The Prince’s Taste - Chapter 7.17

“It’s a bit hard to explain… but you can think of a junk car as an old carriage with wobbly wheels, and a Benz is like the top-of-the-line carriage you always ride in, Your Highness.”

Saying it out loud like that, it dawned on her: her crown prince really was a Benz.

“Put simply, a junk car is a real piece of trash, and you, Your Highness, are like a Benz.”

“I see. So you’re saying I’m the good one.”

Richard just smiled at Judy Esther’s words. She burst out laughing.

“That’s right. You’re the best of the best, the ultimate Benz.”

There’s nothing like a good analogy to make something clear. Richard’s golden eyes shimmered in the garden’s soft light as he looked at her.

“No wonder I’m considered the kingdom’s top catch. You’re one lucky woman, Judy.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

The moonlit pond and the softly glowing garden lanterns created the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening.

“Our love is fine — but over there, that’s the real problem.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

In the shadows beyond the pond, where the lantern light didn’t reach, Ella was being cornered by her stepmother and her two stepsisters in a crooked, L-shaped hedge. Judy Esther’s eyes narrowed, and Richard turned his head to follow her gaze.

“Your Highness, don’t look. You’ll ruin your eyes.”

The same words Richard had said to her just moments ago now came from her own mouth.

“…If you get mixed up in a dogfight like that, you’ll end up getting bitten. You might even catch rabies.”

She didn’t know if rabies existed in this world, but Richard seemed to understand and nodded slightly.

The shrill, metallic voice of the stepmother rang out in the quiet garden, a typical villainess’ tone that made Judy Esther snort with laughter.

“Did you run away from home to become the mistress of some rich noble? Or did you steal him?”

“Isn’t that a strange thing to say right after dragging me here?”

“What!?”

The words reminded her of a line from the historical drama her grandmother used to watch in her past life. It felt strangely surreal.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused me by disappearing? Count T had asked to see you, and I had to lie and say you were sick. It was a nightmare.”

“Why would Count T want to see me?”

“Don’t play dumb. Do you know how hard it was for me to find a match for someone like you? Becoming the lady of a count’s household isn’t something that happens to just anyone.”

Judy Esther’s mouth fell open at those words.

Count T—Adrian’s official disgrace. The very existence of such a noble in Adrian was a national embarrassment. The man was at least twenty years older than Ella, obsessed with young women. The moment his wife turned twenty-five, he’d discard her, and those women always ended up broken, dead, or missing. Besides his wife, he had countless mistresses and lovers.

“What a perverted bastard. How dare you.”

Judy Esther cursed through gritted teeth.

In romance novels, the stepmothers’ chosen grooms for their stepdaughters were never decent men. Honestly, it probably took more effort to find these scumbags. It was probably a plot device to reward the heroine later by finding a noble male lead to make up for the suffering, but it was still infuriating as hell.

The stepmother was acting as Ella’s legal guardian, as she was still a minor. Once Ella came of age, she’d inherit her fortune, so of course the stepmother was desperate to secure a marriage for her quickly. Of course, in the original story it all became meaningless once Richard noticed Ella, but here, who knew?

“This is bad.”

If Ella didn’t end up with Richard, her other options were beyond grim. Why did the author even feel the need to include this setting? It wasn’t even a world where women were systematically powerless—it was like they made her home life a complete nightmare for no good reason.

“Ugh. This is so infuriating.”

Judy Esther narrowed her eyes and clicked her tongue. What should she do with this situation? It wasn’t something Richard could interfere in since Ella’s stepmother controlled family matters. As Ella’s legal guardian, she was within her rights to arrange a marriage for her.

Meanwhile, the two stepsisters were greedily eyeing the jewelry Ella was wearing.

“Mother, look at this necklace. And the earrings, too.”

When Stepsister 1 reached for Ella’s neck, she desperately blocked the hand. Then Stepsister 2 came up from behind and held her down, pinning her in place. In the meantime, Stepsister 1 snatched the necklace right off her.

“Give it back. I have to return it, it’s borrowed.”

“Has this girl lost her mind? Ran away from home and came back with guts the size of a kingdom. Who in their right mind would lend you something like this?”

The stepmother snapped, tapping Ella’s head with an irritable frown.

“You’re not saying anything because you stole it, right? Do you even know what kind of necklace this is?”

“…….”

“Of course you don’t. That pink diamond necklace you’re wearing? Let me explain.”