Chapter 53

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And after about an hour.

Ines sat in the carriage with a slightly puzzled face.

‘Well, I guess Mary was incredibly ambitious…’

The reflection seen through the window was quite beautiful even to Ines herself. Although she didn’t decorate it with a lot of force, it was meticulous in many ways.

From an elegant hairstyle to makeup that added vitality to the face.

‘What if the Duke misunderstands because of Mary?’

Ines grumbled inside for nothing, but to be honest, it didn’t make her feel bad.

Because she didn’t want to look shabby when she met Enoch.

Meanwhile,

‘ah.’

The art studio appeared in the distance. Ines looked at the appearance of the building, more precisely, the front door that looked much newer than the building.

Previously, Ines had someone to remove the door, so the old front door could no longer be used.

So, it was replaced with a new door….

Dark green eyes sank deeply with countless emotions.

After a while.

The carriage gently stopped in front of the studio. Ines stepped into the building and looked around.

Come to think of it, many terrible memories were entangled in this place.

It was the place where Ryan and Charlotte were thoroughly trampled on before returning. She also witnessed Charlotte and Ryan’s hot night here this time too. So it was a place she didn’t like at all. In fact, just stepping into this studio made her feel like insects crawling all over her body.

‘It’s really strange.’

When she thought that she would actually meet Enoch in this atelier, this place felt special.

The disgust towards the studio disappeared without a trace. Her heart was filled with anticipation, and it inflated like a balloon.

‘Then let’s organize the tools first.’

Ines quickly headed towards the painting room.

Perhaps she was in a pleasant mood, Ines started humming.

She was preparing to paint the portrait by arranging the craters, dragging and placing the easel.

“Is there anything good going on?”

A light voice spoke to Ines. Startled, Ines looked back.

“Oh, Duke? When did you come?”

“I just arrived.”

Enoch answered with his characteristic friendly face.

Confused, Ines glanced sideways at the wall clock. 

“There are still 20 minutes left until the appointment time…… No, how did you get in?”

“Because the front door was open.”

Enoch looked at Ines with a strict gaze.

“I tell you right now, Countess. Please lock the door well.”

“…”

“You left the studio open the other day. But at the time, there were workers with you, but now you are alone.” 

“…”

“What would you do if someone came in with a bad heart?”

The first thing Ines heard when she first met Enoch in a long time was nagging.

Listening to the endless scolding, Ines felt a sense of familiarity.

When Ines was still a young girl, she was scolded by her parents…

“To be honest, this is all your fault.”

Ines, who could not hear the nagging for a long time, spat out in a loud voice.

“Because I was preparing to draw while waiting for Your Excellency, so I forgot to lock the door.” 

“Well, I don’t think that’s an excuse.”

Enoch, who shook his head resolutely, added more words.

“… still.”

At that moment, Ines saw it.

A thin smile spread like ripples over Enoch’s beautiful face.

“It’s kind of nice to think that the Countess was so concerned about meeting me.”

“….”

Ines blinked her eyes blankly.

Somehow, she felt a sense of déjà vu.

Perhaps considering the portrait work, Enoch was dressed the same as when he had his sketch before.

Other than that, there were other similarities.

Even though he pretended to be calm, there was excitement in the deep blue eyes looking at Ines…

Facing such Enoch, 

‘It’s like a cat.’

Without realizing it, Ines thought of a cat.

Although it pretended to be innocent on the outside, the cat couldn’t overcome the joy and wrapped its owner’s ankle with its body.

‘No, what the hell am I thinking?’

For a moment, Ines was a little embarrassed.

It was rude to think of the only Duke in the kingdom as a cat.

At that moment, Enoch spoke calmly.

“I came out early, but I didn’t know that the Countess would arrive first.”

“….”

“I’m sorry if you’ve waited a long time.”

At those words, Ines felt grateful and bitter at the same time.

Unlike Ryan, whom she had to wait all her life, Enoch was worried that she had waited for him.

Didn’t he come before the appointed time? Because the attitude of the two men towards Ines was incomparable…

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“It’s okay, I didn’t wait too long.”

Ines, who had escaped from her thoughts, shook her head.

“Then let’s get started, shall we?”

“Let’s do it. Oh, by the way, Countess of Brierton.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been wondering for a while, what made you so happy?”

“huh?”

Ines looked up at Enoch with a puzzled face.

She had no idea what the purpose of the question was.

“What? What do you mean what made me happy?”

Enoch, who faced her, had a strangely playful face.

“You were humming until I spoke to you.” 

Ugh.

In an instant, Ines’ face turned bright red. Come to think of it, the first thing Enoch had asked her was “Is there anything good going on?”

Was she humming while moving the art tools earlier…?

“I hummed …me?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t lie! I’ve never done that!”

Then Enoch chuckled and asked a question. 

“Wasn’t it because you were looking forward to meeting me?”

“Oh, I didn’t!”

Ines refused it at once.

Then Enoch grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

“Okay, let’s think so.”

Ines opened her eyes wide and looked at Enoch.

To be honest, she was so embarrassed that she lied she didn’t hum, but it was true that she did.

‘In all likelihood, the Duke heard all of that…… ’

Ines, who had a rather shriveled face, bit her lips tightly.

Still, it made her feel a little relieved in her heart.

‘I’m so glad.’

After the portrait work, she was worried about what to do if they were awkward with each other. Aren’t the two of them talking freely like before?

“Please come here and sit down.”

Ines, who sat Enoch on the chair that had been drawn in advance, adjusted her dress once again.

Meanwhile,

“Oh, wait a minute.”

Ines’ fingers touched Enoch’s collar.

In an instant, strength entered Enoch’s shoulders.

“….”

“…”

It was all about smoothing the collar, but she couldn’t figure out why the atmosphere kept getting weird. Ines took a step back, pretending to be calm, and smiled awkwardly.

“Then I will start.”

Instead of answering, Enoch nodded his head.

Then Ines turned to him.

“No, moving will disturb your posture.”

“….sorry.”

Enoch, who had straightened his posture, offered an apology.

Before long, Ines had a unique serious look that was only visible when painting.

“It’s okay. Stay there, okay?”

Ines, who once again asked, sat down in front of the easel.

In an instant, the atmosphere became silent.

The only occasionally rattling sound was heard was when Ines wet her brush in the bucket of water.

The appearance of being conscious of the strange atmosphere that flowed between them was gone, Ines was now focusing solely on painting and her target, Enoch.

And it was difficult for Enoch to take his eyes off Ines.

‘To be fascinated by someone.’

His hands, which were placed on his lap, slowly strengthened.

Enoch clenched his fists and fixed his gaze on Ines as if possessed.

‘… That was the feeling.’

He felt like it would be okay to look at Ines for the rest of his life.

Ines had a frown on her forehead as she concentrated on the painting.

Dark green eyes narrowed.

Occasionally, she glanced over the easel and lifted her head, observing this side. The appearance of Ines, who was immersed only in the painting, was simply fascinating.

How much time has passed?

‘Oh, my God.’

In an instant, Ines came to her senses.

She checked her watch and it was already past two in the afternoon.

Five hours had already passed since they met.

And,

‘The Duke.’

Blue eyes like the sea were staring straight at Ines.

The moment she looked at him.

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“….”

Ines’s gaze flickered briefly.