The Prince’s Taste - Chapter 6.8

Perhaps she was even more desperate than he was–-for the villainess in the original story to become the heroine instead.

“Staying in only makes your thoughts more complicated. Shall we go out for a bit?”

“Where shall we go today?”

“Maybe because it’s a festival that there’s so much to see. Oh, shall we go to the World Traditional Festival today? I heard you can try traditional foods from other kingdoms and watch traditional dance performances.”

“I don’t know where you heard about that, but it sounds like fun anyway.”

Judy Esther decided not to worry about the uncertain future. For now, they still loved each other, so she chose to enjoy the remaining days with him. She thought of her worried father but figured she would ask for forgiveness later. After the Founding Festival ends, she would be dutiful. Just a few more days, please.

***

Richard and Judy Esther appeared at the traditional festival. Though dressed in casual clothes rather than uniforms or dresses, they were a dazzling couple wherever they went. They comfortably chatted with citizens, ate food, and danced in the square. They were chosen as the best couple and received a one-night stay voucher at a nearby first-class inn, where they immediately went.

They only left the inn the next afternoon. While Judy Esther kept her head down, Richard held her by the waist and didn’t let go. The citizens went wild.

The sixth day was a water festival, as befits a coastal city. It seemed the citizens now participated mainly to see the couple. The kingdom’s most beloved couple joyfully splashed water on each other. At the event where fish were released into a large pool to be caught, Richard even took first place. Witnesses said he never tired, cheered on by Judy Esther.

Responding to the citizens’ cheers demanding a kiss, Richard romantically kissed Judy Esther and then rang the Golden Bell, signaling unlimited food and drink for all. Everyone shouted “Long live the Crown Prince!” and declared this year’s festival was the best ever.

News of this reached the Marquis of Emers. He had waited for days at the palace banquet to retrieve—no, capture—his daughter, neither the Crown Prince nor Judy ever appeared.

“How did His Highness lure our daughter that she won’t even come home? The seaside! Oh, Judy…”

“The seaside was on the fourth day, the traditional festival on the fifth, and yesterday was the water festival. Henry, give up. Isn’t it youth that makes love beautiful?”

As the Marchioness spoke up for their runaway daughter, the Marquis roared in anger.

“How can you say that, wife?”

“Have you forgotten when we were courting? You climbed over my garden wall and serenaded me beneath the window of my boudoir. Who do you think Judy takes after? She’s your spitting image.”

The Marchioness shook her head. When Judy was five and shouting “muscle man”, she had a premonition that Judy wouldn’t bring home an ordinary man.

But she never imagined that the Crown Prince would parade his romance with Judy so loudly, so publicly, that the entire city of Adrian would be abuzz with it. It wasn’t just love — it was a royal spectacle!

The Marchioness had, to some extent, accepted the situation. The Marquis, on the other hand, found it almost impossible to let go.

“Isn’t His Highness Richard more than suitable as Judy’s partner? I, for one, am quite pleased.”

“Dear, our daughter is still young.”

“Henry, I was Judy’s age when I married you. How long are you planning to keep her sheltered in your arms?”

“But still, royalty? Do you have any idea how hard that life would be on our Judy?”

At times like this, it was painfully clear — Judy took after him. That headstrong, bulldozer-like resolve? All Henry. The Marchioness gently wrapped her arms around her husband and patted his back.

“Judy will figure things out. Trust her a little more.”

“I just… I’m not ready. I’m not ready for her to leave me.”

“Leave? She’s not going anywhere. You’ll see her every day at the palace. Have you forgotten you’re the Chancellor?”

Honestly, they’d probably see her more. It was Richard she worried for — an overbearing father-in-law and a furious brother-in-law? If he made even the smallest mistake, all hell would break loose. After talking sense into her husband, she still had one more fire to put out — their son. Daniel had locked himself in his office, seething. If he kept openly resenting the Crown Prince like this, could their household truly endure what came next? The Marchioness let out a long sigh.