Chapter 10

Dresses of various shapes and styles were drawn in the catalog. They were all gorgeous and luxurious.

– What style do you like?

Esther, who didn't understand anything about dresses at all, bent down and almost buried her nose in the catalog. However, I did not understand anything.

– I don't know…

– Don't you like it?

– No, they're all beautiful.

Kristina seemed disappointed, so Esther lowered her gaze in embarrassment.

– And what is the most beautiful? Maybe it is? – the woman changed her tone to a warm one so that the girl felt more comfortable when choosing the design of her dress and always asked for her opinion.

– Pretty.

– Then what's the start of it?

– It's pretty too, – said Esther sharply, for whom all the dresses looked equally beautiful.

Whenever the girl nodded, Kristina happily wrote down the cost of the dress on a small piece of paper. Boring and affectionate questions were repeated several times. A question about Esther's opinion and a note on paper.

Esther was curious about what the woman was writing down, but all the girl's thoughts were occupied with cookies. Even if she ate cookies very slowly, for some reason they disappeared very quickly.

Esther looked regretfully at her empty palm, and then, abruptly remembering the main thing, the girl spoke insistently, wondering if the Duke had left her here alone:

– Where is the Duke?

– He's waiting downstairs. I think we're done here, so I'm going to get him.

'Finished?' – wondering what was going on, the girl watched as Mrs. Kristina left the room.

A few minutes later, Kristina, with a smile on her lips, returned to the room with Duke Dehsin.

– We have chosen 16 options.

– Can I pick them up right now?"

– No, it will have to wait for some time until I fit them according to the size.

– Hah? – Esther, who had been listening intently all the time, suddenly raised her head. – Wait!

The girl did not want to interfere in the conversation about the size, but she had to do it. The fact was that Mrs. Kristina, in this conversation, seemed to have Esther in mind.

The girl jumped off the high sofa and approached Darwin. The man, bending slightly, met Esther's eyes:

– What is it?

– Are these... clothes for me? – Esther asked, emphasizing that she was not worthy of all this.

The Duke's indifferent gaze warmed slightly as he looked at Esther.

– That's right. We came to buy you dresses, and I'm glad you liked them.

– What? I didn't choose, they asked me, and I just answered ... – confused Esther remembered how many dresses she had just chosen.

'These dresses looked so expensive… I am already silent about the fact that he is going to buy 16 at once…'

– Then maybe you will choose others?

– No! That's not the point…

When Esther was confused, Darwin touched her chin:

– If it's hard for you to choose, then maybe we'll buy them all?

– Yes, we have quite inexpensive dresses.

– It's not a problem, – Ben nodded standing next to them and started to get the money.

Esther, who could not get used to such a thing, stamped her foot:

– No! I don't need that much!

– Hm, – Duke Dehsin's lips tightened into a thin line.

He wanted to buy all the dresses here, but he didn't want Esther to feel uncomfortable.

– I want to give you a gift. However, if you don't like anything, I won't force you to buy them, – Darwin calmly replied after a moment of reflection.

The conversation took the right turn and Esther calmed her excitement.

'16 dresses is too much, because I have clothes that I can wear in the mansion.

But I don't have any other clothes left, so I won't have anything to change into, I think it's better to agree now than to ask separately later…

However, all those dresses looked beautiful and expensive to accept... and, again, 16 dresses…'

– Good… Can I ask to buy seven? I think I'll need several dresses if I want to change outfits, – Esther tried to explain why she needed exactly seven dresses.

– Ok, – Darwin restrained himself from smiling and pressed his lips together.

'It doesn't matter if there are seven or sixteen dresses, the number doesn't matter given my finances.

But I won't argue with Esther, because she is unusually lively when she proves her point, and also…

There are cookie crumbs near her lips.'

The girl's lips were covered with cookie crumbs, and when she spoke, she was unusually sweet.

Darwin's expression was very strange as he tried to suppress a smile that was bursting out. Turning to the window, the man pressed his lips together so as not to laugh.

Mrs. Kristina, who was standing not far from them, smiled and walked up to Esther:

– Then, would you like to look at the catalog again?

– Yes!

Realizing that these would be her dresses, the girl approached the choice very carefully.

Among the dresses that Kristina picked up, Esther chose seven that looked as practical and comfortable as possible.

– Then I will prepare them.

– Can I pick them up right now?

– No, we have to sew them to your size... Oh, don't you want to wear this dress? It's the right size, – Kristina pointed to the dress hanging on a mannequin in the living room.

It was one of Esther's favorite dresses that didn't need to be sewn separately because it had to fit her perfectly.

As a result, the girl was taken to the next room to change her clothes. The store's maids helped Esther: they took off her worn-out clothes and helped her put on a new dress that had previously been on public display.

'This is the first time I've worn a dress… The fabric is so soft...' – Esther froze in place, stunned.

– I... do I look weird?

– No, it suits you very well. Your skin is so light that it perfectly matches the color of the dress, - Kristina was very happy when she saw Esther in the dress.

While the girl was changing clothes, the maids beautifully arranged her brown hair. Esther's hair was stiff because it had never been combed, but as it was combed, the girl's hair became longer and softer.

– Can I fix your hair a little bit? It seems to me that you will be much better with bangs.

– …yes, – Esther shuddered every time the maids' hands touched her head.

'The only person who ever touched me was Rabien… And her touch was always awkward and uncomfortable…'

The maid brushed Esther's bangs aside. Esther's eyes became much more noticeable when her crooked bangs disappeared, giving way to a neatly trimmed one. And thick hair was twisted into a beautiful bun.

With her hair gathered, the girl felt a little uncomfortable and stroked her neck.

After a short transformation, Mrs. Kristina led Esther to the mirror:

– Well, what do you think?

Naturally, Esther thought that she and the dress did not fit together at all. The girl was afraid to see confirmation of this, but she managed to overcome herself and opened one eye.

However, after a second, Esther stared at her reflection in the mirror in amazement.

The clothes seemed to inspire the girl. The person in the mirror even seemed a year older.

Without realizing it, Esther slowly approached the mirror and, reaching out, touched the mirror surface. The feeling of cold in the palm of her hand made the girl shudder.

– Well, how? Do you like it?

Esther blushed at Kristina's words. Kristina's light laugh rang out at the moment when the girl looked at her reflection in the mirror and wondered how this was possible.

– Yes, I've never worn such a beautiful dress before.

– I'm very glad! I'll send you the rest of the dresses as soon as they're ready. I'm sure they'll suit you too, – Kristina gave Esther a satisfied look.

'When I first saw this girl, I thought she was probably picked up on the street, but now I see that she has a noble soul…'

Esther's big eyes twinkled as she examined her dress.

It was so beautiful when the bottom ruffles fluttered whenever the girl moved. Esther couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful weave of sequins and frills.

However, the girl's joyful mood did not last long at all.

As they walked back to the living room, Esther suddenly became depressed. She was afraid that she would look ridiculous in the eyes of the Grand Duke, who had probably seen other dresses.

'Despite the fact that I received this dress as a gift, I hope the Duke will not be very disappointed when he sees me in it...' – the more Esther thought about it, the more nervous she became, and by the time they reached the living room, the girl had already worked herself up a lot.

– Your Highness, we're back, – Kristina was the first to enter the living room and called Duke Dehsin.

Esther saw Darwin turn around and involuntarily grabbed the hem of her dress.

Darwin was surprised to find Esther already standing at the door and quickly got up from the sofa.

'Amazing… Esther turned into a completely different child…'

The old clothes emphasized the girl's thinness, however, when she put on a dress that really suited her, this thinness completely ceased to catch the eye.

A neat bun of hair, gathered carelessly. Pure white skin, creating an aura of childlike innocence and scarlet cheeks. Esther looked much prettier now than before.

– You look good in it. Very cute, – Duke Dehsin said sincerely.

However, this compliment surprised everyone around.

Duke Dehsin was a man who rarely praised anyone. He had a heavy manner of speaking and was often silent, so to hear him praise was equivalent to catching a wild goose on a hunt.

Kristina has communicated with the Duke's sons countless times, but she has never seen or heard such expressions and intonations from him. At least, that's what she thought.

'So who is this girl?' – the woman's level of curiosity has grown even stronger.

Kristina was very surprised to hear a smile in the voice of the Ice Duke, and to see how his expression changed, which had never changed before, regardless of what was happening.

On the other hand, Esther, who was praised, looked extremely embarrassed.

The girl was not only not used to such compliments, but also felt that her clothes still did not fit her, which made her mouth dry.

– I'm not sure I can accept such expensive clothes…

– Expensive? Esther, you need to remember who you are, – Darwin grinned and gently stroked the girl's hair. –You're the Grand Duke's daughter.

Esther's lips parted slightly at the Duke's confident words. Without realizing it, she felt a tremor all over her body.

Kristina watched this scene with bated breath.

'Who the hell is this girl?!

I can't believe there is such a child! Who is she? - Mrs. Kristina's curiosity was off the scale.'

– ...I'll wear them well. Thank you, – the girl nodded, looking more confident.

– Then let's go, – Darwin said, smiling with the corners of his lips.

However, before Darwin and his men left the living room, Mrs. Kristina decided to ask Esther about her opinion:

– Tell me, what should I do with your old clothes?

– Please destroy her, – the girl replied instantly.

'I only wore it because I didn't have any other clothes, but every time there was an opportunity, I wanted to get rid of it.

Now that I've really left the temple, I can finally do it.'