Chapter 19

The doctors that Duke Dehsin invited to examine Esther all this time were waiting for the girl to wake up.

– I'm fine! – Astounded by the number of doctors, Esther shouted urgently, but it didn't help.

The first group of doctors were the best doctors of the Grand Duke's family. This group consisted of seven people, but none of them was in a hurry to get closer.

Since any wrong word could be perceived by Duke Dehsin as a mistake and could have terrifying consequences, none of the doctors dared to take on this "burden".

As a result, after a few long moments, Evian, the doctor with the lowest rank among those present, was pushed forward.

Resisting, Evian still took a few steps forward.

It was the first time he stood in front of the Duke, because, usually, he was just helping other doctors with their work.

– Let me see ... – in tension, Evian took the girl by the wrist.

– She's sick. Do you know how to cure her? – Darwin immediately began to put pressure on Evian, whose reaction seemed strange to him.

And immediately morally suppressed Evian.

–Th-this… – The doctor faltered, noticing Duke Dehsin's gaze.

– Could you step back a little? I can't examine Miss properly, – Evian's voice trembled.

From the moment Evian entered the room and caught Duke Dehsin's eye watching them, his breath was instantly taken away and his legs were shaking.

Darwin flinched slightly at Evian's words. He felt uncomfortable and, taking Judy, he moved away:

– I'm sorry. Repeat the inspection.

– Yes, Your Highness, – after that, the usual complexion returned to Evian and the examination began to take place as usual.

Towards the end of the inspection, Esther and Evian's gazes briefly crossed.

'…?' – Esther was confused.

For a moment, the girl saw a flash of contempt flash in Evian's eyes when he looked at her. Esther immediately recognized this emotion, because it shone in the eyes of everyone she met in the temple.

However, this emotion disappeared in the blink of an eye, greatly confusing the girl.

– Your Highness, the inspection is over, – Evian said in a frightened voice, putting away his tools.

– What do you say?

– There is no special illness, but Miss has weak energy and she is much thinner than her peers, – a sigh of relief escaped from Evian's lips when he realized that there was no big problem. – She needs to eat well.

– Thank God, – Darwin also sighed with relief.

Despite the fact that Esther caused Evian not the most pleasant feelings, his work was much more important than emotions.

However, on Evian's inspection, it didn't end there. The other doctors patiently waited their turn to approach the girl.

– Next, – as soon as the doctor who finished the examination left, Duke Dehsin immediately called the next person.

Esther, who couldn't take it anymore and didn't know how to stop it, grabbed the Duke's hand:

– The Grand Duke.

– What? – The touch of the girl's hand made Darwin freeze. Esther's hands, clasping his hand, were so small that anxiety gripped the man's heart.

The girl tilted her head slightly and looked at Duke Dehsin.

'The reason why I am in this state is very far from diseases…'

However, from Esther's words, Darwin's anxiety only intensified:

– She has an unhealthy complexion, is she really okay? Bring the doctor who was here just now, – Duke Dehsin frowned, placed his palm on the girl's forehead, and then, grasping her cheeks, began to twist her face from side to side.

Esther, whose cheeks were in the firm grip of the "father", looked at Ben for help.

Ben instantly came to the rescue and, closing his eyes for a second, called the Duke:

– Duke, I think Miss is telling the truth.

– Esther? – only after that, Darwin stopped fussing and looked at Esther a little more adequately. – What if the doctor simply did not detect the disease?

– Miss can be seen by a doctor for several days. I will personally take her to him.

– Hmm... good.

Thanks to Ben's intervention, it was possible to stop all the fuss with the doctors.

Esther squeezed her fingers happily, mentally glad that no one would find out.

It was the craziest moment in many lives that the girl remembered.

–Then, I'll prescribe a special meal for Miss's speedy recovery.

– Make sure everything is done perfectly.

– Of course, – the Butler replied seriously.

But not only the butler, all the other employees of the house also took it seriously.

'Once in the Grand Duke's family, Miss should no longer lose consciousness due to lack of food!' – they all decided to join forces to make the girl strong and light bright lights in her eyes.

When the noise and fuss subsided, Esther looked confusedly at Darwin, who was still in her room.

'I'm ashamed that I didn't get sick, and they made such a fuss... I wish I was really sick…'

– I'm sorry for this trifle…

– What are you talking about? I'm glad you're not sick, – Duke Dehsin said sternly but gently. – And it's not a trifle. Health is always very important.

Words that the girl had never heard touched her heart and an unfamiliar tickling feeling arose in it.

Before, the fact that I was sick was no more important than dust flying in the air…

'Even if I was seriously ill, no one in the temple was interested in it. Even when I was bleeding and suffering, everyone looked at it as something natural.

I always thought I was the one who had to suffer.

It's so strange to be among people who left their jobs, because it turned out to be nothing compared to the fact that I didn't wake up for two days...' – Esther did not let her eyes close with an effort of will.

'I'm not allowed to cry.

Tears will flow if I just loosen my control...' – the girl glanced around the room, just not to close her eyes and cry, and stumbled upon her brother, who was standing by her bed.

– Here, this is my gift, – Judy said with a bright smile, without ceremony. – I bought it because it looks like you.

– At me? By what?..

– His eyes are just as bright, – the boy handed Esther a rabbit doll.

The girl looked at the toy to make sure that Judy's words were true, but the cute rabbit doll with snow–white fluffy fur did not look like her at all.

Rather, on the contrary.

– I don't look like him ... – Esther stroked the snow–white ears of the rabbit doll. Although the girl thought that he did not look like her at all, the tips of her lips still lifted in a slight smile.

– Since I'm not needed here anymore, I'll go... ah! Father, it hurts! – Judy, was about to leave, but Duke Dehsin caught him by the ear, because of this, the boy had to go back to the place where he was standing.

– Before you leave, you have to say goodbye.

– Oh, right, – rubbing the injured place, Judy remembered what he had forgotten and immediately ran up to Esther and hugged the girl.

– …??? – Esther's eyes widened at the unexpected embrace.

Dennis didn't resist much either and hugged Esther along with Judy.

When the twins opened their arms, Darwin stepped forward.

Spreading his arms wide, Duke Dehsin did not hesitate to embrace the girl in his arms. The man was so big that Esther just drowned in his arms.

– Get well, – Darwin said, patting the girl on the back.

– Father! You should treat Esther more carefully, not the way you treat us!

– Oh, did I hug you too much? Forgive me, – Darwin tried his best to control his strength, but the waves of his aura emanated from him and could harm Esther, who was still weak.

However, the girl herself could not be happier than from these hugs. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. No one had ever hugged Esther, so these unfamiliar and embarrassing sensations made her feel even more strange.

'Probably, this is a common action for close people…' – the girl was twice surprised by the behavior of the people around her, and once by the fact that warmth can be so close.

After a few moments, the room was empty.

– Ah… everyone's gone, – Esther, left alone, weakened and fell on the bed.

'Everything that happened today is very similar to a dream.

I never would have thought that Duke Dehsin, who never smiles and is always extremely cold, would be able to hug someone like that…'

– I can't believe it…

'Hugs are something that only his sons can get from the «Monstrous Duke»,' – Esther lowered her head and began to giggle. The girl could not bear what was happening without laughing, because strange feelings tickled her from the inside.

Esther's laughter grew louder and for a while she laughed alone, like a madwoman.

After a long laugh, the girl's eyes filled with tears that could not stop flowing.

*****

Evian, the first to examine Esther, could not leave and walked around the mansion.

His gaze was still fixed on the third floor, where Esther lived. And, thanks to this, he managed to catch the girl's eyes filled with tears for a moment.

–Who the hell is she? – The doctor looked at his hand, which was still shaking.

Evian had very good healing abilities.

Even though he had the lowest rank of the Grand Duke's doctors, he was still one of the few chief doctors, despite being a commoner.

However, he had another ability that no one knew about.

He could sense Divine power.

Usually, this ability is manifested in the priests of the temple, however, for some reason, it was revealed in Evian.

However, this ability was of little use in his medical work.

Since the Divine Powers were under the control of the temple, there was no need to reveal this ability. However, today, Evian noticed Esther's secret, which was not noticed by other doctors, thanks to this ability.

'There is a huge Divine power hidden in this girl's body,' – the moment Evian realized this, his hands trembled. 'It hasn't manifested yet, but I can't even imagine what it would be like to use such power.'

Evian stopped abruptly and muttered:

– I'm sure the Duke knows.

'If you think about it, it makes sense.

Everyone knows how terrible and scary Duke Dehsin is.

From the very beginning, the fact that he relented and adopted an orphan was extremely strange. Strange, unless he wanted to hide this child in his castle.

It seemed strange to me, so I decided to check this orphan and now everything has become clear.'

– He's a scary man, – Evian clicked his tongue.

Due to the fact that Duke Dehsin did not hesitate to use even a child, the doctor clicked his tongue again.

'Well, I don't care what happens to this orphan,' –only one thing mattered to Evian. 'Will this mystery somehow affect me?

Even though I found out the secret of the Grand Duke, it's still extremely early for me to leave...' – muttering excitedly, Evian walked in an unknown direction.