Chapter 57

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Picking up a knife and fork in a characteristic elegant motion, Enoch continued.

“I have already lost my composure several times in front of the Countess.”

“Lost your composure, why… … .”

“Well, why….” 

Enoch, who was slicing the salmon, smiled.

“It’s a secret.”

Actually, it was nothing special.

But why was it like this?

A gentle force entered the hand holding the tableware.

Why did he lose his composure? He wanted to inquire somehow.

Besides, why was his mouth so dry?

Why did his heart keep trembling uncontrollably?

Tick. In an instant, a lamp lit in the darkened vacant lot.

The waiter walked around and started lighting the lanterns scattered around.

In the darkness, scarlet lanterns rose like stars one by one. At the same time, the noise of the world was far away.

In a world where the scarlet light spread gently, only Enoch in front of Ines was clear. He only focused on her, looking straight into her eyes.

Facing calm blue eyes like a lake at night…

‘Oh, I see.’

Ines suddenly realized.

‘Not being conscious of the Duke is impossible…..’

Her calm mind was now out of her control.

Then there was only one thing she had to do now.

So that their fresh friendship would not break, and it wouldn’t be a burden on each other.

“By the way, does the food suit your taste?” 

Ines asked Enoch as if nothing had happened. Enoch, who stared at Ines with a mysterious look, quickly nodded his head.

“Yes, it’s great.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Ines, who had been forced to laugh, then bit her lip as she gazed at the pasta plate. That was why Ines didn’t notice. The moment she averted her gaze.

The fact that Enoch’s eyes fluttered briefly like a lake from which stones were thrown.

“I’m not lying.” (Enoch)

There wasn’t a single word of lies in what he had just said to Ines.

However, he did not fully reveal his true feelings. More frankly speaking.

‘Whenever the Countess is by my side, my emotions are not controlled the way I want them to.’ 

So, the two of them hid their hearts and focused on the meal.

‘You destroy my composure.’ (Enoch)

It was the deepest secret that he couldn’t confess. A bitter smile crept over Enoch’s lips.

***

After that, some time passed.

“I didn’t know I could finish the whole steak.” 

Enoch looked at the empty plate with admiration.

The food was very tasty.

Despite the huge amount, he emptied the whole plate.

But then.

“No, that’s why! I drew a picture, and that picture………!”

One of the guests sitting nearby pounded the table and raised his voice with a displeased face. Enoch pricked up his ear towards the table.

Although he knew it was disrespectful to glance at someone, he didn’t look back.

“Ugh, who gave this person a drink? Look at how your voice is getting louder already!”

“Can’t I have a drink at my disposal?”

In fact, Enoch was very curious about the free-spirited atmosphere he has now.

From a very young age, he was taught to follow strict etiquette when eating.

He’s been like that all his life… 

“Wow, so what happened?”

“Oh, don’t laugh and listen to me! That’s why I just warned him!” 

People here laugh out loud or talk loudly without looking at others.

But it wasn’t a bad feeling just because it was unfamiliar.

Rather.

‘It’s fun.’

Was this joy due to this cheerful atmosphere, or was it because of Ines sitting right in front of him?

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Or both, although he couldn’t tell for sure. 

“By the way, you were talking about the exchange earlier.”

At the same time, Ines, who was eating chocolate pudding for dessert, opened her mouth.

“Isn’t Kaldorov really funny?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it used to be like that.”

Ines had a stern face and poked the pudding with her spoon.

The soft pudding was terribly crushed under the spoon.

“I heard it was terribly ignorant of Lancaster back then.”

Ines grumbled, wrinkling her face.

“What did they say? They said Lancaster overall is too rigid. Funny, really.”

In fact, being ignored by Kaldorov in many ways in the last exchange was bound to hurt Ines’s pride as an artist in Lancaster.

“They showed off that they valued a free artistic atmosphere. Who knows that they’re the only ones who see it?”

Ines, who had a lot of heat in her head, seemed to forget the pudding.

“Look, even this art gallery street! Those idiots are arrogant, but we have enough of that free atmosphere.”

It was true. Enoch himself was only immersed in the aristocratic upper-class culture and did not know it.

This street where many artists lived together had a unique free atmosphere that had never been encountered before. Meanwhile, Ines paused as if she had thought of something. Then she was deeply troubled. 

“…ummm.”

Enoch, who could see her hesitation, encouraged Ines.

“If you have something to say, feel free to say it.”

Even after Enoch said that, Ines hesitated for a long time before speaking with a questionable face.

“Well, it just came to my mind. Until now, the art exchange has been focused on royalty and nobility, right?”

“Yes, it has.”

Enoch nodded.

“I’m talking about this without knowing much about the exchange, so if I’m talking nonsense, please tell me.”

“I will listen.”

Enoch straightened his posture.

It was an expression of listening to Ines seriously.

‘Really, if it were Ryan, wouldn’t he have even pretended to listen to me with the back of his ear?’

Ines, who was thinking of Ryan anew, soon became disgusted and continued to speak.

“The art exchange that has been held so far is, in a way, the exclusive domain of the upper class. Yes?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, how about expanding the exchange so that not only the upper class can enjoy it, but also the common people?”

At that question, Enoch’s eyes widened a little.

“There are so many artists in this area right now. And they aren’t noble.”

Ines continued to speak while looking around. 

“That means that there are certainly people who are not aristocrats and who can make art.”

“That’s possible.”

“Then here’s the question,” Ines asked suddenly.

“Your Excellency, do you know how the commoner artists make a living?”

“……Well, don’t they do painting-related jobs?”

“That’s right. They make paintings and sell them cheap on the street, or sometimes they get requests from shops to make signboards.”

Ines shrugged her shoulders as if she was proud.

“Just looking at it, commoners have the desire to enjoy art itself, but they just don’t have the chance to do that.”

Enoch was completely blown away.

A brief explanation by Ines followed.

“Besides, Lancaster also has a very unique place called Hwabang Street, right?”

The most characteristic place in the capital Langdon.

A place where poor artists naturally gathered, and the street itself was formed into a kind of huge art district.

“I personally think it’s foolish to leave a unique place like Hwabang Street without using it.”

Now the drunken people were singing, shoulder to shoulder.

Looking at them with affectionate eyes, Ines suggested.

“So, why don’t we use the entire Hwabang street for the exchange this time?”

“The whole Hwabang Street?”

“Yes. And if the exchange itself is held like a festival, wouldn’t it be easier to access not only the nobles but also the commoners?”

When she realized that the other person was seriously listening to her, Ines’s voice was also warmed by itself.

“This is my opinion, but I think it will be helpful for the commercial district of ​​Hwabang Street if visitors come for the exchange.”

Ines’ eyes twinkled.

“Of course, there may be protests from the natives of Hwabang Street, but can’t that extent be overcome?”

“In what way?”

Oh.

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For a moment, Ines secretly looked into Enoch’s eyes.

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