The Prince’s Taste - Chapter 7.16

Inside the banquet hall, the unmarried ladies and young lords couldn’t manage their expressions as they tried to hold back their tears. Each of them had secretly harbored feelings for either Richard or Judy Esther, and it didn’t seem easy for them to come to terms with this. But no one could deny how perfectly the two looked together. Better to have them end up with each other than be taken by someone else. As if everyone had decided to accept this, the music flowed again and the atmosphere in the hall gradually lightened.

Once outside the ballroom, Judy Esther walked briskly, though still gracefully, in pursuit of Ella, with Richard following at a leisurely pace.

“Why are you following me?”

“Because you’re holding my hand?”

Only then did she realize she was still holding on to Richard’s hand. She tried to quickly let go, but Richard only tightened his hold with an easy smile.

“I’m in a hurry.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Ella was nowhere to be seen, and though lanterns were lit here and there, the gardens of the palace were far too expansive — that was the problem.

“Too wide?”

“Where are you trying to go?”

“Richard, where is the most secluded spot here?”

There was no special meaning to her question. She had no intention of doing anything improper in plain sight. She was just trying to find the crime scene, but Richard misunderstood.

“My Judy is getting bold. Dragging me off to the garden.”

“That’s not it.”

“Though now that I think about it, the garden doesn’t sound so bad either.”

The moment she was about to deny it, a thump-thump sound was heard from behind her. Judy Esther turned her head in surprise. They must have thought themselves well hidden, but a shadow was looming through the bushes. A woman lying face down with her dress skirt lifted up, revealing her b******s, and a man with his pants partially pulled down to reveal only his g******s was ruthlessly f*****g the woman’s hole. They were so absorbed in the s****l intercourse that they didn’t even notice someone had come around.

“Ah, ah. Haa?”

She was taken aback seeing the man humping his hips and his grunting, along with the woman’s moaning, and the man uttering the typical, “Do you like it that much?”

Since polygamy is illegal, quite a few nobles secretly indulge in illicit affairs. Even in the ballroom, the nobles’ lounges were often used as discreet rendezvous spots. When there was no room in the terraces or lounges, there were always those who couldn’t help but conduct their business outdoors — right within the palace grounds.

“Don’t look. You’ll ruin your eyes.”

Richard pulled her into his arms. Then, without warning, he picked her up and began striding briskly away.

“I do have feet too, you know.”

“You froze up in shock.”

After walking for some time, he set her down. They were in a place where rare flowers bloomed beautifully. Benches were installed for resting, making it one of the most popular spots within the palace.

“Is it true that Lady Emers has been confirmed as the crown pincess?”

“The Ayosa members must be wailing. It’s a relief, actually. The young lord I’ve been secretly in love with is an Ayosa member. It feels like my chance has finally come.”

“To be honest, me too—”

Young noble ladies were chatting excitedly, their faces flushed. Judy Esther felt awkward since herself was the subject of their conversation.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

This year, there seemed to be even more people than usual. After walking for a while, they reached her favorite spot in the palace.

“I was always happy to see you here.”

“…You knew I came here often?”

Whenever Richard appeared at the ballroom, she would flee to this spot.

“When you’d run away whenever you saw me, I’d get annoyed and follow you — this is where you always ended up.”

“Oh.”

“You looked so cute resting, thinking you had escaped well.”

So it wasn’t that she had escaped well, but Richard had been letting her get away.

Judy Esther sighed softly. Like a mouse in a jar, trying to flee only to realize she was always in the Buddha’s palm, or something like that.

“Then you must have heard everything, right?”

“What, uh.. you mean your love counseling?”

The pond she’d fled to to escape Richard was tucked away deep within the palace gardens. Heartbroken people sometimes went there alone, and she would end up listening to their stories. As someone who had read hundreds of romance novels in her previous life, it was only natural to comfort them. She had reassured one young lady who was heartbroken over a cheating fiancé by telling her she was lucky not to be married to a royal, who would have taken concubines without hesitation. She told the young lady it was fortunate to discover the scumbag before marriage and kick him to the curb.

“There is something I’d been meaning to ask you if I ever got the chance.”

“Go ahead and ask.”

“What exactly is a junk car, and what’s a Benz?”