A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 19: Debutante (II)

Well, Noah had been watching Esther since much earlier, but it was all in his dreams.

“No, you are wrong.”

But Esther, knowing something else, pulled her hand away from Noah’s, got up and walked forward.

She stopped among the blooming flowers in the pouring bright light.

A wind full of refreshing energy swayed through her hair.

Esther looked back at Noah, and slowly, spoke with a beautiful smile that took his breath away.

“We met before that.”

“Before? When?”

Noah, who remembered everything about Esther, was perplexed and frantically searched through his memory.

However, no matter how much he thought back, it was impossible for Noah in the imperial palace and Esther in the temple to have any contact.

“I can’t think of a time.”

“Really. Think carefully.”

“Okay. Any hints? If we really did, I’ll remember it.”

With her hands behind her back, Esther slowly approached the pouting Noah.

“When did you first know my name? In my previous lives, I was always called by a different name.”

“Yes, you’re called Esther in my dreams… hmm? No. Wait a moment.”

Confused, Noah jumped up and started pacing around the mat.

“I saw that you’re called Esther, but I knew your name before that.”

Why? How could it be?

Noah, who was muttering to himself with a serious expression, thought of something and stopped.

“Esther, maybe…!”

“Maybe…?”

The voice that asked the same question was mixed with laughter.

“Like I said before, I’ve been dreaming about you every day since I came to sanctuary. So, of course, what I saw until you came to draw was a dream…”

Goosebumps grew on Noah’s arms as he recalled a very old memory.

“But… the day you told me your name wasn’t a dream, was it?”

Esther grinned and nodded instead of answering, and Noah’s mouth fell open, his face stiff in disbelief.

“How is that possible? When you first came to draw, you didn’t know me.”

“Remember what happened at the temple four years ago?”

“Yes. I will never forget that day.”

“At that time, on the way back from meeting Espitos, I saw countless passages of time. You were in it.”

Esther calmly continued explaining.

“To be exact, the young you before we met. It looked like it hadn’t been long since you were kicked out of the imperial palace.”

The Noah she saw had scarred eyes, and hated the world. Very much like her past self.

After seeing Noah that day, she came to understand him much more deeply.

“You weren’t surprised when you saw me appearing out of nowhere. Instead, you asked if I was an assassin. You even told me to kill you quickly.”

“…There was no reason to live then. Because it was before I knew you.”

Noah smiled bitterly as he recalled his childhood.

Before Esther appeared, Noah was waiting for death without any hope or desire.

“You told me not to die. Didn’t you say that if I endured it, things would change?”

“Do you remember that?”

“Those words were repeated countless times. Thanks to that, I was able to endure it. You saved me, Esther. Thank you.”

An inexplicable feeling filled the hearts of Esther and Noah.

Just by looking at each other, they could tell they shared the same feelings. No words were necessary.

“But if it’s like this, the first meeting will be a different memory for us.”

Esther and Noah burst into small laughter; it was unknown who started it.

Noah pulled Esther into a hug.

“As expected, we are meant to be.”

“…I agree now.”

As if in response to their overwhelming emotions, nearby flowers bloomed even more and gave off a strong scent.

In the landscape of the sanctuary, which was as pretty as a picture, Esther and Noah embraced affectionately.

After a while…

Breaking the hug, Noah bent his knees and plucked a flower beside the mat.

“Esther, sit here.”

Esther tilted her head as she saw him fiddling with the flower diligently with his big hands.

“Are you making a flower ring again?”

“Yes.”

Since it was the second time, the flower ring was more delicately woven than the previous.

Noah smiled and pulled Esther’s hand forward.

“Close your eyes for a second.”

“You want to take it from me like last time?”

“I won’t do that this time.”

Esther stared at Noah, squinting to figure out what the plan was.

Then she sighed and closed her eyes, muttering she would only be fooled one more time.

Only then did Noah smile and take out a jewelry box from his coat pocket.

“Why is it taking so long?”

“I will put it on now. Keep your eyes closed.”

As Noah urged, Esther’s thick eyelashes quivered beneath her closed eyes.

However… Noah succumbed to temptation. He hid the jewelry box behind him, swiftly narrowed the distance and kissed Esther on the lips.

Chu.

Esther opened her eyes in surprise when something soft touched her lips.

Then Noah kissed her one more time and quickly stepped back.

“Noah!”

Instantly, Esther’s face turned red and she shouted with a sullen face.

“Since our faces got closer, I did it without realizing it. Sorry.”

Sincerity couldn’t be felt in the eyes of Noah when he apologized. Plus, his smile was wider than ever.

“Close your eyes again.”

“Then I will go home.”

“It’s for real this time.”

Noah reached out and placed a hand over Esther’s eyes, telling her to close her eyes quickly.

Then he took out the jewelry box he had hidden behind his back and opened the lid.

The jewelry box contained a pair of rings that had been crafted by an artisan, emitting a brilliant light.

One was studded with a large diamond, and the other was decorated with simple patterns instead of jewels.

Noah took out the diamond-encrusted ring and put it on Esther’s finger.

“Huh?”

Esther tilted her head and opened her eyes when she felt cold metal rather than the soft texture of the flower ring.

And when she caught sight of the ring on her finger, her eyes turned wide like a surprised rabbit’s.

“What’s this?”

“A diamond ring.”

“I’m not asking because I don’t know. Why is it this ring?”

“It’s a couple ring. This is mine.”

Noah replied brazenly, holding out the jewelry box to Esther with an expression begging for her praise.

“Aren’t you going to put it in?”

He looked at her so eagerly that she couldn’t say no.

“…Okay.”

Aren’t we already in a relationship? Esther wondered if the ring was a big deal.

Anyway, she was happy to share couple rings, and a smile spread across her face.

“Come on.”

The ring slipped into Noah’s fourth finger, fitting it well.

Noah couldn’t hide his joy as he looked at Esther’s hand and his own.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

“Yes. The ring is so pretty, it just looks like a wedding ring.”

The size of the jewel and the quality of craftsmanship, which she couldn’t tell how many times the surface was cut and polished, was quite excessive for a simple couple ring.

“Then let’s make it an engagement ring.”

“What?”

“It’s a promise that you will marry me. If someone approaches you, show them the ring.”

When Noah sneaked in the topic of marriage, Esther pretended to remove the ring.

“I’ll take it off.”

“That’s too much. Do you really hate the idea of marrying me?”

Hurt was evident on Noah’s face, which darkened in an instant.

“No, it’s too early to talk about marriage. It’s not that I don’t…”

“So, you mean you do?”

Noah cut off Esther’s hasty, embarrassed excuses.

Esther stared at the smiling Noah with a smile. Then she rolled her eyes, amazed at the fact that the expression on his face a moment ago was just an act.

“Then I can wait forever.”

Noah’s gaze grew serious as he slowly lifted Esther’s hand.

Lowering his head, he kissed her fourth finger, which was wearing the ring.

“Ah…”

Startled, Esther bit her lips and let out a small gasp.

As Noah’s lips touched her hand and she felt his breath, her toes ached and her heart raced.

When she tried to remove her hand, he held on tightly to prevent her from escaping.

She moistened her dry lower lip with her tongue, and his black eyes drew closer little by little.

And the moment she felt all the noise around her disappear, his lips touched hers.

Her trembling eyes soon disappeared, covered by her eyelids.

Warm breath passed between their tightly joined lips for a brief moment.

A few minutes later…

Shyly, Esther lifted her head, then looked down at the ring and spoke in a clear voice.

“I used to think this way all the time. That the happiness I have will soon be ruined.”

“You were anxious.”

Noah held Esther’s hand, understanding her feelings.

“Yes. I thought there’s no way this kind of happiness will come to me. I was afraid of how much more misfortune they would bring.”

‘I’d rather not know if I didn’t know.’

There was no greater loss than to lose happiness after tasting it.

The happier she became, the more she feared that happiness would be taken away from her every day.

“How about now?”

“I realized what a stupid thought that was. Rather than worrying about the future that has yet to come, I want to be grateful for being able to feel this kind of happiness in its time and cherish these moments more.”

“That’s right. What is certain is the moment we are together.”

Noah, who had been looking down at Esther, suddenly stretched out his hand and pulled her between his legs.

“You, again…!”

“I have no other intentions. I just want to hug you as close as possible.”

Esther, who was taken aback at first, realized that her current posture was more comfortable than she thought and relaxed her body.

As she leaned her face against Noah’s chest, she could hear the sound of his breaths and heart beating fast.

“You’ve worked hard, Esther.”

Noah put his chin on top of Esther’s head, and slowly patted her back.

★★★

Three months later…

“Dorothy, how do I look? Do you think it’s okay?”

Esther asked in an excited voice, having changed into her dress after finishing all the decorations.

“Needless to say, it’s the best. You look so perfect.”

“It was an excellent choice to choose a red dress. From today, the modifier of the empire’s most beautiful woman will be occupied by you.”

Dorothy and the other maids who helped her dress up took turns to express admiration.

Although there was a little exaggeration, Esther, who was carefully dressed for her debut, was truly very beautiful.

Ame: Where is Victor? I was anticipating a Dorothy x Victor love line ><