Episode 12 – Enoch’s Trump Card
“You love me!”
Irene blurted it right to Enoch’s face… then bit her lip in regret.
She hadn’t planned to say it first before he confessed.
Enoch’s expression stayed cold.
“Tell me, Irene. Have I ever once confessed my love to you?”
“…What?”
Being questioned about something she’d never once doubted left her stunned.
“Philip always told me, ‘Irene’s my wife, Enoch. Get over it and go find another woman.’”
“And you never once denied what he said.”
“That was just a light joke between us.”
Irene scoffed, thinking what a ridiculous excuse that was.
Enoch still kept that unreadable face.
“Irene. If I had truly loved you, do you think Philip would’ve ever kept me around?”
“What?”
“Think about Philip’s obsession with you, how possessive he was.”
“Philip…”
Irene started to argue, then shut her mouth.
Philip had always been insanely jealous, ready to glare at any man who so much as acted friendly toward her.
Sometimes, even she found his obsession exhausting.
And yet, he’d never once seemed wary of Enoch, the man rumored to have loved his wife for ten years.
It was… odd. But she shoved that thought aside and tried another angle.
“Did you forget? Ten years ago, you gave up the Academy swordsmanship championship to Philip without a fuss.”
“So?”
“That was your one big chance to enter as an official candidate for knighthood, and you threw it away just because I
asked you to!”
Enoch let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“You’ve got it wrong. I didn’t give him the win because you asked me to.”
“…What?”
“Do you remember what I asked for in return?”
His words brought back a memory she’d completely forgotten.
‘Enoch, please. Let Philip win this one.’
‘Don’t worry. Just like you said, the win will go to Philip.’
‘Thank you, Enoch! I’ll never forget this favor.’
‘I have one condition. Give me Nora’s diary.’
‘What?’
‘If you keep it, it’ll keep bothering me. I’ll take it and destroy it.’
Back then, Irene had stolen Nora’s diary full of heartfelt feelings for Philip.
Enoch had demanded it from her, acting like he just didn’t want her stressing over it.
She’d thought he was just some lovesick fool willing to do anything for her.
Now, a decade later, she realized there’d been another reason.
“You mean… You did that for Nora?”
“If I hadn’t destroyed it, you would’ve shown it to Philip yourself, you told me so.”
“I can’t believe this. You liked Nora back then?”
“I respected and trusted her,” he corrected.
“Are you insane? Why waste that on someone like—”
“Watch your mouth, Irene,” Enoch snapped, his voice sharp enough to make her bite her lip.
“Then what about what you said last night?” she demanded.
“…Last night?”
“You said you wouldn’t just sit back and watch me fall apart.”
“…What?”
“Why confuse me with words you don’t even mean?”
For a moment, that cold face faltered; he remembered.
‘Irene Brandon! I won’t just stand by and let you fall apart. So stop worrying and go to bed.’
‘Enoch… will you really protect me so I won’t fall apart?’
‘Yes. I will.’
He hadn’t been lying at the time. Drunk and despairing, she’d been his late friend’s wife, and Enoch had felt a sense of duty to her.
But afterward, thoughts of Nora had taken over, and he’d simply forgotten saying it.
“…If I confused you, I’m sorry, Irene.”
The look in his eyes made it clear, he didn’t have feelings for her.
The humiliation and anger twisted her pretty face.
Enoch quickly went on.
“I’ll keep my promise, Irene. I won’t let Philip’s beloved wife fall apart.”
“And besides marrying me, how exactly do you plan to protect me?” she shot back bitterly.
“I’ll move the King of Morios.”
“…What?”
Enoch’s mind was already turning fast.
He’d almost forgotten yesterday’s incident with Hawthorne Brandon barging in and causing trouble.
That guy had clearly been acting with the King’s backing.
The King probably assumed that if Irene, an illegitimate daughter of the Cornel royal family, was kicked out of the
Brandon duchy, Enoch would have no choice but to take her in, whether out of love or for political unification.
But now, Enoch had a card the King hadn’t counted on Cornel’s legitimate princess, Nora Cornel.
“I’ll make the King of Morios promise to secure your position,” he told her.
“So you pray with all your heart that Nora accepts my proposal.”
“Could you deliver this note to Duke Osmond?”
“Yes, Lady Nora.”
After two days of seriously thinking over Enoch’s proposal, I’d asked him to join me for a walk.
My maid, eyes sparkling with curiosity, practically skipped off to deliver the message.
With Irene shut up in her room, the whole Brandon estate was buzzing about what had happened between me and
Enoch.
Everyone had expected me to be caught in some scandal with him, only to hear he’d proposed. Overnight, gossip had
turned into romance.
Soon, the maid came back, a little out of breath.
“My lady, the Duke happily agreed to join you.”
“Thanks. Could you get me a wide-brimmed hat, a small water flask, and a bouquet?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
When I went out to the courtyard at the arranged time, Enoch was already waiting by the carriage.
“Enoch, I’m walking to see Philip today.”
The way his handsome face immediately tightened made me almost laugh.
“Nora, why do you keep pushing yourself?”
“I’m not. I’ve got water, and I’ll walk slow.”
He still didn’t look convinced.
“If you’re worried I can’t keep up, I’ll take the carriage,” I teased.
“…Fine. We’ll walk,” he said, jaw tight.
Apparently, Enoch really hated anyone implying he was weak.
When had his expressions gotten so easy to read? I couldn’t help but smile.
Walking to see Philip with him turned out to be… surprisingly pleasant.
The crisp autumn sky, the gentle breeze, golden fields, and colorful trees softened the awkwardness between us.
“The Brandon lands are so peaceful.”
“Philip was a capable duke.”
“And you?”
“Me, what?”
“Is Duke Osmond capable too?”
He almost smiled.
It was subtle, but you could see the pride and confidence there.
“The Osmond territory isn’t as big; it’s closer to the capital.”
“Yeah?”
“But the annual profit is over three times bigger.”
That proud look spread across his face again.
“We focus more on manufacturing than farming.”
“I see.”
“Our wine, ham, and cheese are the best not just in Morios, but across the continent. If you became Duchess Osmond,
You could have them every day.”
“…Are you trying to bribe me with food?”
“You’re not falling for it?”
We both smiled, the mood much lighter now.
Enoch took my right hand and placed it on his left arm, making walking much easier.
“Enoch, tell me about your family. You had a mother and one younger brother, right?”
I’d had to dig through the original novel’s plot for that detail.
I thought he might dodge the question, but he answered easily.
“My mother was a maid at the Osmond estate. When I was born, my grandmother saw us as a thorn in her side.”
“Why? Even as an illegitimate son, you’re still her grandson.”
“My grandmother never tolerated anything or anyone that could get in my older brother’s way.”
Wow, what a piece of work that grandma was. Like being born was somehow his fault.
Honestly, the real culprit was the old duke for sleeping around.
“She saw you as a threat to your brother?”
“I was taller, better looking, and smarter from a young age.”
…Okay, and humble too, clearly.
“When I was ten, my mother left the estate. She decided she couldn’t raise me under my grandmother anymore. Jake
came with us.”
“Jake… your half-brother?”
“Yeah. His mother was a dancer from the Kalan Empire. She left after he was born. My father gave us nothing but
neglect, and my grandmother gave us nothing but scorn.”
I silently cursed both his father and grandmother.
“And the Academy? When did you start working there?”
“Twelve. My mother couldn’t support four people alone.”
“Wait, four? Why four?”
“About a year after we left, a woman came to us saying she’d had a daughter by the Duke. She couldn’t raise her, so
my mother took her in.”
Wow. Taking in two children from the man who’d abandoned her? His mother was a saint.
And seeing Enoch now strong, confident, and decent it made me feel oddly proud of him.
He was… a much better man than I’d given him credit for.
