A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 21: Debutante (IV)

★★★

“His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Esther of the Grand Duchy of Tersia will enter together!”

The imperial knight announced the entry of the two in a loud voice.

Then all eyes from all over the hall turned to the door.

“Oh my, His Highness the Crown Prince made a simultaneous entrance? Isn’t this the first time…?”

“It’s the first time ever. He has always stayed away from women…”

“The rumor that he has a special relationship with Lady Esther must be true.”

With his outstanding looks and the status as the crown prince, Noah was very popular among noble ladies.

However, no one could approach him because he always kept a certain distance and drew a line.

Now that Noah had officially brought a partner, it was only natural that they were jealous of that target.

“But they really suit each other.”

“Is it just my feeling, or are only the two of them sparkling as if the lights are surrounding them?”

Not only were many young ladies envious, there were also many young lords who were saddened to see Esther with someone.

“In the past, I couldn’t even approach her because of the twins, but now… this! It’s so unfair.”

“I saw her at a birthday party the other day and fell in love at first sight… Ha…”

While all attention was focused on the two, a few who had regained their senses started to move.

“I am the eldest son of the County of Whitney. Please remember me!”

“It’s such an honor to be able to debut together with you two.”

Everyone tried to somehow get in the eyes of Esther and Noah and put in a word.

“Tsk tsk, everyone seems to have no self-respect.”

“What’s the use of pride in front of a lady who receives a lot of affection from His Highness the Crown Prince and His Excellency the Grand Duke? I want to go too!”

“Let’s… let’s go together.”

Even the jealous people joined the crowd. Therefore, everyone’s attention continued to be focused on the two.

★★★

Esther whispered in a low tone, exhausted from the people constantly talking to her.

“I think my face would get a cramp from smiling too much.”

“Are you tired? We don’t have enough time to talk to each other… Shall I take care of this?”

“Is there any good way?”

“Yes. Trust me.”

After the whisper, Noah smiled meaningfully and raised his head.

With perked-up ears, he sorted out people’s questions.

“A big party is going to be held in my family’s mansion soon. I really want to invite you two.”

“Lady Esther, that dress is so pretty. Which dressing room do you go to?”

Listening to the meaningless chatter, Noah’s smile deepened.

“This is the first time both of you are here with a partner, are you two in a special relationship? You’re still holding hands…”

Noah turned to the person who asked this particular question and responded softly.

“What kind of relationship?”

Feeling strange, Esther hurriedly tried to let go of his hand.

But instead of being free, her hand was caught and squeezed tightly.

“I like her. A lot.”

Swoosh.

The atmosphere froze as shock spread across people’s faces, and the surroundings instantly fell silent.

Noah raised his hand as if to show off.

Naturally, people’s eyes turned to the interlocked hands, and their eyes widened when they saw the couple rings on their fingers.

“Kyaa, kyaaak!”

“Lady Esther, oh my gosh. I liked her a lot.”

The screams of many women spread, and many men grabbed the back of their necks.

A man who had been crushing on Esther for three years ran out of the hall in tears.

“So today, I want to enjoy the banquet as a couple. Please understand.”

Having finished his words, Noah resolutely walked forward with Esther.

As the bewildered crowd parted, a path naturally formed.

Esther and Noah, who managed to escape from the crowd after 30 minutes of entering the hall, moved to a corner.

“How is it? Isn’t it quiet? No one will disturb us now.”

“It’s not that they won’t, it’s that they can’t.”

Esther shook her head when she saw Noah speaking triumphantly, asking for praise.

“I’m thirsty, I’ve talked too much.”

About to pick up a cold drink, Esther’s hand paused.

“Does this contain alcohol?”

“Yes, since we’re adults starting today.”

Hearing that, Esther’s eyes lit up and she picked up a glass of beer.

“I’ve watched my brothers drink it, and I’ve been very curious about its taste. Now I can drink too!”

Esther was intensely stimulated by curiosity about the unknown she had never encountered.

However, just before the beer reached her lips, Noah freaked out and snatched the glass away.

“You better not drink here. My back has been burning since a while ago, it looks like the grand duke is staring at me.”

“Ugh.”

Esther groaned as she glanced at the family table.

Not only her father, but her brothers as well. They were staring at Noah with the momentum to jump out.

“…I want to feel better.”

With a disappointed heart, she picked up barley tea, which was the same color as the beer, and quenched her thirst.

Then…

The empress, who was in charge of the debutante, came on stage and gave a welcome message.

“Congratulations to all of you on reaching adulthood. I believe that all of you will brighten the future of our Austin empire.”

As the empress continued to speak, she scanned the audience, and her eyes lingered on Noah and Esther.

“Before the opening ceremony begins, I would like to ask the crown prince for a special dance to announce the start today.”

“Huh?”

Noah, who was playing with Esther, stood up in embarrassment when more gazes turned to them.

But he soon figured out the situation, and he reached out to Esther, bending his back slightly, his expression saying it was rather good.

“Would you like to dance with me?”

Esther, whose eyes had turned into a rabbit’s due to surprise, sighed.

“In front of all these people?”

“The people don’t matter, do they? We can finally have our first dance.”

First partner and first dance.

“…Sure.”

Knowing the meaning, Esther stood as well, holding Noah’s hand with a pounding heart.

The heat in the already hot hall increased in intensity, and thunderous applause erupted from everywhere.

Noah’s firm hand eased Esther’s tension as they walked to center stage.

The two of them stood in the middle of the stage where the chandelier light was the most splendid.

“After waiting for six years, this day has come.”

Esther smiled at Noah’s complaint.

As Noah gently wrapped an arm around Esther’s waist, notes from a violin began to resound.

The two danced as naturally as flowing water. Even though they had never practiced together, their breathing matched perfectly.

As the dance ripened, the empress officially declared that the debutante had begun.

Then all the other attendees came up to the stage and took their positions. Everywhere except for the center.

Partners did not discriminate between genders.

It was amazing to see men and women, or men and men and women and women pairing up and dancing naturally.

“This is the first time I feel like this. It seems to revolve around us.”

Esther’s emotions were running high in the heightened atmosphere.

“Do you know what I’m thinking?”

“Are you happy to be an adult?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I want to kiss you.”

The moment the distance between them got closer because of the dance…

Noah brushed Esther’s ear and whispered in a low tone.

Taken aback by the direct words, Esther stumbled as her feet twisted.

“You’re crazy?”

“I’m crazy about you.”

Noah’s hands were tightly pressed to Esther’s waist, steadying her and preventing her from falling.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do it here. Congratulations on coming-of-age, Esther.”

“You too.”

Esther, who felt her heart skip a beat from nervousness, relaxed her body and smiled.

Then she looked up and took in the chandelier that boasted splendid majesty.

Receiving congratulations from many people, this moment under the bright light felt like a distant dream.

“…I think I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

“I’m glad I’m with you at that moment.”

Esther and Noah’s intertwined gaze revealed their deep affection for each other. They couldn’t hide it.

The orchestra’s performance soon ended.

Esther and Noah, who were absorbed in the dance, exchanged greetings after making a finishing pose.

And as she was about to leave the stage, Noah gently grabbed Esther by the wrist and turned her towards him.

“Why?”

“A step is missing.”

Noah went down on one knee and kissed the back of Esther’s hand softly, like a knight swearing an oath.

In the case of dancing as a representative, it was an act often performed by partners.

However, since it was the crown prince, a commotion broke out.

“Did you plan this?”

“Well. It’s not an opportunity that comes often. No one will be able to get between us now, right?”

Noah smiled, greeted Esther again, and got up.

It was clear that after today’s debutante, there would be no one across the empire who didn’t know that Crown Prince Noah and Lady Esther Tersia were dating.

Flushed with happiness and embarrassment, Esther went down the stage with Noah. Then she stopped suddenly and rubbed her eyes.

“Wait. Are my eyes malfunctioning? Why is Dad and His Majesty together?”

Surprisingly, Deheen and the emperor were sitting side by side at the family table.

“…My eyes are seeing the same thing.”

Noah recalled the conversation he had with his family during the day and prayed that his father would not mess with his work.

★★★

While Noah and Esther danced, the people surrounding Deheen slipped away.

“It’s a dance, but it’s too close.”

When the pissed-off Deheen clenched his hand, the peanuts he had forgotten to snack on turned into powder.

“Who wants to be your father?”

The voice of Noah who called him father in front of the hall lingered in his ears, and his anger reached its peak.

While everyone was busy avoiding him, someone leisurely walked over and sat next to him.

“No need…”

When that someone offered him a wine glass, Deheen turned coldly to refuse.

But upon seeing an unexpected person, his eyes widened in surprise.

“…Since when did Your Majesty start attending the debutante?”

“I don’t think it’s any different than the Grand Duke. Would you like to have a drink together?”

With a gentle smile, the emperor handed Deheen a glass.

Then, he opened and poured the wine he brought himself.

“This is a wine from the Purtichon region that has been aged for 200 years. I prepared it specially. I hope it suits your taste.”

The glasses were quickly filled, accompanied by a clear sound.

“It’s burdensome that you prepared it specially, but I’ll drink it well.”

“The first cup is meant to celebrate the coming-of-age of our children.”

The emperor refilled the empty glass at once and savored the scent of the wine that emanated after shaking it lightly.

“Grand Duke, you can’t take your eyes off the stage.”

“It’s my daughter’s stage.”

There was something thorny in Deheen’s voice, which was colder than usual.

Deheen was now instinctively wary of the emperor’s approach.

However, the emperor did not care at all, and he discreetly revealed the purpose of approaching with wine prepared.

“Looking at the stage, I thought, don’t the two of them look really good together?”

Ame: Noah be like, “Chill, Father. I got this!” while the emperor be like, “SPEED!” xD and I don’t get it, why beer instead of champagne?