A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke
chapter-ex13

“Isn’t that what you meant to give me?”

Esther hurriedly pointed to the teacup Noah had put down.

“I changed my mind.”

Noah did not stop and stood right in front of Esther.

With her back against a wall, nowhere else to retreat, Esther gently pushed Noah’s chest.

However, Noah grabbed Esther’s hand and held her in place.

Esther, who was unable to do anything, could only turn her gaze to the side.

“Look at me.”

“…….”

Gently, Noah held Esther’s chin gently so that she couldn’t look away, and their gazes crossed again.

Slowly, both of them lowered their heads.

“Shall we go to bed?”

Noah stroked Esther’s hair as he whispered.

Moisture from her hair moved to his hands.

As he hugged her waist, her thin nightgown became wet and clung to her body.

Esther tried to relax, but she was breathing out of sync with Noah’s.

“Su…”

The lips that had parted to answer were captured by Noah.

Esther, who naturally thought they were going to bed, widened her eyes and slightly bent her back.

Noah bit Esther’s lips and spread his hands around the back of her neck.

After a brief, chaste kiss, Noah dug deeper.

Then, his lips landed on Esther’s collarbone, which was exposed through her nightgown.

“Ahh…”

Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, Esther groaned softly and bit her lip. But that incited more fire in Noah’s eyes.

Esther stumbled as her legs loosened at the moment, and Noah caught her in a hug.

‘Oh, his arms are firm…’

She was a little surprised that his arms were stronger than expected.

‘Please calm down!’

Esther tried unsuccessfully to suppress her beating heart, which seemed to ring in her ears.

She fanned her face with her hand, thinking that Noah had already caught it all.

“It’s too light.”

Noah muttered disapprovingly as he carefully set Esther down on the bed.

“I have lost weight lately. I cut back on eating because of the dress.”

“What? Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m going to eat well again from tomorrow.”

“You should. You will need a lot of stamina.”

Esther glanced slightly at Noah, who flashed a meaningful smile.

When Noah climbed onto the bed, the mattress sank slightly.

“Are you very tired?”

Esther nodded vigorously, wondering if it was an opportunity to escape.

Then the corners of Noah’s lips pulled into a grin, and he bowed his head.

“Then… just stay still.”

“What are you going… ah!”

Noah propped up Esther’s back with his hand and laid her back.

Completely lying on the bed and trapped in strong arms, Esther and Noah’s lips overlapped.

This time, Noah didn’t even give Esther time to breathe, he kissed and pushed until she gasped for breath. and pushed Esther until she gasped for breath.

“Hah… breathe… a little…”

For a very short time, Noah parted his lips from Esther’s, barely allowing her to breathe, then again…

The hand that was on Esther’s back lowered, wrapping around her waist.

Slowly and gently, Noah moved over Esther’s body and took her hand, interlocking their fingers to the point there were no gaps.

Having tied Esther tightly, their lips met again.

After a while, they slowly parted.

Esther, shy, couldn’t look at Noah at all because of the intense kiss, so she pulled a pillow and buried her face in it.

“I won’t do more than this today. Let’s sleep hand in hand.”

Patting Esther’s head, Noah grabbed a pillow.

His face was red as well.

Knowing that they weren’t the only one nervous and embarrassed, they burst into laughter.

“It’s nice to lie down together.”

“…It’s fascinating.”

It was the first time Esther was lying skin-to-skin with someone who wasn’t her family, so it was still awkward and unfamiliar.

“From now on, we will go to sleep and wake up like this every day. In the same bed.”

Noah muttered affectionately and took Esther’s hand.

Lying side by side like that, the two of them started talking.

From the first day they met to what they have been through, to recent events and their thoughts and tastes.

They didn’t even notice the time passing.

“Strange.”

“What?”

“I was so tired that it wouldn’t be strange to fall asleep right now. I lost my sleep while talking to you.”

Noah smiled and hugged Esther by the shoulder.

“That’s what love is.”

“Is it…”

Perhaps because they were covered by the same blanket, their toes touched under the blanket.

Even though it wasn’t a big deal, it tingled. Noah flinched as Esther wiggled her feet.

“Are you provoking me? I’m barely enduring.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Esther crept aside, but Noah pulled her back and clung to her.

“I don’t want to fall asleep. But since we have to leave early in the morning, let’s get some sleep.”

Noah kissed Esther’s forehead as her eyes were slowly closing.

Then he lifted her head slightly, placing it on his arm, giving her an arm pillow.

“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all.”

“Okay, good night.”

“Good night, Esther.”

Noah patted Esther until she fell into a deep sleep.

When Esther’s breathing became soft and stable, Noah happily closed his eyes and slept.

★★★

The next morning.

Esther, who woke up and started stretching, was startled and hurriedly pulled the blanket over her head.

She blinked and thought for a moment, then poked her head out to see if what she saw was correct.

“You woke up?”

Noah, who was lying next to Esther and watching her, pulled down the blanket.

“When did you wake up?”

“Just before.”

“If you wake up, wake me up too. I was surprised to see your eyes open.”

“But you look pretty when you sleep.”

Esther played with her hands at Noah’s gaze filled with affection from the morning.

She was not yet accustomed to the fact that as soon as she opened her eyes, she would see Noah’s face.

Noah got out of bed first and drew back the curtains.

“The weather is very nice today.”

“I know. It’s like a gift.”

It’s always cloudy and raining at this time of year, but strangely, the day was clear from the time they were preparing for the wedding.

As if the goddess blessed them.

Esther and Noah left the bedroom, finished their preparations, and went out.

Before going on a trip, they wanted to say goodbye to their family, but Deheen and Judy were asleep without a care in the world.

“How much did they drink?”

“It’s really terrible. I thought Father and His Majesty the Emperor were competing…”

Dennis, the only one awake, put down his glass of water, shaking his head.

“Then, what about Brother Judy?”

“He probably became like that while adjusting to Sebastian? Sebastian cried again.”

Esther looked anxiously at the two people who were sprawled out, unaware that she had come.

“Brother, take good care of them.”

“Don’t worry and go.”

They left the palace for the guests and headed to the main palace, but the emperor’s condition was not much different.

The empress saw off the two on behalf of the drunken emperor.

“Come back safely.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s okay to call me ‘Mother’ when we’re together. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to fill the void.”

These days, Esther felt that Noah’s kind personality came from the empress.

“…Yes. Oh… yes.”

Knowing that the words came from the heart, Esther gladly took the empress’ hand.

The week-long wedding holiday was pre-arranged to be spent at an imperial villa on the beach.

As soon as they arrived after a long carriage ride, they took a walk on the road that faced the sea.

Thereafter, they toured the villa. Although the villa was small in size, it was very beautiful because the sea could be viewed from anywhere.

Esther went out to the terrace on the third floor, which was designed for people to enjoy the scenery, and gazed down at the sea.

“It’s really pretty here. No wonder it’s famous.”

“It’s not just the sea that’s famous.”

Noah brushed Esther’s wind-blown hair and smiled mischievously..

“Then what else is famous?”

“You’re curious?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Two come, but three goes.”

“What?!”

When Esther started freaking out, Noah laughed and asked a little more seriously.

“You don’t like it?”

“…No way.”

From the moment Esther thought of marrying Noah, she already wanted to have children of her own.

“Then should we try?”

Wrapping his arms around Esther’s waist, Noah turned his face and kissed her lightly.

Esther stuck out her tongue, pushing away Noah’s naughty hand that was trying to sneak up from her waist.

“Catch me if you can!”

And she started running into the villa.

“If I catch you, I’ll really not let you run away this time!”

Refusing to watch Esther and Noah flirting and running through the hallway, Dorothy closed her eyes.

“I don’t want to see it.”

“What’s going on? I don’t know because I’ve already closed my eyes.”

From the moment Noah wrapped his arms around Esther’s waist, Victor had already closed his eyes.

Esther, who had been running away from Noah as best she could, hesitated as she descended the stairs.

“Caught.”

Noah grabbed Esther by the shoulder and grinned.

“What’s the matter?”

“I remembered what the goddess said.”

Where Esther’s gaze reached, there was a statue of Espitos.

“What if my child really surpasses my abilities?”

Esther remembered the words of Espitos, who said that her saintly power would be passed on to her child.

Credits goes to Kushi for raw providing, and Ame for translating.