A Captive Prince Awaiting Execution Falls In Love With A Young Lady - Episode 4

The next day.

“So, how was it?! Did Ijet-kun move?!”

By the time Judith appeared with sparkling eyes, Sirius had already finished cleaning up the oil paintings.

“Don’t move, don’t say scary things. Ah, keep the door open for a while. The smell will get trapped otherwise.”

While closing the lid of the turpentine, Sirius responds brusquely.

“Uh… I wonder if my body and soul haven’t fused yet.”

“That’s why you should stop that. I’m the only one here at night.”

After removing the leather apron and placing it on the stool, I moved across the canvas to the center of the room.

Judith is staring intently at the scarecrow, Ijet-kun, propped up against the wall.

Somehow, Sirius also looked at Ijet-kun.

Yesterday, because someone poured the contents of a ghost bottle on me, my white shirt is now stained in a mottled pattern. The color is so perfect that it looks like blood.

“If you’re that curious, take it home. You can observe it in your own room.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Don’t put unpleasant things in my room.”

“By the way, if Ijet-kun moves, I was thinking of asking him to be my dance partner.”

“Dance?”

When she tilted her head and asked, Judith looked up at Sirius and nodded with a serious expression.

“Nobody wants to spend time with me anymore.”

“……Why is that?”

“Hmm. I can’t think of anything. Oh, is everyone just being polite because it’s me?”

“It’s a dance lesson, right? I think everyone knows that.”

“I wonder what it is.”

“How about we give it a try together?”

“Is it okay? Wait, you can dance, Sirius?”

“If it’s a slow waltz, then.”

I was still living in the palace and was a bastard, but I was raised as a prince.

“Please, your hand, miss.”

When I respectfully extended my hand, Judith, with her chin held high, approached slowly.

Take her hand, wrap your arm around her waist, and pull her close.

I didn’t notice it when I hugged Judith yesterday, but there’s quite a height difference now. When we first met, we were about the same height.

Somehow, that realization is sad.

Next year, I will probably get engaged to someone, and in a few years, I won’t be coming here anymore. Then, I will live happily in someone’s mansion.

“Alright, I’ll count.”

Sirius smiled brightly, as if to lift the spirits that were about to sink. Judith responded with a smile and a nod.

“1, 2, 3… okay. …Wait! Huh…! Wh-what, what, what, what, what?!”

My sentimental feelings vanished all at once.

Even though they said it was a slow waltz, it felt like holding hands with a wild horse that couldn’t be controlled.

It’s not about “stepping on someone or being stepped on.”

To be honest, it’s “either getting stepped on or almost getting stepped on.”

The steps coming one after another are definitely trying to trample on Sirius’s shell.

It’s not just that. The swift footwork trying to find an opening.

On top of that, he suddenly puts his entire weight on the waist I was holding, trying to throw me off balance. If I’m not careful, I might end up falling forward.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!”

Desperately continuing to call out, Judith finally stopped in her tracks.

“What the heck. I was dancing so well.”

“You, huh?! You were definitely doing well!”

“Was Sirius different?”

“I was doing my best to dodge the attacks coming from your legs!”

“You’re being so dramatic.”

“That’s not it! Or rather, this isn’t it?! Isn’t this why everyone hates your dance lessons?! Are you all okay? Did no one break their foot?!

Judith tilted her head cutely and let her gaze wander through the air.

“Speaking of which, everyone has crutches… Um, what was the reason again?”

“It’s you! So scary! This is like a dance of death!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa? Are you really saying that?”

Muu, pouting her lips, but Sirius shook his head as if to say it was no joke.

“You can do martial arts, but… what is this pathetic state?”

“Oh! I see!”

As if she understood, Judith clapped her hands.

“Maybe I should think of it as a demonstration of the tonfa baton!”

“Ah… maybe, yeah.”

Sirius also ponders while pinching his chin.

Judith, who is not good with spears, usually practices with a spear in this room against Ijet-kun, but I have seen her occasionally practice with a baton.

The footwork with the spear was forward and backward, but the movements with the baton were diverse. I feel like there were turns as well.

“Give it a try.”

When Sirius prompted her, Judith nodded.

“Today, I don’t have my baton. Well, let’s assume I do…”

Judith takes her stance.

And then, they quickly start the performance…

“Well, that’s quite a stretch.”

Along the way, Sirius held his head in his hands.

The footwork is wonderful. They move as if dancing.

However.

That movement was fundamentally meant to attack the opponent, not to synchronize with a partner to express something.

Besides, it’s a stance.

The difference lies in the stage of spreading the legs sideways.

I thought it was no good when I saw him slightly bending his knees and lowering his hips.

I lightly despaired at the sight of her kicking up her skirt and launching a thrust.

Even though she’s cute. If she did nothing, she’d be a beautiful girl in a secluded mansion.

Why is she such a great baton wielder?

“Ah… What should I do now? Could Sirius dance with me for a while?”

Sitting in the chair, Sirius crossed his arms while watching Judith, who was grumbling “muuuuuu.”

“By the way, why did you suddenly start doing things like dancing?”

“Right now, Father has just returned from the royal capital.”

“Oh, I see. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Still as annoying as ever.”

“Way of speaking”

“Then, love is heavy.”

“Well, yeah. You’re the only girl among your siblings.”

Judith’s father is a court marquis. He spends most of his time in the royal capital and returns to his territory during the months when he has relatively few duties.

“They’re having a ball. You know, to dance there.”

“It’s rare to see you at a soirée.”

I have been imprisoned in this tower for four years.

It seems that the Marquis of the Imperial Court holds evening parties a few times a year and hosts a grand New Year’s Eve party at the end of the year. Sirius is also watching the fireworks from the tower.

With Judith and Mr. Sanders.

That’s right.

Judith has not attended any of the parties hosted by the Marquis.

The person dislikes social gatherings, and even the court noble says, “It’s better than attracting strange bugs,” and leaves Sirius in charge.

The truth is, I have complicated feelings about not being able to become a strange bug, but even so, imagining Judith being pampered by other men at the evening parties and gatherings makes me feel even more complicated.

“Because, you know! Timothy was all smug, saying, ‘It’s because you don’t have a partner!'”

“Timothy? Ah, your cousin.”

“Yeah! Ever since way back, it’s like our wavelengths just don’t match, or he’s just a nasty guy. So, I deliberately avoid meeting him, but he always comes to clash with me!”

Indignantly, Judith protests.

Well, Sirius gives a wry smile, thinking it’s probably just jealousy. The direct descendant of the Duke of the Imperial Court.

Judith has older brothers and younger brothers, but she is the only girl.

Because of that, the way the Imperial Prince spoils her siblings is also incredible.

They say to wrap someone in cotton, but Judith was raised wrapped in cotton candy.

Since she rarely makes public appearances, Judith, who is even referred to as the jewel of the royal capital, is quite popular. If she stands quietly without swinging around a baton, she is indeed a beautiful girl.

She has a delicate appearance like a trendy doll. At least on the outside.

“When they came to our mansion about the ball, they said something like, ‘Judith isn’t coming this time either, is she?'”

While sitting in her chair, Judith sways her upper body strangely and speaks in a falsetto. It’s probably an impression of Timothy, but it’s quite a diss.

“He started saying that the reason I don’t attend the evening parties is because I don’t have a partner! Apparently, he’s been going on blind dates recently! And this time, he’s bringing the person he’s been seeing to introduce them! Ugh, I can’t stand it. They have such gaudy makeup on their eyes! It’s so flashy! I feel like I’m looking at a randy insect!”

“That’s a terrible thing to say…”

“I got so mad that I declared, ‘I’m joining this time!'”

“…What about your partner?”

“I thought about asking either my older brother or my younger brother Robert. But then, you know, people would say, ‘Of course, it’s only family members.’ So right now, I’m asking Father.”

“Yeah…”

Sirius said, while desperately pulling the corners of his mouth up to create a smiling expression.

As expected, she will be coming to this tower soon. It seems to be for a limited time only.

“I hope you enjoy the party tonight.”

“I’ll make them say ‘gyahun’!”

“……No, maybe ‘gyahun’ is your dance partner.”

“To prevent that from happening, Sirius, practice with me!”

“I don’t want to!”

“Because you’re the only partner who hasn’t stepped on my foot so far!?”

“You were aware of it all along, weren’t you?!”

“Hey! Please!”

“Uh… well, if that’s the case, then get me some safety shoes. The ones with steel toes.”

“Got it. I’ll prepare it tomorrow!”

As Sirius, with his shoulders slumped in disappointment, realized that he would indeed come again tomorrow and was determined to practice, Judith let out a small “Ah.”

“I remembered it for tomorrow.”

“What?”

“Just tomorrow, the caretaker is changing.”

“Here?”

“Yeah. You know, I’ve suddenly been feeling unwell lately.”

“Oh, speaking of which”

Suddenly, the image of a woman climbing the stairs, barely able to breathe, floated into Sirius’s mind.

Since coming to this tower, a widow in her 50s who lives nearby has been taking care of Sirius.

Three times a day, I serve meals in Sirius’s room. On top of that, I also do the laundry for his clothes and underwear.

If Judith is here, Mr. Sanders will take care of the lunch cleanup, so she goes home to do her chores and then comes back to prepare dinner.

Indeed, lately it seemed like just carrying the tray was a struggle.

I simply thought it was because this room is on the top floor of the tower.

If you think about it, they have been bringing it normally all this time.

“I did something bad… I should have gone to get it myself on the first floor.”
The kitchen, laundry room, and bath are on the first floor.

I go down to the first floor every day to use the bath, and in the morning, I go up and down the tower stairs multiple times for exercise, but I’ve never been scolded.

As long as I’m not out of the tower, that’s all that matters.

Moreover, the tower’s entrance is heavily locked and secured at a single point. There are even guards outside the tower.

“But according to my aunt, it doesn’t seem to be that serious.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. But since your son and his wife are worried, they’re going to see the doctor in the neighboring village just to be safe. So really, it’s just for tomorrow.”

Judith continues.

“So, a replacement will come, but if there’s any inconvenience or if the food doesn’t suit your taste, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Your father said so.”

“Yes. Thank you very much for your courtesy. Please give my regards to the Minister of the Imperial Household.”

Bow deeply.

Even though I am confined here, I am allowed to live without having my life taken away.

Indeed, there is no freedom. But it is safe, and I can even meet Judith.

“Is there anything else you want me to tell Father? Oh, right. You mentioned that the bakery changed the other day, how is it?”

“Whatever. I’m totally fine with whatever is convenient for you, aunt.”

In fact, there are no inconveniences at all.

It seems that until now, my aunt used to go to the nearby bakery to buy bread, but now they deliver three meals’ worth. I was surprised that they are all individually wrapped.

This bakery goes out of its way to put the bread in separate paper bags for “morning, noon, and night.” When the lady asked the bakery for the reason, they said it was to absorb the moisture from the freshly baked bread. Additionally, it seems that the types of bread are all different. Some are mixed with sesame, while others have herbs. There were also some with raisins and nuts.

When you open the bag, a pleasant aroma wafts out, and the lady who initially took the bread out of the paper bag has recently been serving it directly on a tray without taking it out.

“Well, if you remember anything else, let me know early. You know, I’m going to the royal capital again soon.”

At Judith’s words, Sirius glanced back briefly and said, “Well then.”

“Tomorrow, huh… That oil painting will be finished by the day after tomorrow. Please convey that I want to present it with gratitude.”

“Got it. Yes, it’s coming together.”

Judith smiled with narrowed eyes, looking pleased.

“I’ll tell Father and maybe decorate my room with it!”

“Above all, how about decorating Ijet-kun?”

“That’s one thing, and this is another.”

“Yeah, really.”

“That’s why it’s different.”

Like this.

Another day of trivialities has passed.