The Prince's Taste - Chapter 3.6
The young princes, dressed extravagantly, watched with wary eyes.
Treating the crown prince as a rival rather than a monarch was extremely disrespectful. However, it was understandable to feel upset when being compared based on looks. Even among royalty, his half-brothers were significantly influenced by their paternal lineage.
“Claiming that they look like him is a real stretch for their conscience.”
Richard thought it a shame that only he could hear Judy Esther’s mutterings.
Ehem, ehem. A few awkward coughs were heard. His half-brothers cast resentful glances at the king, whose own looks were mirrored in his younger sons. The king avoided the gazes of his sons and studied the ornate ceiling of the hall, clearly uncomfortable with taking sides.
In the banquet hall where the music had stopped, a power struggle among the princes unfolded while their father remained a quiet observer. The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.
Adrian’s King had three sons. Richard’s half-brothers, the second and third princes, were well-known among Adrian’s citizens for pursuing Judy Esther. They had even drawn swords to duel over her hand in marriage, leaving their mothers exasperated. Little did anyone know that Richard himself had entered the fray.
The king, however, had caught on long ago, secretly favoring his eldest son, while the queen watched the scene with satisfaction, casting a stern glance at the king’s concubines, whose faces flushed with discomfort. It had been a long time since a genuine smile graced the queen’s lovely face.
“Your Highness, it seems you are also a man with a weakness for beautiful women. As a citizen of Adrian, I find it quite delightful, but as you can see, I think the members of Ayosa will be curious about this.”
Countess Ingrid fluttered her long eyelashes, urging him to respond. She wanted to know what kind of relationship he had with Judy Esther. Richard looked down at Judy Esther, who was nestled comfortably in his arms.
“Aunt Ingrid?”
“You noticed me just now? Hoho.”
She was a longtime friend of the Marchioness Emers, and Judy Esther had called her “Aunt” since she was a child.
“Would you tell this aunt why our Judy is in Your Highness’s arms?”
The countess’s melodious voice echoed through the hall. Richard’s eyes turned contemplative. He was tense about Judy Esther’s response. If she denied any relationship here, all his plans could fall apart.
“We’re going to date.”
To Richard, it was a shocking declaration from a lady who seemed slightly drunk but appeared coy to others.
“Oh my, Judy. I must be going a bit deaf at my age. Could you say that louder, dear?”
“Aunt, I said I’m going to date!”
The countess smiled broadly and fluttered her fan faster. It almost felt like there was magic in that fan, amplifying Judy Esther’s voice throughout the hall. If not, Judy Esther’s voice wouldn’t echo with “I’m going to date—date—date!”
“I’m going to date my man to my heart’s content and live happily ever after.”
“Oh my, have things progressed so well already with His Highness? Hohoho.” Countess Ingrid’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She looked eager to spread the news quickly. Judy Esther, this is something you’ve brought upon yourself.
“As my lady wants to date, I think we will be on our way now.”
Richard could barely contain the laughter bubbling up inside him. In front of all these nobles, Judy Esther had just declared that she was going to be with him. He had never felt so overwhelmed in his entire life.
“My fairy could never be with my brother like that. If Judy had any connection with him, I would have known.”
The second prince tried to deny the reality,
“No, this is a dream. Judy is going to marry me.”
The third prince slapped his own cheek in disbelief.
The second and third princes wouldn’t look like that even if the country were to collapse. They had completely excluded their elder brother Richard from the competition. They thought that as long as they fended off the young nobles of Adrian and kept foreign rivals out of reach, they could make Judy Esther theirs.
In fact, if his younger brothers hadn’t pushed away other competitors, it might have been difficult for Richard to pursue Judy Esther discreetly. Their aggressive advances had effectively overshadowed him. While he was grateful for that, opportunities should be seized when they arise.
* * *
Richard, born as the eldest son of Adrian’s King, had learned to exercise restraint from a young age. Surrounded by siblings with powerful maternal relatives, he had pushed himself relentlessly, leaving no weaknesses for them to exploit. He struggled to maintain his composure, escorting Judy Esther with utmost courtesy.
He successfully brought her safely to the crown prince’s residence, but his patience reached its limit at the bedroom door. Their tongues intertwined, and saliva exchanged. It was sweeter than any fruit wine he had ever tasted. He could sense himself slipping dangerously close to losing control any moment.
“Judy Esther Emers.”
He stopped her from whining and asking him to hug her quickly.
“From today onward, you and I are going to be in a relationship. Just so you know, I’m inexperienced in dating and might act clumsily and do things you don’t like.”
“The male protagonist can be inexperienced but still perform well in real situations.”
While her confidence in him was comforting, her high expectations made him somewhat nervous.
“I’m good at many things, but I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to s*x. It’s said that experience is important for that. I might not be able to satisfy you.”
“Just wing it.”
“I can’t just wing it….”
“I’m just a supporting character; I can’t endure like the female protagonist. If a high-level male protagonist comes at me seriously, I might die.”
