The Prince's Taste - Chapter 5.1
As Richard entered the city, it became difficult to continue on horseback. Handing the reins over to his knights, he quickened his pace toward the last location where Judy Esther had been spotted. He needed to start his search from there. Fortunately, she hadn’t wandered too far from the scene of the carriage accident.
Judy Esther was standing at a street stall, pointing at various seafood laid out for grilling.
“Grill the shrimp and shellfish, and cut the octopus—long legs, finely chopped body.”
“Miss, grilling the shrimp and shellfish will take some time. Would you like the octopus first?”
“Doesn’t matter. Just make it delicious.”
Watching the seafood sizzle on the grill, Judy Esther’s face lit up with delight.
“What kind of sauce would you like?”
“For the grilled ones, horseradish and tartar sauce. The octopus—sesame oil with salt.”
“Oh, our lady has quite the refined taste.”
The stall owner, clearly impressed, gave her a thumbs-up. Judy Esther grinned.
“I make these sauces myself, so you won’t find them anywhere else.”
“Oh, now I’m looking forward to it.”
Judy Esther effortlessly ordered street food—commoners’ fare—chatting with the burly stall owner like a seasoned local, sharing laughter and casual conversation.
The owner reached into a wooden barrel, pulling out a fresh octopus. Placing it on the cutting board, he swiftly chopped it into pieces, the severed legs still writhing on the board.
Crown Prince Calix, watching, furrowed his brows. Though Adrian, being a coastal nation, had a well-developed seafood culture, the inland Empire did not. For those unaccustomed to it, the sight of live octopus being chopped into pieces and eaten raw was nothing short of shocking.
“Wrap the octopus legs around a skewer. And two mugs of beer.”
“As you wish, miss. Wrapping them up now.”
Somehow, Calix had become just another spectator, watching as the stall owner carefully twisted the still-moving legs around a thin wooden skewer. Judy Esther clapped her hands, amused.
Richard’s gaze shifted to Calix. The prince’s eyes were fixed on Judy Esther, a look of deep interest in them. That was enough.
This was dangerous.
Richard started moving. There was no way he was going to stand by and watch.
Adrian is a maritime kingdom. Bordering the Mediterranean, it had pioneered sea routes and built up a formidable naval power. Now, it was said that if one sought to master trade or amass wealth, Adrian was the place to go. Though a kingdom, Adrian was by no means inferior to the Empire of Rumelern. This was why Rumelern never took its eyes off Adrian—constantly forging ties with noble factions while simultaneously keeping the royal family’s growing influence in check. Calix had likely approached Judy Esther for political reasons, given her standing as a high-ranking noble.
But now, Richard saw something else—something far more dangerous. Calix was genuinely intrigued by Judy Esther. Of course, even in Adrian’s eyes, Judy is special. Unlike the noble ladies of the empire, she wasn’t a woman wrapped in layers of pretense, fluttering decorative fans and speaking in rehearsed courtly phrases. She moved freely among commoners, laughed loudly, and carried herself with a confidence that made it easy to believe she could knock down a few knights if needed.
Her brother, Daniel, was notorious in the royal palace for being utterly uncoordinated. But Judy Esther? She was different. When running away from Richard, she moved like a well-bred warhorse—swift, precise, and unyielding. Even his Shadows, the elite protectors trained in agility and speed, had a hard time keeping up with her. And perhaps that was why he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Seated across from each other at a wooden stall table, they had large mugs of beer set before them. The vendor put down the food Judy Esther had ordered between them. She was parched. Judy Esther lifted her mug, took a deep swig, and then slammed it back down on the table with satisfaction. Calix looked at her in disbelief.
“Oh my, oh my, have you never had this before? You must not be from Adrian. Hoho.”
Judy Esther picked up an octopus skewer, dipped it into the sesame oil sauce, and popped it into her mouth. She clamped her lips shut and smoothly pulled the wooden skewer out clean. After a few chews, she made a show of how delicious it was. Calix, who had been eyeing both the writhing octopus on the plate and her mouth alternately, pressed his temples in disbelief.
“Oh my, someone who cuts up people for sport finds octopus disgusting?”
“Are you fearless, or just insane?”
“Hmph. Do you even know how good octopus is for stamina? It’s the reason Adrian men are so strong.”
“You say the most outrageous things. You wouldn’t know unless you’ve had me.”
“Why would I need to experience it? I can tell just by looking.”Judy Esther sipped her drink, letting the alcohol linger on her tongue before swallowing. Then, she muttered, “There’s no way there would be a croaker or a fool among the fish in Yeoju’s fishing grounds. Or, God forbid, a eunuch.” Calix simply stared at her, dumbfounded.
