CH 79

‘They’re…….’

Some of the men between the nobles were familiar.

It was the people of the Royal Art Association.

In this life, she saw them roughly passing by at the exchange celebration, but Ines knew their faces very well.

Before her return, when Ryan was on a roll as the best artist in the kingdom and wrote to the Royal Art Association.

It was because she had met them with Ryan a few times while waiting.

‘Did they come to the royal family to report your achievements today?’

The Royal Art Association was established by the royal family, so they had to report their achievements to the royal family periodically.

Ines herself had painted countless times to make Ryan’s achievements in her previous life.

Ines, who was thinking about that time, felt her mouth getting bitter.

‘……but I didn’t know I’d come across it like this.’

She thought it would be better to pass by without bumping into them as much as possible.

‘Besides, Kalodorov’s individual exhibition has been confirmed.’

For the time being, it was good to be careful not to get into gossip.

Of course, Ines didn’t feel good.

There would be a lot of words to fire back if they faced each other face to face.

But even if they bump into each other like this here, they would roast her nonetheless.

‘First of all, if I openly argue with the Royal Art Association, the mainstream of the art world…….’

‘The Duke of Sussex.’

She thought it would hurt Enoch, who always trusted and supported her.

It didn’t matter how bad Ines was feeling.

However,

‘The Duke of Sussex shouldn’t hear this and that because of me.’

In that judgment, Ines stepped back cautiously, biting her lip.

But then.

“Then I will ask.”

A sharp voice interrupted their conversation.

To that question, the eyes of the association people, who had been complaining, grew big.

The person who spoke was…….

“What is the standard of arrogance that the association think?””

“Duke of Sussex?”

It was Enoch.

With his sharp blue eyes staring straight at them, people unwittingly swallowed dry saliva.

“Well, that’s because the Countess doesn’t think about trying to adapt to our art world, but she keeps trying to go outside the box.”

One of them tried to protest.

The tip of Enoch’s lips twisted up at the lame excuse.

“Are you going to let her have a chance to get used to it?”

“What? What do you mean…….”

“If you talk about melting into Lancaster’s art world, but if you undermine her as much as possible, saying that the exchange exhibition is shallow in the background.”

Enoch asked bitterly.

“Would you feel like you’re going to melt into that great art world?”

“No, My Lord……!”

“The Royal Art Association continues to reject the Countess of Brierton’s request for certification of individual exhibitions.”

At that moment, Ines’ eyes grew a little.

“Did you think I didn’t know?”

‘…he knew.’

She didn’t even mention the individual exchange exhibition because she was afraid Enoch would feel burdened.

Enoch tilted his head.

“To argue that we should blend into the art world, at least we should let go of the hindrance.”

“…….”

“…….”

There was no excuse, so the nobles kept their mouths shut like shells.

“In addition, you seem to have forgotten who the management of this exchange exhibition was.”

A stern voice fell.

“His Majesty has appointed two people, the Countess of Brierton and myself, the management team.”

For a moment, the blood drained from the faces of the nobles.

They were so absorbed in criticizing Ines that they completely forgot about it.

Enoch was also in the management team of the exchange exhibition, so it was an insult to Enoch that they talked badly about it.

“For your information, I am the one who recommended the Countess of Brierton to the management position.”

Enoch shrugged his shoulders proudly.

“Then, based on your logic, I…… Oh, yes.”

The smile on his lips deepened a little.

It was a cold smile as if it were made of ice.

“Are you going to discriminate because the Countess is a woman?”

“Ha, no way!”

“How dare we!”

People opened their mouths to defend themselves.

Enoch listened to the lame excuses with a bored expression.

He tilted his head.

“Then, would the Countess have your support?”

It was a hard question.

People kept their mouths shut in unison.

“…….”

“…….”

Enoch continued, breaking the heavy silence.

“I thought an artist enough to join the Royal Art Association would have considerable knowledge and personality.”

Now, people couldn’t even breathe properly and were just looking at each other.

It was very rare for Enoch, who had always been calm, to express his displeasure openly.

“But seeing you talk behind someone else’s back like this, I feel like the expectations I had for you are being trampled.”

Enoch alternately looked at the people with a cold, subdued gaze.

And,

“It’s very disappointing.”

Enoch, who spoke in a pitiful tone, turned as he was.

Looking at the distant back, people felt a deep sense of crisis.

“I can’t do this.”

One of them murmured softly.

“I didn’t expect the Duke of Sussex to defend the Countess like that.”

“If we leave the Countess doing what she likes, our prestige will be completely destroyed.”

“That’s right. We have to solve this problem somehow…….”

Deep emotions fluttered over people’s eyes.

Ines was a clear enemy.

* * *

Meanwhile, Ines was hiding against the wall and at a loss.

‘Oh, what should I do?’

She just wanted to pass quietly without any conflict with the people of the Royal Art Association.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t expect Enoch to take her side openly in front of them.

She didn’t expect him to say he was disappointed.

Her heart thumped.

Ines raised her hand and pressed it hard on her chest.

‘I shouldn’t be happy.’

Enoch stepped up for her.

It prevented all sorts of ridiculous slander against her.

Ignoring the resistance of the nobles, he stood by her.

‘Stop laughing, Ines.’

Ines chewed well on her lips, which were about to smile.

And then.

“Countess of Brierton.”

Enoch popped up in front of her out of the blue.

“Oh my!”

Startled, Ines breathed heavily.

“Oh, Duke?”

“What are you doing here?”

Enoch asked curiously.

“Why is the Countess hiding in a place like this when you did nothing wrong?”

“Well, that’s…”

Frowning, Enoch pointed behind her with his chin gesture.

“There is no reason for the Countess to be doing this, even those stupid people are walking around the Imperial Palace at will.”

‘No, what do you mean stupid…’

It was a frank remark that was not like Enoch.

Ines, surprised, glanced behind to see if anyone was there.

Fortunately, the people of the Royal Art Association had long since left.

‘It’s a relief.’

She felt relieved for a moment.

Ines glanced at Enoch.

When Enoch noticed the gaze, he looked straight at her.

“Anything you want to say?”

“Ah…that’s…”

Ines clenched her lips.

After thinking for a long time, Ines opened her mouth with a long sigh.

“I thought I should. I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“You had an argument with the Royal Art Association earlier.”

Unable to overcome her apologies, Ines lowered her eyes.

There was a faint depth of worry over a white face like ivory.

“……If it weren’t for me, Your Excellency wouldn’t have had to argue like that.”

But Ines’s guilty look didn’t last long.

Unexpectedly, it was because Enoch narrowed his forehead and asked back.

“Well, why do you think it’s because of the Countess?”

At the unexpected question, Ines became puzzled.

“Of course, it’s true that their behavior of insulting the Countess was unkind, but I’m also a member of the exchange exhibition management team.”

“What? I know that, but…….”

“So, it means I need to defend you for my sake too.”

“……for your sake?”

“Of course, this exchange exhibition has been a great achievement, as acknowledged by Kaldorov.”

“Well, even so.”

It was not an exchange exhibition planned and conducted by Ines herself, but an objective fact.

Not only did the exchange exhibition end successfully, but it also had various positive effects derived from it.

Both Ines and Enoch took great pride in this event.

“It is also an insult to me that they call such an exchange exhibition vulgar.”

There was no time for Ines to say anything.

Enoch poured out his words determinedly.