Chapter 6

Darwin had barely finished speaking when his guards grabbed Daina. The forced kneeling caused the girl's hands, which touched the ground, to sink into the dust.

It was at this moment that Daina felt a strong fear.

'If I am sent back to the temple, then I will go to prison and will no longer be able to avoid Rabien... My future will once again be trapped and suffering in the dungeon of the prison... what I am so desperately trying to avoid…'

In desperation, Daina bent even lower and tried to grab Duke Dehsin:

– Please…

Hearing the girl's words spoken in a weak voice, Darwin turned back to Daina.

– No, please don't give me to the temple. Just kill me here. You are welcome!

– So I'm going to get in trouble? There's no point in killing you. The relationship between the Duchy and the temple will only get worse.

'I can't do anything, even if it sounded cold,' – Darwin was kind enough not to return the attack to the child who attacked him.

'No,' – Daina shook her head, feeling her vision darken. Her despair became even stronger because the girl believed that this was her last chance.

However, Darwin, who was leaving coldly, suddenly stopped and turned around.

– Ha… ha... – all the misfortunes of the world seemed to be reflected on Daina's face.

'What kind of life did she have to go through?' – Duke Dehsin walked up to the girl and, crossing his arms over his chest, looked down at her, and then, unexpectedly, sat down and, reaching out, brushed aside Daina's hair covering her face.

The girl's frowning eyes were a transparent pink color.

– You… – Duke Dehsin's gaze trembled when he saw them.

From the very beginning, when the man saw the girl's dark brown hair, he began to feel strangely nervous, but now…

Everything about her reminded him of his late wife.

The color of the eyes was exactly the same. The face was not at all like the face of his wife, but the girl was a child who reminded Darwin of a memorable person for him.

– Have you changed your mind? – Daina stared at the Duke, who was looking at her.

Daina's eyes were very bright. There was an incredibly deep darkness inside them, however, for some reason, it was unusually pure.

Duke Dehsin's heart froze at the sight of those clear eyes that looked up at him.

– Good. I decided, – Darwin took a deep breath and, rising, met Daina's gaze.

– Do you at least laugh sometimes?

– Why should I laugh? Daina, hearing this question, was confused.

– How old are you?

– ...Twelve.

– Fine, – Darwin paused and looked intently at the girl.

For the first time, someone looked so seriously into Duke Dehsin's eyes and he, without noticing it, involuntarily blushed.

– You…

Daina, addressed by Darwin, swallowed her saliva.

– Why don't you become my daughter?"

– Kha... Kha... – Daina, who was very nervous, coughed in surprise.

Daina wasn't the only one surprised. Ben, who was watching from the sidelines, hurriedly shook his head and shouted:

– No! Your Highness!

– Too loud, Ben.

Ben had to step back and shut up.

Daina mentally repeated what Duke Dehsin had said several times while pondering over his words, however, she still couldn't figure out what exactly he had said.

– Daughter?

– Yes. You said you were an orphan, right? I'll adopt you.

'Adopt?' – Daina pinched the back of her hand in case it was a dream, but it was still reality.

Doubts about Duke Dehsin grew as the girl did not understand what was going on.

– Do you want to torture me?..

– Why would I do such a dreary job?

– So you really want to adopt me?"

– Yes.

'This is too indifferent a voice for someone who wants to adopt a child… However, it cannot be said that a great man like Duke Dehsin would play with such statements…'

– I attacked the Grand Duke, didn't I?..

– I'm still alive, – looking into Daina's suspicious eyes, Darwin decided to add a few more words. – I was thinking of starting a search for a girl who could be adopted, but, accidentally bumping into you, I became interested in you.

– Isn't my orphan blood dirty?

Duke Dehsin's eyebrows shot up at these stupid words, and his formidable face became even more gloomy:

– It doesn't matter, – Darwin's voice was firm. – If you want to become my daughter, then in the same year, from the same moment, you will become the most noble child.

Daina sensed that there was a big gap in the Duke's words.

'Noble?!...' – in Daina's opinion, the word that most did not suit her was «noble».

When the girl didn't even react to this, Duke Dehsin sighed and lifted Daina to her feet.

She turned out to be so skinny that both her wrists easily fit in the man's hand, and she was so light that he did not even feel her weight. Darwin clicked his tongue and brushed the dust off Daina's hands:

– You don't have to worry. If you refuse my offer, I'll just take you back to the temple, – though clumsily, but the Duke's voice was much warmer than before.

Nervous, Daina bit her lips and looked at her palms. Thanks to Darwin, the girl's palms were clean of dust. It was the first time someone had helped Daina on their own.

'Can I follow him?' – no matter how the girl twisted her thoughts, the Duke's offer to become his daughter was something profitable.

'I may not believe it, but…

It doesn't matter what purpose Duke Dehsin has in wanting to adopt me. I have no hope of life in the temple anyway. If everything continues as usual, then in the future Rabien will imprison me again and start pumping blood out of me...' – Daina's gaze, which was absent-minded, suddenly became firm:

– Okay, but only if I can get out of here.

– Good.

It turned out that there was a bright sun right behind them and because of this, the Duke's beautiful hair shone dazzlingly. Daina was momentarily distracted by his blue hair.

'This is my father...' – a swarm of goosebumps ran down the girl's back from this thought. 'For me, my parents have always been something that I could never have…

But what if he's here…

An aristocrat, my father is the chief aristocrat…'

– Your Grace, it's time to get back. The celebration is about to begin.

– Yes, it's time to go, – hearing Ben's words, Darwin came to himself abruptly.

Duke Dehsin had to return in time to take his place before the celebration began, it was for the same reason that he had to leave there for a while, in an attempt to avoid the attention of persistently clinging people. However, Darwin was concerned that he had to leave Daina here, who has now become his daughter.

– Don't worry, as soon as the celebration is over, we'll finish all the formalities, – the Duke ordered the girl, and also added an awkward smile to look a little more friendly.

However, Darwin's smiles were intimidating, with a well-known reputation. Yes, and Ben, standing on the sidelines, sighed sadly from the fact that the Duke's training in the carriage did not improve the situation.

Daina's face paled sharply at the sight of the smiling Duke. I think the girl is scared by his smile, Darwin got very excited:

– I'm sorry if I scared you. I always smile like that.

–N-no, I wasn't scared, – Daina hurriedly grabbed the Duke's hand, and then added a few more words so that he wouldn't misunderstand her. – It's been so long since someone smiled at me so tenderly, so I was surprised…

Daina, who had always suffered from a cold attitude, could easily read kindness in Duke Dehsin's eyes.

– Gently? Me?

'No one has ever said such words about me… When people saw my height and cold look, no one could call it «tenderness»...' – Darwin knew himself better than anyone else, so he was somewhat taken aback by the unexpected words of the girl.

The man felt his breathing falter.

'Why does my heart feel so strange?' – Darwin's heart, which had always remained calm, suddenly began to beat faster.

Ben, watching from the sidelines, frowned. He walked up to Duke Dehsin and whispered in his ear:

– Perhaps she has vision problems?

Daina was afraid that the Duke would change his mind about adopting her and screamed:

– I like your smile! Look at her better!

When the girl screamed loudly, Ben was amazed by her voice and words, and closed his mouth, and Darwin, who was watching Daina's actions, burst out laughing:

–Ha-ha-ha, look at this. My smile is not scary, just the problem is that not everyone sees it.

– I don't think that's the problem, – Ben shook his head and grinned, and then muttered that if the Duke wanted to adopt the girl, she should immediately undergo a vision check.

– Good… When can I leave the temple? – Daina asked cautiously, looking from one man to the other and back again.

'Anyway, if the Duke does not give a firm answer now, then there is a high probability that I will be abandoned and forgotten…'

– When the week of celebration is over, we will come back for you. I'll send someone here to contact you.

Daina counted the dates with difficulty in her mind.

'In other words, there are five days left until the end of the celebration week, which means I will leave the temple in five days.'

It was almost impossible for Daina, a candidate for Sainthood, to leave the temple.

'If I can leave the temple, will I be able to escape from Rabien?..

No, can I die?'

– Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing... What's your name?

Daina came to her senses and moved her lips. A name she had never uttered before. The girl was no longer waiting for someone to ask him.

– ...Daina, – she said her name softly.

– Good, Daina. I'll come for you soon.

Daina nodded, looking at Darwin.

***

The battered Darwin headed straight to the main building, where the temple's candidates' office was located.

As he walked, his secretary Ben was bursting into a torrent of anxiety:

All right Your Highness, this girl is very small… Besides, she attacked you. Why did you decide to adopt her?

– I liked her.

It was a simple, but the most weighty reason. Ben couldn't say anything more and fell silent.

– She also looks like Irene.

– Yes, her hair and eyes, I was also very surprised. However, she is an orphan. If you reject the option with her, you will find many children with better characteristics.

– What's wrong with orphans? – Darwin's tone became harsh. His voice and look promised Ben a strong scolding.

– Oh, I didn't mean that... – Ben, speechless, didn't even know how to justify himself.

– This girl is not to blame for anything. She was just unlucky more than the others.

–You're right. I'm afraid I made a mistake, – a soft smile appeared on Ben's lips, who admitted his mistake.

'He's always like that.

Duke Dehsin is always criticized for being obsessed with murder. People see him only as a cruel monster, but in reality everything is completely different.

Watching the Duke every day from the sidelines, I know more about him than anyone else…

He is an honest, unbiased person with clear beliefs. None of the aristocrats I know are as straightforward as Duke Dehsin...' – which is why Ben has been supporting Darwin for ten years now.

– I'm going to look into this kid's past anyway. Everything should be clear and precise.

– As you wish.

'The Duke has seen countless people during the wars, so if he likes her so much, then there must be a special reason for it,' – Ben believed in Darwin's eyes.

– We're here.

– Let's go in.

The two men entered the office without hesitation.

As soon as the door to the study opened, the priests noticed Duke Dehsin and, standing up, greeted him:

– Grand Duke Dehsin, you've come all the way here!

– Do you want us to do something?

Since the celebration was in full swing, there was only one young and one elderly priest in the office.

Darwin gave the priests a sharp look. Because of the burning sensation, the priests avoided looking into his eyes.

– I want to pick up one of the candidates for the Saints.