As soon as DeHeen was finished, the guards held Dianas arms. She was forced to kneel down, so her hands were covered with dirt.

Diana felt a great fear at the moment. If she is handed over to the temple, she will be imprisoned, and she will not be able to avoid Ravienne again. A future where she will suffer from being trapped in an underground prison that she wanted to escape from.

No

Diana crawled desperately to hold DeHeen.

Please,

DeHeens gaze turned back to Diana, who was sobbing.

I cant be in the temple. Please dont hand over me to the temple. Just kill me here. Please.

Then Im in trouble. Theres no advantage in killing you. Its just get worse with the temple.

He couldnt help but sound cold. A complete stranger, and besides, DeHeen wasnt kind enough to show approval to a child who tried to acctack him.

Wrong.

Diana shook her head, feeling dark in her eyes. The despair was even greater because I thought this was her last chance.

However, DeHeen, who was calmly turning away from Diana, stopped.

Phew.

The misfortune of the world that she couldnt get out was embraced by Diana.

What kind of life do you have?

DeHeen gently looked down at Diana with his arms crossed. Then, all of a sudden, he took out his hand and swept away Dianas hair which was covering her forehead.

Diana flinched and frowned her clear pink eyes.

You.

DeHeens eyes shook when he saw it. He was strangely nervous when he saw Dianas dark grayish brown hair.

It was because he remembered his dead wife. But the eye color was the same. She had no resemblance to her face, but she was a child who reminded him of someone he missed.

Have you changed your mind?

Diana stared at DeHeen who also staring at her. Dianas eyes were very clear. There is an incredibly deep darkness, but it was pure and deep.

DeHeens heart stood up in the eyes that are looking up at him.

Okay, Ive decided.

DeHeen bent down deeply to meet Dianas eye level.

Do you laugh sometimes?

Should I laugh?

Diana, who was absent-minded, replied in embarrassment.

How old are you?

.. Im 12 years old.

Thats just right.

DeHeen paused and stared at Diana. It was the first time for Diana to receive someones eyes so deeply. So, her face turned red without even realizing it.

You.

Diana, who was called by DeHeen, gulped.

Why dont you be my daughter?

Cuk.

Diana, who was nervous, coughed in surprise. It wasnt just Diana who was surprised.

Ben, who was watching the situation, shook his head urgently saying no.

Your Grace!

Its noisy Ben.

However, he had to back down at DeHeens words.

Diana brooded on DeHeens words several times. But she couldnt understand what she heard at all.

Your daughter?

Youre right. You said you were an orphan? I want to adopt you.

Adopt? She pinched the back of her hand, but it was not a dream. Dianas doubts about DeHeen have grown as she couldnt figure out what was going on.

To torture me.?

Why would I do such a hard work?

Then, youre really adopting me?

Yes.

It was a heartless voice for anyone who wanted to adopt her as a daughter. However, it was not possible for a man as big as DeHeen to play with such thing.

I attacked the Grand Duke?

There was no living.

Looking at Dianas suspicion, DeHeen said a few words.

I was about to find a child to adopt. I happened to meet you and I like you.

Am I not dirty, an orphan?

DeHeens eyes wiggled when she asked if she was dirty. His fierce face turned scarier anyway.

That doesnt matter.

DeHeens voice was firm.

If you agreed to be my daughter, from that moment you will be the noblest child.

Noble me?

In Dianas opinion, the word that didnt suit her the most was noble.

So, when she didnt even respond, DeHeen sighed and grabbed Diana to raise her. She was so skinny that she had a long arm in one hand. She was so light that he didnt even feel the weight.

DeHeen clicked his tongue and shook the dirt off Dianas hand.

I dont think youre in a position to refuse my offer. If you refuse my offer, Ill hand you over the temple.

DeHeens voice was much warmer that it was at first, though his tone was crude. Nervous, Diana bit her lips and looked at her palms.

Thanks to DeHeens dusting, it was clean. It was the first time that someone gave their hand to Diana first.

Can I follow you?

No matter how much she thought about it, the proposal to become her daughter was a proposal that Diana had nothing to lose.

So, she cant believe it anymore.

It didnt matter if DeHeen had a different purpose to adopt her. There is no hope in the temple anyway.

If she stays like this, her future will be imprisoned by Ravienne again. Dianas eyes, which had been shaken for a while, stopped looking straight.

All right, if I could get out of here.

Good choice.

The sunlight fell radiantly between the two. Because of that, DeHeens bad hair shone brightly. Diana was briefly distracted by blue waves.

Is this man my father.?

When she thought so, she felt goosebumps on her back.

For Diana, parents were somethings he could never have. But suddenly, parents appeared. And the aristocrat of the nobility, her father is the Grand Duke?

It was a nonsense situation

Your Grace, its time to go back. The event will begin shortly.

Yes, Ill go.

At Bens words, DeHeen came to his senses. He escaped from the clinging of people for a while, but he had to go back and fill the seats before the event began.

Nevertheless, it was breaking to leave Diana, who will be his daughter.

Dont let someone go after you finish the check-in.

DeHeen said to Diana to wait. To look friendly, he added a rather awkward smile. However, DeHeens smile was scary because of his well-known reputation.

It was the smile that Ben lamented that it would not improve even after practicing in the carriage.

Dianas face suddenly turned white when she saw the smile. DeHeen, who thought Diana was scared because of him, quickly looked serious.

Well, Im sorry if I scared you. This is the way I smile.

No, Im not scared!

Diana shook her hand in a hurry. Then she added words so that he would not misunderstand.

Its been so long since someone smiled affectionately at me I was surprised.

Since Diana, who had always been suffering from the cold, was able to read the kindness in DeHeens eyes.

Sweet? Me?

No one would normally look at DeHeen and say anything sweet. Seeing his big size and cold eyes didnt make the word sweet.

He knows himself better than anyone else, so his head is full of unexpected words. So, he took a deep breath because he felt like he was losing his breath.

Whats wrong with my heart?

DeHeens heart, which was always calm, began to beat fast. Ben, who was watching the situation from the side, became serious.

He approaches the hardened DeHeen and whispered to him.

Maybe she cant see well?

I have good eyes. I can see very well from a far!

Diana was anxious that DeHeen would change his mind. So, she shouted out loud, and she was amazed by her own voice and covered his mouth.

DeHeen, who saw it, burst into laughter.

Hahahaha. Look at that. My smile wasnt wrong. The problem was the people who didnt recognize it.

I dont think thats a problem.

Ben patted his chin and whispered. Then he mumbled that if he was really going to adopt a child, he would have to start with an eye exam.

I. Then, when can I leave the temple? asked Diana, who was looking at the two.

It seemed like she would be thrown away if she left DeHeen without a definite answer.

Were going back together at the end of the event week. Ill send someone to get in touch with you.

Diana eagerly set a date in her mind. Five days are left before the week ends, so after five days she can leave the temple.

Diana has never succeeded in leaving the temple.

If I get out of the temple, will I be able to escape from Ravienne?

No, will I die?

Oh, I almost forgot the important thing. Whats your name?

Diana came to her senses and tapped her mouth. A name she has never said before. She quietly pulled out her own name, which she didnt expect someone to ask.

. Diana.

Yes, Diana. Im going to pick up you soon.

Diana nodded as she looked at DeHeen.

***

After leaving Diana, DeHeen headed straight to the office where the saint candidates were managed. As he walked, Ben, his secretary, stood beside him and expressed his worries.

Your Grace, no matter what, a child like her is a bit A child who attacked Your Highness. What made you decided to adopt right away.

I liked the child.

It was simple but obvious reason. Ben nodded his head in silence.

And she looked Irene.

Yeah. Head and eyes. I was very surprised.

I felt my heart leaving in many ways.

But shes an orphan. There are a lot of kids who have better conditions for adoption.

Whats wrong with the orphan?

DeHeens tone got sharper. It was not obvious, but his eyes and voice were scolding Bens thought.

Oh, thats not what I mean

Ben, who was speechless, made no excuse.

Its not that kids fault. Its just worse luck than others.

Youre right. I was wrong.

There was a soft smile around Bens mouth when he admitted his mistake.

You were like this.

DeHeen is criticized for being crazy and slaughterer. People misunderstand him as a cruel monster, but in reality, he was different.

Ben, who watched from his side everyday, knew DeHeen better than anyone else. A man who has strong, unbiased and clear-cut conviction.

None of the nobles Ben knew were straight as DeHeen. Thats why Ben has been supporting DeHeen for 10 years.

But I will look into the past of the child. Its better to make sure.

Do it.

DeHeen has seen countless people rolling in the battlefield. There must be a special reason why she liked DeHeen. Ben believed DeHeens eyes to see people.

Were here.

Lets go in.

The two men entered the office without hesitation. As soon as the door was opened, the believers who recognized DeHeen, jumped up and welcomed him.

I cant believe Lord DeHeen came all the way here!

Do you have anything to do?

The event was in full swing, so there was only a young new official and middle-aged new official.

DeHeen scurried the priests. The new officials rolled their eyes to avoid criticism.

I want to take a saint candidate.

End of Chapter 5