When I Stopped Being Your Shadow - Chapter 112. End

Ines looked back.

 

“Oh, Enoch, are you here?”

 

It was Enoch in a neat suit.

 

Enoch strode to Ines, swept her cheek and asked in a worried voice.

 

“Are you taking a break these days? There’s a shade under your eyes.”

 

“Well……”

 

Ines, who tried to avoid Enoch’s gaze, soon smiled.

 

“But most of the work was done neatly.”

 

“You’ve overworked your body to that extent so it will be unfair if the work doesn’t end neatly.”

 

He had a talent to poke a person’s conscience with a smiling face like that.

 

But in that part, there was nothing to say, so Ines quietly closed her lips.

 

But there was a reason for it.

 

Finding out that there were more applicants than expected, Ines devoted herself passionately to establishing a school, even reducing sleep at night.

 

Since she had a hard time buying the school site last time, she chose to take over and renovate the existing school.

 

Thus, she achieved the feat of opening the school in two years.

 

In the meantime, she paid attention to Felix’s release from prison.

 

If he entered school next year, she could help the child’s future and teach him how to write before entering the school.

 

There was a pile of work.

 

‘Perhaps if Enoch hadn’t helped, I would have collapsed a few times from overwork…….’

 

Ines reflected on herself.

 

Fortunately, Enoch did not reprimand Ines.

 

Instead, he glanced at the clock and extended his arm.

 

“Let’s get out for now. Today is the day you are the main character, so you shouldn’t be late.”

 

“Main character.”

 

Putting her hand on Enoch’s arm, Ines smiled.

 

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

 

It couldn’t be helped.

 

Today was the opening ceremony of Evans Academy, where she spent all her two years of time and effort.

 

* * *

 

A sunny afternoon.

 

Ines stood in front of the VIPs who came to celebrate the opening ceremony with a nervous face.

 

“Hello, I’m so honored to be here.”

 

At the beginning of her speech, her voice was trembling slightly.

 

Although she was involved in the exchange exhibition and had her own exhibition overseas, she was still nervous.

 

 

It wass because she was not used to getting people’s attention.

 

However,

 

“Ines.”

 

Ines found Enoch among the distinguished guests.

 

The deep blue eyes staring at her without wavering, were filled with trust in her.

 

As she faced the gaze, the trembling of her whole body subsided little by little.

 

She was the principal who founded Evans Academy.

 

So she had to show them her trust.

 

……and to Enoch, who had trusted and supported her all this time.

 

‘I don’t want to embarrass him.’

 

Ines took a short deep breath, closed her eyes and opened them again.

 

She had regained her composure before she knew it.

 

“I come from a prestigious family called Brierton. It was because that great environment was given to me, the people in that the environment supported me. I was able to step up to achieve my dream. That’s why…….”

 

Ines met the eyes of the distinguished guests.

 

“I’m here hoping to share the opportunities I’ve had with others.”

 

Although it was not a fancy speech, it was appealing because she spoke honestly about what she had been through so far.

 

“Of course, I’m not good enough in many ways. But I promise you this one thing. I will humbly listen to the advice you give me and learn to improve.”

 

Ines concluded her words with all her heart.

 

“I will do my best so that the time the students spend at our academy happy and fulfill. Thank you.”

 

Ines bowed deeply.

 

At the same time, thunderous applause broke out.

 

* * *

 

The opening ceremony ended by cutting colorful ribbons across the entrance of the academy with a scissor.

 

After finishing all the schedules, Ines clung to Enoch and asked questions.

 

“Wasn’t my speech strange? Was it okay?”

 

“Of course, it was wonderful.”

 

“…Really? You’re not saying that to make me feel good?”

 

Ines looked at Enoch lovingly, and Enoch replied casually.

 

“You know that I don’t talk about work in vain, right?”

 

“Well, that’s true, but…… Anyway, I’m glad it was fine.”

 

Ines breathed a long sigh of relief.

 

“Then it’s your turn to give me time.”

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

While nodding, Ines was a little puzzled.

 

<“Ines, can you spare me some time after the opening ceremony?”>

 

That was what Enoch asked her a few days ago.

 

Although she answered that she didn’t have any special schedule after the opening ceremony, she was curious.

 

‘…I didn’t think I’d be riding the carriage all of a sudden?’

 

Puzzled, Ines asked Enoch.

 

“Well, where are we going?”

 

Enoch slightly raised the tip of his lips and smiled.

 

It was a playful smile mixed with anticipation and tension.

 

“There’s something I want to give you.”

 

* * *

 

Unexpectedly, Enoch took Ines to the residence of the Duke of Sussex.

 

“Why here……?”

 

Ines looked up at Enoch with a puzzled face.

 

However, it seemed it was already planned, so they were ushered inside by the maids.

 

“Atelier?”

 

Ines muttered in a bewildered voice.

 

Various art tools were neatly arranged and the spacious windows for good sunlight were equipped with blackout curtains.

 

It must have been carefully cared not to let light affect the paintings.

 

Each piece of furniture was arranged to be convenient to move in consideration of the user’s movement.

 

And all that stuff.

 

‘It’s my type.’

 

Color, structure, design of furniture, etc.

 

Everything seemed to have been hers.

 

If she decorated the atelier herself, she wouldn’t be able to decorate it to her taste like this.

 

Enoch asked the question in a rather tense tone.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“Yes, very much.”

 

Ines nodded earnestly for now.

 

It was true that she liked it.

 

But she was still a little doubtful.

 

‘This is Enoch’s residence, so why did he ask for my opinion?’

 

But then.

 

Enoch said with a gentle smile.

 

“I’m glad to hear that. This atelier is yours from now on.”

 

“……What?”

 

Ines still couldn’t figure out where the flow of this conversation was going.

 

At the same time, the eyes of the two met.

 

“Ah.”

 

Ines blinked blankly.

 

To her surprise, Enoch in front of her looked rather nervous.

 

Like a little boy with his first love in front of him.

 

“I mean… I mean…”

 

The smooth talking seemed to be lost.

 

“My residence, no, ah.”

 

Enoch swept his face with his hands, smiled awkwardly.

 

“I’ve been practicing quite a lot……but my head is blank in front of you. So let me just get to the point.”

 

‘The main point?’

 

Tilting her head, Ines doubted her ears the next moment.

 

“I love you, Ines.”

 

A, Suddenly confessing love?

 

But Enoch’s words were not over yet.

 

“Why did I decorate my residence with an atelier for you…… My house and even this residence.”

 

Enoch stared at Ines with serious eyes.

 

“I hope it will be a place where you can relax.”

 

At that moment, Ines’ eyes shook greatly.

 

“Until now, you have only decorated ateliers for others but no one has decorated one for you.”

 

“…….”

 

“I wanted to give you a place like that.”

 

Enoch continued in a warm voice.

 

“A place where you can erase all painful memories and build only happy ones.”

 

“That means…….”

 

“I don’t mean to rush you right now. But if you can leave your painful past behind and are ready to have someone new by your side someday.”

 

Enoch gently took Ines’ hand in his.

 

The diamond ring shone brightly on the ring finger of the left hand.

 

Dropping a kiss on top of it, Enoch spoke softly.

 

“……I want to be with you forever.”

 

“…….”

 

Ines was beyond surprised, so overwhelmed.

 

She was momentarily speechless.

 

Enoch hastily continued to interpret her silence.

 

“I’m not forcing my will on you. I can wait as long as…….”

 

“Enoch.”

 

And then.

 

Ines called Enoch firmly.

 

“Well, I didn’t say no.”

 

The dancing green eyes looked straight up at Enoch.

 

Enoch was absent-minded at the moment.

 

“That means……?”

 

“It means yes.”

 

Ines continued.

 

“But I don’t want to get married right away. I want to enjoy the sweetness of the engagement period.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Well, I’m going to be busy in the future. I have to proceed with school work and I want to continue drawing.”

 

“It’s not bad. I want to live a comfortable life supporting my capable wife.”

 

Enoch replied playfully.

 

Ines, who had been staring at Enoch for a long time, smiled brightly with tearful eyes.

 

“Then now…… Give me a kiss.”

 

And Enoch was happily to do so.

 

*****

 

The End~

 

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