CH 73

The next day, the Hwabang street where the exchange exhibition would be held.

It was a very fine day.

The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was blue.

Helena, Ines, and Enoch led the Kaldorov’s envoys to Hwabang street.

“I was looking forward to it when Her Majesty said that she was confident in this exchange exhibition.”

“It certainly deserves to be praised.”

“I didn’t know there was a place like this in Lancaster…”

The eyes of the delegation sparkled with curiosity and interest.

First of all, the street itself was very unique.

A maze-like street created by poor artists was a very characteristic landscape in itself.

And in it, many artists were freely showing off their art world.

They played music, danced, and did small puppet shows on the streets.

Along the street, people were having their portraits done by painters.

In the meantime, visitors came and went freely to see the scene or participate directly in the form of a model for a portrait.

Helena smiled at the delegation.

“I just hope this exchange will be remembered as a fun time. Please feel free to enjoy it.”

Among the delegation members, a very eager person raised his hand.

“Can I go take a look now?”

Even though he tried not to be so impatient, he couldn’t wait.

That was because this exchange was perfect with Kalodorov’s unique free-spirited personality.

Helena nodded.

“Of course. Enjoy it comfortably.”

As soon as the permission was granted, Kaldorov’s delegation scattered with excitement like children.

“Shall we go over there first? He was playing Levante’s waltz!”

“No, I’d rather watch a puppet show!”

Meanwhile, Enoch, who was looking at the delegation’s distant backs, muttered with a tired face.

“…I think we need to work harder on security.”

“Please, Duke of Sussex.”

Helena looked at Enoch playfully. 

Enoch narrowed his brows.

‘How similar…’

The king and the Queen resembled each other in personality. The way she commanded and arranged her subordinates naturally just like Edward.

Of course, the ability to appoint talent as King and Queen of a country was necessary, but…

It was inevitably sad from the point of view that it was being divided.

Enoch, who unintentionally understood the administrators’ position, immediately called in a security officer.

“This street is dangerous because there are no streetlights, so send more people to patrol often. And also….”

Enoch opened the map and started discussing this and that with the person in charge.

Helena, who was happily watching the scene, glanced back at Ines.

“Come to think of it, how’s your wrist?”

“……Ah.”

Ines was a little stunned.

It was because she didn’t expect that Her Majesty would ask about her well-being.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m not seriously hurt.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but…but don’t overdo it.”

Helena continued in a sweet voice.

“The Countess of Brierton is a very useful talent.”

Ines stiffened her shoulders and nodded quickly.

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

She could feel the obsession with “useful talent” from that overly sweet voice.

This was probably her misunderstanding, right?

* * *

Even after that, Ines moved wildly without knowing how time passed.

Eventually the sun went down.

Helena decided to leave first with Kaldorov’s delegations.

It was because it was time for supper.

“Hwabang street is a very attractive place.”

“Of course, I know that Her Majesty’s dinner is important, but…”

However, seeing that he glanced behind with his eyes overflowing with lingering feelings, it was clear that the delegation liked this Hwabang street very much.

To the point where they wanted to stay more than attend the Queen’s dinner.

But the delegations were people who knew how to distinguish between public and private matters.

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“If you like it that much, you can visit again tomorrow.”

At Helena’s suggestion, they eventually left for the palace again.

However, Ines and Enoch decided to stay in Hwabang street.

This was because they had to continue to watch the progress of the exchange and manage it.

“Ugh, we’ve finally got some free time.”

Ines shook her head.

“I learned what it means to be so busy that I can’t even blink my eyes.”

Enoch, who was being briefed by staff who had been dispatched to various places before the exchange, looked back at her.

“However, it seems that the exchange is going successfully.”

“I agree.”

Ines’s eyes, which had been working hard just now, softened.

Although she was extremely tired, she was more proud.

‘Kalodorov’s envoy and Her Majesty seemed very satisfied, didn’t they?’

The hard work paid off.

Ines glanced sideways at Enoch.

‘…and the Duke seems to be satisfied.’

She didn’t want to disappoint Enoch at all. She was honest.

It was a real relief.

Meanwhile,

Her eyes turned to those who enjoyed the event.

To be exact, she looked at painters who used the large wall as their canvas.

At the same time Enoch opened his mouth mischievously.

“The Countess seems to be interested in mural painting.”

“…….”

For a moment, Ines flinched.

As a member of the management team, she had to focus on the exchange, but she was embarrassed that her mind was elsewhere.

Ines looked away shyly.

“Well, that’s not really…”

“Really? You haven’t been able to take your eyes off the mural since a while ago.”

“Well? The Duke must have seen it wrong.”

Ines denied shamelessly.

Then Enoch smiled with his eyes.

“Why don’t you try drawing it?”

“What?”

For a moment, Ines looked up at Enoch with surprised rabbit eyes.

“Well, I’m in the management team….”

At the same time, the desire to paint took over her mind.

She was a painter herself, and it was regrettable that she only prepared for this exchange exhibition and did not have a chance to participate in person.

Enoch secretly encouraged Ines.

“That’s why we should show the Countess’s art to many people who visited the exchange exhibition. Don’t you think so?”

“Um….”

“The biggest reason why you were appointed as a member of the management team of this exchange exhibition in the first place is because you are an outstanding artist.”

She didn’t expect Enoch to praise her that much.

Ines swallowed her dry saliva.

“I am a patron of the Countess, and a royal of this country. I hope many people can enjoy your paintings.”

Enoch continued in a strange way.

“Isn’t it natural to want the talent of the House of Brierton to be widely known?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, it’s also true that as a royal in this country, I want Lancaster’s art to be more widely known.”

When he persuaded her like that with a calm face, there was a part where she was really tempted.

Ines agonized for a long time, but in the end, she could not shake off the temptation of the mural.

“Well, then.”

Ines approached the wall carefully.

Most of the wall was already covered with murals, but only one was empty.

Blue paint was pouring down the wall.

Paint was scattered around it arbitrarily, so it was not in a state where she could freely paint.

She thought it looked like someone accidentally spilled the paint.

“Well.”

Ines took a moment to look at the wall, and boldly picked up a large brush.

Then she began to apply other paints over the flowing blue paint marks.

After a long time.

“Wow, it’s a waterfall!”

A child passing by the street shouted, pointing his finger at the wall where Ines was standing.

The blue paint had been transformed into a waterfall that was pouring down gracefully.

Even the white foam under the waterfall was vividly embodied.

The paint stains splashed in all directions became water droplets that bounced from the waterfall.

The wet rock glistened in the sunlight, and the green forest spread beyond it added freshness.

“Wow…”

The child looked up at Ines’s mural with his eyes twinkling.

Then Ines smiled and handed him the brush.

“Would you like to try it, my little gentleman?”

“Yes, yes!”

The child clutched the brush with excitement.

He drew a line with a focused expression.

Then, he whined for a long time and made fun of the brush, but the result was not even recognizable.

The child looked like he was about to cry.

“I wanted to draw a butterfly….”

“Butterfly?”

Ines tilted her head, and then she smiled brightly.