A Captive Prince Awaiting Execution Falls In Love With A Young Lady - Episode 22

“Wait… wait a minute! Please wait, Mrs. Garcia! Does that mean Sirius is going to the Darnian Empire?!”

It was Judith who suddenly barged in.

He stood up suddenly and looked at Madame Garcia and King Benedict in turn, and Sirius thought his heart might stop.

“Wait…! Judith…! Sit down!”

“But!”

The hand that was held to make him sit on the sofa.

It was so cold that Sirius was surprised.

And.

The eyes looking down at me. They are glistening as if about to burst into tears.

“Sirius, are you going somewhere?”

“Uh… um…”

What will happen to me?

Even though it’s about myself, I don’t understand a single thing.

How to respond to Judith as well.

That’s probably why.

A strange silence fell over the room.

What broke the silence was King Benedict’s laughter.

“What’s wrong, Cornelius? There’s no problem with this, is there?”

Upon hearing that, Count Cornelius furrowed his brow in a complicated manner.

“I don’t know. It just seems like my daughter is getting attached.”

“Really? How about we go with that for now?”

After speaking, King Benedict turned his gaze to Judith.

“Initially, Madame Garcia came to take Prince Sirius under her care on the Emperor’s orders. For me, there was no problem at all. After all, he is the late King’s heir. He is very difficult to handle for me as well. If he were to leave this country, it would be no problem at all.”

Then King Benedict saw Duke Cornelius.

“Cornelius is one of the few people who knew that Prince Sirius was the child of Princess Marie and the former king. When the monarchy changed, he was the first to rush to protect Prince Sirius. If anything were to happen, it would become an international issue. Protecting Prince Sirius was the top priority.”

King Benedict was loquacious, but Cornelius just stood there with a troubled expression on his face.

However.

Sirius was belatedly made aware that he knew everything.

About my biological mother too.

About one’s origins.

Surely, the cameo emblem I still wear around my neck is also something that connects me to my mother.

Knowing all of this, in order to prevent domestic issues from becoming international ones, this nobleman of the imperial court rushed to protect Sirius.

That’s precisely why.

I managed to escape from that prison.

From the pursuers as well.

At that time.

Robert might have been abandoned. He was cut off.

I was weighed against the late king’s heir and myself, who is of the bloodline of the neighboring kingdom’s royal family.

And.

I received generous protection.

“……Sirius?”

Before I knew it, Judith was holding Sirius’s hand.

Her hand was so cold.

Even so, now.

My hand is colder.

“Are you okay? Your hands are cold.”

Judith sits next to me and looks into my face.

“Are you okay?”

The one who asked that was Count Cornelius of the Imperial Court. Looking at them like this, I thought they must be parent and child. Their eyes look very similar.

And.

Only my father was the same.

There were indeed some similarities between Robert and me.

“Um… I know this is rather presumptuous, but if I could have an audience with Your Majesty, there is something I would like to request.”

Holding hands with Judith, Sirius looked at King Benedict.

“What is it?”

“Robert… My half-brother is now buried in the Imperial Court’s cemetery. Could you please bury his remains in the royal family’s tomb? He…”

Sirius was unknowingly tightening his grip on Judith’s hand.

“He was, unlike me, a proper prince of this country.”

“Ah… So you’re the prince who was attacked by rioters while seeking refuge with you.”

“It’s a tragic thing,” King Benedict sighed softly.

“Understood, let’s do that. Cornelius. Make the arrangements immediately.”

“Understood.”

Count Cornelius bowed deeply.

Seeing that, I felt truly relieved.

Finally.

I finally felt like I had found where my half-brother was returning.

Actually.

I really wanted to bring you to this palace while you were alive, but…

“Sirius, are you okay?”

It seems that before I knew it, I had sat down on the floor and was slumped over.

“………It’s okay, Judith. Come on, sit down.”

Sirius desperately moved his facial muscles to force a smile.

Judith sits close to Sirius, as if to comfort him.

“Well then, shall we continue?”

King Benedict clapped his hands once.

“Mr. Cornelius and Mrs. Garcia discussed it and actually introduced Prince Sirius… well, everything went smoothly up to this point. But then a problem arose.”

“Hmph,” King Benedict let out a long sigh.

“It’s Lord Patrick, the brother-in-law of Prince Sirius. It seems he is planning to rally the Nalan faction and incite the southern lords to oppose me.”

“What?!”

Judith’s eyes widened in surprise as she raised her voice, but Sirius squeezed out a heavy voice from his throat.

“As expected… even in His Majesty’s ears.”

“Of course. So, Prince Sirius is in a delicate position right now, huh?”

King Benedict shrugged his shoulders in a playful manner.

“I can’t believe it, but you’re not having an affair with my brother-in-law, are you?”

“Not at all!”

Sirius slid off the sofa and knelt on one knee on the floor.

“My brother-in-law has invited me many times, but…”

“Did you come?!”

“Judith, you came. Just be quiet for a bit.”

“Sorry.”

“I have declined everything and told my brother-in-law not to engage in such reckless behavior. And…”

Sirius kneels down on both knees and looks up at King Benedict.

“None of the members of the Cornelius Imperial Duke family are in league with me. My brother-in-law poisoned me…”

“Poison!? Ah, sorry…”

“They tried to poison me to make contact. So, regarding this matter, the Imperial Chamberlain…”

“I don’t believe for a second that the Cornelius Imperial Duke family has any ill intentions towards me.”

King Benedict laughed cheerfully.

“Therefore, please take a seat on the sofa again. Rather, it is we who must ask you, Prince Sirius.”

“W-what is it? If there’s anything I can do…”

Despite sitting on the sofa unsteadily, Sirius smiled awkwardly at King Benedict, feeling relieved.

“The troops of Count Cornelius and a battalion from the royal family will be dispatched. And there will also be support from the Darnian Empire, right?”

“A battalion including artillery. If necessary, we can request His Majesty the Emperor to prepare an additional company consisting solely of sharpshooters.”

Mrs. Garcia answers calmly.

“I want you to lead that many troops and crush my brother-in-law.”

King Benedict smiled warmly and said to Sirius.

After a long silence, Sirius, unable to think straight, could only say that.

“Wha… wha… what do you mean…?”

My temples hurt. No, my whole head feels like it’s radiating heat and about to steam.

“The plot is like this.”

King Benedict rises from the sofa. He looks at Sirius with a somewhat amused expression.

“You are my loyal retainer, wise minister, trusted confidant, chess opponent, drinking buddy… and what else, Cornelius?”

“That’s enough of that.”

“Well, the beloved Duke Cornelius was secretly sheltering Prince Sirius, the late king’s child. This was because he knew that the prince was the child born from a tragic love affair with the princess of a neighboring country. As time passed, the neighboring country of Darnian came to search for this child. They found Prince Sirius and said, ‘Please return to the Darnian Empire,’ but the prince refused. This was because he had a woman he had decided to love.”

“Huh, who?”

“…… I don’t know.”

As Judith and Sirius were exchanging glances, King Benedict spoke eloquently.

“The name of that lover is Judith Cornelius. A lovely young girl, known as the jewel of Duke Cornelius.”

“Huhhhhhhh?!”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Suddenly, Judith and Sirius raised their voices, but King Benedict ignored them.

“Another trial awaits him as he refuses to return to his homeland for his love with Judith! He discovers that his stepbrother is plotting a rebellion. Prince Sirius desperately tries to stop it, but his stepbrother plans to kill his half-brother who does not obey him! And that’s not all, Judith is also in danger!”

“Whaaaaaat?!”

“Really?!”

“Prince Sirius consulted with Duke Cornelius. He pledged his loyalty to King Benedict, who was wise, kind, strong, handsome, and beloved by all, and decided to confront his brother-in-law. Moved by his loyalty and love for Lady Judith, the Darnian Empire also offered their support. Thus, Prince Sirius stood up to confront his brother-in-law!”

King Benedict, after finishing his speech, applauded himself.

“By the way, this will be performed as a play in public theaters across the country as soon as it’s ready.”

Sirius couldn’t think of anything to say to the smiling King Benedict.

Just relentlessly.

I stared at it until I could see through it.

“Actually, it’s a geographical issue.”

The one who quietly interjected was Count Cornelius of the Imperial Court.

Not only Sirius, but Judith also looks at him slowly.

“If the deposed prince raises the banner of rebellion, we cannot make the royal capital and its surroundings the battlefield. The battlefield must be limited and, after their defeat, a place disadvantageous to the rebels.”

“……In the south, is that what you’re saying?”

When Sirius asked, Duke Cornelius nodded.

“Whether the farms are reduced to ashes or the villages are wiped out, it’s their fault. We have no reason to worry. And we must engrave in the hearts of the local people that it is the Southern Lord and the deposed prince who have created such a situation.”

In a cheerful voice, King Benedict says.

“The battlefield is in the south. That brings us to the next issue.”

“The neighboring country… the Darnian Empire”

When Judith murmured, Benedict smiled like a teacher.

“That’s right. It would be troublesome if they took advantage of the confusion to intrude. Ah, my apologies, Mrs. Garcia.”

“No, we feel the same way. It would be quite troublesome if you were to accidentally lead your troops across the border. Well, that was quite an unfortunate slip of the tongue, Your Majesty.”

Even though they both have calm expressions, it looks like fierce sparks are flying from their eyes.

“Therefore, I want Prince Sirius, who is connected to the Darnian Empire and has married the daughter of the trusted Duke of the Imperial Court, to defeat the rebel army.”

Without hesitation, King Benedict asked Sirius for a favor, and Sirius felt faint.

“Regarding the matter afterwards, His Majesty the Emperor has commanded that the Shumir Principality be granted to the prince.”

Madame Garcia delivers the final blow.

“Th…the principality…? Uh, where is that…?”

“The northernmost point of our country. From this country, it will be the southernmost point.”

“Well, that’s that, Mrs. Garcia. That land was annexed to your territory without permission during the conflict seven years ago, wasn’t it? Originally, it was part of our territory, you know?”

“What are you saying, Your Majesty? That land was seized by your country 15 years ago, and it originally belonged to our nation.”

“This is a land that has been contested for sovereignty since ancient times, with both sides claiming ‘it’s ours.’ They have been fighting over it because it is rich in ores… If you and Judith were to live there, we believe that there would be no conflicts for the next several decades.”

Count Cornelius intervened in the dispute between King Benedict and Lady Garcia and explained it to Sirius.

“Moreover, if I may be blunt,”

King Benedict continued with a nonchalant expression.

“If the Darnian Empire crosses the border, Sirius’s head will roll, and if anything happens that makes it seem like we are the aggressors, Judith’s head will roll.”

In front of the astonished Sirius, King Benedict suddenly stood up.

“Oh, it’s already this late. I’ll take my time tomorrow night, so I’ll take my leave for today.”

In a hurry, Sirius also sprang up like a coiled spring.

“Ah, ahhhhhhh Judith, um! That! Of course, you’re saying that!”

“Hmm? Are you talking about the subjugation of my brother-in-law?”

“That’s true, but! Um! Judith!”

“Miss Judith?”

“Are Judith and I getting married?!”

King Benedict smiled broadly.

“That’s how it will be.”

Honestly.

Sirius had managed to stay fully conscious up to this point.

A haze obscured his vision, and his body felt light as a feather. After that, he felt as if he were being called by name repeatedly by Judith and Duke Cornelius, but Sirius’s memory cuts off there.