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

Chapters 86-90

Episode 86: Setting the Stage (V)

The second part of the banquet began after Esther's meeting Noah.

As promised, Esther danced with Sebastian. It wasn't a solo performance, so there existed no tension throughout the song.

In fact, Esther had no memory of the dance.

Her head was only filled with thoughts of Noah throughout the whole time.

When she regained her senses, the music had already ceased and the dance ended.

Sebastian turned to Esther timidly and spoke to her.

"Thank you for dancing with me. It was so much fun."

"I had fun too. Happy birthday, Sebastian."

Esther finished her response, recalling once more the vast changes Sebastian had gone through.

When she first met him, she would never have thought that they would spend time together like this.

However, Sebastian admitted his faults and changed in a positive way, so he was no longer that same hateful child.

"Next time..."

Sebastian hesitated as he shyly attempted to convey his following words that were soon cut off mercilessly.

This was because Esther had long turned around and returned to her seat. His voice helplessly scattered like particles in the air.

"Oh no! Is Esther not interested in you at all? Just give up already."

Judy comforted the despairing Sebastian by stroking his shoulder in a motherly way. He was dying from laughter.

"Great job, Esther. You're no longer nervous when dancing."

Dennis lavished praise on Esther as she reached their table.

However, Esther only slumped into a chair, unaware of Dennis speaking to her.

"Esther?"

Dennis called one more time. It was only then that she raised her head in response.

"You've been strange since before. Did something happen? Your face is also red."

"What could have happened? I'm just a bit tired today."

Esther smiled and assured him that she was fine.

Meanwhile, Noah did not leave her mind. Noah was all that filled her thoughts since they met.

She searched for Noah in case he was still at the banquet, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Esther continued looking around when she collided with Madam Rose, Sebastian's mother.

"Are you in need of anything? I will have it brought to you."

"Hello, Duchess. No, it's not like that. The food is delicious and everything is well-served."

"Really? That's a relief. You don't know how grateful I am for you to be Sebastian's partner. It makes me happy to see you two get along well."

Rose's eyes overflowed with affection as she looked down at Esther.

She noticed that Sebastian had a crush on Esther, but she herself was quite grateful for the young lady to have helped her child.

"Will you visit for dinner soon? I'll prepare something even more appetizing for you."

"Thank you."

Even after addressing Madam Rose, Esther wasn't able to concentrate properly.