Chapter 13

– And here.

Two identical documents were prepared, as soon as Esther put her fingerprint on the second document, Ben collected the papers. He put one of them in a gold envelope and handed it to Esther:

– Congratulations, Miss.

'Congratulations ...' – the girl smiled bitterly and took the envelope.

The adoption document stated: [«Esther becomes a member of the family of the Grand Duke of Tersia.»], however, this was not proof that she really became a member of this family.

Esther, whose emotions were very confused, looked at the envelope.

Not understanding what was on the girl's mind, Darwin looked at Esther, resting his chin on his palm.

'The sofa seems tall because she is so small. Besides, she's trying so sweetly to touch her fingers to the floor,' – focusing on the tips of Esther's feet, the Duke came to his senses and offered her a cookie:

– Why don't you have some cookies?

The girl looked at the cookies again. Her mouth was filled with saliva from the sight of his mouthwatering, however, Esther did not want to touch what Duke Dehsin liked.

Moreover, when Darwin offered the girl a cookie, he looked at her so intently that it seemed to Esther that she should never agree.

Therefore, the girl shook her head, thinking that this was a rhetorical question:

– It's all right, Grand Duke, eat for yourself.

– I? – Darwin laughed, as if he had heard something funny.

'I hate sweets and don't even touch them, but Esther can't know that.

But why isn't she eating?' – the man saw how the girl's gaze constantly returns to the liver.

'Having refused him, she continues to hypnotize him with her gaze, and I can't understand why.

The chef who made this cookie said that it should be eaten until it cools down. Otherwise, it won't taste so good.'

Worried, Darwin took the cookie himself and brought it to the girl.

– …? – Esther blinked in confusion, looking at the cookies and not knowing what to do. Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly.

– Eat, – there was a strength in Darwin's heavy voice that could not be denied.

Esther was surprised by the Duke's seriousness and obediently took a bite of the cookie.

After the girl took a bite, her hands reached out to the liver by themselves and took it from Darwin's hands. At that moment, Esther stopped thinking.

It was so delicious that the girl just couldn't think about anything.

The softness that melted in her mouth was a taste that Esther had never tasted before.

– Eat well, – Darwin smiled weakly and stopped pressing the girl with his gaze.

'Yes, that's exactly the kind of face I wanted to see when I ordered cookies to be made. It's more pleasant to watch than to eat yourself.'

'Eh~eh… So delicious. I want to take them all and eat them,' – Esther, who was absorbed in cookies, did not know that Duke Dehsin was watching her.

With each passing moment, the cookies became smaller and smaller, and the girl continued to chew it enthusiastically. Esther opened her eyes to enjoy the cookies before they ran out... and suddenly felt strange.

Everyone was looking at her. Esther belatedly realized that the room was completely silent:

– Oh, I'm sorry. It's so delicious…

– Try this too, – before Esther could finish, Darwin offered her a cookie with a different flavor.

The stunned girl took the cookie again. Esther was pleased that she was given a cookie, but she did not know why the Duke was doing this, so her face reflected confusion.

Before the girl had time to come to her senses, another cookie appeared in her hands. Esther was very careful and tried not to touch the liver with a dirty finger.

– It's with strawberries.

There really were strawberry slices in the cookies.

Esther carefully broke the cookies, she thought she should stop eating cookies, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.

Darwin, watching the girl eat, noticed something:

– Why don't you sit back?

Esther's posture was unnecessarily straight and it seemed that it was uncomfortable for her to move.

– I'm afraid I might tear my dress.

– If it breaks, we'll buy a new one, – Darwin said. – Or is it special?

– No. I just like this dress, and the new one will be completely different.

– Do you like it that much?

– Well... it's just that this is the first gift I've received, – Esther's eyes gleamed with joy.

The reason Esther wore her new dress with great care was not because it was expensive, but because it was the first gift that the girl received from anyone. She didn't want to accidentally tear it up.

Esther's face was beaming, however Duke Dehsin's eyes darkened when he heard this. At that moment, his eyes became so cold that Esther would faint if she saw them.

– Doesn't everyone get gifts for birthday, New Year and Children's Day?

– Only the children of the nobility. I don't even know when my birthday is, – Esther said carelessly.

Esther was an abandoned child, so she didn't know exactly when her birthday was. However, the reality was that even if the girl knew him, there would still be no one who could take care of her.

'On Children's Day, only children whose families sponsored the temple received gifts. Orphans, as usual, were an exception.

Therefore, over time, I stopped wanting to receive a gift. And the fact that I do not know my birthday has become natural.'

– So you don't even know your birthday… Then let's choose him, – Darwin said softly, and Esther raised her head. – Let's make your favorite day your birthday.

At that moment, Darwin made a decision.

'I'm going to celebrate Esther's birthday on a huge scale. I'll also give her everything she's never had. Because the daughter of the owner of the Tersia deserves special treatment.'

– I don't have a favorite day ... – Esther instantly plunged into the past, and her gaze became empty.

'My whole life was filled with torment, so even at the moment of death, I had nothing to remember.

There are a lot of days that I don't want to remember, but there are no days that I would like to remember at all.

All my memories are colored by betrayals,' – thinking, the girl raised her head thoughtfully:

– Then, today, – having said this, Esther, for some reason embarrassed, smiled awkwardly.

It was a faint smile that didn't even bloom properly, but it was still beautifully sweet.

Esther's eyes and smile penetrated the very heart of Duke Dehsin. He felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

'What is this feeling?..' – Darwin felt that he wanted to do anything for this little girl, because he felt that there was something dark in her heart.

'I have never felt much joy giving something to others, but, from Esther's vivid reaction, I feel a strange satisfaction…

Is it a big deal to buy a few dresses?

I could buy a whole boutique on the Rue de Lil.'

– Damn it, if I had known it would be like this, I would have bought all the dresses.… No, I would just buy the whole boutique.

– The Grand Duke! – Esther rounded her lips in amazement, surprised by Duke Dehsin's mumbling.

It was the loudest girl's voice Darwin had ever heard. He said it was a joke, but the man wasn't joking.

'If, by buying something, I can make Esther laugh, then the price is not important. Still, my family's budget is quite impressive.'

– Let's wait a little longer with the appointment of your birthday? If you have a day that will be more memorable than today, will you tell me about it?

– Will such a day come?

– Absolutely. I will fill your every day with impressions.

Esther lifted the corners of her lips and laughed soundlessly. It was a fake laugh that she didn't expect to hear at all.

Seeing a smile that was different from the one the girl had when she was eating cookies, anxiety entered Darwin's heart:

– Oh, by the way, come to the general breakfast tomorrow. I have to formally introduce you to your brothers.

– Yes, Grand Duke.

Darwin did not detain Esther for a long time, exhausted by a long journey, and, turning off the conversation, let her rest quietly:

– You must be tired, go back to your room and have a good rest today.

Esther wiped the cookie crumbs off her hands and picked up her adoption document. After saying goodbye, the girl went to her room, but before she could leave, Ben stopped Esther and asked her to wait.

Ben quickly put all the cookies from the table into a large basket, and then handed this basket to Esther:

– Take this.

– I? – Astounded, Esther looked at the Duke with wide eyes, but Darwin did not say anything against it. – Aren't these the Grand Duke's snacks?

– Mine? No, I hate sweets, – having said that, Darwin buried his face in a pile of papers.

Esther couldn't keep bothering him, so she had to leave the office without any questions.

'If he hates sweets, then why are there so many cookies?' – Esther asked anxiously, looking at the basket full of cookies.

'Well, even if I think about it, I still won't know the Grand Duke's answer. However, this is the first time I have received so many cookies. Even if I eat it three times a day, I think it will still be enough for a whole week,' – the girl tried to restrain her laughter, but it still burst out.

'I can't believe I'm laughing just from that. All my past lives were painful, I had nothing to laugh at, and I always felt empty.

But not now, when I have so much food,' – Esther looked at the basket with a happy look and, clutching it to her chest, began to climb the stairs.

*****

That evening, unbeknownst to Esther, a family meeting was held. Its participants were Darwin, Judy and Dennis.

Darwin called the twins and told them at what points they needed to be attentive.

The man was afraid that the twins, who grew up alone, might mistreat Esther.

– Do you understand? You shouldn't say hurtful things.

– May I ask what she was doing?

– No, you can't ask anything like that. No personal questions until Esther decides to tell.

– Yes, – Judy pouted when he heard that their father forbade them to do anything.

– Judy, especially you. Don't even try to make fun of her.

– Then what should I do if I can't do that either?

Darwin's calm expression didn't change much, but he put his big hands on the heads of Judy and Dennis:

– Make her laugh.

'It's like she doesn't know how to smile and laugh,' – Darwin thought, remembering Esther's face, which felt awkward.

– I would like our house to be filled with laughter.

– Hey, I laugh all the time, don't I?

– I want to meet Esther as soon as possible, – unlike Judy, who sounded as if he was tired of all this, Dennis's voice was filled with curiosity.

– Don't forget that Esther is the child I adopted because that's what you wanted.

The reason for Esther's adoption, Darwin once again reminded that this was the desire of his sons.