A Captive Prince Awaiting Execution Falls In Love With A Young Lady - Episode 5

The next day.

Judith brought shoes with iron plates in the toes.

“I never thought you would actually go through with it…”

“Why? I told you yesterday, right? Here, put these on.”

“Yeah. Wait, this is heavy! What is this? Do we really need this much iron plate?!”

“I don’t know, but Mr. Sanders made it for me yesterday. It seems like it could be used for bodyweight training too.”

“Training, huh… Oh, by the way, Mr. Sanders, when you hit the punching bag, you tie iron weights to your ankles and back, right?”

“Isn’t it amazing? To be that fast with that?”

“That thing you’re wearing on your arm isn’t a bracelet, it’s a weight… It’s unbecoming of a lady.”

As Judith’s overseer, the Marquis of the Imperial Court brought her from the royal capital.

At Sirius’s muttering, Judith cheerfully laughs, “Ahahaha.”

For now, I look at the boots that were handed to me.

They’re more like military boots than regular boots. They don’t feel worn out, but they’re not brand new either. Since they’re laced up, they should fit well if tightened properly. Only the leather at the toes is shiny black. Probably because a steel plate was attached and new leather was pasted over it.

“Put them on, put them on.”

Judith approached Ijet-kun while saying.

As I watched, he grabbed two sticks that he pretended were arms and started dancing around while humming a tune.

It seems like they will practice with Ijet-kun until Sirius is ready.

“Isn’t that good enough already?”

“What is it?”

“Practice partner. Ijet-kun.”

“Hmm… I still don’t feel like my soul and body have fused together.”

“You’re saying scary things again. At night, it’s just me and Ijet-kun alone.”

“If you roll over, I might be right next to you.”

“I’m going to get angry, Judith.”

Ahahaha, as expected, Judith laughs cheerfully and dances on the rug with Ijet-kun, stepping to her own beat.

Judith sighed, sat down on the stool, took off her shoes, and put on the iron-plated military boots that had been handed to her.

Heavy. As expected, it’s heavier than I imagined.

To think that safety can only be measured with this weight and strength. Judith’s dance is indeed too lethal.

“By the way, has Judith’s partner been decided? I mean, the escort role.”

I heard that the one who will choose is the Prince of the Imperial Court.

I ask, thinking that man is probably one of Judith’s suitors.

“Hmm. I asked Father about it yesterday too, but it’s still going poorly.”

“…Why don’t you try saying, ‘You don’t have to dance,’? It might be easier to decide that way.”

“Don’t blame everything on the dance.”

After pouting her lips, Judith kicked up Ijet-kun’s one leg. It was a graceful sweeping kick.

“Oh, right. I’ve told Father that I prefer Sirius, you know?”

“Me? That’s not possible, right?”

“Why?”

Because I’m a former prince waiting to be executed in captivity.

I muttered to myself and then said “Alright” out loud.

Sirius stands up and stomps his feet in place. Thanks to tying his laces tightly, they won’t accidentally come off. It doesn’t seem like his shoes will slip off even if stepped on.

“I’m ready.”

Upon being told, Judith twirled around and approached the wall, propping up Ijet-kun as before.

And then, quietly, they come before Sirius.

“Really,” Sirius said, pouting.

Up until now, she’s been a perfect beautiful girl.

Sigh.

Accepting Judith’s outstretched hand, I hold her waist.

“Alright, here I go.”

“Yeah”

Sirius counts and steps forward with a firm motion.

Judith takes a big backswing. Sirius moves even closer to avoid being swung around.

Judith makes a sharp turn to avoid it. Her toes aim for Sirius’s left ankle, and Sirius raises his knee and steps back, saying, “That’s not a soft spot!”

As soon as he landed, he forcefully swung her to the left. As if waiting for that movement, Judith stomped on Sirius’s right toe with her left heel.

Clang. A hard-sound echoes through the room.

“Yikes,” Sirius let out a small scream, but relieved that there was no pain, he stepped forward. Judith executed a magnificent backstep, then quickly closed the distance, trying to trip Sirius by entangling their legs. Sirius swiftly twisted his body to the right, dodging the attack.

“Wow, Sirius!”

“Huh?!”

“I’m dancing properly, you know!”

“I’m not dancing! You’re definitely targeting me, aren’t you?!”

“That’s not true!”

“I’m already scared that you don’t even realize it! W-wait a second!”

Sirius is trying to convey something, but Judith is indifferent.

Move freely and carefreely.

Sighing, Sirius suddenly let go of her hands.

As expected, I stop in confusion.

When Sirius grabbed Judith by both hips, he lifted her up.

“Yikes!?”

“Here, get on here.”

After saying that, Sirius places Judith on his shoulder.

Her left foot is on Sirius’s right instep.

Her right foot is on Sirius’s left instep.

“Come on, wrap both arms around my back.”

When instructed to do so, Judith obediently hugged Sirius tightly.

“I think, you know, your rhythm or rather your sense of tempo is different.”

Sirius also lightly wraps both hands around Judith’s back. Considering her core strength, it’s unlikely, but it’s to prevent her from falling.

“Tempo?”

“You’ve been counting however you like, haven’t you? That’s going to confuse the other person. Got it? Ready, set, go. 1, 2, 3. Okay.”

While counting repeatedly, Sirius steps on Judith’s instep.

With this, we won’t step on each other’s feet, and Judith should find it easier to remember the movements.

“See, you just tried to move your leg.”

“Because it just throws me off.”

“No, that’s my line.”

“By the way”

“What”

“I used to do this dance style a long time ago.”

“Oh, I see.”

“It’s the thing you teach to kids, right?”

“Is that so?”

Although I had been letting it slide, feeling a lingering gaze, I turned my face.

Judith clung tightly to Sirius, glaring up at him with an upward gaze.

But.

“Why are you laughing? I’m angry!”

“Sorry, sorry.”

Somehow, it’s cute.

He held those words in his heart and tightened his arms around her just a little.