CH 84

After that,

Kaldorov’s side served Ines and Enoch very well.

In particular, there were many people who showed curiosity before the exchange exhibition, and they did not spare any effort to talk to the two.

‘The exchange exhibition must have been more popular than I thought…?’

Ines thought so without realizing it.

In fact, in Lancaster, due to the check of the Royal Art Association, there were many people who discounted the exchange exhibition one way or another.

But Kaldorov was different.

Due to the constant stream of invitations from all sides, it was difficult to come to any senses.

With the sense of crisis that she’ll be ten bodies short for all these invitations.

Ines got a little grace period by declaring, “I will reply to the invitation after finishing the individual exhibition.”

She was busy preparing for the individual exhibition.

Kaldorov also helped several times, especially King Calypse. He let Ines have the most famous exhibition hall.

‘Perhaps it would have been difficult to meet the schedule if the Duke hadn’t helped me both materially and mentally….’

It was fortunate that she was able to retrieve the paintings that had been published under Ryan’s name.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to put her works on the individual exhibition.

After all that preparation, time flew by.

It was the day of the individual exhibition.

“Whoo.”

Ines looked at herself in the mirror.

There sat a lady who showed off her elegant beauty like a slender birch.

‘Well, it’s not bad.’

Ines praised herself, remembering how many people had helped her dress up.

Her brown hair was finely curled up.

The makeup artist’s desperate efforts covered the shade under her eyes, and her pale cheeks were animated with red powder.

In the hot weather, she wore a dress made of thin layers of fabric, which recently followed the trend of Kaldorov.

Thin fabrics like the tail fins of tropical fish overlap to create a mysterious color.

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

The makeup artist, who was patting her face for the last time, carefully asked the question.

“Thank you. I love it.”

Ines smiled as if relieved.

“Thanks to the Countess, I was able to attend the exhibition without problems.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Only then did the makeup artist look relieved and smiled brightly.

Ines scrutinized herself in the mirror once again.

In particular, she liked that the fatigue that was attached to her disappeared when she opened her eyes.

She prepared for an individual exhibition almost all night for a few days, and she did get much sleep today.

But the host of the individual exhibition shouldn’t show fatigue.

‘Even though I only slept for five hours.’

‘Maybe I can rest a little after today.’

Ines, who glanced sideways at the clock, got up.

It was time to leave for the exhibition hall.

As she went down the stairs, she saw Enoch waiting for her in the hotel lobby.

Ines’s face, which had been showing signs of fatigue throughout, was alive for the first time.

“The Duke of Sussex!”

Enoch glanced up at her call.

“Huh?”

He was obviously glad at first, but all of a sudden he made a bad face.

Then he narrowed the distance with Ines at once.

‘What…what? Did I do something wrong?’ (Ines)

Ines was a little nervous without realizing it.

Enoch, who was approaching, had a worried expression.

“You look tired, are you okay? Did you sleep well last night?”

Ah.

Ines blinked bewilderedly.

“Do I look that tired? I’d covered it up with makeup as much as I could.….”

“Countess…”

Enoch continued in a voice full of concern.

“I’m worried about you.”

“…….”

‘It’s cheating if you suddenly say it like that!’

Ines felt her face flushed.

She knew he wasn’t meant to shake her mind, but it was even more problematic in that there was no intention.

Every action and speech like that was very harmful to Ines’s heart health!

“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m completely fine, but…but it’s not enough to strain today’s schedule.”

Somehow, in a ticklish mood, Ines replied, glancing at Enoch.

Then Enoch suddenly put something in Ines’s hand.

“Take it.”

“Is this…?”

When she opened her hand, there was a bite-sized chocolate on her palm.

“I guess the Countess has skipped meals today, too.”

Enoch looked down at Ines with a stern gaze.

“Right?”

“…….”

The silence was the answer.

She had looked at the list of VIPs attending the individual exhibition until the dawn of the previous day, and fell asleep watching the morning sun rise.

After that, she woke up in a hurry in the afternoon and was busy preparing to attend the party, so she couldn’t afford to eat.

“……I can’t say no.”

Reflecting on her unhealthy lifestyle again, Ines peeled off the chocolate and put it in her mouth.

At the same time she opened her eyes wide.

“Oh, it’s delicious.”

She felt a little energized because it was sweet.

Enoch smiled with his eyes crinkled.

“I’m glad you like it. Shall we go?”

Ines, who had been peeling chocolate like a squirrel, quickly stood next to Enoch.

‘Oh, my.’

Enoch smiled bitterly without realizing it.

‘Even if my brother teases me that my eyes are covered with beans, I can’t do it.’

The Ines in front of him was so lovely.

Her presence alone makes his mouth as sweet as candy.

***

The individual exhibition invited VIPs to hold a light cocktail party as a celebration before showing the exhibition directly to the public.

So Ines arrived at the exhibition hall an hour early to check the last details.

Just by busily moving around with Enoch, looking at the exhibits and making sure that there were plenty of refreshments and drinks.

Time flew like an arrow.

‘Really, I wouldn’t have been able to handle all this if it wasn’t for you, Your Excellency…….’

Ines sighed with relief.

A calm voice rang out.

“There are exactly ten minutes left until seven.”

The individual exhibition was held at seven o’clock.

Enoch, who was looking down at the wristwatch and measuring the time, asked Ines a question.

“Are you nervous?”

“Of course. It’s my first individual exhibition competition, how can I not be nervous?”

Ines shook her head.

“My heart is beating so fast that I feel like throwing up.”

“……is it that much?”

Enoch looked at Ines with a concerned gaze.

At the same time, Ines looked at him with mischievous eyes.

“Well, it’s all right.”

Then she added, “Don’t worry. Because Your Excellency will be with me.”

“…….”

The nonchalant voice made Enoch speechless for a moment.

Beautiful dark green eyes filled with faith only for him.

Every time he looked at those eyes, he made a vow to himself that he would never want to disappoint her.

“Of course.”

Enoch nodded with force.

Ines smiled as if she knew it would be.

Along with him, the exhibition hall staff came in.

“Well, Countess and the Duke.” 

The staff looked rather flabbergasted.

“It’s time to welcome the VIPs.”

‘….why do they look like that?’

Ines was somewhat suspicious, but she had no time to find out.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Ines, who took a short deep breath, stepped forward.

And,

“Oh my God.”

Ines, who went outside, blinked in surprise.

It was because the exhibition hall was filled with more VIPs than expected.

When she selected the guests and sent out the invitations, she didn’t think all of them would attend.

It seemed that every single person attended.

“Countess…”

At Enoch’s low call, Ines, who had been absent-minded for a while, came to her senses.

Swallowing her dry saliva, Ines stepped up to the front of the people.

Curious eyes turned her way.

“Is that the Countess of Brierton?”

“Oh, my God, you’re much younger than I thought.”

“I heard that Marquess Attlee personally invited the manager of the last exchange exhibition…….”

“Then the Duke of Sussex must have attended.”

In the murmur, Ines stopped in front of the exhibition hall.