Chapter 29

– Kane, did my mother send you?

– Yes. I was asked to deliver valuable ingredients to you, which this time arrived as gifts. I also brought clothes and jewelry, – Kane looked around and pointed to a cart full of luggage, which was being slowly dragged by another servant.

Except, this time, Rabien wasn't interested in luggage at all.

The girl held out her hand expectantly:

– A letter.

– This is… I'm sorry, but there are no letters.

From these words, Rabien's expression instantly turned to stone, and her beautifully twinkling eyes filled with a poisonous shine:

– No?

– Yes. Mr. Noah's unconscious state continues… I had no opportunity to receive letters from that lady.

– Until now? It looks like he's in a bad condition, – the concern that filled Rabien's face was extremely sincere. –You said he was regularly treated by a priest, didn't you?

– Yes. However, it doesn't seem to help.

– It can't be. I have to go myself.

– My Lady? – Kane stopped, startled.

'No matter how much Ms. Rabien tries, is there a chance for Mr. Noah to get better?'

– Don't worry. It won't take long.

– No, I'm worried that if My Lady's whereabouts are discovered, problems may arise, since he is your ex-fiance.

– That's not going to happen. I'll come out during the walk, so be prepared.

– ...good.

– Do you understand that neither my father nor my mother should know about this?

– Yes, My Lady.

Despite the fact that Kane had helped Rabien since childhood, he still could not break her stubbornness.

After Rabien left Kane, she continued to think about Noah.

'Noah, you can't die,' – the girl's pale face reflected deep feelings for Noah.

*****

– Has something changed?

– I don't know. Miss planted it yesterday... won't you look at it?

– Hmm, it's true. It is interesting. I have been working as a gardener for more than 40 years, but I have never seen such growth. I haven't even heard of it.

Esther went to the garden to check the condition of the hyacinth that she planted yesterday, and then, hearing someone else's conversation, immediately hid behind a tree.

'It's crazy. How could he grow up?'

Even from afar, the hyacinth had grown noticeably.

The girl planted it yesterday afternoon, and it has already grown so much. These were not just sprouted sprouts, the flower buds of some seeds had even blossomed.

Esther's heart beat faster when she saw this.

'Hyacinth is a sacred flower that reacts to divine power. The stronger the Divine power of the person planting it, the faster it grows…

The seeds grew and the buds opened in just one day…'

– It's impossible! – Esther whispered desperately, clutching at the tree.

'The awakening of the Holy Power has begun…

But, why now, when I'm playing a quiet family life?!

I was relieved to think that I could live like this for a year or at least six months before the death of Saint Cespia.

I have no right to enjoy it anymore. I do not know when Rabien will come here, which means that I need to die before that moment.

But, for some reason…

I don't want to die,' – these thoughts still baffled Esther. She didn't know what to do in this situation.

Previously, the girl wanted to die all the time. There were no regrets in her world, so she just begged the Goddess to let her disappear or die.

Therefore, her last thought confused Esther very much.

The girl bumped her forehead against a tree, hoping that it would wake her up.

'The pain proves that I'm not crazy…'

Esther tried to hit her forehead against the tree again, but there was a sharp sigh from the side and something appeared between the girl's forehead and the tree.

– ...the Grand Duke?

The soft something that touched Esther's forehead turned out to be Duke Dehsin's palm.

Darwin's firm palm prevented the girl's forehead from touching the hard bark of the tree again.

– It hurts. What if a wound appears on your forehead?

Duke Dehsin, who has been through countless battles, is a great man who did not blink an eye, even when blood was pouring from his or someone else's wounds like a fountain. I trembled at the thought that even a small scratch might appear on Esther's forehead.

Darwin ordered a doctor to be called immediately, and then touched the girl's forehead and blew on the trail.

– ...it's all right. It doesn't hurt at all.

– Your forehead is red, – Duke Dehsin frowned, showing that he didn't like it. – If you don't like this tree, can I cut it down?

– No! – Esther shook her head sharply.

It wasn't the tree that was the problem, but because of the Duke's concern, Esther's excitement had strangely decreased.

Darwin, belatedly realizing his actions, immediately looked away, and when he saw the grown hyacinth, his eyes immediately shone.

– Is it because of your Divine power? You must have been one of the best candidates in the temple.

– Maybe… – Esther smiled awkwardly, because she couldn't say it was because of the Saint's power.

'How do I ask her about it?' – it was not in Darwin's nature to beat around the bush, so now he was somewhat confused. 'Or maybe just refuse?'

In fact, Duke Dehsin was on his way to Esther's to talk to her about Benjamin's request. But when he saw the girl banging her head against a tree, he couldn't resist and rushed to her.

Darwin, accustomed to command, did not know how to ask, so he decided to speak openly.

– Esther, there's something you need to do.

– I'm listening, – the girl's gaze wavered, and her voice was hoarse.

'She says she's fine every time, but her lips are trembling and it seems to me that I have something to do with it…'

– There is one person who wants you to draw a portrait.

– I'll do it.

'You could have said it less seriously!'

When Esther happily replied, Darwin became even more excited:

– This is an unusual person. If someone from the Empire finds out about this, then you may be in danger and will be severely punished, because it is forbidden to do this.

– It's all right.

'I think it will be even better if this case is dangerous.

Before I die, I can fulfill one request of the Grand Duke. Anyway, I'm not afraid of death, so danger is not important to me.'

– But, there's nothing to worry about. Because you're my daughter. I just thought it would be better for you to know about it in advance.

– Yes. But, Grand Duke, tell me, is there any news from the temple?

This time, Esther didn't hesitate to ask about the temple news.

The girl was so curious that her eyes shone again. Darwin, seeing those beautiful eyes, laughed hoarsely.

'In recent days, Esther has been eating well and meat has finally appeared on her cheeks. She's so cute, like a squirrel.'

– The Grand Duke?

– What?

– I asked if anything happened in the temple…

– Oh, I'm sorry. For a few moments, I thought about something else. No, I didn't hear anything.

– Got it.

Unlike Esther, who frowned because she didn't hear the right information, Duke Dehsin couldn't hide his weak smile.

*****

Two days later, Esther was driving somewhere in a carriage.

The destination was a secret. They just put her in the carriage and told her that when she was finished, she would immediately return.

Therefore, it was not difficult for Esther to fulfill this request of the Grand Duke.

After a long journey, the wheels of the carriage stopped knocking.

– Miss, you need to go alone from here. Go straight to the hut, there's only one room. There you will draw a portrait, – the coachman who opened the door looked unusual. With a faceless face, he said a few sentences to Esther.

– Oh, yes, – the girl carefully stepped on the step and got off the carriage.

Stepping onto the ground, Esther slowly looked back and saw a real meadow. The place where the carriage stopped was an ordinary curb.

'Is there something unusual in this lush green forest?' – the girl was both puzzled and suspicious:

– But is this really the right place?

– Yes. It's there.

The place the coachman pointed out was a forest. The girl needed to get into the thick of it.

– Only two hours. You should only draw during this time. I'll be waiting for you here.

– Got it.

'Anyway, I've come so far that I can't just come back.'

Esther walked slowly in the direction the coachman had shown her.

The smell of fresh grass touched the girl's sense of smell. Esther, who was short, was swallowed up by the forest in the blink of an eye.

She was a little scared, but she walked bravely through the grass. Suddenly, the girl felt a piercing tension in her outstretched hand.

When Esther crossed the invisible border, an amazing picture and crystal clear air opened up to her. Pure energy, which instantly cleared the lungs, surrounded the girl's body.

– Is there a secret sanctuary here? – The girl muttered in surprise.

'All the sanctuaries are in the possession of the temple, because these are amazing places.

Such places are usually open to everyone, but no one knew about this place…

In a word, it is a secret sanctuary.'

Esther looked curiously inside the sanctuary.

Inside there was a wide space covered with grass.

It was a beautiful place filled with bright colors and sunlight.

Due to the fact that there were no people in this place, there were a lot of birds here. One of them, a blue bird, flew up to Esther.

– Hi, – the girl smiled and held out her finger to the bird.

The blue bird sat down on Esther's finger without a drop of fear. She was so cute that the girl even managed to gently pat her cute tummy.

After looking around, Esther quickly reached the hut and gently knocked on its old door:

–Is anyone here? – she asked politely, but there was no answer.

'As the coachman said, there doesn't seem to be anyone here.'

Eventually, Esther opened the door and went inside.

The cold in the hut instantly enveloped the girl. It was as if she stepped into another world, which was very different from the warm and cozy world outside.

'Why did it suddenly become so cold?' – Shivering from the cold, Esther began to look around.

The empty living room, devoid of furniture, looked very lonely.

Esther took off her hat and, taking it in her hands, walked slowly on.

There was another room in the corner.

'The cold air seems to be coming from here.'