When I Stopped Being Your Shadow - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

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“It would be great if I could be of some help to Your Excellency.”

 

For a moment Enoch’s face turned to a bewildered face.

 

‘How can a person be so lovable.’

 

Isn’t that a foul?

 

Showing such a pretty smile in an unexpected way…. 

 

On the other hand, Ines, ignorant of Enoch’s troubled heart, continued to speak with her eyes twinkling.

 

 “I also received a lot of help from the Duke, didn’t I?”

 

Although Enoch had said several times that it was a deal, and that he had already been paid well enough. He did not know that the words themselves were speaking in consideration of Ines. Ines’s smile grew a little deeper. 

 

“So, if there is anything I can do to help, please tell me.”

 

Enoch, who looked at Ines, nodded his head.

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

At the same time, Enoch managed to swallow back the words that were rushing up to the tip of his neck. 

 

‘I would like the Countess to participate in the exchange.’

Because the Queen has not yet confirmed the participation of Ines, Enoch couldn’t ask Ines to join him outright.

 

‘I have to get the Queen’s permission somehow.’

 

Enoch once again made up his mind.

 

Just then, Ines changed the subject.

 

“Then it’s a little early, but shall we go have dinner? There is a good restaurant I know.”

Ines, who was proud, quietly looked into Enoch’s eyes. 

 

“However, this is not the high-end restaurant the Duke usually goes to. Sorry about that… “

“It’s okay.”

 

Enoch smiled softly.

 

“Wherever I can be with the Countess, it’s good.”

“….”

Ines looked blankly at Enoch.

 

‘Isn’t it a bit too much to say something sweet like that?’

 

 It was a perfect figure for ladies to misunderstand.

 

Doesn’t every little thing like that fuel the many fantasies the ladies have about the Duke of Sussex?

 

However It hurt her pride to be swayed by each and every one of those actions.

 

‘The Duke must have said that without any special meaning.’

Besides, if there was any meaning to those words…. 

 

‘If that’s the case, I shouldn’t be shaken even more.’

With such thought, Ines turned around resolutely.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

Anyway, it was fortunate that the sunset was exceptionally red.

 

So she could hide the reddened nape of her neck.

***

 

Unexpectedly, Ines headed to the back alley of Hwabang Street.

 

‘Even though it’s a restaurant, wouldn’t it be inconvenient to welcome guests if it’s located in a corner like this?’ 

Enoch was a bit bewildered, but since Ines was so confident, he quietly followed her.

 

After that.

 

His blue eyes widened a little.

 

It was because the tables and chairs were placed side by side in the empty lot of the back alley that he never imagined there would be a restaurant.

 

On the good side, it was quite liberal, and on the bad side, it was a complete mess.

 

It had folded paper on the legs because the height of the table was not right.

 

The old chairs creaked.

 

After brief and intense deliberation, Enoch found the only good thing about this restaurant…

 

‘ … Still, the table and chairs are of the same design.’

 

If it hadn’t been for that, he would have thought it was a junk dealer rather than a restaurant.

 

Meanwhile, Ines seemed very familiar with this place. She walked into the vacant lot, and seated skillfully.

Unexpectedly, Enoch also sat across from Ines.

“It’s a bit unfamiliar, right? You can sit anywhere you want.” 

At the same time, Ines leaned over to Enoch and whispered in her soft voice.

 

“I think the Duke has only been to the restaurant where the staff guides you, is my guess correct?”

 

“I will not deny it.”

 

Enoch nodded his head slightly embarrassed.

 

Then Ines spoke again with a voice full of playfulness.

 

“If it is not for me, when will you ever come to a restaurant like this?” 

 

“Yes, I should thank the Countess.”

 

As he meekly affirmed her words, it was Ines who had a bewildered face.

It was an opportunity to make fun of the Duke of Sussex, but it was all over. Enoch smiled brightly.

“I’m serious.”

 

That smile was so clear.

 

In an instant, Ines felt her heart beating wildly.

 

Enoch’s smile was engraved in her eyes like a stamp, and it kept glimmering in front of her eyes.

 

Ines looked away for nothing, picked up her words casually.

 

“So, to be honest, today is the first time for me to eat at this restaurant too.”

 

“Then how did you know about this place?”

 

“Ah, Mrs. Lant is a regular here.”

Fortunately, as they kept talking, she felt a little less nervous. Ines continued briskly.

“Mrs. Lant complimented this place so much that I got scabs in my ears. In the past, when I worked on the series of “Hwabang Street,” I used to order it and eat it every time….”

 

Meanwhile, Enoch listened quietly to Ines’s voice.

 

Ines’ chattering words sounded like a song. 

“……So, I’m going to eat tomato meatball pasta. The meatballs here are huge and delicious. How about Your Excellency?”

“Oh,” At the question that came back suddenly, Enoch blinked blankly.

 

Ines stared at him blankly as if wondering.

“What have you been thinking?”

 

“No, nothing.”

For the life of him he couldn’t say ‘Your voice sounded like a song, and I was paying attention to it’, so Enoch hurriedly looked at the menu board in front of him, avoiding Ines’s gaze. Ines nodded her head and spoke.

 

“This restaurant’s salmon steak is also good. Served with tartar sauce and lemon, it doesn’t taste fishy and it’s delicious.”

And it was delicious.”

 

“Then I’ll get it.”

 

In fact, the menu itself was unfamiliar, so Enoch nodded his head saying that he understood.

 

Then Ines raised her hand and raised her voice.

 

“Hello, take my order, please!”

 

“….”

 

For a moment, Enoch looked at Ines with a surprised face.

 

It was because the restaurants that Enoch had been to until now had a separate waiter in charge of the customers. It was the first time he saw someone had to call a waiter so loudly to order.

 

But the waiter here was busy taking orders from various people, so he didn’t seem to hear Ines properly.

Ines did not give up and called the waiter again.

 

“Here is the order!”

 

“Oh, yes!”

 

Only then did the waiter rush over.

“One tomato meatball pasta, salmon steak, and….”

 

After finishing the order skillfully, Ines found Enoch with a bewildered face.

 

‘Oh.’

 

She asked with a mischievous voice, brimming with her playfulness.

 

“Are you very surprised? Is this your first time placing an order like this?”

 

“Honestly, it’s a little surprising. Don’t you have a dedicated waiter?”

 

“How can you have a dedicated waiter in such a small restaurant? If they did, the labor cost would be higher.”

 

Ines stared at Enoch with a smile.

 

‘By the way, his appearance is fresh in many ways.’ 

 

Enoch, whom Ines knew, was always calm and relaxed.

 

To add a bit of exaggeration, there was an impression that a needle would not fit. But Enoch right now couldn’t hide his bewildered expression…

‘….I think it’s a little cute.’

 

It was a little rude to think that about the Duke, but what about it? It was true that he was cute.

Not that the Duke could look into her head. Ines, who was coughing for no reason, stretched her shoulders and added.

 

“Wait a minute, the surprise isn’t over yet.”

 

And what Ines said was true.

 

After about 20 minutes, Enoch, who faced the cooked food, turned into rabbit eyes in surprise.

 

“Is this really for one person?”

 

He was just surprised.

 

It was because the food was piled up that the plate overflowed.

 

Since artists with light pockets were the main customers, the food was also cheap and plentiful.

 

Ines couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Embarrassed, Enoch involuntarily narrowed his eyebrows. 

“…you don’t have to laugh like that.”

 

Ines smiled for a while, then waved her hand.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency…… It was because of your unexpected expression.”

“What do you mean unexpected?”

“Well, the Duke I know is always so calm.” 

 

She laughed so much that tears came to her eyes. Ines ended the conversation, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

“I thought it was amazing that you didn’t lose your composure no matter what. I think you’re a little different today.”

For a moment, Enoch’s eyes deepened.

 

Huh?

 

At the same time Ines blinked her eyes, Enoch shook his head resolutely.

“Well, I think the Countess is probably mistaken.”

“I am mistaken? What?”

“I’m a much more emotional person than the Countess thinks.”

 

***