A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 20: Debutante (III)

“I think everyone is becoming more and more like Dad.”

While Esther was embarrassed by the continued praise, a loud knock sounded.

“Esther! I heard you’ve put on your dress?”

“Can we go in now?”

Before she could answer anything, the door swung open.

Deheen, Judy, and Dennis lined up by the slight gap, their heads poking in.

“Yes. Come on in.”

As Esther beckoned them to come in, smiled at the three pairs of expectant eyes.

“How is it?”

Swish—

Esther spun around in place. The hem, embroidered with several layers of thin fabric, swayed lightly.

Thrilled by the sight, Deheen stopped in his steps and clapped loudly.

“You’re very pretty.”

In the meantime, Judy and Dennis, who took the spots next to Esther, grinned and gave thumbs up.

“You’re always pretty, but today you look like a goddess.”

“What if all the guys who came to the debutante fall in love with Esther and chase after her? Oh, thinking about it is already giving me a headache.”

Esther’s chest became warm; her family members always praised her undeservedly.

“By the way, Dennis, can you believe it? Our little sister is already making her debut.”

“I can’t believe it either. Maybe that’s why I’m more nervous than during my own debut. I feel like I’m hanging by the water’s edge, I’m not at ease.”

The twins expressed their worry and listed the things to be careful about in the debutante—mainly men’s approach.

Esther, who had been listening intently, averted her gaze, thinking Deheen was too quiet.

“Dad?”

“Yes.”

Deheen was caught up by the sentiment of seeing Esther who had grown up.

In order to hide his reddened eyes, he pretended to be looking at the ceiling for no reason and quickly glanced via the corner of his eyes.

Then, after clearing his throat, he pretended nothing was wrong and carefully stroked Esther’s head.

The small child who cried, asking to be killed with empty eyes, and engulfed in the deep, endless darkness.

The shadow of that time could not be found in the current Esther.

The eyes staring at him were shining brighter than the stars, and she was lovelier than anything else in the world.

“Thank you for growing up well.”

Those words were said with a lot of emotion.

In the end, tears welled up in the eyes of Esther, who had been suppressing her emotions.

“Dad, do you remember the day I first came home?”

Esther murmured softly as she stretched out her arms to hold Deheen around his waist.

His arms and chest were wide, making her want to be a child forever.

“Of course. I remember every moment with you.”

“I don’t know when my birthday is, but you said I could have my favorite day as my birthday…”

“You said that you don’t have a favorite day and that the day you came to this house is your birthday.”

“That’s right. Then Dad asked me to say it if there was a day I wanted to remember later.”

Esther still vividly remembered the conversation that day.

“Let’s postpone setting a birthday a little longer. If there comes a day you want to remember even more than today, will you tell me then?”

“Will that day ever come?”

“Definitely. From now on, I will fill every day with a day like that.”

“I didn’t believe it then. I thought that there would be no such thing as a day that I would like to remember.”

Esther lifted her head, still hugging Deheen.

“But it was just like Dad said. Since I came here, every day has been a day I want to remember.”

If she set her birthday as the day she wants to remember, every day has been a birthday since she met her family.

“Thank you for holding my hand and being my family.”

Esther wanted to express that it was all thanks to her father that she was able to grow up so well.

Deheen stroked Esther’s head with a very touched expression.

“There are still many things I haven’t done. Don’t grow up too soon.”

“But I’m an adult now. Aren’t I an adult recognized by imperial law?”

With widened eyes, Esther asserted her rights in a voice mixed with laughter.

“No matter how old you are, in my eyes, you and your brothers all look like children. Especially your brothers. Look at that. What are they up to?”

Deheen clicked his tongue at the twins, who were constantly fidgeting on either side.

“Are you going to keep hugging Father? Just Father?”

“We have arms too.”

Judy and Dennis reached out an arm to Esther, their other arm hitting each other.

“In my eyes, they look like the most wonderful older brothers in the world.”

Esther grinned and held the twins’ arms at the same time.

“The best in the world?”

“…Good judgment.”

Hugging Esther, the corners of the twin’s lips were practically pulled to their ears.

With Deheen joining in the embrace, it became a family hug.

“Before Esther came, I couldn’t have imagined anything like this. We have changed a lot too.”

Dennis muttered in a tone of amazement.

It was a desolate family with no expression of affection, but it changed after Esther came.

It wasn’t just Esther’s world that had changed. Deheen’s, Judy’s, and Dennis’ worlds had changed as well.

It started with an immature Judy’s wish, but that triviality made it inevitable and became destiny.

“Heuk…”

“Esther, are you crying?”

“Are you sad?”

The twins made a fuss when Esther sniffed.

“No. It’s good. I don’t know why I’m crying when I’m happy.”

Deheen wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks with his sleeve.

“It’s bitter to cry on a good day.”

Delbert, who was watching this scene from behind, swallowed his tears, but suddenly hiccupped.

“Eup. Eup!”

Ben, who was next to him, hurriedly covered Delbert’s mouth, but he also made noise, just that it was in the form of swallowing a tearful cry.

They were just moved, because they had watched every moment from the day Esther came to this house.

“Lady Esther, I sincerely congratulate you on your coming-of-age.”

“I wish you well in the future.”

It wasn’t just Ben and Delbert. Everyone in the mansion congratulated Esther for her coming-of-age.

★★★

It was customary for every citizen of the empire who turned 18 to participate in a debutante.

Every year, the debutante would be held on the date announced by the empire.

There are many different ways to perform a debut, but the most popular one was the debutante held every year at the imperial palace.

Thanks to this, the Blue Sapphire Hall, the largest hall among the many imperial banquet halls, was busy in preparations.

“Your Majesty, everything is ready. When the time comes, we will move the food to the tables over there.”

The man in charge of the general affairs informed the empress of the progress when she stopped by the hall.

“It’s flawlessly perfect. You will have to work hard until today’s debutante ends safely. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

After looking around the hall, the empress exited with a satisfied smile.

Her next destination was Noah’s room, where he was busy preparing for the party.

In Noah’s room, which was full of assisting maids, the princess, Reina, was also there.

“Isn’t it better to push your bangs back? Listen to me.”

“It’s awkward because I haven’t done it before. I’ll just do it as usual.”

Reina and Noah were in the middle of a scuffle. The former wanted the hair to be styled neatly, while the latter insisted he didn’t like it.

“Mother, you’re just in time. Please take a look at this. Wouldn’t it be much better for his hair to be gelled back?”

“Any kind of hair suits him. Let him do as he pleases.”

The empress stared at Noah with a strange expression that seemed to be neither smiling or crying.

“Mother, why are you like that?”

“…When it was diagnosed that you wouldn’t live for more than a few years, I never imagined this day would come.”

The memory of sending Noah out of the palace brought tears to the empress’ eyes.

He had given up on everything at the time, but for him to reach adulthood in such a healthy state…

Feeling her heart swell, the empress captured Noah’s tall, strong figure in her eyes and realized again.

“It’s something to thank the goddess for. And of course, that child.”

The emperor, who had arrived at the entrance to the room before anyone of them knew it, joined the conversation.

He wrapped his arms warmly around the shoulders of the empress, who was constantly wiping away tears.

“I’m thinking of bringing up the topic of marriage when I meet the grand duke later.”

“Good idea. Now that the children are all grown-ups, it wouldn’t be strange to bring up the topic of marriage.”

When the conversation suddenly went in a strange direction, Noah stiffened, startled.

“No, please don’t. I have plans.”

“No matter how strong the grand duke is, he won’t be able to do anything if I push him.”

“Yes. Listen to your father. You guys like each other, what’s the problem?”

“It’s a problem. He is not the kind of person who would ever consent to something like that.”

Following the emperor and empress…

“Noah, don’t forget to introduce Esther to me later. I want to be close to her.”

Even Reina.

“Ha…”

Noah had to work hard to stop the interest his family was pouring into Esther.

★★★

The wheels of the carriage, which had been rolling gently, came to a halt once they reached their destination.

Esther calmed her pounding heart and opened the carriage door.

And not long after setting foot on the ground, a familiar shadow fell in front of Esther.

It was Noah, who had been waiting impatiently for Esther to come.

Noah ran to the carriage the moment he saw it, and he took out a brooch from his pocket.

“Congratulations on coming-of-age.”

It was a brooch in the shape of a red rose, which signified the coming-of-age. It was small, so it looked good even though her dress was red.

“Thank you. But…”

“I will do it.”

Esther didn’t even have time to stop Noah, who approached and fastened the brooch on her dress.

As he did so, Esther glanced behind him with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“It’s done. And Esther…”

“Yes?”

“You look prettier than usual today. Will you get angry if I kiss you before entering?”

With twinkling eyes, Noah tilted his head towards Esther.

Then Esther pushed Noah away, widening her mouth.

—Look behind you!

As soon as he read the words, Noah’s expression hardened and he looked behind Esther.

Deheen and the twins were watching them through the carriage window.

“…You came together.”

“Yes. We have a lot to talk about.”

Noah tensed as he watched Deheen approach.

“Aren’t you going in? It’s time for the ceremony to begin soon.”

Deheen’s cold gaze passed over Noah.

But Noah did not give in and stood closer to Esther.

“May I escort Esther in?”

“Even though I am there?”

“Because there are separate seats for family members. Today, I will take care of Esther.”

Deheen was very displeased with Noah, who dared to take Esther in front of him.

Even so, he didn’t hate his courageous and confident attitude. Tapping his chin, he thought,

‘Anyway, today’s main characters are Esther and Noah, who are making their debut.’

Knowing he had to watch from the family table, Deheen couldn’t help but nod his head.

“…I’m counting on you.”

“Thank you, Father!”

“What? Fa, Father??”

While Deheen was shocked by the unfamiliar title, Noah smiled and reached out to Esther.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

With Noah holding Esther’s hand, the one with the couple ring attached…

The two walked into the banquet hall, stepping on the red carpet.

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