A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke
chapter-ex9

★★★

With satisfaction, Esther looked at the prayer room where the mural work had been completed.

“Are you really leaving?”

“Sorry. I couldn’t even give you a treat because we were both working all day.”

“How about staying at the temple for a few more days?”

The temple officials who often visited Esther and tried but failed to get to know her came to see her off.

“I have been away from home for too long. I will visit again, when the mural is officially unveiled.”

“All right. Thank you so much.”

Finishing her last goodbye, Esther returned to her room with relief.

Except for her bag on the chair, the room was back in the same condition as when she first arrived.

“Lady Esther, I’ve moved all your luggage.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

Esther closed the open window, grabbed her bag, and left the room.

“There is a famous bakery on the way. I should buy some treats as a gift for my family.”

“I’ll tell the coachman.”

However, the carriage that she thought would be ready in the yard was nowhere to be seen.

“Dorothy? Where is the carriage?”

“Well…”

Dorothy looked like she was hiding something, so Esther was about to question further, but a familiar face suddenly appeared from behind.

“Esther.”

“Noah?”

Noah approached her with arms wide open. Delighted, Esther ran and hugged him.

“Congratulations. It must have been really hard.”

“Thank you. But what brings you here? It’s a busy time.”

Esther asked with her big eyes blinking.

“No matter how busy I am, I will make time for you.”

Esther had deliberately not informed anyone of the exact schedule.

She thought she would just see them when she returned, but she kept smiling the moment she realized Noah came to pick her up.

“I like this.”

“What about this?”

“It’s surprising.”

“Well, thank goodness. I was worried about what to do if you didn’t like it.”

Noah’s smile deepened at Esther’s delighted expression.

“Do you have free time today?”

“Yes. Why?”

“There’s somewhere I’ll like to go with you.”

Noah pointed to his horse, which he had tied away.

“Are we going to ride a horse?”

“It’s not far. I will help you.”

When Esther readily agreed, Noah lifted Esther, his hands around her waist, so that she could easily mount the horse.

Then, stepping on the saddle and sitting behind Esther, Noah took the reins.

Esther’s cheeks turned red as his body pressed close to hers.

“Let’s go.”

The horse started to run fast. Esther tilted her head as she watched Victor and Dorothy walk away.

“Can we just go?”

“I’ve told them where we are going.”

“… When I go back, I’ll have to crack down on Dorothy.”

Esther sighed at the indication that there was an advance collusion.

She was dissatisfied with being in Noah’s palm, but for now, she decided to just enjoy it.

The cool breeze brushing her cheeks, moving at a high speed… Everything was enjoyable.

“Can we go faster?”

“We can, but it’s dangerous.”

When Esther pouted in disappointment, Noah laughed softly.

“I’ll let you ride as long as you want next time. Not today. We’re almost there.”

The horse stopped in front of a high wall.

It was a private property surrounded by a long gate with no end in sight. There was even a warning sign which says [If you enter without permission, you will be punished according to the law].

“We’ve reached?”

“Yes.”

Taking Noah’s hand, Esther jumped off the horse.

Noah pressed the bell on the wall, and the gate opened immediately. Then a neatly dressed elderly gentleman emerged.

“I was waiting for you. Welcome.”

Esther and Noah entered through the wide open door.

A thick, earthy scent wafted into Esther’s nose. Had they come to the forest?

After walking down the white stone road, a vineyard appeared.

“A grape farm?”

An elderly gentleman handed a pair of pruning scissors to Esther, who was looking around.

“You can harvest as much as you want and put it in the basket here.”

Esther was puzzled as she alternated between the pair of scissors and basket that fit her hand.

“Did you bring me here to harvest the grapes?”

“That’s right. Have you ever tried it?”

“No!”

“Neither have I.”

With a bright smile, Noah put on an apron. Then he helped Esther tie her apron.

“I will demonstrate.”

Esther focused on the gentleman’s demonstration. He picked the grapes by wrapping them in his hands.

Although the situation was embarrassing, she thought it was a special experience and happily rolled up her sleeves.

“Like this… Oh, that’s it.”

Noah was surprised to see Esther picking the grapes as neatly as she had seen.

“You’re good?”

“This is fun.”

Esther roamed excitedly among the vines, which were of a similar height to her.

As if responding to her emotions, butterflies flew in.

When the basket was half full, Esther wiped the sweat from her brow and lifted up a bunch of freshly picked grapes.

“I wonder how it tastes.”

“Eat it. All the grapes harvested today are ours anyway.”

Noah plucked a grape, wiped it against his apron, and put it in Esther’s mouth.

“How is it?”

“Oh, it’s sweet. You should try it too.”

This time, Esther put a grape in Noah’s mouth.

The faces of the two sharing grapes were full of smiles.

“Wait a second. Here…”

Esther grinned as she basked in the sunlight pouring through the trees. It was irresistibly lovely, so Noah leaned closer, and kissed her.

“… smeared on her lips.”

“It’s because there’s someone around.”

Puffing out her cheeks, Esther turned her head to the side angrily.

Flustered, Noah went to Esther’s front, relaxed his expression and gave her a surprise kiss.

“Hey…”

“I’m surprised that you’re upset.”

“Let’s bet on who fills the basket faster.”

Once Esther said so, she stuck out her tongue, grabbed her pruning scissors, and ran through the vineyard.

Shaking his head, Noah followed Esther, who was just unbearably cute.

After a while more of harvesting, their baskets were filled to the brim.

“I think we’re done?”

“Then let’s go.”

Esther gazed across the vineyard, where there was still much left to harvest.

Then, carrying her full basket, she went to the building inside the vineyard. It was noisy inside.

Through the windows, she could see people washing grapes.

“It’s not just a vineyard? It’s a brewery?”

“Yes. I bought it recently.”

Should she gift it to the wine-loving emperor? As Esther had this thought, she passed her harvest basket to the elderly gentleman.

“Thank you for your hard work. Wine will be made from these grapes. You can write down the name of your wine here.”

Esther, who took the paper and pen, was puzzled.

“I even have to decide on a name? How are you naming your wine?”

“As I wish? How about ‘Esnoa’, named after you and me?”

“…Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. I will make wine every year from now on. In our name.”

“……?”

“I want to celebrate every year. Let them age for a long time, and later, when our child is old enough to drink, let’s take out this year’s wine and drink it together.”

“What?”

Esther instinctively responded, taken aback by the words ‘our child’.

But Noah was so serious that she couldn’t argue.

“Is it really going to be Esnoa?”

“If you prefer something else, we can use that. A love that will never change, a single destiny, something like that…”

“Esnoa is nice.”

So she wrote ‘Esnoa’ and the current year on a piece of paper and handed it to the elderly gentleman.

“I will make it with care.”

After a tour around the brewery, Esther and Noah walked on a forest path behind the building.

Victor, Dorothy, and Noah’s aide, who had arrived during the grape harvest, waved.

Halfway through the blissful walk, Esther was delighted to find a large lake in the open view.

“There is a lake here? It’s pretty.”

She admired the splendid view of the tall mountains behind it.

“There’s a boat over there.”

“Let’s get closer.”

Letting go of Noah’s hand, Esther approached the boat and muttered,

“What’s all this?”

The boat was full of flowers, except for the seats to sit on.

Yellow, red, pink, blue… She couldn’t help but be surprised to see the colorful tulips.

“Shall we ride for a while?”

“Did you prepare this in advance?”

Instead of answering, Noah smiled and held out his hand to Esther.

Taking his hand, Esther was escorted aboard the boat.

When Noah got into the boat, the boatman started rowing.

“It smells so good.”

Surrounded by her favorite flowers, Esther was happy and smiled brilliantly.

In contrast, Noah was nervous. He hesitantly took out the violin he had covered with a cloth.

“I will play a song.”

“Did you learn to play the violin?”

“And got blisters on my hands.”

Noah started playing, and Esther could see his fingers were really full of calluses.

It was not perfect, but it was a performance that felt very sincere, as much as it was clumsy.

Esther gazed at Noah, pleased as he meticulously created each note just for her.

“The title of the song is <A promise that will not change>.”

“I’m surprised, you did so well.”

As soon as the performance was over, Esther gave Noah a round of applause.

“Now look behind you.”

“Behind? Ah.”

As the sun began to set, the sky turned pink.

With the pink sky added to the already beautiful scenery, her heart swelled.

“It’s really pretty. I think I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

“Esther.”

When Esther turned her head again at the soft call, Noah was on one knee, holding out a ring case.

“Will you marry me?”

This was a moment that she imagined many times, hoping it would come someday.

However, Esther’s eyes grew warm when she saw Noah, who made the moment even more romantic than everything she had ever imagined.

Ame: How many years do I have to wait to see this drawn out and coloured? ^^;