal face again, greeted Ines.

“I think I should go see His Majesty. See you in the courtroom.”

“Ah… Yes, Your Excellency.”

‘Well, I must be mistaken.’

Ines nodded her head with a bewildered feeling.

So Enoch left.

Ines, who was left alone, took a large, deep breath.

‘It’s okay.’

Even just having a few words with Enoch, she felt strangely courageous.

‘Finally, I can legally end my marriage with Ryan.’

Ines clenched her fists tightly.

There were only 30 minutes left until the trial began.

***

Meanwhile, at that time.

The king, Edward, who had just entered the courthouse, greeted his brother with a bright face.

“Enoch!”

“In public, you should call me Duke of Sussex, Your Majesty.”

Enoch politely gave criticism.

‘No, you’ll either scold or be polite or just do one thing. What the hell is that?’ (Edward)

Edward had a steamy face.

“What is Your Majesty? Tsk tsk.”

“There are many eyes. Your Majesty, grow up.”

“You called me Your Majesty, but you told me to grow up. Isn’t it too disrespectful?”

Edward, who was grumbling, suddenly glanced behind Enoch with curious eyes. His gaze turned to Ines, who was standing in the distance. 

“Oh, is that woman ‘that’ Countess of Brierton?”

A slender body, elegantly curled dark brown hair, a graceful neck, and vivid dark green eyes like a forest.

She was a woman strangely reminiscent of a deer.

Her aristocratic dignity was felt in her posture with a straight posture.

“It’s nice to see this after a long time. Shall we say hello?” (Edward)

“Stop it. It’s a burden on the Countess.” (Enoch)

Enoch snapped sullenly.

Edward narrowed his brow and glanced at his brother.

“Do you like me or the Countess of Brierton more?”  (Edward)????

“Your Majesty, please protect the king’s dignity.” (Enoch)

But Enoch was stubborn.

“In the first place, Your Majesty the King assumed the role of judge in this trial. What a flaw it would be for such a person to have a separate conversation with the trial party……” (Enoch)

“Okay, I got it!” (Edward)

Edward grumpily shook his hand, interrupting Enoch.

Enoch narrowed his eyes and requested.

“Please be aware of your position.”

‘Ugh, nagging…Even my deceased grandparents didn’t push me this hard.’ (Edward) ????

Edward, who was looking at Enoch with dissatisfied eyes, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Did you know that you can apply that phrase to yourself too?”

In an instant, Enoch’s face turned into a bewildered face.

“That’s right. Aren’t you my only brother, heir to the throne, and the only duke in the kingdom?”

“….”

“But you are helping the Countess without taking any of those things into account.”

Enoch struggled to protest.

“I did help, but it’s all for a good reason… .”

“For a good reason, yes. You’re not the kind of person who does something shameful to yourself.”

Edward, who had responded with a sense of victory, asked again, bending his eyes.

“But is that really all?”

“That…..”

“You are helping the Countess by actively exploiting your status and position now.”

Enoch’s ever-quiet deep blue eyes trembled.

Edward, who was looking into those trembling eyes with interest, nailed it immediately. 

“Now, haven’t you ignored that fact?”

“….”

“You were fascinated by the genius of the Countess of Brierton. Because you have always been very interested in artists. But… ”

Edward, who stretched out his words, patted Enoch on the shoulder.

“I’ve never seen you support and care about someone so much.”

“Brother.” (Enoch) 

For a moment, Edward was astonished.

Enoch, who strictly separated public and private positions, would call Edward ‘brother’ in public. That meant that Enoch was embarrassed to the point that he didn’t even care about dignity.

His expression showed that he didn’t know he was giving Countess Brierton special treatment.

“Well, yes.”

Edward shrugged his shoulders.

Enoch narrowed his forehead, and looked back in the direction where Ines was.

But she was nowhere to be seen as she had just entered the courtroom.

Edward couldn’t hide his intriguing expression.

‘Hey, this is amazing!’

Who is Enoch?

The little brother, who wouldn’t bleed even if he was stabbed with a needle, was now having a hard time. 

It was quite fun to see Enoch making that kind of expression.

Edward wanted to tease Enoch right away, but he put up with it for now.

***

* I love the brothers’ bickering. They are so cute ????