Chapter 8 (1/2)

Chapter 8

“You don’t have to be so polite. From now on, I’m…… No. There is no need to rush.”

DeHeen, who was trying to make her call him father, swallowed his word. Not only he’s not used to it yet, but he also doesn’t want to force Esther to do anything. They both needed time to accept each other.

“Make yourself comfortable. “

DeHeen doesn’t know how to talk to her because he only had sons. Children at her age were especially scared of him. He thought it would be better to just leave her alone.

Esther, who couldn’t be comfortable even when she was asked to, bowed her head because she had nowhere to look at.

‘Esther……’

She even received a new name, but it still doesn’t seem real to her yet. Even if DeHeen was kind to Esther, she can’t easily trust him as he is still not trustworthy. The things that Esther went through were too harsh for her to trust him just because she was feeling grateful.

So, Esther was being mindful of her demeanor in Deheen’s presence. She didn’t even breath much, fearing that he might be annoyed.

The time went by in silence.

‘I’m sleepy…’

Esther had to forcibly lift her heavy falling eyelids. She was so nervous about travelling faraway to fall asleep. It was a pity that she couldn’t sleep the night before.

She opened her eyes and threw away her sleepiness, but she couldn’t help to nod her head as the drowsiness poured out. Her straight posture was also disturbed. A few minutes later, Esther’s gentle breathing came out.

It was only then, DeHeen, who was looking at the window the whole time, turned his head.

DeHeen stared at Esther, whose eyes were close as she had fallen asleep.

‘You sleep well in front of me.’

DeHeen’s eyes which were staring at Esther gently curved. And every time Esther breathed out, her eyes bent softly.

‘You look like your age now.’

A 12-year-old child who was too mature was all over his mind. He couldn’t read any emotions from her face. There was a feeling of tiredness on her face, which was covered by her childlike looks.

‘What kind of life have you been living?’

The eyes when they first met.

The intense eyes of those who were prepared to die, they could only be seen on the battlefield. So, he asked someone to investigate if she had an unfortunate past, but there was nothing special.

In the case of abandoned children, who were raised in slums, they are fortunate if they are sold to temples.

While DeHeen was in a state of confusion, the sunlight entered the window and touched Esther’s face.

From her small face, her round-eyed feature is visible. Her eyes are covered with long eyelashes. Even though she is thin, her sleeping appearance was pretty lovely.

A gentle smile passed by De Heen’s mouth unconsciously. It was a smile that no one had ever seen. He thought he was just observing, he was not even aware of his soft expression.

At one point, DeHeen’s face became serious.

‘Why is it so short?’

Esther’s clothes caught his eyes. He doesn’t know when she started wearing those clothes, but there was no way it would fit her. Both sleeves for arms and legs were seriously short enough revealing the skin.

It seems that the clothes, which were sewn so many times, were in tatters. Not even the low-ranking servants in DeHeen’s mansion wore such tattered clothes.

“Those temple bastards…”

The forehead of furious DeHeen was furrowed. He can’t believe they didn’t dress a child properly even though he made a huge donation every year. He wants to go back to the temple and question them right away.

For the first time, he wanted to do something for Esther. DeHeen quickly opened the window of the carriage. Ben, who was following the carriage on his horse, approached the window.

“What can I do for you?”

“I need to stop by the dressing shop. We’re going to Odard.”

There were still deep wrinkles in his forehead. At the sound of their conversation, Esther quickly fixed her posture as if she hadn’t fallen asleep.

“You can sleep more.”

“No, I didn’t sleep.”

Esther’s eyes widened as she heard DeHeen’s voice.

‘You need to get your act together.’

If she let her guard down, she might be thrown away in a strange place, or something might happen. Just looking right now, the carriage seemed to be turning to another destination. She only heard the last word, Odard, and she was suspicious of the purpose for going there.

* * *

Tersia, ruled by DeHeen, was prosperous like the capital. People flocked by themselves because of the rumors of good trades, and since then, a commercial district was developed, particularly the famous Odard’s Lille Street.

Lille Street, where dressing shops are concentrated, has become a trending symbol of the social world. And among the shops, the most well-known is Christine’s dressing shop.

This luxury place was crowded with visitors and operated through a reservation basis. Christine, the Madame, was constantly dealing with customers today.

As she was discussing her guest new dress, she was startled by the maid who ran into the parlor.

“What, Your Grace is here?”

“Yes. Quick, quick. He’s already got off the carriage.”

“He’s never been here before… what’s going on?”

Christine was the designer who was in charge of the dress of DeHeen’s late wife. The relationship continued, and she was still in charge of the clothes of the Grand Duke and his twin sons.

However, she usually visited the mansion. In fact, DeHeen has never been here in person.

Christine left the room after asking the other guest for her understanding. She ran straight down to the first floor. And just in time, DeHeen entered the front door of the shop.

“Your Grace! Why did you visit here without a word?”