A Captive Prince Awaiting Execution Falls In Love With A Young Lady - Episode 14

It seems that the evening party venue is in the central building.

I’ve heard it’s on the first floor, but getting to that venue takes a long time.

Since Sirius and the others were in the North Wing, they moved across the corridor and through the courtyard.

In that courtyard, there are several lanterns lined up, and occasionally, elegantly dressed noble couples stroll by with glasses in hand.

When I entered the central building, there were many butlers carrying glasses and maids bustling about busily preparing snacks.

That’s not all.

The interior shines like midday, and even though it’s a corridor, there are numerous furnishings and decorative flowers adorning it.

The guests are here too, holding glasses in one hand, admiring the paintings and vases hung on the wall, and engaging in conversation.

The music that can be heard from the venue is also wonderful.

I wonder how many years it’s been since I last listened to a piece that uses multiple string instruments.

Sirius, who had been dazed as if drunk, suddenly felt a gaze and blinked his eyes.

It’s not just the passing nobles.

Maid and butler, and other servants too.

Everyone looks at Sirius.

(Am I… or rather, Judith?)

I shrug my shoulders, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

It’s not that I’m giving an impolite stare.

In fact, when I gently make eye contact, they quickly look away.

As soon as that happens, I suddenly feel embarrassed. I wonder if I’m overly self-conscious.

Judith, accustomed to this kind of atmosphere, occasionally nods to familiar nobles with a composed face, saying “Good day.”

Judith suddenly clung to the arm that was escorting her.

Blinking and lowering her gaze, she stood on tiptoe and leaned in to Sirius’s ear.

“Everyone is looking at Sirius. Hehe. Being escorted by such a handsome man. It feels great.”

“No, that’s not it. Everyone is looking at Judith. It’s amazing that I’m with such a beautiful woman.”

“Oh really? Then everyone is looking at us, the beautiful people.”

Sirius burst out laughing because he casually said something like that.

And then, proceed to the entrance of the evening party venue.

The music of the orchestra that had been heard since entering the central building now clearly and lightly makes Sirius’s heart race. For the first time in years, I realized how much music can elevate one’s spirits.

At the entrance, the announcer is calling out the names of the attendees.

There were already many attendees at the venue, with applause and youthful cheers of excitement filling the air.

As the line for reading progressed in order, and it was Sirius and the others’ turn, the knights behind them whispered to Sirius.

“We can’t enter the venue. We’re waiting outside.”

“Huh? So, what about my surveillance?”

I ended up saying something like that, and they gave me a wry smile.

“Mrs. Sanders will be present, and there are knights disguised as butlers within the venue. If you engage in any suspicious behavior…”

Following the knight’s gaze, there is Mr. Sanders.

She silently struck with her hand. The sound of slicing through the air was terrifying.

Understood.

Sirius laughs. The knights also laugh and salute, then move away from Sirius and the others.

“Lady Judith, daughter of His Excellency Count Cornelius. And Lord Jones.”

The reader calls out Ro’s name.

Sirius entered the venue while escorting Judith.

All at once, they are the center of attention.

Curiosity, strangeness, surprise.

Caught up in such a jumble of gazes, I stopped in my tracks for a moment.

Who is that?

Even though they didn’t say it out loud, everyone in the venue was silently asking Sirius that question.

“Oh, the aunts are here.”

Sorry, but…

With a lightness akin to the first step of a dance, Judith begins to walk.

Sirius finally moved his feet as if he had escaped from a curse. It seemed he had even stopped breathing without realizing it.

Adjusting my breathing little by little while walking.

“Long time no see, ladies!”

The group Judith approached was made up of women in their 40s.

They might be a relative of the Imperial Prince’s family and could be the central figure of this evening party. They exuded a dignified presence at the center of the venue.

“Well, Judith. It’s been a while since the tea party in the rose garden, hasn’t it?”

“That dress is lovely. I want to introduce it to my niece next time, so please tell me the store.”

“You’ve grown so much since I last saw you. You’re quite the lady now. Lord Cornelius should take you out to more social events.”

In the blink of an eye, I was surrounded and overwhelmed by the noisy voices.

Suddenly, one lady says.

“Rather, isn’t this your first time attending a soirée?”

Judith gave a wry smile.

“Officially, that might be the case… Well, since today it’s just family and acquaintances, it’s like this…”

“Oh my! In that case, you must first greet Madame Marie!”

“Where is Mrs. Tania?! Let me have an audience with Mrs. Tania too!”

Suddenly, the women began to move busily, and in no time, they had taken Judith and moved to another venue.

Sirius stood there in a daze, all alone.

“Hey, is this our first time meeting?”

When she turned her face towards the man’s voice, several gentlemen approached Sirius.

They are probably in their 40s. Perhaps, but aren’t they the husbands of the women who just abducted Judith?

“Escorting Miss Judith?”

Prompted, Sirius politely bowed.

“I have been entrusted with an important task by the Imperial Court, but… it has already become difficult to carry out the mission.”

When he said it jokingly, the gentlemen laughed generously.

“Sorry about the wives.”

“Since Judith hasn’t been showing up in society, I’ve been getting a bit too enthusiastic.”

It seems they were indeed the spouses of the women.

“Um. If I remember correctly, it was Lord Jones and…?”

“Yes. My father holds the viscountcy. My name is Adam Jones.”

Sirius lies with a smile.

“Like Judith, you don’t often see them in high society.”

“I have been studying abroad in the Kingdom of Slish for about four years.”

I see, the gentlemen exchange glances.

“Then, where did you get to know Prince Chukan? Was it through your father?”

“However, Lord Jones… I don’t hear much about him.”

The gentlemen say while tilting their champagne glasses.

“My major is history, but it’s a bit embarrassing to say, I draw as a hobby. By chance, the court noble happened to see it…”

“Ah!”

Before Sirius could finish speaking, the gentlemen snapped their fingers and raised their voices.

“The oil painting that Prince Chujo is donating to charity! That artist?!”

Making a shy expression, Sirius nodded.

Deep down, I was sweating bullets.

In the end, I couldn’t meet the Marquis until the day of the ball, but he had thought of many detailed arrangements, which were conveyed to Sirius through Judith. To be honest, at the ball, no one spoke to me, and I just thought it was enough to stay by Judith’s side.

It seems that the nobles are starving for fresh topics.

Sirius had become a perfect topic.

“Well, no matter how much I asked about the author, the Duke of the Imperial Court kept saying it was a secret, so I was wondering who it could be.”

“I thought Prince Kyuchuu was the one painting.”

“I see, your famous deduction was off.”

“Well, I bought two of your paintings. I’m a fan.”

Suddenly having a hand extended to him, Sirius nervously took it.

The portly gentleman shakes hands cheerfully, moving them up and down.

“I can’t believe I get to meet the author. I’m so happy. There’s no signature or anything on the painting, no matter where I look.”

“Likewise. Um, thank you.”

“I really like how you use paint. The sunset painting is very good.”

It doesn’t seem like flattery. The gentleman conveyed to Sirius something that only someone who has truly studied the painting could understand and praised him for it.

Sirius, feeling delighted, began to talk about the gimmick he had devised, and the gentleman started to speak with even more enthusiasm.

“Oops, Mr. Jones.”

A gentleman flicked his glass with his finger.

Sirius closes his mouth and looks at him.

“It seems your princess has encountered a new enemy. Shouldn’t you head out to rescue her?”

The gentlemen shrug their shoulders.

Following the line of sight, to the east side of the venue. Judith can be seen surrounded by still young men and women near the wall.

I could see steam rising from her head even from a distance, and I panicked.

This is the worst.

It’s as if it’s on the verge of exploding at any moment.