A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 8: More Than Friends (III)

“It can’t go on like this. Lady Esther is beautiful and much loved by His Grace the Grand Duke. After her debut, she will definitely attract a lot of attention.”

“I felt it when I saw Leo a few days ago.”

Noah had a distressed expression, and he crumpled the blanket that was caught between his fingers.

“Before, it’s Sebastian, this time, it’s Leo, who else will appear next…”

Even if Esther wasn’t interested, he was nervous with the thought that if someone kept flirting with her, she could be shaken.

“I know that family is important to Esther, but is it okay to confess? It’s been six years already.”

“Sure it’s okay. Aren’t you trying to go for marriage?”

“Okay, I’ve made up my mind.”

Noah jumped up from his bed and shouted with a spirited voice.

“I will confess.”

Seeing Noah’s eyes twinkle, Andrew smiled contentedly, his mind at ease.

“I wish you success.”

“Thank you. Andrew, go to a famous workshop and find a craftsman.”

“You’re going to get matching rings already?”

Usually, giving a ring to a woman meant a proposal to marry.

Andrew was worried that Esther, who was not yet aware of her feelings, might feel burdened and run away.

“I promised something a long time ago.”

Of course, it was not a formal promise, but a joke he said when he went to collect diamonds with Esther.

“If she doesn’t want to accept it, I should pretend it’s a friendship ring.”

Excited to share a ring with Esther, Noah put his finger forward and twirled it… He was getting ahead of himself.

His particularly long, fair fingers were very pretty for a man.

“Do you know her ring size?”

“I’ll find out when I see her next time.”

“All right. Then I will find a craftsman with certain skill.”

Andrew showed as much determination as Noah. Right before he left, he pointed to the top of his desk, saying he had just remembered.

“Your Highness, those are the invitations and letters sent to you in the past week.”

Just like it was for Esther.

There were so many letters piled up on Noah’s desk that he couldn’t even count how many.

“I’ve been collecting them just in case you want to read them.”

“Are any of them sent by Esther?”

“No.”

“Then throw it all away. I’m not interested.”

All of them were invitations and letters sent by the esteemed sons and daughters of noble families, aiming to build friendship with Noah.

But Noah didn’t even look at it.

Naturally, Andrew swept the letters one by one with a face expressing he knew this would happen.

★★★

“Lady Esther, we have arrived.”

“Thank you, Victor.”

Victor, now Esther’s permanent escort, led her from the carriage.

Esther looked very fresh in a light green dress that went down to her calves.

Maybe that’s why the people who entered the temple glanced back at her.

Unintentionally attracting people’s attention, the flustered Esther passed through the entrance of the temple.

“There are many people today.”

“Now this place is called a holy place. Who would have known that day’s work would make the temple even more prosperous?”

“Haha, I know.”

Esther laughed at Victor’s words.

Four years ago…

A small pond appeared in the central temple, right where the crystal ball broke and caused a disturbance.

Back then, it could not be ascertained if divine power permeated there as well.

But gradually, as word spread, people from all over the empire came to make wishes and heal their illnesses.

“It’s a good thing though. Thanks to that, the temple has regained its reputation.”

“Yes. If there was not even a pond, the temple might have disappeared.”

After the fake saint and the epidemic incident were made known, the temple had to suffer from all sorts of criticism.

In particular, those who did not know what happened between Espitos and Esther even doubted the power of god.

However, since the barrier of Espitos was protecting the empire, the existence of the temple should not be cut off.

The imperial family knew this fact, so they did not close the temple and instead let it be managed in a different way than before.

“Now is the right time. A place where anyone can come and go, regardless of status. If it’s a real religion, this how it should be.”

“You’re right.”

Esther took a seat on a bench of a quiet side street, watching the people passing by with a bright smile on her face.

“When will Noah come?”

This bench was the promised meeting place.

But someone appeared from behind and casually sat next to Esther.

Turning her head, her eyes widened when she saw radiant blond hair.

“Khalid? Did you wait for me again?”

“I wanted to see your face. The day you come is fixed every month.”

Khalid, who stood as a witness at the public trial, was punished as well. He was completely stripped of his position as a paladin.

Now he was in charge of guiding the people who came to the temple, no different from an ordinary gatekeeper.

Actually, he could have gone out of the temple to start anew, but he refused to do so, saying he would atone.

“We don’t even have to see each other often. So why?”

Although Esther’s status was now higher, they have been talking to each other comfortably for about two years.

“Is Sharon back?”

“No. I heard she went north this time. She is going to visit all the temples there.”

“I see.”

The elders of the temple had changed drastically.

The elders who had helped Rabienne rise to the position of saint without verification lost their powers.

Sharon was the only exception.

It was because they needed someone who knew the temple’s internal circumstances and had the desire to lead it in the right direction.

Sharon slowly minced the inside of the temple, which was in disarray after the public trial, then left when a system was established.

Recently, there was only news that she was working hard to treat patients while touring all over the empire.

“But Esther, who are you waiting for?”

Khalid asked in a worried voice, noticing Esther kept looking around during the conversation.

“Umm… I was supposed to meet him… Oh, there he comes.”

Esther’s blank face changed dramatically halfway through the sentence.

Khalid sighed and frowned at that expression, which was so different from when she was with him.

“Your Highness has returned. When did you come?”

Like Esther, Khalid found Noah. He asked in a low tone.

“He came back last week. I should get going. Take care.”

“See you again.”

Khalid hurriedly said ‘see you again’, but he didn’t know if Esther, who had already walked away, heard it.

His eyes turned dim upon realizing that Esther didn’t pay any attention to him.

“You don’t even listen to me. But… It’s understandable…”

Left alone on the bench, the lonely Khalid muttered.

Khalid had a crush on Esther for a very long time, but he had no intention of confessing.

It was because Noah was always by Esther’s side, so there was no gap for him to dig in.

“It’s enough if you’re happy.”

Khalid smiled bitterly at Esther, whose gaze was clearly different when she was with Noah.

★★★

Swiftly, Esther ran to Noah and expressed her welcome.

“You’re a little late?”

“Sorry. Something suddenly happened in the Imperial Palace. Did you wait a long time?”

“Yes. About five minutes?”

As Esther responded playfully, Noah naturally played with her hair.

“Just now… it’s Khalid, right?”

“That’s right. We met by chance.”

Esther hurriedly covered it up, hoping Noah would not be bothered.

Noah generally got along well with everyone, but he often showed a sharp reaction to Khalid.

“It can’t be a coincidence that you guys meet each time you come. There are too many enemies here and there.”

Noah, who had been overwhelmed by the thought of Leo recently, slapped his forehead thinking that he had forgotten Khalid.

“What enemies… Let’s go see the crystal ball.”

When Noah’s expression turned sour, Esther took him by the arm and dragged him toward the old Saint Palace.

“So far, have you had any problems with the crystal ball?”

“Hmm… It stays the same.”

The crystal ball was well sealed in the basement of a newly built building.

As before, a basement was made and several layers of locks were placed to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.

Esther, of course, was the only one who had free access.

Taking a bundle of keys from her pouch, she unlocked the layers of locks, one by one.

Once that was done, she walked down the passage and opened the last door, revealing a crystal ball emitting blue light.

“Close the door. I’ll check and come back.”

Esther nodded at Noah and approached the crystal ball alone.

She was the only person who could touch the crystal ball.

Slowly, she put her palm on the crystal ball, and in an instant, she was enveloped in a blue light and a radiance spun around her.

‘It’s warm.’

Esther closed her eyes, feeling her body rejuvenated.

Every time she touched the crystal ball, she thought of Espitos, who hugged her.

After confirming there was no impure energy mixed, Esther removed her hand.

“This is enough.”

Esther returned to Noah. Strangely, he was staring at her, in a state of fascination without moving.

“Noah?”

He didn’t respond when she called his name.

Esther went up to Noah and shouted loudly into his ear.

“Noah! Wake up!”

“Oh! Sorry. Assimilated into the light, it looks like the goddess, so I didn’t realize…”

It was sincere.

When Noah saw Esther bathed in blue light, he felt various emotions that were difficult to describe.

“Stop talking nonsense and follow me. We can’t stay here for long.”

Esther felt somewhat embarrassed by Noah’s serious expression and words, and quickly turned the doorknob.

Unfortunately… the doorknob turned, but the door wouldn’t open.

“Huh? Why won’t it open?”

“Let me try.”

Noah, who was behind Esther, stretched out his hand towards the doorknob.

Esther flinched when Noah’s hand brushed the back of her hand, which was still holding the knob.

‘It’s too close…’

It was just the two of them in a dark room, bathed in the soft light of the crystal ball.

After momentarily realizing the situation, she felt like she could even hear Noah’s breathing in her ears.

That was, but of course. When Noah leaned in to open the door, he inadvertently pressed close behind Esther and the gap between them disappeared.

Esther swallowed dryly, realizing that she was in Noah’s arms.

‘What do we do?’

Directly above Esther was Noah’s face, her back was against his stomach, and their hands were somewhat connected.

Esther felt like she had to step aside, but her body was so stiff that she couldn’t move.

Ame:eheheheheh maybe I should’ve ignored the official arc title and go with “more than friends” cause that’s what it’s looking like to me! I DID lol it was originally just “friend”

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