A Captive Prince Awaiting Execution Falls In Love With A Young Lady - Episode 27

Ten days later.

Sirius and Judith were playing Old Maid in a room at Aobamiya Palace.

“Hurry up and pull it.”

Judith told him, and Sirius growled “muhmuhmuhmuh” instead of replying.

The reason is that.

They have already lost twice.

The loser would have their face drawn on with a brush as a punishment game, and Sirius had been at the mercy of Judith twice.

Sirius looked at the two cards Judith was holding with a serious gaze.

The Joker has been going back and forth for a while now.

Even though I looked at it so much when it first came into my hands that it seemed like it would get a hole, I can’t tell which one is the Joker just by looking at the outside.

I reach out my finger towards the card on the left.

For a brief moment, I felt as if Judith had smiled, and I stopped moving.

“Geez. Hurry up already.”

Judith sighed in disbelief. Is this what it means to be a winner?

Sirius grits his teeth but steels himself.

Even if I draw a Joker here, there will be one more turn.

Judith just needs to draw the Joker again.

“Oh, right.”

Just as I was about to choose the card on the right, I was spoken to again.

“W-what?”

I wonder if I should go left after all, I say while wandering my finger.

“Did you hear about the new place they decided on?”

“New home?”

“Right. It was said that Sirius was going to build a new home in the Shumir Duchy he received, right? The lord’s mansion.”

“Ah. Yeah.”

“It seems that the lord’s mansion from when the Darnian Empire held the territory is in better condition. So, they decided to use that one.”

“I see… Hey, over here!”

In the end, I pulled out the left card and turned it over.

It was the Joker.

Seeing Sirius slump his shoulders in disappointment, Judith laughed.

“So, since there’s no leaking or anything, we decided to start sending in the stuff as soon as we’re ready.”

“Oh, I see.”

Sirius shuffled his cards with a rustling sound. He had to make sure Judith drew the Joker at all costs.

It seems like my dowry will be brought in starting tomorrow.

Sirius stopped his hand, somewhat instinctively reacting to the word “嫁” (bride) in “嫁入り道具” (dowry).

I haven’t seen you in 10 days since we met in the castle garden.

After not seeing each other for a long time, we played cards and chatted about trivial things as she suggested, and I felt as if I were in a tower.

This is not the Tower of the Imperial Marquis, but Aoba Palace.

Judith is Sirius’s fiancée.

“Ah, I see.”

I get all embarrassed and end up giving a meaningless reply again.

Even though we’re engaged, we haven’t been able to meet at all lately, we don’t even hold hands, and we haven’t even kissed.

“Come on, hurry up.”

Judith taps the table with the hand that isn’t holding the cards.

“Wait a minute. …Alright. Now, which one?”

Sirius shows Judith two cards.

“Hmm. Which one should I choose? Oh, by the way…”

“Yeah”

“When Sirius is ready, please send the luggage to the lord’s mansion.”

“Even if you say it’s just luggage…”

“The luggage inside the tower, you need it, right?”

“Ah… But I guess just art supplies. I’ve already brought over clothes and other necessary things.”

In the first place, that place was a confinement location. There was only the bare minimum of things.

Since I brought the tuxedo I wore to the ball, thinking it might be needed for this trip, I have almost no clothes.

Since I started living in the royal castle, I’ve accumulated all sorts of jewelry like cufflinks, ties, and brooches, but there isn’t a single piece of precious metal in the tower.

“Well then, I’ll let Father know to take care of the art supplies and Ijet-kun.”

“Are you taking Ijet with you to the new house?!”

“Leaving someone behind is not kind.”

They stare at each other with wide eyes.

“Wait, are you serious?”

“Of course. Even if I left it behind, since our bodies and souls are already fused, it might come to the new house on its own.”

“Don’t say scary things.”

“That being said. This way!”

Judith draws a card.

He flipped it over and smiled cheerfully.

That’s the diamond 6.

“Yes, I win!”

Pairing it with the 6 of clubs she had in hand, Judith placed it on top of the stack of cards.

“Lost again…”

Sirius clenched the Joker and muttered to himself. I wonder… Did I use up all my luck yesterday?

“Sirius, do you have any official duties after this?”

Judith picks up the paintbrush from the edge of the table and asks. Sighing at the thought of getting doodled on her face again, she nods.

“In a little while, the battalion commander from the Darnian Empire and our country’s battalion commander should be arriving. So, what do you call it? A strategy meeting, I guess.”

“Ah… It seems like the southern part is getting pretty suspicious.”

Judith, who had been dipping her brush into the watercolor paint, stopped moving.

“Of course. Following the newspaper reports, if they put on such a big show in theaters all over the country…”

Sirius tossed the Joker onto the table and propped his chin on his hand.

It’s a romantic love story between Sirius and Judith.

As one of the episodes, the brother-in-law appears as quite a villain. And although it is not explicitly stated, it is implied that the southern lords are the ones supporting him.

“His Majesty has designated the southern region as the battlefield. It would be troublesome if they were to march all the way to the royal capital.”

“Of course.”

“So right now, they’re discussing the delay operation and where exactly to deploy the troops in the south.”

“You’ve completely become a military commander, haven’t you?”

Judith blinks her eyes.

“It’s just for show, though.”

Sirius gives a wry smile.

I don’t even remember receiving any military training when I lived in the royal castle as a prince.

Even when they said it was the artillery corps, the musketeer corps, and the cavalry deploying on the right flank, I could barely manage to understand.

Moreover, I don’t want to meddle and disrupt the chain of command. I believe what I can do is “not to interfere” and “take responsibility in case of defeat.”

“There’s nowhere left to write.”

Judith said, releasing her pen.

“How much have you written, you?”

Even though I had only lost twice, I was stunned.

Judith leaned forward towards me while still sitting in her chair.

“That’s why, rule change.”

“Change? What are you going to do?”

“Listen to what I’m saying.”

“That’s fine, but…”

I always hear it, but I mutter to myself. Somehow, it feels like Judith does whatever she wants with Sirius.

“Well then, Sirius”

“Yes, yes”

“Kiss me.”

“Y…yes?”

I suddenly stopped moving.

I stare intently at Judith in front of me.

“What?”

“So kiss me. Not the usual cheek or forehead kisses friends give each other, but a proper kiss between lovers.”

After saying that, Judith’s cheeks quickly turned a light pink, as if brushed with a soft brush, and she glared at me angrily.

“Like, you made me say it twice. So mean.”

“Uh, sorry!”

After saying it, I stood up for no reason and then noticed that Judith was still sitting.

In a panic, realizing there was no need to stand, I bent over with my hands on the table.

Judith also leaned slightly towards Sirius.

The two of them, bring their faces closer.

Judith closes her eyes.

Sirius thought the long eyelashes looked like a waterbird resting its wings.

I trembled just a little.

Because happiness and joy have become intertwined in my heart.

Sirius pressed his lips against hers.

That moment.

Because Judith flinched, her shoulders trembling, and opened her eyes.

Sirius was also surprised and stepped back.

“Sorry! Did I do something wrong!?”

“Uh, uh, uh?! I was just surprised!”

With her face turning bright red, Judith closes her eyes again and lifts her chin.

That gesture was unusually defenseless.

Cute.

Innocent.

Sirius pressed his lips together once more.

Feeling her soft, warm touch.

I want to feel more of Judith even more.

When I reached out my hand that was on the table towards her shoulder.

The door knock sounded three times.

“Yikes!”

“Whoa!”

Mr. Sanders, huh? He’s going to get killed, huh?

The sweet atmosphere from just a moment ago seemed to have vanished, and the two of them looked at the door in a state of panic.

“Prince Sirius, Sir. Sayas and Mariel have arrived.”

What I heard from beyond the door seemed to be Captain Sayas, the commander of the king’s personal unit of this country, and Captain Mariel, dispatched from the Darnian Empire.

“It’s a bit earlier than our scheduled time, but… Is that okay?”

“Y-yes! Ah, please wait a moment!”

Sirius, flustered, tried to gather the cards on the table to the edge but ended up scattering them all over the floor. Just as he was about to bury his head in his hands, Judith stood up like a small animal.

“I’m heading home now! See you later, Sirius!”

“Eh? Huh? Hmm?”

By the time I looked up, she was already opening the door to leave.

The neck that was visible for just a moment was bright red.

Somehow, Sirius also feels embarrassed and picks up the cards that have spread across the floor.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

“Oh, what seems to be the matter? Let me assist you.”

Seeing Sirius collecting cards, the two captains noticed and hurriedly approached, causing him to quickly look up.

“No, um. Please don’t worry about it. Please have a seat.”

When I look up at the two of them while still crouching down.

The two of them froze as if turned to stone, and then they exchanged glances.

In front of the puzzled Sirius, who was wondering what was going on, Sayers cleared his throat.

“Your Highness, shall we reschedule our meeting?”

“Eh? No, please have a seat. I’ll prepare some tea, so I’ll call the butler right now…”

“Ah, um, Your Highness. Before that… um, please look in the mirror…”

Mariel stops Sirius, who is trying to move to call the butler.

And.

I came to my senses.

“Ah! Face!”

I was playing Old Maid with Judith until just now and completely forgot that I had to do the punishment game.

I looked around the room in a fluster and remembered that there was a decorative mirror hanging on the wall.

I rush over, see my reflection, and am horrified.

I was sure they would be marked with “◎” or “×”.

“Love you so much” “♡” Judith had written.

“Is the young lady from earlier your fiancée?”

“I believe she was Lady Judith, the daughter of Count Cornelius.”

“Darn it. I should have come on time after all.”

“It seems like we’ve cut into the precious time between fiancés.”

With his face burning as if on fire from the conversation between the battalion commanders, Sirius shouted.

“Ex, excuse me! I’ll wash my face and come back――――――!”

I ran to the washroom like a startled rabbit.