The Prince’s Taste

Judy Esther scoffed quietly. She barely restrained herself from wanting to whisper to everyone around her: “Don’t waste your time; that man is taken.”

“I don’t need to say anything; soon everyone will know.”

Richard was set to have a loud romance that all the citizens of Adrian would know about. He would be searching the entire country with a single shoe in hand, so it was impossible for anyone to be unaware.

“Ella, hurry up and come. Don’t keep us waiting.”

Hadn’t it been said that the moment Ella appeared, the hall would stir? If she could accurately remember the timing of Ella’s entrance, she wouldn’t be feeling so deflated. Her poor memory only recalled the steamy scenes.

If she was going to have a romance, she might as well make use of it. Being a lifelong singleton meant those useless scenes were just that—useless.

Judy Esther mumbled to herself as she brought the wine to her lips.

The wine bottle she had brought onto the terrace was nearly empty. She had already asked a servant to bring another, but they hadn’t returned yet, likely too busy.

Leaning against the terrace railing, she extended her arms outward, letting the cool night air of Adrian wash over her. She swayed the bottle to the rhythm of the music drifting in from the banquet hall.

“Cinderella lost her parents at a young age, and was mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters… tra-la-la…”

As the pleasant effects of the alcohol began to wash over her, songs spilled from her lips effortlessly. Just as she was humming along, she heard the sound of the terrace door opening.

Thinking the wine she had ordered had finally arrived, she eagerly straightened up and leaned out over the railing. In that instant, her head spun slightly, and she felt dizzy. Someone was standing at an angle by the terrace door, appearing to overlap with two or three figures.

“…what?”

The low, velvety voice that reached her ears felt oddly comforting.

“Who is it?”

The man responded kindly, but his answer was drowned out by the loud crack of fireworks bursting in the sky.

Boom!

This year’s fireworks were especially large and vibrant, lingering in the sky for a long time. Judy Esther’s gaze turned skyward. The brilliant colors painting the dark sky were breathtakingly beautiful.

“So pretty.”

“I think it’s beautiful too.”

This time, despite the loud noise from the fireworks, his voice came through clearly—along with his familiar scent. Her heart began to race wildly. Under the influence of alcohol, her languid body moved on its own.

And then, as if time had stopped, everything froze.

Judy Esther struggled to open her heavy eyelids. Her head throbbed from the hangover, and her entire body ached as if it had been beaten.All she could see in front of her was a flesh-colored blur.

“…?”

What was touching the tip of her nose, no matter how she looked around, was a man’s chest. She tried to lift her body slightly, but she was snugly wrapped in the man’s embrace and couldn’t move. Judy Esther raised her eyes. She could see the sharp line of the man’s jaw. As she pondered the situation for a moment, an unexpected wave of anxiety washed over her, causing her to lower her gaze.

She saw her own round b*****s pressed against his chest, and the soreness between her legs beneath the soft sheets. The sensitive spot between her thighs ached. This situation was something she had once read about in her favorite romance novels.

‘One-night stand.’

It had been a mistake to let her guard down, thinking she had twisted the original story enough. But she had never anticipated finding herself in this position, lying in bed with a man’s arm as a pillow.

She tried to move her body, but it wouldn’t budge. The man’s other arm was wrapped around her waist. His bicep looked somewhat lean but was incredibly firm. Giving up on escaping, she sank into thought. What had happened last night? She tried to recall the events, but it felt hazy.

Still, she began to piece things together, bit by bit.

Yesterday, she had blown through a bottle on the terrace. She admired the fireworks in the sky, saying they were beautiful. Just as she wanted to drink more, the terrace door had opened. She turned her head, feeling excited by the sound of the man’s voice as he entered the terrace.

The sight of his chest muscles caught her eye. Without realizing it, she had started to…

“I touched him…”

At that moment, she froze. As she fumbled through the remnants of her memory, she stumbled upon an awkward conclusion. This chest in front of her looked very much like that one from her memories.

The scent of the man continued to waft into her nose. She needed to confirm who this man was who had gotten her into this situation. He was likely one of the men who admired her, but she hoped he would be someone manageable given the circumstances. If not, it would lead directly to a wedding route for her—and that wasn’t what she wanted after an accident; she desired a genuine romance, not a rushed marriage.

Judy Esther struggled to lift the man’s arm that was wrapped around her waist. Pushing her hips back gently, she slowly slipped out of his embrace. After carefully placing his arm on the sheets, she stiffly raised her head to finally look at the man who had been holding her.

Judy Esther looked up to see soft black hair cascading over a handsome forehead and a sharp jawline. She had a feeling she knew the color of the eyes hidden behind those light eyelids. They must be a shimmering golden hue. The moment she thought of those golden eyes, her mental state cracked. It seemed her luck had run out here.

“Why?”

Judy Esther couldn’t believe the situation and sprang up as if propelled. Or at least, she tried to.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

A groan escaped her lips as pain shot through her spine, starting from her lower back. Her lower body throbbed painfully, and her waist ached. Her body instinctively curled up.