Chapter 8
After about half an hour, the priest led Daina to a side door facing the square.
– They are waiting for you behind this door, – spitting out in a voice as if devoid of emotion, the priest pushed the girl in the back.
– Goodbye, – because of the force of the push, Daina awkwardly stepped forward.
Having finished his work, the priest turned back with a somewhat relaxed look. When dealing with candidates for Saints who belonged to the temple, he had no right to do such a thing.
Daina straightened her back and walked forward.
'I have always been abandoned by the people of the temple. I couldn't escape my fate, so I was betrayed and forgotten…
But not this time. Unlike in the past, all this is the result of my own will.'
– This time they didn't leave me, but I left them first.
'No matter how much everyone denies it, the fact that I am the next Saint cannot be changed.
Now they will exist without the Saint. An empty temple.'
The steps leading to the temple became lighter and lighter. The shackles binding Daina's ankles seemed to be loosening.
Ben was waiting for the little girl behind the side door. When he saw her coming out, the man put on a sincere smile on his face:
– I've been waiting for you, Miss, – Ben bowed with perfect politeness.
– Yes. Greetings, – Daina, burdened by Ben's kindness, was struck by his attitude and bowed deeper than the man.
Ben immediately leaned much lower than Daina. With all her behavior, the girl said that she did not know what to do.
– Miss, don't stand with your body down.
– But I'm uncomfortable…
– Can you remember one thing? You are now a member of the Dehsin family. Your actions are the honor of your family.
– …
– While it is unusual, but you will soon get used to it, – Ben's voice was quiet, but contained a clear hint.
Daina understood what he wanted to say.
'If I was really adopted by the Grand Duke's family, then I should behave accordingly. For the honor of Darwin, who helped me leave the temple,' – thinking about this, Daina shuddered all over and her eyelashes trembled. 'I was really adopted by one of the Great families…'
It was the moment when Daina's life completely turned upside down.
– Did you say goodbye to your friends well?
Ben's voice brought Daina, who was arriving in a dazed state, to her senses.
– Oh, I don't have any friends.
– ...yeah? – Ben gave the girl a quick, surprised look. She said that she had no friends and this greatly alarmed the man.
'How was she treated?
This is not at all like the behavior of a child. The child does not say something in such a tone, does not everyone have friends?'
In Ben's eyes, Daina seemed like a child who did not regret not only the absence of friends, but everything in general. She had a vague life that could be erased at any moment.
However, even now Ben continued to be wary of Daina.
'Naturally, I will treat her like a Lady, but Earl Megan will judge Daina by her behavior...' – however, Ben changed his mind. He thought that the children should not have such a facial expression, so he just wanted to help the girl have fun.
– I'm afraid you're going to have a lot of new friends.
Daina nodded at Ben's affectionate words, but did not answer.
'The desire to have a friend is an old story. I don't have any interest in it anymore.'
Following Ben, the girl reached the magnificent carriage. Its beautiful design was by far the best among the many carriages Daina had seen.
– They're waiting for you inside.
– Am I really going to ride in the same carriage with the Grand Duke?"
– That's right.
Ben's positive attitude clouded Daina's face.
'It takes quite a long time to get to the territories of the Dehsin Duchy, and I'm starting to suffocate just at the thought of sitting with the Grand Duke in the same carriage all this time…
However, I can't be stupid.'
Daina nodded calmly, indicating agreement.
Ben quickly opened the carriage door, and the girl saw a large silhouette of Darwin sitting inside.
Daina's body began to shake as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest. Trembling with tension, she stepped on the step of the carriage, and the Duke stretched out his hand, helping the girl to climb into the carriage.
– Welcome.
These monotonous words without any changes were enough to calm Daina down.
The girl gripped Darwin's hand tightly, as if it were a lifeline. The man's palm, which should have been cold, turned out to be surprisingly warm.
– Thank you for coming to pick me up.
– I'm a man of my word.
The Duke's pale face was still cold, but the girl felt relieved.
'At least he doesn't suffer from excessive pathos.
This opposite is much better compared to those who laughed at me and hit me in the back.'
The carriage was large enough to accommodate ten people, but Daina, once inside, carefully sat down in a corner.
Initially, even one person did not take up as much space as the girl, but the huge difference between Daina huddled in a corner and the relaxed Duke was felt very clearly.
'You're sitting very far away!' – Darwin secretly hoped Daina would sit across from him. He even imagined how they would talk.
However, contrary to his wishes, the girl sat away from him. He understood that she was uncomfortable, but he, for no reason, felt uncomfortable.
Darwin made sure that Daina was sitting and pulled the string, giving a signal. The carriage moved smoothly.
– Is that all you have?
– Yes, I have nothing else.
– Probably need to buy a lot, – Darwin muttered.
'She didn't bring anything with her, so we'll need to buy her everything she needs. I want to give her what she couldn't get because she was in the temple…'
– No, it's not necessary, – however, Daina, squeezing her hand, quickly refused.
For a very short time, the girl had been consumed by the desire to take revenge on Rabien, and now she was very exhausted. As long as it didn't belong to the purpose of dying, things meant nothing to Daina.
Darwin didn't know the girl's thoughts, so he didn't like the way Daina drew the line.
'It would be more convenient if she started asking me to buy this and that, like Judy does. But it looks like Daina really doesn't want anything.…
Then there is no other way out.
What should I buy first?' – Darwin began to make a list of necessary things, not interested in Daina's opinion.
'As soon as we get back to the mansion, I'll tell the head maid to prepare everything.'
Unaware of the Duke's thoughts, Daina remained silent.
She didn't want to offend Darwin, so she used all her energy trying to remove the feeling of her existence.
Duke Dehsin was also not talkative, he only silently looked out the window. Therefore, the awkward atmosphere inside the crew reigned for a long time.
Using his power, Darwin slowly shifted his gaze from the window to Daina.
The girl, who was looking at her feet, felt his gaze on her and raised her head. As soon as Daina and the Duke's eyes met, both froze in a daze.
A short laugh escaped Darwin's lips, and then they stretched into a smile:
– Daina.
Daina's gaze froze on the Duke's jaw.
– Do you like that name?
– No, – the girl immediately shook her head.
'How can I like it? When I was in the slums, the head gave me a name just to distinguish me from other children.
In addition, this name is covered with the memory of a dark dungeon. I can't be attached to a name that doesn't have a single warm memory.…'
– Then I would like to give you a name to bless your new beginning.
– ...! – this time Daina looked up at the Duke with a surprised look.
Her wide-open pale pink eyes sparkled brightly.
For the first time since they were in the carriage, the eyes of the girl and the man met for real.
Daina felt her lips dry and involuntarily licked them.
The words «new name» caused fear, but it didn't matter. She didn't like the name Daina, so the girl decided that it would be for the best.
– From now on, your name is Esther.
– Esther?.....
– Yes, it means that you shine like a star.
'This is the name we chose together with our beloved, who is now dead…
We promised to give the name Esther to the girl when she was born.
And let it be an adoption, I will give her this name, because she is my first and only daughter,' – Darwin firmly decided.
'Shining like... a star?' – Daina was trying to soundlessly pronounce her new name.
She was nervous about getting a name with such precious meaning. The girl's heart was pounding wildly, as if she had done something wrong. The girl has already heard how people will laugh.
– I'm not right for him... – said Daina, squeezing her fingers.
'A child shining like a star… There is no name so opposite to me, the one who lived in the dark and could never shine.'
– No, you're the best now. As the only daughter of the Dehsin family.
Daina didn't know what to say, so she dug her fingers into the innocent clothes.
– I'll give you everything.
And so Daina's eyes turned red because of the words spoken by Duke Dehsin.
She didn't believe there could be someone like that. The girl saw a man like Darwin for the first time.
'He takes me for a person, does not ignore me and treats me very well… He even wants to give me a name and holds out his hand to make me part of his family…'
– Can I really take it?....
Daina, who wanted to die, had neither the status of an aristocrat, nor the chance to financially support her life. Even though she was amazed, she knew well that if she gave her heart to Duke Dehsin, he could return it with treachery. Because Darwin belonged to the very aristocracy that the girl did not trust so much.
'Still… I was greedy…
A name for myself, not a name that was given at random... I... I want to have a name with a beautiful meaning!'
After much thought, Esther spoke in a trembling voice:
– ... Thank you, Grand Duke.