A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 10: More Than Friends (V)

Side Story 10: More Than Friends (V)

Esther apologized to Noah as she tidied up her messy hair.

“Sorry. They must have come to pick me up.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Actually, Noah felt like he was going to die from regret, but he pretended nothing was wrong and responded enthusiastically.

“Instead, please consider my confession seriously and give me an answer.”

“Okay.”

“If you ask me to wait, I will wait forever.”

The moment they finished their conversation, Judy and Dennis appeared right next to them.

“Esther, we didn’t interfere, did we?”

Judy stayed close to Esther and glared openly at Noah.

Dennis didn’t say much, but he was wary of Noah all the same.

“It’s all right. We were just taking a walk. We were just about to go home.”

Fearing that the twins would go home and tattle to Deheen, Esther quickly shook her head.

“I’ll get going, Noah. See you again.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Judy and Dennis glared sharply as they passed Noah.

In an instant, the three disappeared under the hill and were out of sight.

Noah, who was left alone, struggled with regret and scratched his head.

“As expected, it’s too much to expect to hear an answer at once. But there was a chance to kiss…”

Noah sighed deeply, touching the lips that almost connected with her forehead.

“But… I know her ring size.”

It was a small consolation.

With great care, Noah put the flower ring into his handkerchief and took care of it.

“Next time, I’ll confess with the ring.”

Still, the fact that Esther’s reaction to today’s confession was not bad gave Noah confidence.

???

Esther sighed and asked a little sullenly as she and the twins boarded the carriage to go home.

“Why are you guys here?”

“We came because we wanted to see you. Did you not like us coming?”

“You wanted to be with the crown prince more? Did we interfere?”

Judy and Dennis looked apologetic, although their faces were saying ‘How could you ask such a question?’

Esther, who was weak to her brothers, was shaken and comforted them, saying that it was not so.

“No. I’m happy that you guys came, so I asked. It’s nice to be able to go back together.”

“Ah, it’s like that? I did wonder if we were pushed out of your priorities because of the crown prince.”

Judy muttered nonsense and gnashed his teeth as Noah was in front of him.

Esther coolly told Judy to not worry.

“Anyway, I came to pick you up because the test ended sooner than I thought.”

“What about Dennis?”

“It’s similar. I finished my research yesterday, and it’s near the temple. Since it’s the day you stop by the temple, I’m here to go back together.”

Even though they interrupted her time with Noah, the twins’ love for Esther was genuine.

“I wish you guys had come just five minutes later.”

Esther quickly covered her mouth with her hand when her thoughts slipped out.

“What did you just say?”

“It’s nothing.”

Letting out an awkward laugh, Esther pretended to pull back the curtains and look outside the carriage.

“But what were you talking about with the crown prince earlier?”

“The atmosphere between the two of you seemed good…”

That was why Judy and Dennis ran furiously at breakneck speed.

“Are you two dating?”

“No. Absolutely not!”

Esther replied loudly as her heart was suddenly stabbed.

“It’s the mood for a kiss. You don’t know how surprised this brother was…”

“Nonsense. Our Esther, she’s still young, but kissing already… I would faint if I saw that.”

Dennis and Judy took turns stealing Esther’s soul.

‘I’m young? I’ll be an adult soon.’

Esther’s eyes welled up with tears as she listened to their conversation.

In fact, the twins had known for a very long time that Noah liked Esther.

Since if it wasn’t for that, there wouldn’t be a need for the crown prince to treat them respectfully.

However, the twins had no intention of handing over their sister to anyone yet. Nobody deserved to have her in their eyes.

“Esther, we respect you. You can meet anyone, but I want you to show me first.”

“Yes?”

“Judy is hot-tempered, so show me first. I’ll check if he’s a good guy.”

Both Judy and Dennis were incredibly sincere.

Esther wanted to cry because she was worried about her future, for which she could not find an answer.

‘Will I be okay?’

It seemed that it would not be easy to date anyone.

Looking back on her life, she couldn’t imagine how much her dad and older brothers would overreact if they found out.

“Let’s go and eat together as a family. It’s been a while.”

“Good.”

Although she was actively responding to the twins’ words, Esther’s mind was filled with thoughts of Noah.

She still felt like she was paused at the moment she heard his confession.

‘I like Noah too.’

As soon as she heard his words, she knew.

She couldn’t imagine having anyone other than Noah by her side.

It was the same.

When she thought of someone other than herself by Noah’s side, anger boiled inside.

‘I’ll have to answer properly the next time we meet.’

In order to hide the smile that kept forming from her brothers, Esther kept her head down.

???

Two days later.

Esther finished dressing up early in the morning to attend the tea party Leo invited her to.

“Dorothy, aren’t you working too hard today?”

“I didn’t do anything. You look that way because you’re pretty.”

It was not a special occasion, but Esther was decorated dazzlingly with shiny hair ornaments, earrings, and necklace.

Ultimately, Esther kept the jewelry to a minimum, leaving only the earrings, and packed her clutch.

“This is enough. I will be back.”

“Have a good time with Lord Leo!”

Dorothy, who always tried to connect her with Noah, seemed to have moved to Leo recently.

Esther smiled and got into the carriage which headed for the marquisate.

“Why do I feel uncomfortable?”

She kept thinking that she was missing something, and she realized why.

“Right. I didn’t tell Noah about this tea party.”

She was going to talk about it when they met at the temple, but she forgot because the atmosphere got weird.

It bugged her to think of Noah being concerned about Leo, but she couldn’t help it now.

Anyway, Esther arrived at the marquisate’s territory where the tea time was to be held.

Arriving almost on time, carriages were already lined up at the gate of the mansion.

“There must be a lot of people. I go right after seeing Brother Leo’s face.”

Esther frowned. She was absolutely not a party person.

As she turned her head with a sigh, she caught sight of a familiar emblem.

“Is that the imperial family?”

There was one particularly noticeable carriage among the carriages, and it bore the imperial coat of arms.

Esther slowly approached the carriage, wondering who would come from the imperial family.

To her surprise, she was familiar with the person who was dozing off in the coachman’s seat.

“Palen?”

“Lady Esther, you’re finally here.”

“Is Noah inside?”

“Yes, you may enter if you wish.”

Esther opened the door of the carriage with a puzzled expression.

Similarly to Palen earlier, Noah was sleeping deeply, leaning against the window.

“Pa, Palen. Wake me up when Esther comes.”

Esther approached Noah, who was mumbling in his sleep, and hit him lightly on the forehead.

“What are you doing here?”

“E-Esther! When did you come?”

Noah was startled awake. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and ran his fingers through his messy hair.

“Just now. Why are you here? Did you come to Brother Leo’s tea party?”

“I came to see you. I saw the list and knew you’d be here.”

“How did you get that?”

Instead of answering, Noah stretched his body.

“You didn’t tell me about this… You want to play with Leo?”

“No. I was going to tell you the day before yesterday, but I forgot.”

“Okay. I… believe you. Haaaam.”

(TL/N: it’s a yawn… I tried T^T)

“Why do you look so tired?”

“I found out late yesterday that you will be here. I worked all night without sleep to be able to come here today.”

Esther put her hands on her waist when she heard Noah’s words, which was about how he refused to sleep and followed her because he didn’t like her being alone with Leo.

“Are you jealous of Leo?”

“Yes. I’m jealous. Very.”

Putting on the jacket he had taken off, Noah answered seriously.

“Please don’t get close to him in front of me.”

Esther was at a loss for words for a moment. Then her lips softly parted,

“…Then, did you get an invitation?”

“Why do I need an invitation? Have you forgotten who I am?”

Making his outfit perfect again, Noah grinned and held out his hand to Esther.

“Let’s go. I will escort you.”

???

Esther thought there would be a lot of people, but compared to Leo’s reputation, the number of people in attendance was not at all a lot.

Unbeknownst to her, Leo deliberately gave out invitations only to close friends.

Actually, today’s tea party was an excuse Leo made up because he wanted to get closer to Esther.

He was thinking of creating an opportunity to be alone with Esther.

“Is it time yet?”

Leo’s friends were enjoying the tea time, but Leo did not hang out with them. Instead, he stuck around the garden.

When Esther arrived, the servant he had ordered to keep an eye out for her immediately came running.

“The lady has arrived.”

“Is that so? I have to go get her.”

Leo’s face lit up and he strode towards the front door.

“But, but…”

The servant, who still had something to say, hesitated as he followed Leo.

“The lady said she brought a friend.”

“Is it the friend she spoke of last time…”

The word ‘friend’ suddenly reminded him of the conversation they had last time in the drawing room.

“She said it’s a guy.”

Feeling somewhat uneasy, Leo started guessing who might be the friend Esther brought.

Just as they arrived at the door, Esther came in, spotted Leo, and slightly lifted her dress.

“Brother Leo, thank you for inviting me.”

“Thank you for coming. That dress suits you well. Very pretty.”

“Brother looks good too.”

Leo had fallen in love with Esther the moment he first saw her.

He smiled gently and held out his hand to Esther.

“Shall we go in?”

“Actually, a friend came with me. Is it okay if I go in with him?”

“Of course. If it’s your friend, it’s also my friend. Please feel free to come in.”

As soon as Leo finished speaking, Noah, who was standing behind the wall, walked out.

“I’m afraid it might be rude since I wasn’t invited.”

“…Your Highness? Esther’s friend… is the crown prince?”

There was no way that Leo, who belonged to the imperial knights, would not recognize Noah.

Leo was shocked to learn that the person Esther had brought was the crown prince.

Ame: WAIT A MINUTE- BWAHAHAHAHA! Author, why you gotta make Noah walk out from behind a wall?! makes me think of slenderman As if the servants hadn’t seen him already?

AND HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY TO BLUEBELLS!!!!! Special updates for this will be delivered… starting today! Please check the announcement(s) hehe