A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke
chapter-ex7

“Well. I am happy every single day.”

“Ha, so what? Do you feel a sense of superiority when you see me unhappy? Now you are revealing your ugly true heart.”

“I really wanted to tell you. Because of you, I almost died without knowing this kind of happiness.”

“Stop! Shut up!!”

Esther turned her gaze away from the struggling Rabienne, moving it to the bedside table.

The needles were out of Rabienne’s reach.

As Esther approached and picked up one of the needles, Rabienne shuddered and pressed her back against the bedhead.

“What, what are you trying to do… don’t do it… no… I mean, it hurts…”

Her eyes were mixed with anger and fear.

“It’s familiar.”

It was the same look Esther gave Rabienne during her 14 iterations of life.

“Considering what you did to me, I could hurt you here and now with this.”

“Please… don’t do it…”

“Don’t worry. I will never stoop to your level.”

Esther put the needle back down and stared down Rabienne.

Maybe, if her mother was alive and everything hadn’t been twisted, they might have grown up as half-sisters.

“We have a very bad relationship.”

But Esther only has one family.

No matter how wretched Rabienne was, she didn’t feel the slightest pity for her.

“Thank you for being able to help people like this. It will at least wash away some of your sins.”

As Esther spoke, she touched the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.

Seeing that, Ravienne’s eyes flipped over.

“What did I do so wrong? These are the things I should have had. You stole them all!”

“You still think so? That it’s all yours?”

“Of course! It was fixed from the moment I was born.”

“Then let’s go with that. Because until now, what’s mine has always been taken away by you. This time, it’s me who takes.”

Esther’s eyes shone golden as she spoke calmly.

The awareness of a saint that Rabienne, who knew better than anyone else the qualities of a saint, wanted the most.

Rabienne’s chin trembled in defeat.

“I’ll just go. I won’t be coming to you again in the future. You will continue to live like this, and no one will remember you.”

Ravienne hastily grabbed Esther as she turned around.

“Hey, wait! Don’t go!”

When Esther paused, Rabienne begged in a very pathetic voice.

“Um, Esther… No, Daina. We were friends… please… .”

“Friends? Us?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize. I was wrong. I will do whatever you ask me to do in the future. Get me out of here, please? You can do it.”

Rabienne’s demeanor changed.

She was acting up until the end, shedding tears and acting pitifully.

“Don’t apologize. I have no intention of forgiving you.”

“You are a saint!!”

When Rabienne shouted, Esther couldn’t hold back for a moment and burst into laughter.

“So what? Surely, since you’re a saint, you must be merciful to everyone… Is that what you meant? Hmm?”

“You… Argh!”

Esther murmured, taking one last look at Rabienne, who could do nothing but scream and glare with reddened eyes.

“Goodbye, Rabienne.”

Even after Esther left the room, screams continued from within.

The priestesses entered to calm Lavienne because she was screaming like a madman.

“Lady…”

“Are you okay?”

Esther smiled brightly at the worried Victor and Dorothy and walked down the hallway.

She came out feeling relieved yet uncomfortable, but then she saw a familiar figure in front of the building.

No… It wasn’t one, but three.

“Dad? Brothers?”

Deheen, Judy, and Dennis turned around at Esther’s voice, their umbrellas twirling above their heads.

“It’s because it’s raining.”

“We’re here to pick you up.”

“Esther. My umbrella is the biggest.”

Even though the hem of their pants were all wet, they all seemed unconcerned.

Esther was no longer a child who was afraid of the rain.

But if ever there was a moment when love could be seen, it would be now.

“You should send someone. Dorothy and Victor too. All of your clothes are wet.”

“Coming to pick you up is another pleasure.”

Deheen licked his lips and smiled.

“Dad, do you know that your smile is very natural now?”

“I hear that a lot. These days, many compliment me for being a middle-aged flower. Great.”

(TL/N: ‘middle-aged flower man’ is a term for middle-aged men who take care of their appearance and lifestyle.)

Esther’s smile deepened as she shrugged her shoulders proudly.

In fact, as Deheen raised Esther, his expression softened and his smile improved, so the scary nicknames disappeared.

Belatedly, Deheen’s good looks came to light, and he became popular in the social world. Many wanted to fill the vacant grand duchess position.

“Whose umbrella will you use?”

“Hmm… Dad’s!”

As Esther ran and slipped under Deheen’s umbrella, Judy and Dennis expressed their disappointment.

“I can’t win against Father.”

“My umbrella is bigger.”

The chosen one wrapped his arms around Esther’s shoulders with a wide grin.

“Let’s go.”

Deheen’s umbrella tilted all the way towards Esther.

His shoulders were getting wet from the wind, but he was all right as long as Esther didn’t get wet at all.

Upon arriving at the bedroom building, everyone headed to the dining room for dinner.

They informed Noah beforehand, so he came to the dining room as well.

“We’re here.”

“Welcome.”

Noah, who naturally wanted to sit next to Esther, was pushed by the twins’ eyes and sat across Deheen.

“Well. Would you like some drinks?”

“What? But this is a temple…”

“I got permission.”

There wasn’t the option of not drinking anymore.

When Deheen raised his hand, Ben brought alcohol and snacks prepared in advance.

“Have a drink.”

“Thank you.”

Tolrok. The wine was poured into the glass.

Noah, who accepted the drink nervously, drank it at once.

“Have some more.”

“Ah, yes.”

In an instant, he drank two glasses, and his glass was immediately refilled.

Seeing Deheen and the twins staring at him, Noah tried to drink again, but Esther hurriedly interrupted.

“Dad, it’s too fast!”

“It’s all right.”

However, Noah stopped Esther and shook his head.

“That’s why she thinks we’re bullying you.”

“That’s right. This brother is sad.”

Judy and Dennis’ eyes lit up as they looked at Noah.

Copying Deheen, the twins began to fill Noah’s glass with alcohol.

Noah tried to keep his back straight, but as he drank one glass after another, he gradually lost his composure.

“Father… Brothers… I really like her.”

Deheen was stunned at the sight of Noah mumbling and smiling, making the eye smile he only showed to Esther.

“You can’t use alcohol… you’re so weak.”

“Dad… you gave him a lot.”

“Did I?”

“Father, it’s fine!”

Dennis clicked his tongue as Noah lifted his already full glass to ask for another serving.

“You’re very drunk.”

Deheen removed the glass from Noah’s grip and asked in a serious voice.

“What do you think of Esther?”

“Esther? Esther is more precious than my life…”

Noah’s pupils twinkled as soon as Esther was mentioned.

“I will only make her happy for the rest of her life.”

Then he smiled, his eyes turning into crescents once again.

“…What. It’s this much?”

Deheen, who was very pleased with the answers, emptied his glass with satisfaction.

“Esther, I miss you.”

“I’m here.”

“Huh? Uh? Is that so? Esther! I love you.”

Noah, who looked around and found Esther, smiled brightly and stretched out his arm.

Although… It was Judy who he hugged.

“Ugh, go away!”

“No. You can never leave, Esther.”

“I’m Judy!”

“Judy? Brother Judy? I also miss you very much.”

Filled with disgust, Judy tried to push Noah, who rested his face against his shoulder.

“This can’t continue. I’m going to take him to his bed.”

“I will support him.”

Esther, who had been fidgety the whole time, said she would help Noah.

“What floor is Noah’s room at?”

“It’s on the third floor. Victor, help Esther.”

Deheen muttered as he stared at the back of the drunk Noah, who was being dragged to his room.

“There is no reason to delay any longer. I’ll stop by the imperial palace on the way back.”

Arriving in the room, Esther sat down on the bed, helped Noah into a comfortable position, and pulled the blanket up to his neck.

“Why did you push yourself so hard? You can’t even drink well.”

“Um… Esther.”

Noah smiled happily as he hugged the pillow tightly as if it was Esther.

“I’m here. You idiot.”

Esther’s gaze deepened as she looked at Noah, searching for her even in his dreams.

She reached out and gently stroked his face.

“I’m glad I met you. If not, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

After seeing Rabienne, Noah became even more precious.

“Thank you.”

The second she leaned over to kiss the sleeping Noah’s forehead…

Her arm was pulled and she fell over his body.

Noah’s black eyes were captured in Esther’s eyes, which widened in surprise.

“You weren’t asleep?”

“I am. It smells like you.”

A strong smell of alcohol wafted from Noah’s languidly smiling lips.

His eyes were half open, but Esther’s heart started beating fast, probably because the atmosphere was different than usual.

“Oh, go to sleep.”

Confused, Esther tried to get out of Noah’s arms, but he held her tighter to prevent her from escaping.

“Let’s sleep together.”

Ame: It’s good knowing you, Noah. See you in the next life!