|| ᴀ ꜱᴀɪɴᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀᴅᴏᴘᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴜᴋᴇ || ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ||

Chapters 21-25

Episode 21: Outing (I)

The next morning,

Esther opened her eyes, struggling with the stuffy humidity.

"Ung."

Somehow, when she lowered her head to catch a glimpse of her stomach, Judy's legs were sticking right above.

"Brother?"

Esther dumbfoundedly moved Judy's leg. Surprisingly, his thigh was effortlessly tossed and his body twisted to the other side.

Nevertheless, her bewilderness had not yet been resolved. Something was wrong. It was only then that she realized her left hand was locked in a much bigger one.

"Grand Duke?"

Deheen was asleep on the chair. Although he was in a very uncomfortable position, it seemed he held onto her hand throughout the night.

Deheen's face was like a statue constructed by a craftsman.

'Wow.'

Esther admired Deheen as she stared his way. Such an appearance of the grand duke seemed much gentler than usual.

When Esther finally came to her senses, she stealthily moved her left hand.

She tried to sneak it out, but as soon as she budged, Deheen's eyes sprang open.

"Ah, did you wake up?"

His eyes were so clear, she wondered if he were the same person who had been dozing off until now.

Esther bowed her head after remembering what had happened last night, recalling how absurd it must have been.

"I'm sorry, because of me..."

"At times like this, you shouldn't apologize. Instead, say thank you."

Deheen spoke casually and patted Esther on the head as if nothing happened.

Esther's posture was uncomfortable all night, so when she stretched, several cracking sounds could be heard from her shoulders.

"Judy, wake up and walk to your room."

Deheen shook Judy's shoulders to wake him up. The boy was fast asleep.

"Ugh. Leave me alone. I'm going to sleep more!"

Nevertheless, Judy only whined and covered his ears with a pillow. He didn't intend to head back to his room.

"If you don't wake up, I'll hold you upside down..."

"Grand duke, it's all right. He couldn't sleep because of me, so I want to let him rest more."

Deheen was really going to hang Judy upside down and wake him up, but looking at Esther's face, he decided to hold himself from doing so.

"All right. It's still early, so get some rest and come down for breakfast."

"Yes, thank you."

Esther nodded.

She bowed, her heart filled with so much sincerity that her head scarcely touched the ground. Deheen raised her head once more and left the room.

'I think it stopped raining.'

Esther trotted to the window. The curtain was drawn wide open and the morning sunshine poured through the room.

As she watched the brightened outside world, she remembered what Deheen had said last night.

The very words that darkness was nowhere near where the light had driven it out.

"Is it true?"

Until now, she had never escaped the darkness. It was always darkness following darkness. Despair was only beginning again.