Chapter 58

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“Well, it’s a little bit of a budget, but it’s probably the easiest way to give the store owners a reasonable amount of compensation, right?”

Whatever it was, the biggest problem was funding.

As it was an exchange event between countries hosted by the Queen, the budget itself would be plentiful. But what if she thinks it’s a waste of money?

Ines broke out in a cold sweat.

“It’s a reward. That’s not a bad idea.”

On the contrary, Enoch nodded his head casually.

“Hwabang Street is a place worth a budget.” 

“Thank you for saying that.”

Ines breathed a sigh of relief and spoke again.

“And if the artists in Hwabang Street can participate in it, there will be less opposition to using Hwabang Street as a venue for the exchange.”

“Then, in the process, we may discover new artists that we have never known before. That’s a good idea.”

Feeling good, Ines smiled brightly.

The conversation with Enoch was very enjoyable.

He understood everything she said and organized it neatly.

He expanded ideas that were simply left as clues. As if Enoch had entered Ines’s mind. Just then, Enoch asked with a serious face.

“Is it okay if I tell the Queen what the Countess just told me?”

“Yes? Yes, yes.”

Ines nodded her head without much thought.

“Although it’s a crude idea, I’d be happy if it was of any use to you, Your Excellency.”

“It’s not crude at all. It was very fresh.”

Enoch answered with a straight face.

Then he smiled softly at Ines.

“I got a great help from the Countess. Thank you.”

“….”

How many times has it been to receive such honest compliments and thanks.

Feeling her face getting hot for no reason, Ines coughed a couple of times and got up from her seat.

“Now that we have finished eating, shall we go back?”

“……Yes.”

Was it because the conversation has been sorted out?

Enoch had a very sad face.

Ines glanced at Enoch like that with a subtle feeling.

‘Does the Duke know?’ Every time Enoch made that sad expression on his face, Ines’s heart was like the sea caught in a storm.

It was still the same.

Once again, her heart fluctuated at will.

‘Okay, it’s because I’m sensitive.’

Ines hurriedly straightened her expression and turned her body.

Enoch looked at Ines with complicated eyes.

***

The carriage with the coat of arms of the Duke of Sussex glided to a halt in front of the mansion of Brierton. Ines, who got down from the carriage, politely greeted Enoch.

“Today was a lot of fun. Please go back carefully.” 

“I really enjoyed it too.”

Even after answering that, Enoch hesitated for a moment.

Ines tilted her head.

“Duke?”

“Yet again.”

At Enoch’s unexpected words, Ines’ eyes widened a little. 

“I wish I could spend more time like this with the Countess.”

“…”

Ines stared blankly at Enoch.

But Enoch just smiled and pointed to the door.

“You must be tired, so please go inside.”

“I want to see the Duke leave…”

“No, I want to see the Countess entering the house.”

After hesitating for a while after Enoch refused to leave first, Ines finally entered the mansion.

Click.

The front door was closed.

Ines watched Enoch through the window.

After confirming that Ines had returned safely into the house, Enoch moved his feet.

After seeing his carriage disappear over the boulevard.

‘Oh, what should I do?’

Ines grabbed her chest and breathed heavily.

‘I’m so nervous…!?’

Her cheeks were burning and her heart was beating wildly.

But for a while.

Her dark green eyes fell deep.

‘…but now we won’t see each other anymore.’

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The portrait was almost finished, and Ines even said that she would finish it by herself and send it to Enoch.

There was no longer any justification to meet Enoch.

“I hope to be able to spend time with the Countess again.”

Enoch’s voice still lingered in her ears…

‘Okay, now, let’s stop lingering.’ 

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter in her mouth.

Ines lifted her back against the wall and slowly walked across the hallway.

Then she suddenly stopped. It was because the mansion’s studio came to her view.

‘Portrait of the Duke.’

The still unfinished portrait was moved to the mansion. Ines impulsively entered the studio.

Under the moonlight shining through the spacious window, the portrait on an easel was placed. Ines pulled a chair and sat down in front of the portrait.

She looked at Enoch’s face in the painting.

Intellectual blue eyes, elegant nose, sharp jawline, and a long neck.

“…ha.”

A long sigh flowed out.

Her mind was so complicated that Ines did not leave the painting for a long time.

***

But two days later.

Ines realized that she was completely wrong.

It was because an envoy from the royal family suddenly came to visit her.

“Countess of Brierton, prepare to receive the orders of the Queen.”

“Ines Brierton. I’m ready to receive the orders of the Queen.” 

It was impossible to leave the royal envoy hanging, Ines accepted the Queen’s orders with courtesy.

As she carefully unfolded the paper, she stiffened in place. Written in elegant handwriting, the content was….

{The Countess of Brierton is appointed as a member of the management team of this exchange.}

what!?

Ines was perplexed.

***

Eventually, Ines entered the palace.

With the Queen directly appointing her to a member of the management team, she dared not refuse the appointment.

Besides, looking at it objectively, this was a very good opportunity for Ines.

‘Aren’t I going to lead a national event by the Queen’s side?’

The royalty of the kingdom, and an artist. Considering both positions, it was truly an honor to join the management team of the art exchange. It was as if the royal family recognized Ines’s artistic vision. Ines’ reputation will rise in no time, and the gossip about her ‘poor wife who lost her work to Ryan’ will disappear.

But in the meantime, there was one person who complicated her mind.

“See you again.”

It was Enoch.

Facing his smile as bright as a rose in full bloom, Ines felt dizzy before her eyes. She thought she had barely organized her mind, now she ran into him like this?

In fact, the psychological damage to her was enormous.

Of course, it was natural for Enoch to be here.

He said from the beginning that he would help the Queen with the art exchange.

However,

‘Isn’t it like something that puts people to the test…… ?’

Ines swallowed tears of blood and asked a question.

“How did I get to participate in the exchange?” 

Then Enoch immediately turned worried and asked Ines.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“No, I‘m not! Of course it’s an honor, but…… .”

But then.

“I’m glad, but I’m sorry if the Countess doesn’t want it, but she’s forced to do it.” 

At that moment a soft voice rang out.

“Here comes the Queen.”

Astonished, Ines hurriedly prepared her manners.

A lady with an elegant appearance was walking into the parlor at a leisurely pace.

It was the queen, Helena. At the rushing tension, Ines swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

‘Come to think of it, the Queen is hosting this exchange herself.’

The royal family seemed to be very concerned about this exchange. Not only the Queen but also the only younger brother of the current king directly participated in the operation of the exchange.

‘I can’t believe I also joined the management team.’

Ines felt like she was getting sick.

Just then Helena spoke softly to her. 

“I heard this time the Countess of Brierton came up with a very good idea for the exchange.”

huh?

For a moment, Ines pricked up her ears with a questionable face. 

‘Is she referring to the conversation we had about the Hwabang street?’

As Ines glanced sideways at Enoch, Enoch nodded his head slightly.

It meant ‘you guessed right’. Ines was terrified.

‘When did he talk to the Queen about it?’

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In terms of time, perhaps Enoch told the Queen about Ines’s idea the very next day after he talked to Ines.

***