CH 83
When I Stopped Being Your Shadow
There was a detailed explanation under the headlines.
ââ¦â¦.â
Charlotteâs eyes sank cold.
Ines was smiling brightly in the newspaper.
Like the young lady when Charlotte first met Ines, it was really bright.
All the dirty behinds and emotions in the world, even this desperate inferiority complex that bites Charlotteâs whole body.
One had no idea.
With a noble appearance on her face alone, as if she were laughing at Charlotteâ¦â¦.
âI canât be the only one rolling around in the mud like this.â
A voice mixed with iron came out.
âIâm the only one whoâs suffering⦠Do you think Iâm going to be in a terrible state alone?â
âYou are the only one who shines in the spotlight.â
Ryan, who relentlessly abandoned her, saying he would hold onto Ines.
âIsnât it fair to make a mess of everyone?â
Charlotte said to herself, her eyes twinkling.
âI know.â
The newspaper clenched in her hand was crumpled.
ââ¦â¦Youâll see.â
A whisper filled with malice sank low the dark room.
***
A few days later.
Ines was standing in front of a carriage to Kaldorov, receiving Maryâs farewell.
âThe Lady has a weak stomach, so be careful of food and cold water. I have some medicine for motion sickness in the bag, so donât forget to take it. And alsoâ¦.â
âAlright, Mary.â
Mary looked much more nervous than Ines.
Ines, who could not hear the worries flowing out one after another, opened her mouth soothingly.
âIâm not going to die, itâs okay.â
Then Mary opened her eyes wide.
âWhatâs okay? When you were young, you always had a stomach ache when the water changed. Iâm really worried about youâ¦.â
Mary, who had been talking about many things, started crying.
âOkay. Make sure to take medicine for motion sickness, and be careful of cold water and food.â
âYes.â
Ines, surprised, replied hastily.
Mary continued, sobbing.
âI really, if I could, I would come with youâ¦â
âItâs okay, Kaldorov said they would take good care of me.â
âMy Lady always drinks hot tea every morning. Whoâs going to take care of the tea for you since youâll be away from Lancaster for a month?â
Mary cried and asked.
âNo, you donât have to worry so much about just hot tea.â
Ines gulped down the emotion that came up to the end of her throat.
After a few moments.
Mary wiped her eyes and smiled brightly.
âBut Iâm glad.â
âWhat?â
âYouâve finally been recognized.â
And Ines easily noticed the hidden meaning between the lines of Maryâs words.
The fact that Ines was recognized.
It meant that she got away from the grips of Ryan and regained her life.
There was a slow smile on Inesâs face.
It was a smile as bright as Maryâs.
âTake care and come back safely.â
Mary, who was saying goodbye, was startled.
It was because Ines stretched out her arms and hugged Mary tightly.
âYes, Iâll be back, Mary.â
âTake care of your health and have a great time, okay?â
A friendly touch patted Ines on the back.
A young lady who lost her parents and was pushed like a ball.
The fragile woman, who couldnât even breathe properly under Ryanâs shadow, shook off her ex-husbandâs shadow before she knew it.
The fact that she could smile with such a light faceâ¦â¦.
It may be somewhat rude to have this thought about her master.
However,
âIâm so proud of you.â
âIs this how it feels to look at a daughter who has grown up and is independent?â
Mary felt her heart beat fast.
***
So she said goodbye to the employees of the mansion.
At last Ines got into the carriage.
Enoch, who was waiting in the carriage, spoke to Ines.
âMary worries a lot about the Countess.â
âYes, Mary has been by my side since I was young.â
Ines opened her mouth inadvertently, waving lightly to Mary outside the window.
âI didnât know much about it before, but I think there are a lot of good people around me.â
âGood people?â
âYes, including the Duke.â
ââ¦â¦.â
With that unexpected word, Enoch felt somehow speechless.
Ines didnât know.
How Enoch shook with every little thing she did, every light word she said.
ââ¦â¦Letâs go now.â
âYes!â
Ignorant of Enochâs complicated heart, Ines was lighthearted.
The carriage ran briskly.
***
After a long journey, Ines and Enoch finally arrived at Kaldorov.
âWow, itâs amazing.â
Ines looked out the window with her eyes shining.
âIt certainly looks different from Lancaster.â
Kaldorovâs unique exotic landscape disturbed Inesâs vision.
The trees on the street were mainly trees with large leaves, and the wind touching her face was also warm.
Enoch, who was looking over the carriage window, answered lightly.
âKaldorov is located in the south of Lancaster. The weather is also mild because it is connected to the sea.â
He continued.
âCome to think of it, Kaldorov has quite a good seafood dish. There are also some famous shops in Calips, the royal road.â
ââ¦â¦.â
At that moment, Ines flinched her shoulders.
âHow does the Duke of Sussex even know such little information?â
As if he had been here once beforeâ¦â¦.
At the same time, Enoch added as if he had read into Inesâs mind.
âItâs a long time ago, but Iâve tried lobster dishes. It was quite impressive.â
ââ¦â¦.â
Ines frowned without realizing it.
âInes, wake up. What does it matter to you whether or not the duke comes to Kaldorov?â
She tried to calm herself down, but it was all useless.
When she came to her senses, she had already asked Enoch a question in a suspicious voice.
âHave you ever been to Kaldorov before?â
Ha!
At the same time, Ines, who came to her senses, bit the tip of her tongue gently.
Enoch, who didnât notice anything, just nodded his head.
âI came here when I was 20 years old. At that time, I visited with His Majesty.â
ââ¦â¦.â
Dark green eyes narrowed with suspicion.
âDonât tell me, were you visiting for a wedding with the Marquess of Attlee?â
Meanwhile, Enoch tilted his head and asked Ines a question, as if he felt the imploring gaze.
âWhy are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?â
âNo, itâs not like thatâ¦â¦.â
Ines swallowed her dry saliva.
Her reason was giving a loud warning, saying, âDonât do anything useless.â
âDid you meet the Marquess of Attlee at the time, too?â
Sadly, curiosity prevailed.
Enoch couldnât hide his puzzled expression at the unexpected topic.
âWhy suddenly asking about the Marquess of Attlee?â
âIâm justâ¦.Iâm curious.â
Ines answered in a hurry.
âThe person who invited us this time is also Marquessof Attlee, and sheâ¦â¦.â
âOh, I donât know.â
Ines, who glanced at Enoch, closed her eyes tightly and continued.
âShe seems to be quite familiar with the Duke, not to mention the Queen.â
âOh?â
âYes. You even knew the name of Marquess Attlee, didnât you?
âYou mean Andrea?â
âAndrea.â
At the friendly address, Ines felt her insides twisted for no reason.
âCome to think of it, that was the first time I had actually met Andrea. I only heard from her by letters.â
âLettersâ¦â
âYes, and to answer the question of the Countessâ¦â¦.â
Enoch leaned against a soft carriage chair and shrugged his shoulders lightly.
âIâve been to Kaldorov, and Iâve met the Marquess.â
âBoth of you were single at the time?â
âYes.â
Inesâs mind was complicated while Enoch was nonchalant.
Looking at that face, she kept feeling low.
âI see.â
Unconsciously, a sour answer came out.
Ines turned her head sadly.
Enoch asked Ines again with a puzzled face.
âBut why do you ask that?â
âNothing.â
ââ¦â¦ Itâs not a look of nothing.â
He couldnât figure out why Ines suddenly felt down.
Enoch became stunned as if he had faced an unanswered mystery.