CH 78

Ines Brierton.

There was no potato as hot as her in the current Lancaster society.

She had a good reputation for finishing the exchange exhibition well, and was successfully established in the social world.

As a Count, her ability to rule the family was also well received.

In particular, professional managers who ran the business on her behalf agreed that Ryan’s business had become much easier to proceed than when he was the Count of Brierton.

However, not everyone was satisfied with Ines.

[“No matter how hard it is, but divorce?”]

[“Couldn’t she have a conversation with her spouse and make the marriage work?”]

Unlike the ladies who secretly supported Ines’s divorce, the gentlemen were more likely to empathize with Ryan’s position.

Even though it was a minority, such opinions came out to the point of knowing.

In addition, the reputation of Ines in the art world was divided in half.

[‘This exchange exhibition has raised interest in art as a whole.’]

“[Many tourists visit Hwabang street, and the number of people who want to buy paintings or sculptures has increased.”]

The unknown artists who had not yet seen the light were in favor of Ines.

[“I admit that the Countess of Brierton has excellent skills, but isn’t that too conspicuous?”]

[“It’s not a good thing to do this and that just because you’re doing well alone.”]

[“One has to think about adapting to our art world, being a thunderstorm……Tsk.”]

The established artists were still looking at Ines with a sharp eye.

“So, I mean, going to Kaldorov this time.”

Edward tilted his head and looked at Enoch.

“Why don’t you stay?”

“What do you mean?”

Enoch’s blue eyes quickly sharpened.

Edward sighed.

“Send only the Countess of Brierton, and you just stay in Lancaster.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my only brother.”

Edward continued in a subdued voice.

“There’s already a lot of talk around about you and the Countess.”

“You know well that I don’t care about things like that.”

“But it bothers me.”

Edward drew the line sharply.

At the same time, the brothers’ eyes met.

“…….”

Enoch bit his lip gently.

‘If it had been usual, I would have resisted somehow, but why am I so speechless?’

It was because he realized that Edward was genuinely concerned about him.

Edward shot back at Enoch in a rather sharp tone.

“Your reputation may be at stake if you and the Countess go together.”

“Brother.”

“I told you earlier. There is already a lot of talk in the art world about the Countess of Brierton.”

Edward tapped nervously on the armrest of his chair.

Enoch, who was watching the scene, bit his lip.

That was Edward’s reaction when his nerves became extremely sharp.

“I wasn’t going to say this…Do you know what they say?”

Edward frowned and spoke in a heavy voice.

“The reason why the Countess of Brierton was able to be involved in this exchange exhibition is because of your help.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“I know, my wife is not such a sloppy person.”

Only after he remembered Helena, whom he loved deeply and trusted her firmly as his queen, Edward could calm down a little.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to step down this time, for both of you and the Countess of Brierton’s image?”

“…….”

Enoch gritted his teeth.

Edward was right on every note.

But apart from realizing how much his brother was worried about him and how reasonable Edward’s proposal was. 

“The Countess of Brierton is far more important than my reputation.”

Enoch had no choice but to say so.

He quickly continued.

“I don’t care what others say, I’ll protect the Countess somehow.”

“…….”

“Her talent should not be broken. It’s a national loss. So I…….”

Enoch clenched his fist.

“I’m not going to miss the opportunity to be around her. Never.”

Was that really all?

A faint suspicion lurked deep inside him.

But Enoch dismissed the question.

It was a matter that could be considered later.

“…….”

Meanwhile, Edward’s eyes seemed to be thinning as he stared at his brother.

Enoch met the gaze directly.

There was a long silence in the room.

“You certainly said in the past that you would help her because of her talent.”

Edward spoke heavily.

“Are you helping the Countess simply because of that? Are you sure?”

When asked back, Enoch was caught off guard.

The question he tried to ignore came back to him from his brother’s lips.

Edward asked again.

“I’m asking if you want to help her only because of her talent?”

“…….”

Enoch didn’t know how to answer the question.

And in that silence, Edward read Enoch’s inner heart.

Edward spat out.

“I don’t think so, either.”

“…….”

Enoch, who had been agonizing for a while, nodded sincerely.

“Brother is right.”

“What?”

“I insist on following the Countess out of my own greed.”

Enoch straightened his back and looked directly into Edward’s eyes.

“Even if it’s selfish, it can’t be helped. I want to see the Countess of Brierton fully displaying her talents with my own eyes.”

“Enoch.”

Edward remained silent, calling out his only brother’s name.

Edward’s expression was very complicated.

Enoch chewed gently on the tender flesh in his mouth.

Although Enoch had many special feelings for Ines, he still wanted her to succeed as an artist.

He believed that blooming her talent was much more important than his feelings.

However,

‘……what about the feelings of the Countess of Brierton?’

Such a question occurred to him.

Ines was already divorced, and the private exhibition was also blocked due to the interruption of the Royal Art Association.

At least, she managed to find a way out with Kaldorov’s invitation.

Enoch was proud of her, so he was confident that he wouldn’t care what others said.

‘But the Countess…’

Enoch’s face turned gloomy like a clouded sky.

Edward, who was closely observing Enoch’s expression, sighed a long sigh.

“If you’re so stubborn… I can’t help it.”

He continued in a sour tone.

“I’ll tell Kaldorov that you and the Countess of Brierton are both visiting.”

“…….”

“What are you thinking?”

But Enoch didn’t hear what Edward said.

Instead, he was thinking while he was staring at his older brother with complicated eyes for a long time, and suddenly called Edward.

“Brother.”

“What?”

At the blunt voice, Enoch smiled softly for the first time.

“I know how much you love and care about me.”

“What?”

For a moment Edward doubted his ears.

It was the first time Enoch, who was always indifferent, talked about feelings.

“Thank you. Always.”

“…….”

Now Edward was in serious agony over whether the sun had risen from the west this morning.

Whether he was surprised or not, Enoch just bowed deeply toward Edward.

“Then I’ll leave now.”

That was the end of the conversation.

Enoch left the parlor, looking relieved that he had said everything he wanted.

“Oh, my, I’m shocked.I didn’t expect to hear all the thank you from him…….”

Edward, left alone, smiled crookedly.

“I can’t nag him more.”

* * *

Meanwhile, 

“Countess of Brierton.”

Huh?

Ines, who was walking, stopped on the spot at the sudden mention of her name.

A group of nobles were walking in the distance and talking.

“I don’t know if she knows her approach to art is too shallow.”

“That’s right, how dare the common people participate in the festival and exchange exhibition…….”

“Didn’t she even say that in this exchange exhibition, the artists on the street and established artists would work together?”

“What will happen to Lancaster’s art world?””

“It’s the end of the art world, if not the end of the world.”

“She’s really arrogant.”

Ines, listening to the blatant gossip, squinted her eyes.