Chapter 26

– Talbert! Talbert, where are you!? – As soon as Dennis left Esther's room, he rushed to look for Talbert the butler.

The servants were puzzled by the excited look of the always calm Dennis.

Talbert put down the book and went out to Dennis:

– Young Master, did you call me?

Dennis laughed and nodded:

– Yes. I want to see the frames that were used at the last exhibition. Where did you put them?

– Do you mean the exhibition of the artist Levan?

– Yes.

The Grand Duke of Tersia sponsored several branches of culture. One of these events was an exhibition of artists.

The most recent exhibition was landscapes by the artist Levan.

Despite the unexpected question, Talbert remembered almost instantly:

– I put them in the southern warehouse. Why do you need them?

– I need a frame to insert this, – Dennis said in a proud voice, revealing his sister's drawing.

Talbert's curiosity quickly turned to awe:

– Young Master, is that you? No, who drew this? – The butler's eyes widened. While asking this, he couldn't take his eyes off the drawing.

– Esther drew it. Isn't she good at drawing?

– Our Miss?

Talbert couldn't seem to believe it.

And all because it was a drawing that a child could not draw.

Elegant, but expressive strokes conveyed the appearance of Dennis as he was. Moreover, the emotions that this drawing reflected were richer than in some works of art.

– Amazing! To be honest, it's hard to believe, and I'm ready to cry.

– I was surprised too. Esther is really the best, – Dennis smiled brightly.

At first, he was very wary of the girl, however, the more he got to know Esther, the more he liked her.

– But, young Master, are you all right? It'll be 3 o'clock soon, – Talbert said, glancing at the wall clock.

There was always a dream in Dennis' daily routine at 3 p.m.

– Ha, I'm not going to sleep tonight!

Talbert was startled by the boy's loud voice. Dennis was obsessed with a strict schedule, and the fact that he decided to break this schedule was an incredible event.

On the way to the warehouse, Dennis told Talbert about his observations of Esther.

– Because of concentration, did the color of her eyes change? You must have imagined it.

– No. It was real. I may never have learned to draw, but this is a great picture, – Dennis, who was talking nonstop, suddenly stopped. – I get it.

The butler also stopped and shrugged his shoulders in confusion:

– What are you talking about?

– Younger sister. I think I understood a little bit what it meant, – the memories were reflected on the boy's face.

'I was curious what it would be like to have a younger sister, to understand why Sebastian behaved like that.

Therefore, in order to find an answer to this, I also asked to adopt a younger sister for us.

But now, I think I've figured it out.

I wonder if Sebastian has the same thing? Is there also a feeling in his chest that makes him brag about his sister because he feels very proud of her?'

– You know, Talbert, I think Esther is much better than my books.

– Young Master…

Dennis was kind to everyone, however, no one really interested him. The boy just spent all his time in his books.

Impressed, Talbert pulled out a handkerchief and, after carefully looking into the boy's eyes, wiped the tears with a handkerchief that was already wet.

*****

– How was the training session?

– Disgusting. There was no one who could handle her, – Duke Dehsin's face, who was conducting regular training, was filled with annoyance.

Loosening his tie, the man threw it on the table:

– Everyone thinks that the war is over, but what if a similar uprising happens again?

Darwin's aura was very heavy, because of his frown. Cold as ice, she was even worse than usual.

Darwin, exuding irritation, fell on the sofa as if he was dead tired. His long legs were immediately thrown on the table:

– Report.

– Yes, you are tired, so I will be brief, – Talbert did not reprimand the Duke for his posture.

The butler reported everything that had happened during Duke Dehsin's absence. However, the man sighed and closed his eyes, as if he didn't like something in Talbert's words:

–What about Esther?

– Oh, I showed her to the doctor every day for two weeks. She looks much healthier now than she did two weeks ago.

'For the sake of brevity, I did not mention what happened to the children, but it seems that information about Esther is now the most important,' – Talbert wiped his sweat and told in detail about Esther's daily routine.

As he listened, Duke Dehsin's icy expression gradually thawed.

– Oh, and also, Miss Esther draws very well.

– Does he draw? – Darwin's half-closed eyelids opened. His eyes flashed, as if he had managed to doze off.

– Yes. She drew a portrait of young Mr. Dennis, and it's amazing.

– Where can I see him?

– I hung it in the young Master's room.

Suddenly, Darwin got up quickly and looked at the wall clock.

It was already 10 o'clock, which meant it was too late to go to my son's bedroom.

– Is he really that well drawn?

– You'll understand if you see him.

Duke Dehsin's curiosity increased.

Darwin couldn't imagine what kind of drawing Esther had drawn, so he was so curious that he couldn't sit still:

– Dennis is already asleep, right?

– Yes. In normal life, at this time the children are already asleep.

– If I just go in and look, will he wake up?

Talbert shot Duke Dehsin such a look that Darwin immediately realized that this would be the case.

The butler shook his head inexorably. His strict belief was that nothing should disturb the child during sleep:

– Please wait until morning.

Darwin, who heard this categorical statement, frowned, as if it hurt him to hear it.

*****

Esther sat down on the bed and looked around the room.

'It's been a month since I've been here.'

Clean and beautiful clothes made the girl look nothing like the one she was before, and every day she ate something delicious.

'I'm already used to everything.

Life here is definitely fun, and there are so many things, as if I received compensation for what I didn't have…

That's just if I turn my head a little, I see the illusion of Rabien, which follows me.

This is a Fate that cannot be avoided.

If Saint Cespia dies, Rabien will surely find me somehow,' – Esther's eyes flashed wildly.

The girl opened the last drawer of the table and took out an object tightly wrapped in cloth.

– I won't be able to forget this, – Esther said, taking out a blade from the cloth.

She knew she couldn't hurt herself, but she did it every day so as not to forget that she needed to die.

Raising her finger, the girl ran it along the blade. From the touch of the sharp blade, she felt a tingling sensation, but not pain.

The blood that flowed down her finger in a red stream stopped very quickly.

Due to the too rapid regeneration, Esther felt extremely strange.

This time, she took the blade and cut her palm. She thought it would hurt her this time, but even now the wound has healed very quickly.

Bowing her head, the girl found a mirror on the dressing table. Esther's eyes widened as she looked into the mirror without thinking:

– Already?

The back of her hand shone dimly. She was unclear, but the place and symbol were a bright sign that the power of the Saint was passing to her.

When Esther quickly rubbed her eyes and looked at her palm again, the mark disappeared:

– What was that? – Confused, the girl blinked several times.

The patterned mark that was passed down from Saint to Saint, from generation to generation, never appeared on the successor's body until the former Saint died.

'But the time of Saint Cespia's death has not yet come.

The most they could do was delay the announcement of this, however, if the Saint died, then Grand Duke Dehsin should have been summoned to the Temple immediately.

If that's the case, then there are two Saints in the Empire right now.

And this is impossible.

In the history of Saints, which we studied in the temple, there were no such cases,' – confused, Esther went out into the corridor, stroking the back of her hand.

'I may be wrong, but I can't turn a blind eye to it.'

Dorothy, who saw Esther come out into the corridor, immediately ran after her:

– Miss, where are you going?

– Do you know... where you can get Hyacinth seeds?

– Hyacinth? Isn't this the flower that is used in the temple?

Hyacinth, as Dorothy said, was a flower that was mainly used by Saints for practical exercises in the temple. It was called a symbol of the Goddess and, in itself, it was considered Divine.

Due to the fact that only Saints could grow it, almost no one planted this flower.

– Yes. I want to plant him... can't I?

– I don't know. I don't know if this is an ordinary flower… I'll ask the gardener and come, – Dorothy quickly squeezed the girl's hand.

This was the first time Esther had asked for anything after arriving at the mansion. Even if they were just seeds, Dorothy could not help but fulfill the girl's wish.

'I think she misses the temple.'

The servants of the castle did not know how Esther lived in the temple. She looked extremely mature for her age, but Dorothy thought that, inside, the girl missed the temple, so she sadly asked to bring her Hyacinth seeds.

– I'll be quick!

– Yes, please, – Esther bit her nails, watching Dorothy run away. It was a habit that manifested itself when the girl was nervous.

'Before becoming a Saint, I had almost no divine power, so cultivation took longer than other candidates.

However, if I really have the power of the Saint, the Hyacinth should blossom very quickly.

Everything will become clear as soon as I plant a Hyacinth.'

– I hope it's a mistake... – although Esther thought it was impossible, her eyes dimmed again.

*****

Warm afternoon.

Duke Dehsin returned home after completing his usual business. Even when he was walking, he had documents in his hands.

– The imperial dinner, which was supposed to take place next Thursday, has been postponed two days earlier.

Darwin, his nose almost buried in the papers, nodded without looking up.

– Count Crown wants to meet you… When will it be convenient for you?

– Make an appointment for afternoon tea.

– Ok. A governess has been chosen for Esther.

As soon as Esther's name was mentioned, Duke Dehsin raised his head and looked at Ben:

– Did the conversation go well?