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

Chapters 41-45

Episode 41: Fresh Discoveries (I)

"Father!"

Esther flusteredly addressed Deheen as 'father'. It was a change that she worked to keep up after making up her mind to change her unfortunate fate.

In addition, before he knew it, Deheen had already become accustomed to Esther calling him as such.

"You've arrived. The dress suits you very well."

The corners of Deheen's lips raised as he witnessed the sight of Esther in her new attire. It was a pleasure to buy her new clothing, although everything seemed to look good on Esther no matter how many she tried on.

Deheen accompanied Esther to the carriage.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

After he previously brought up the outing, Deheen kept where they would be heading a secret. Esther's curiosity grew even more as the carriage proceeded.

Fortunately, their destination was within the territory of Tersia, so the ride didn't take long.

"Your Grace, this is the mountains."

"It seems worse than I imagined."

Esther gazed at the peaks.

The sign placed before the entrance stated 'No Entry.' She couldn't figure out why he brought her here when there was no road yet.

"Esther, we're going to climb this mountain from here on."

Deheen gazed at Esther, his expression grave. Then, he turned his back indifferently.

"Will you be able to climb it?"

"Yes? Why?"

"It's a rough mountain path, so it'll be dangerous."

Deheen was worried Esther would grow tired. The only reason he brought her here was to show her his surprise. It wasn't his intention to make her walk along such a rough mountain path.

"Your Grace, I will lift the lady on my back."

"Yes, I also offer to do so!"

The escort knights hurriedly stepped forward to stop Deheen when he offered to carry Esther himself. After all, he was Deheen, the grand duke.

"Get back. I will carry her."

However, all their efforts were pathetically obstructed by Deheen's deadly glare.

Alas, Deheen also wouldn't be carrying Esther on his back.

"I can walk."

That was because Esther asserted that she would walk by herself. She chuckled and replied it wasn't that big of a deal.

Deheen stood beside Esther and sighed.

"All right, but if you're having a hard time, you have to tell me."

"Yes."

That was how the outing began. Esther worked to balance herself and stepped on the many rough stones to keep up with Deheen's pace. However, his quick steps were simply too swift to follow. The difference was too vast in the first place.

"Hah, haaah."

Esther eventually called Deheen after the distance between the two widened considerably.

"Father!"

Deheen turned around in surprise. After he witnessed Esther, who was much far behind, he immediately stepped towards her.