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

Chapters 46-50

Episode 46: Fresh Discoveries (VI)

Deheen was very pleased with Esther's response. He picked her up, craving to cuddle her adorable figure.

"All right. Instead, I'll attach an escort knight alongside you."

"I can go there alone..."

"No. You can't risk a long journey unaided."

Deheen settled Esther down and pondered for a while, only to be found gesturing for the knight commander.

"Did you call for me, Your Grace?"

"How many people have been officially made knights after their coming-of-age ceremony this year?"

"There are about twenty."

"Bring all the men who are interested in becoming my daughter's escort. It's not a mandatory order."

"Yes, I understand!"

Before heading back to the rest of the knights, the knight commander held out his hand and approached Esther.

"This isn't a formal meeting, but it is a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

While Esther tried to hold the knight commander's extended hand, Deheen swiped the man's arm to the other side.

"Leave quickly."

"Yes!"

The commander was so petrified by Deheen's glaring eyes that he quickly ran to the others to avoid his line of sight.

After a short while, the number of knights brought back by the leader were... twenty out of twenty.

"I have brought them."

Esther faltered nervously as countless eyes gazed her way. She didn't think this many would offer to be her guard.

"Everyone seems to be here?"

"Yes... the truth is all of them wished to volunteer for Lady Esther... I never forced them here."

The commander chuckled.

He spoke nothing but the truth. Truly, no one was being forced to participate. As soon as he finished explaining, all twenty knights simultaneously applied.

Esther was undeniably charming, however, most of them wished to escort the duke's favored daughter in order to guarantee themselves a successful career.

"Choose one yourself."

Deheen gently placed his hand over Esther's shoulder as he chattered softly.

"Well, I mean..."

Esther, flustered, observed the knights one by one. They were each gazing at her desperately, pleading to be the chosen one.

'Oh, I don't know.'

Not able to make her decision, she quickly swept her head around and spotted someone who seemed to stand out from the rest.

There stood a charming blond man. His refreshing blue eyes seemed overly relaxed, unlike the rest of the strained knights.

Esther whispered quietly to Deheen as she silently admired his calm appearance.

"If I have to choose, then him."

"Do you mean Victor?"

Deheen's eyes narrowed as he studied the person Esther pointed towards.

Victor was a new rookie that placed particular effort into his training sessions. He earned excellent grades and presumably built a good reputation as a trainee.