ŠNovel Buddy
A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke-Side Story 13: More Than Friends (VIII)
Visit đ§đłđŚđŚđ¤đŚđđâ´đˇđŚđ.đ¤â´đ for the best novel reading experience
Side Story 13: More Than Friends (VIII)
The moment Noahâs lips touched Estherâs forehead, the air around them felt tight like someone had pulled a bowstring.
When Estherâs nervous eyelashes trembled, Noah lightly kissed her eyes as if to soothe her.
From the forehead to the eyes, from the eyes to the nose.
Noah didnât stop, lowering his lips little by little, lightly kissing wherever it touched.
Whenever his lips touched, It was just for a brief moment. But each time, both of them held their breath. And it repeated again.
As his lips descended further down her nose and their lips were mere millimeters away, Noah paused and gazed at Esther.
Tension could be felt from both.
Catching the otherâs gaze, the two eventually burst into smiles and laughter.
âThank you for confessing. I am really happy.â
âThank you for accepting me.â
Noah put his hand on top of Estherâs, which was gripping the edge of the bench, and pulled it off.
âI like you.â
Then, interlocking their fingers, Noah properly pressed his lips against Estherâs.
Their soft lips overlapped tightly, and both of them closed their eyes to focus on the moment.
The excitement, as if being struck by lightning, spread rapidly from their toes to their whole body.
The time that seemed to last forever passed in an instant, and the lips of the two slowly parted.
ââŚAh.â
Taking in a deep breath, Esther opened her eyes.
âI donât want to let you go, but itâs someone elseâs garden.â
Noah groaned as he ran a finger across Estherâs lips.
âWhy are you staring at me like that?â
Esther was embarrassed by Noahâs blatant admiring gaze and averted her eyes.
âI just like it.â
âIâm embarrassed, so stop looking at me.â
Noah loved this sight of Esther, fanning her face with her cheeks flushed. Grinning, he tightly embraced her again.
Of course, his ears were no less redder than hers.
It was afternoon right now, when the sun was bright, so they could see each otherâs blushing faces especially well.
âBut I feel like my heart is beating too fast. Iâm not going to die right?â
âIs yours going faster than mine?â
Noah took Estherâs hand and placed it on his chest.
âWhat do you think? Is it too fast?â
âMaybe weâre both normal.â
In this happy, warm atmosphere, Esther and Noah laughed together.
Bright sunlight was pouring down on their faces as if to bless them.
âTo think our first kiss is in Leoâs garden. I donât know whether to laugh or cry.â
âWe should thank Brother Leo.â
If Esther had promised to meet with Noah alone instead of at a tea party, Judy or Dennis would have insisted on coming along.
It was all thanks to Leo that they met without the twinsâ interference and were able to escape from the crowd at the party.
Yes, certainly, this situation would not have happened if Leo had not invited Esther and called her out.
âI know. Iâm very grateful, but itâs a little ambiguous. Itâs because he likes you, right? If itâs up to me, Iâll put him on standbyâŚâ
âNo! Donât!â
When Noah muttered so with a jealous face, a shocked Esther took hold of his shoulder and shook him.
Then Noah laughed, claiming it was a joke. He added as he playfully poked Estherâs cheeks.
âLeo is a very important talent for the imperial family as well. I wonât be petty. Instead, we should be very close from now on.â
Noah assured Esther with determined eyes.
He had already thought about Leo.
So that Leo would no longer have other thoughts about Esther, he intended to make him one of his people.
âYou shouldnât bother me.â
Esther was a little uneasy with Noahâs answer, but she decided to trust his words that he would aim to be friends with Leo.
âAnyway, Esther, Iâll write a diary entry when I go back today.â
âYou keep a diary?â
It was the first time she had heard of it, so she glanced quizzically at him.
âNo. I donât.â
âBut?â
âI want to record todayâs events.â
âJust⌠Because of the kiss?â
âThatâs right. Do you know? If I write a diary, it will be kept as a history book. Perhaps even people hundreds of years from now will know what happened today.â
âOh my god.â
Esther touched her forehead with a tearful expression.
âNo, donât do it. Pretend nothing happened today.â
âI canât do it? Itâs already perfectly written in my head.â
Noah gave Esther a smile that anyone would love, his eyes turning into crescents.
âI want everyone to know that youâre dating me.â
Giddy with joy, Noah kept smiling and giggling. But Estherâs face suddenly became solemn.
âNoah, we have a problem.â
âWhat is the problem?â
âWhat if my dad and brothers found out about this?â
Noahâs face turned dark. He hadnât thought of it until that point.
Having been by Estherâs side for a long time, he knew the characters of the twins and Deheen well.
âMaybe they will keep an eye on you so we wonât be able to meet again.â
âI might be banned from going out.â
Esther and Noah simultaneously let out a deep sigh.
They were at a loss as to how to get permission.
âStill, itâs impossible to meet secretly.â
Whenever the two made an appointment to meet, somehow, one of the twins would appear like a ghost.
Permission was necessary for them to go on a formal date in the future.
âDonât worry too much. I will go to your house and tell them.â
Having made up his mind, Noah clenched his fists and said bravely.
âYou are coming to my house? What if you get hit?â
Estherâs gaze dropped as she shook her head in worry.
âItâs okay if they hit me. If that can get us permission, itâs okay.â freew ebnov el
âIf you get hit by my dad and brothers, it wonât end until your bones are broken.â
Additionally, if Noah, the crown prince, was beaten and injured by the grand duke⌠It was perfect for people who liked to slander them to use them as a cause of a rebellion or civil war.
âIâll talk to my dad and my brothers first.â
âAlone?â
âYes. I think it would be better to ease them into it.â
âIâm worried⌠If you think you will be kicked out of the house, come to the Imperial Palace.â
Noah muttered that it would be nice to live with her in the palace, but Esther slapped him on the back.
âItâs a mountain we must climb at least once. Both my dad and brothers tend to be overprotective of me.â
âItâs because they care for you very much. I fully understand that feeling.â
They were glad they confirmed each otherâs feelings, but the mountain they had to overcome was too high, so they couldnât help but laugh.
âLetâs go in. Itâs been so long that people will think itâs strange.â
âShould we go back? Letâs sneak out together.â
As Esther got up from the bench, Noah held her arm, telling her not to go.
His longing gaze moved slowly from her eyes to her lips.
âBrother Leo will think itâs strange. Iâll go in first!â
Recalling the memory of the kiss, Esther turned around and ran away, her face flushed with embarrassment.
ââŚItâs a shame.â
Noah ran to Estherâs side. He touched his lips, unable to shake off the lingering feelings.
â â â
The day after tea time.
Esther was about to explode from thinking all day about how to get permission.
âLady Esther, what are you worried about? The ground will go out like this.â
Unable to watch Esther sighing once every three seconds, Dorothy invited her to confide in her.
âThatâsâŚâ
Frustrated alone, Esther stared at Dorothy, loosening her hand which was supporting her chin.
âAre you on my side?â
âYes. Youâre asking the obvious.â
âEven if youâre on my side, if my father asks about me, youâll tell him everything we talk about.â
âBut, but Iâm hired by His Excellency the Grand Duke.â
Dorothy wept, saying that she could not help it.
âThen I canât tell you.â
âAh, Iâm going to keep what youâre about to say a really tight secret. So tell me.â
âYou promised?â
âYes!â
Esther took a few deep breaths and straightened her posture.
Then, in a very hushed voice, she began to tell Dorothy.
âThis is not me, itâs just my imagination. How do you think my dad and brothers will react if I tell them Iâm dating someone?â
âWhat?â
Dorothy, who saw through the word âimaginationâ, opened her mouth wide in surprise and let out a loud noise.
âDoes this mean youâre dating His Highness the Crown Prince⌠eup!â
âShh! Quiet.â
Esther freaked out and ran over to Dorothy to cover her mouth.
âSorry. Iâll try to not be too surprised.â đťđđđđđđˇđŻâ´đˇđđ.đâ´đ
âI told you. Itâs just imagination.â
âAnyway, itâs an assumption about what it would be like to date the crown prince, right?â
âThatâs right.â
There was nothing to ponder over, Dorothy answered right away.
âItâs only natural that the mansion turns upside down, and judging from past experiences, they might kidnap and torture His Highness the Crown PrinceâŚâ
âNonsense.â
âIâm joking. They might be surprised, but they will respect your opinion.â
As Estherâs face was about to turn white, Dorothy smiled kindly, saying it would never happen.
âIs it really so? Wonât they put a curfew on me so I canât go out or starve me for a few days?â
âHow can that be? How much does the grand duke and young masters value you? Wonât they rather rebel than starve you?â
âThat scares me even more!â
Esther wrapped her arms around herself and wept.
âSo, uh⌠itâs imaginary, but you want to be allowed to go out with the crown prince, right?â
âThatâs right. Itâs an imagination.â
As Dorothy lowered her voice, Esther perked her ears up and her eyes brightened.
âThere is one way to have guaranteed success.â
âWhat?â
Even though it was only the two of them in the room, Dorothy drew closer to Esther and whispered secretly.
âA declaration of fasting.â
âAh, will that work?â
When Esther heard the method, she slumped down on the bed and shook her legs.
âYou know how much the grand duke and the young masters care for you. If you say you wonât eat, theyâll do whatever it takes to get you to eat.â
Dorothy assured Esther that there could be no surer way.
It was unbelievable that his method would work, but she was tempted to grab straws.
âOkay. Iâll try it tonight.â
âTonight? Didnât you say itâs an imagination?â
Esther blinked rapidly, wanting to say no to Dorothyâs naughty question.
âThat, uh⌠ahhhh. Suddenly, I feel very sleepy. Iâm going to sleep for a bit, so wake me up before dinner later.â
Instead of answering, she quickly laid down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her head.
âHahaha. Congratulations.â
Dorothy couldnât hide her happy smile as she properly spread out Estherâs blanket, which was only covering her face.
Ame: *reads âwe should thank brother Leo* Tsk tsk, this two loveable idiots, donât rub salt on a poor manâs wounds!
*reads âhow about I go to your house and tell themâ* awww, you go Noah! Take courage and go! Wait, Esther, why are you stopping him!?
*three minutes later* noooooOooo! Dorothy! What a bad advice!