CH 91
When I Stopped Being Your Shadow
ââ¦â¦.â
His mouth was as sweet as candy.
Ines was speechless for a moment.
Enoch nailed it.
âI mean it.â
At the firm declaration, Inesâ face flushed like a fire.
âWell, by the way. You had a luncheon appointment with the Kaldorov royal family today, didnât you?â
Ines tried to scramble to her feet hurriedly.
âAt this rate, Iâll be late for the appointment. I have to prepare quicklyâ¦â
âWait a minute.â
Enochâs firm arms embraced Inesâs waist.
When the muscles were moderately attached and the solid chest touched the bare skin, Ines quickly hardened her body.
âWe still have plenty of time. We can stay together a little longer.â
âNo, it could be really lateâ¦â
Ines, who was trying to escape Enochâs arms somehow, stopped.
Thatâs true, unlike his seemingly relaxed attitude.
Enochâs neck was red as well.
ââ¦â¦â¦I wasnât the only one who was embarrassed.â
Ines slowly caressed Enochâs neck with her fingers.
At the same time, Enochâs shoulders were stiff.
âYour Excellency.â
âYes.â
âYour neck is really red.â
ââ¦â¦.â
Enoch, who had been silent for a long time, grumbled, burying his face in Inesâs shoulder.
âWhy didnât you just pretend you didnât know?â
This is a situation where what she said comes back to her.
Ines burst into laughter without realizing it.
âPfft.â
It was a very pleasant feeling.
Enoch looked up at Ines with a discontented gaze, and then pulled her over and laid her on the bed.
!
Ines, who fell on the bed, looked at Enoch with a flustered face.
âAh, Sir?â
âInes.â
Enoch called her name in a honeyed voice.
âUh, what did you just say?â
Ines panicked.
Of course, it was true that she asked him to call her name.
Butâ¦
âEh, all of a sudden?â
His deep blue eyes were filled with mischievous light.
âYou asked me to call you Ines.â
This feelingâ¦
Enoch, who kissed her cheek, whispered as his lips touched her ear.
âWhy donât you call me Enoch?â
âWell, thatâsâ¦.â
Ines tried to say something, but nothing came out.
It was because Enoch swallowed her lips in an instant.
âAh.â
Her stomach became hot as if she had swallowed a ball of fire.
In the end, Ines couldnât get out of bed until the appointment time was close.
* * *
At the reception room of the Royal Kaldorov.
âSo glad Iâm not late for my appointment.â¦.â
Ines breathed a sigh of relief, sweeping her chest.
Ines knew Enoch was strong and virile, and his stamina in bed was mind blowing.
Fortunately, Enoch had such common sense that she should not be late for an appointment with the Kaldorov royal family that he let her go, even with a sad faceâ¦â¦.
âBut the arrival time was really close.â
Ines glanced at Enoch with a look of resentment.
Usually, for appointments with the royal family, it was common to come in about 20 minutes early and wait, but they barely came in with 10 minutes left.
Meanwhile, as soon as he noticed her gaze, Enoch bent his eyes and smiled brightly.
Ines felt her stomach flutter.
âReally, I donât know how people feel.â
Nevertheless, Enochâs smile looked dazzlingly pretty.
Ines was just sighing deeply inside.
âIsnât this what a bean pod is?â
Ines was seriously thinking when just in time, the royal servant came in and bowed to the two.
âIâll show you to the dinner table.â
After moving along with the attendant for a long time, the attendant waiting in front of the dinner hall opened the door.
An elderly woman sitting at the top welcomed the two.
âWelcome, Iâm Melissa Kaldorov.â
âItâs such an honor to meet you here.â
Ines and Enoch politely greeted the old lady.
Melissa Kaldorov.
She was the sister of the former king and the aunt of the current king.
She was also the oldest monarch in the Kaldorov royal family.
At the same time, the Marquess of Attlee, who was sitting next to Melissa, greeted the two.
âItâs really nice to see you two again.â
The Marquess of Attlee started.
âCountess of Brierton looked a little tired yesterday, are you alright today?â
The Marquess of Attlee anxiously asked Ines.
Ines smiled socially.
âThank you for your concern. Thanks to you, I got a good rest.â
It was a very strange thing.
When she first met the Marquess of Attlee yesterday, she was in a terrible state of jealousy.
As soon as Enoch and Ines confirmed their feelings, she couldnât be calmer.
âSit this way, please.â
Following Melissaâs guidance, Ines and Enoch sat down.
âHis Majesty is busy with state affairs, so it is difficult to meet the two of you right away, but he said that he would make time for it at least once before you return home.â
âI understand how much Kaldorov cares about us. Thank you.â
Enoch answered politely.
In fact, it was true that Kaldorov was paying considerable attention to Ines and Enoch.
In addition, the host of the invitee was not the king, but the Marquess of Attlee.
The king said that he would make time in person, even though he didnât have to.
Melissa folded her wrinkled eyes and smiled.
âCome to think of it, the Duke of Sussex is still unmarried, right? If I had a daughter, I would have welcomed the Duke as my son-in-law.â
[T/N:â¦]
âThank you, but Iâm afraid itâs difficult now.â
The blue eyes touched Ines for a moment and fell.
Then he smiled at Melissa.
âI have someone in mind now.â
âOh, is that so?â
Melissa opened her eyes wide.
âI wonder who the lucky woman is.â
âIf I have a chance someday, Iâll introduce you. Iâm still a little cautious.â
Since then, Enoch and Melissa continued to have a friendly conversation.
âNo, why does Enoch look at this side.â¦.â
Only Ines was staring at the tableware in front of her because she was embarrassed and happy for no reason.
The atmosphere of the dinner was friendly.
People had this and that conversation.
Recent trends in the art world of Kaldorov, greetings from the King and his wife in Lancaster or the child of the Marquess of Attleeâ¦â¦.
Marquess of Attlee opened her mouth, slicing the lightly cooked lamb dish.
âPersonally, I think the Countess of Brierton is really great. Should I say I respect her a lot as a woman?â
Suddenly Inesâs name was mentioned.
âHuh? Me?â
Embarrassed, Ines looked at the Marquess.
As soon as she made eye contact with Ines, the countenance of the Marquess of Attlee became softer.
âThey say Lancaster has a somewhat stricter atmosphere than Kalodorov, right? I admire the Countess so much that she stands out in such a society.â
âIâm flattered.â
âKaldorov has female painters, but itâs very rare.â
The Marquess gently tightened her hands holding the tableware.
âArt, no. Not only is it difficult to receive formal education in a particular field. If youâre a lady of an aristocratic family, you tend to put more importance on creating a mix.â
ââ¦â¦.â
Ines was a little nervous.
Obviously, just a moment ago, the Marquess had cut the meat in graceful movements as she had painted it.
ââ¦..I guess itâs just how I feel.â
âKaldorov blasts that itâs a freer atmosphere than other countries, but thereâs very little we can do.â
The Marquees continued rather acrimoniously.
âEven Andrea wants to study painting, but no matter how much I look for it, there is no school where girls can enter. Thatâs the reality.â
âWait, school?â
For a moment Ines felt like she had been hit on the head.
What Marquess of Attlee pointed out was, in fact, that Ines had already hit the wall several times.
Didnât Ines also learn from a tutor rather than getting a formal education about painting?
At least, her parents, who loved Ines terribly, took care to learn this and that, but it was more common for ordinary aristocratic young children to take bridal classes than that.
âThe Marquess of Attlee.â
Just in time Melissa called the Marquees of Attlee in a stern voice.