A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke

Side Story 11: More Than Friends (VI)

“Right.”

Compared to Leo, Noah, who had a much more laid-back expression, recognized him at once.

“How…”

In Leo’s eyes as he stared at Esther, there was a slight resentment of why hadn’t she told him beforehand.

“But the simple definition of friends is not enough.”

Noah smiled and offered to shake Leo’s hand.

“…Is that so.”

Leo implicitly noticed Noah’s warning and hardened his face.

Actually, just by the fact that Noah followed Esther this far, the two couldn’t be just friends.

“It’s a great honor that Your Highness, who must be busy, came to such a small tea party.”

“Thank you for thinking so. To be honest, I was worried that I would be considered an uninvited guest.”

“It can’t be.”

With resignation, Leo smiled and held Noah’s outstretched hand.

And almost at the same time, Noah and Leo’s expressions distorted.

‘Hah, you hung around Esther while I was gone? Have a taste of… No, why are your hands so strong?’

‘Ugh, are you going to try me?’

Both of them squeezed out all the strength they had, trying not to lose.

Esther, who was patiently waiting for the greeting to end, tilted her head in confusion.

Even though a reasonable amount of time had passed, the two didn’t seem to want to let go of their hands.

“Is there something wrong?”

She approached and asked, but the two young men with burning fighting spirits did not hear her.

“Your Highness? Brother Leo?”

Standing on tiptoes, Esther spread her hand and waved it between the two of them. Still, there was no response.

“Noah, how long are you going to hold his hand? Let it go.”

Impatient, Esther gritted her teeth and whispered softly in Noah’s ear.

It was criticism, but seeing it as a sign of friendliness, Leo’s face hardened and Noah smiled.

“Wait a minute. I’m saying hello.”

‘Isn’t it too much to have the veins on the back of your hand protruding for a greeting?’

“…Ha. I’ll go in first.”

When it was clear that neither man would let go first, Esther, exhausted from waiting, shrugged and turned around.

Only then did an earthquake begin to occur in Noah and Leo’s pupils.

“Your Highness, it seems that we have shared enough greetings.”

“Yes. Let’s go in.”

The two exchanged glares as they let go of their hands to follow Esther.

“Esther, go with me!”

Noah took large strides to catch up with Esther.

He pretended nothing was wrong, stuffing his hand in his pants pocket.

‘You’re not only good at swordsmanship. You’re so strong? I thought my fingers would break. I’m glad you stopped…’

In fact, Noah struggled to endure the tingling pain in his reddened hands.

★★★

At the tea party, Esther and Noah received the intense attention of everyone in attendance.

Since they hadn’t had their debut, it was hard to see them at social gatherings, so they naturally became the center of attention.

“I thought Your Highness was still in Bertin Kingdom, when did you come back?”

“I heard that you returned home last week. I guess this is your first schedule…”

In particular, Noah, who had just returned from Berkin, showed up. So everyone seemed amazed.

But whatever…

Noah didn’t care about the gazes of others, and he chased Esther.

“There is no room to dig in. Ha.”

Thanks to this, Leo couldn’t find the right moment to talk to Esther. He could only follow the two with his eyes in discomfort.

“Leo, I didn’t know you were friends with His Highness. Why have you hidden it?”

“It’s an acquaintance even I didn’t know about. I’m not hiding anything.”

At his friend’s question, the wrinkles on Leo’s forehead deepened.

He himself was bewildered by the current situation. The crown prince attended his small tea party…!

His plan to win Esther’s favor at this tea time had already gone awry.

“Those two are still the same.”

A lady of a county approached Leo and spoke with a bright smile.

“What’s still the same? Have you seen the two of them anywhere else?”

“Oh, it’s a pretty famous story. Don’t you know?”

The lady smiled, covering her mouth with her fan and looking in the direction of Noah and Esther.

“His Highness, who only participates in the minimal official schedules, has an event he always goes to since he was very young. Do you know what it is?”

“Is it related to Lady Esther?”

“That’s right. Lady Esther’s birthday party and all other events related to the grand ducal family. The two of them can’t be just friends.”

It was a story known to all the young ladies who were interested in the crown prince.

“I see. I was always training, so I had no idea.”

“Maybe the two of them will become partners in their debutante. They look good together everytime I see them.”

With that, the lady of a county happily took a slice of cake and moved to another seat.

But Leo still stood there, staring at Esther and Noah, confused.

“I can tell just by looking at your eyes.”

Even if he hadn’t listened to what the lady and everyone else said, he couldn’t have not noticed it.

Noah’s gaze and all of his actions only reached Esther.

In particular, even if Leo tried to get a little closer, Noah would move and build an iron wall.

“You just knew each other first.”

Leo was a little angry.

He really liked Esther. It was not fair that he couldn’t even approach her just because they knew each other first.

No matter how much the crown prince liked Esther, Leo was determined to convey his feelings.

“I hope I won’t be fired from the imperial knights just because I confessed.”

After making a big decision, Leo walked towards Esther with a nervous face.

★★★

“This cake is really good.”

“Take one and ask the chef to taste it. Won’t he be able to make it the same then?”

“Oh? How do I pack this?”

Esther was happily eating a piece of tiramisu cake.

Then, seeing Leo approaching, she quickly put the fork down.

“Esther, wait. It’s on your lips.”

Even though there were napkins next to them, Noah boldly ran his finger over Esther’s lips.

Of course, it was an act conscious of Leo.

Indeed, Leo saw that and clenched his fists tightly.

“Why do you do it with your hands when you can wipe it with a napkin?”

Embarrassed, Esther picked up a napkin and put it in Noah’s hand.

Leo, who had come close to the two before they knew it, asked Esther with a smile.

“Esther, is it okay to talk for a minute?”

“Sure. What’s going on?”

“I have something to tell you. I want to talk to you outside.”

“All right.”

Esther placed the plate she was holding on the table and stood up.

“Don’t you still have a lot left?”

Pointing to the plate which was full of different types of cakes, Noah asked as if telling her not to go.

“I will come back and eat them.”

“Then I will go with you.”

Feeling uneasy for some reason, Noah jumped up and said that he would follow.

But Leo took a step forward and gently refused.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but this is something that Esther and I have to talk about in private. I ask for your understanding.”

“In private?”

Noah’s voice was low, and he stared at Leo.

“That’s right.”

However, since Leo could not yield this time, he did not back down either.

“I’ll be back soon. Stay here.”

When Esther warned him to stop, Noah was immediately discouraged.

“…Come back quickly.”

“Okay.”

Esther and Leo went out into the backyard, which was a nice place to have a quiet talk.

A spark was burning in Noah’s eyes as he stared at the empty spots of the two.

Just having Leo standing next to Esther made him jealous. It was hard to bear.

“What the hell is it that they have to be alone?”

Noah couldn’t stand still.

Eventually, in order to eavesdrop on their conversation, he quickly headed in the direction the two had disappeared.

★★★

In the backyard, there was a small fountain with various fishes carved on it.

Esther and Leo sat at a round table by the fountain.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you in advance that I was bringing someone, but I only found out when I was here.”

“It’s okay. There must have been a situation. Rather, I brought you here because I wanted to ask you something.”

Leo’s eyes turned serious.

Esther nodded, staring calmly at Leo’s blond hair as it gently fluttered in the wind.

“Please speak.”

“Have you decided on a partner for your debutante?”

“I haven’t thought about it because I still have a lot of time.”

“Then what about me?”

“Yes?”

“I would be really happy if I could be your debutante partner.”

It was a polite and courteous proposal, befitting his usual serious personality.

It was definitely something to be happy and thankful about, but Esther was just flustered.

“That…”

Perplexed, Esther fidgeted with the edge of the bench.

“There is a line of people who want to be Brother Leo’s partner. It doesn’t have to be me.”

When Esther turned down the offer, Leo’s face darkened.

“Others are meaningless. Because you are the one I like.”

Leo didn’t mean to confess so quickly, but the moment he saw Noah, he felt nervous.

He brought Esther out because he thought there would be no chance if he didn’t confess his feelings now.

“Brother Leo.”

Although Esther saw Leo at her home every week, she never really expected to hear a confession. So she was stunned.

But she knew well that Leo wasn’t the kind of person to play pranks like this.

Esther bit her lips slightly and thought hard, trying to find the words to answer.

“I’m grateful that you like me, but I have someone I like.”

She thought that she had to answer honestly and with sincerity, so she revealed what she had never told anyone.

“Can I ask who it is?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Esther answered in a shy voice, but there was no shame or hesitation.

And as she uttered the words, her heart trembled and pounded.

“As expected.”

Leo smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly.

“You two aren’t dating yet. Can’t you give me a chance too? The two of you just met first. If you get to know me more, you might change your mind.”

“No. It’s not because we met first.”

Esther drew a firmer line toward Leo, who seemed unwilling to give up.

“If I hadn’t met His Highness, I probably wouldn’t have liked anyone until I met His Highness.”

“Does that mean you won’t like anyone other than His Highness?”

“Yes. No one else.”

Esther’s voice was so resolute that Leo was speechless for a moment.

Ame: Remember, there’s special updates, so see ya tomorrow!

Leo, I must say, “just because they met first” is a very big reason! Don’t you know the saying, “The good ones are always taken”?

And oh gosh, breaking news! Leo is a blond! I can finally sorta imagine him… wait… why does his image in my mind overlap with Khalid… oh no… oops…

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