Ines has finally done the odd job.
âAfter looking at the documents, it appears that the amount invested in Viscount Gottâs business is substantial.â
âYes thatâs right. The former Count (Ryan) told me to invest money firstâŠâ
The agent, who had been called from early in the morning, opened his eyes wide and looked at Ines. During Ryanâs presidency as the Count of Brierton, considerable funds flowed into his family.
âRyan, youâre really too much.â
Ines smirked briefly, and declared.
âNow, stop paying all those investments.â
As soon as he heard those words, a smile bloomed on the agentâs face.
Seeing he was happy as if he was doing his job, Ines was a little stunned.
Was it something to like so much?
So far, the funds invested in Gottâs family had been blind money.
Ryan had abused his position as Count of Brierton, barely keeping a business on the verge of bankruptcy on Briertonâs money.
â Count, reduce the size of your investment a littleâŠâ
The agent carefully suggested it while Ryan was still the Count.
âDo whatever youâre told, how dare you say anything?â
All that came back was Ryanâs rude remarks. So the agent had to just keep his eyes open and watch as Briertonâs money leaked out.
Finally, permission to withdraw the funds was given from Ines.
âYes. Weâre running out of time to get the money back as quickly as possible. It is not enough to leave right now.â
Well, she didnât tell him to retrieve it todayâŠ..
But she didnât even want to pour cold water on the ambitious agent, because getting her money back was what Ines wanted too.
Ines simply nodded her head.
So, after the agent left the study with a happy face.
Ines glanced at the calendar on the desk.
ââŠâŠ It is already tomorrow.â
The date of meeting Enoch and resuming portrait work was just around the corner.
Even if she tried not to think about Enoch, she kept thinking of him.
The mind that ran arbitrarily was out of control, and if she let it relax, her mind would be filled with thoughts about Enoch.
Ines shook her head and got up.
âToday, donât worry about useless things, just rest well.â
After reclaiming the title of Count of Brierton, she had not been able to rest properly in the past few days to organize things.
Saying she needed rest, Ines immediately walked out of the study.
Likewise, Mary, with bunny eyes startled, stood outside the door.
She was holding a tray full of refreshments and tea in her hands.
âThe Lord even skipped breakfast this morning and worked. So I prepared somethingâŠâ
âAha, did you worry about me?â
âBut what to do? Iâm on a business strike today. Iâm going to rest.â
âReally? Thatâs good.â
Mary, who was halfway to the office door, turned her body with lightning speed.
âThen Iâll put this back in the kitchen to prepare breakfast.â
âWhat? No, I can just drink the tea you brought with you..⊠â
Mary glanced back at Ines and shook her head sternly.
âIf the Lord wants to rest well, you must first eat well.â
Mary smiled and hurriedly ran to the kitchen.
Ines had a quiet time after a long time.
Inesâ favorite scrambled eggs and assorted fruits, carefully crafted by the chef.
After enjoying breakfast, she sat by the sunny window, basking in the sun and reading.
The fragrant aroma of tea spread from the warm teacup on the table. So she thought that the day would pass peacefully.
Until that afternoon, an unexpected person came to visit the townhouse.
Ines, who was leisurely reading a book, raised her head.
A maid announced with a look of hesitation.
âA guest has arrived.â
But there were no appointments today.
Ines, who had tilted her head, narrowed her brow for a moment.
âIs it a person from the Gottâs family by any chance?â
The maid looked at Ines, not knowing what to do.
âWow, how can a person be so shameless?â
When Ines didnât touch the investment, they had never contacted her. Even for the ugliness that Ryan had done last night, they didnât even show the slightest sincerity to send someone to apologize.
But this time, as soon as Ines withdrew the investment, they came in a hurryâŠ
âHow can they act so obvious like this?â
Ines shrugged her shoulders with a click of her tongue.
âIf they have sent me a letter, I donât need to read it, just throw it in the fireplace.â
âThatâŠViscount Gott came to visit.â
Ines was a little surprised for the first time.
He was Ryanâs older brother and who was once Inesâ brother-in-law.
Although he pretended to be a decent gentleman on the outside, Ines did not really like Viscount Gott. Because he only cared about himself.
âMy family has recently run a business. I was a little short of funds, soâŠâ
When Viscount Gott smiled kindly and sneakily mentioned , Ryan was the first to take the bait.
âMy brother said the business is really solid!â
In addition, the elder Viscountess Gott joined as if waiting.
âItâs family. Surely you will invest, right?â
âAh, but after discussing that with our vassalsâŠâ (Ines)
âNo, what do vassals matter?â (Ryan)
Ryan, who was pounding his chest and smiling wildly, was acting proud.
âDonât worry, Iâm the Count. Anything can be done with my permission!â
âNo, wait a minute. ThatâŠ.â (Ines)
âItâs only natural for a family to make this kind of investment. Right, Ines?â
So, the Gott family secretly forced Ines to answer.
Recalling that time, Ines narrowed her eyes.
âTell him I canât see him because Iâm taking a nap.â
It was to express that she did not want to meet the other person enough to give such a nonsensical excuse. But the troubled face of the maid did not brighten at all.
âWell, there is something that the Lord must see for herself at least once.â
âThatâŠViscount Goth sent a gift for the visit.â
It was a completely unexpected answer.
Ines tilted her head in bewilderment.
So, two maids struggled and put the gift in front of InesâŠ
âAre you sure this is a gift?â
Ines couldnât hide her bewilderment.
The maids were more embarrassed.
When the needlessly colorful wrapping paper was peeled off, the object was revealed inside.
âOh my God, itâs a teddy bear.â
With a little exaggeration, it was a teddy bear the size of Ines. It was cut and crafted with the finest silk, had a luxurious satin ribbon wrapped around its neck, and eyes inlaid with sapphire.
It was a really expensive and useless thing.
Ines knew the meaning of this gift.
âI brought a gift this expensive, so Iâm sure you wonât pretend you donât know me, right?â
Thatâs how they secretly pressured Ines.
Just then, a maid carefully added her words.
âAh, the Viscount Gott has asked me to give you a message.â
âThat âŠ..He said that this doll was chosen by Master Gott in consideration of the Lord.â
Ines seemed to understand a little about what had happened then.
Back in the day, when Ryan and she were still married. She once called Charlotte and they had tea together.
And as soon as Charlotte visited, Ryan, who had been snooping around the parlor, took a seat.
While they were having a conversation, Ryan suddenly opened his mouth.
âA doll is the best gift for women. Is it not?â
âWell, of course, there are people who like dolls. But I donât like it very muchâŠâŠâ
âWhat? Ines, you have a very strange personality.â
Then Charlotte cut Ines âwords like that and interrupted the conversation.
âI like dolls! Arenât they cute?â
âNo, Iâm not saying theyâre not cute.â
Feeling pushed for some reason, Ines bit her lip, not knowing what to do. In the first place,
In the first place, not all women must like dolls.
As for Ines alone, since she was a child, she liked to play with art tools rather than dolls.
âHow can a woman not like dolls?â
âThe Count is right. To be honest, among the young ladies around me, I canât find a single person who doesnât like dolls.â
But Ryan and Charlotte were driving Ines as if she had become a strange person.