Weeping Men: The Innocent Princess's Secret Delight - Chapter 1.14
“I rarely even leave the palace. It’s too much to disperse such valuable manpower loyal to the Imperial family…”
She acted more withdrawn than ever before, putting on her most sincere performance. The thought of a crowd of knights following her around without Kaizen was horrifying even to imagine.
As Judith seemed to blame herself for this incident and showed signs of self-reproach, sympathy mixed into the eyes of the knights attending the monthly meeting.
Her incident was kept secret, but at least those present in this place knew what Judith had been through, which made them even more sympathetic.
“Ahem.”
The Emperor cleared his throat. He couldn’t neglect the guard, but Judith’s words had a point.
“Then what should we do? Someone suitable to protect the Princess and skilled enough…”
The Emperor began to ponder. Judith prayed that her father wouldn’t unnecessarily exercise his creativity.
‘Please! There’s someone right there who’s worth a hundred men alone and has an appropriate position!’
Let it work, let it work. After praying and praying, the Emperor’s mouth opened.
“I suppose there’s no one else. Then, for the time being, the Princess’s guard will be…”
“…”
“Entrusted to Sir Pentmian. Would that be alright?”
Judith bit her lip hard. It was to control the corners of her mouth that were trying to rise.
‘It worked.’
Judith’s eyes secretly flashed.
“I accept the order.”
“The Princess should be fine with this too.”
“Yes, Your Majesty…”
Her calm tone of response contained a joy that no one else noticed.
This was the trophy she had obtained after overcoming various difficulties. Judith pretended to be gloomy to hide the corners of her mouth that were trying to rise.
“…I feel sorry instead. For causing trouble to you when you’re already so busy…”
“This too is my duty. There’s no need for apologies.”
“Uh…”
Judith pouted for a moment before smiling.
Although it wasn’t what she really meant, it didn’t feel bad to have someone take her side, saying it wasn’t her fault.
“…Um.”
Kaizen, who had been looking down at her smiling, hesitated before speaking.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry for showing you such an unseemly sight that day. I won’t show you such a side of me again.”
Judith immediately understood what he meant. It was an apology for crying his eyes out while holding her after finding her that day.
‘I really don’t understand what he thinks he did wrong.’
Judith responded with a rare sincerity.
“If you don’t cry when you want to, you’ll get sick. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I should worry.”
“It’s really okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
No, you need to not be okay for me to be okay.
“Haha… I understand…”
Judith forced a smile. The corners of her mouth trembled as she tried to form a smile line.
She had formed a connection over puppies and finally gotten him within her grasp. Yet, Kaizen continued to maintain a clear boundary between them.
At this rate, progressing to a relationship where she could witness his tears to her heart’s content seemed unlikely. The only option left was to forcefully advance their relationship by making a bold move.
‘I wonder if there’s a banquet being held soon? Something with a good pretext.’
After all, there’s no better setting than a banquet for making strategic advances.
Judith decided that as soon as she returned, she would lay out all the invitations she had received so far and look for a suitable venue.
‘If possible, I’d like there to be a banquet held by a family connected to Kaizen.’
In a banquet hall bustling with familiar faces, he’d probably be at a loss if secretly seduced by the Princess. That would be cute, wouldn’t it?
This time too, it was for a terrible reason.
But, who would have thought that a perfectly fitting banquet would be held!
“A victory banquet for the Northern Battle?”
“It’s a banquet hosted by the Pentmian Ducal family!”
Upon returning from a walk, the newly hired maid Jessie brought an invitation. Jessie was excited as if she herself was attending.
Despite it being about his own family, Kaizen stood there pretending not to know, without reacting. Judith couldn’t ignore his lack of response and prodded him.
“Did you know that the banquet was going to be held?”
“I did know.”
He replied stiffly. Just hearing about it seemed to make his body stiffen, which was an excellent response that made her want to make him uncomfortable.
“…You could have told me earlier…”
“…”
She pouted, pretending to be hurt. Kaizen just slightly rolled his eyes to the side. There was no apology.
From every angle, it seemed like he didn’t want Judith to go to this banquet. So,
‘I absolutely must go.’
She wrote a reply immediately.
After all, Kaizen looks prettier when crying than when smiling, and cuter when flustered than when calm.
‘I must never give him what he wants and always do what he doesn’t want.’
The thought of tormenting him made her smile involuntarily. Judith swallowed her joy as she handed the envelope to Jessie.
“Go and tell them that Princess Charlrose will be attending.”
“Yes, yes! Um, Your Highness. Who will you be taking with you on the day of the banquet…”
“I haven’t decided yet. Jessie, would you be okay with doing it?”
“Of course! Thank you, Your Highness!”
The maid, having fulfilled a modest wish, ran out excitedly.
Even though it must have been an unwanted decision, Kaizen remained silent. Judith deliberately grated on his nerves even more.
“Do you know how the venue will be decorated? I want to wear a matching dress to look stylish.”
“I haven’t heard. I’m sorry.”
“Hmm— It’s okay. I’ll leave the beauty of the venue as something to look forward to on the day of the banquet!”
“…”
“Oh my! I’m so excited. My seventh wish, ‘Visiting a friend’s house’, has come true!”
The more she spoke, the gloomier Kaizen’s expression became.
She was secretly laughing inside at his cute reactions when he unexpectedly opened his mouth.
“Do you really have to attend?”
“…!”
“…I apologize. That was out of line.”
Kaizen immediately erased the emotion from his face, but Judith, who had clearly seen that fleeting moment, screamed internally.
‘Even his rebellion is cute! I want to make him cry his eyes out when he’s full of dissatisfaction!’
It was because a new libido had developed.
Indeed, Kaizen is too delicious to just tease. Judith licked her lips.
‘Ah… I want to do this and that to him right now.’
All sorts of imaginations came to her, but she tried hard to hold back. If her true nature was revealed, Kaizen might run away in disgust.
Today too, Judith’s self-character objectification was perfect.
‘So for now, I need to seduce him while maintaining the image of an innocent princess. When he’s completely caught in my snare… I’ll let it all loose.’
For that, it would be best to do her utmost to seduce him starting from this very banquet. The premier flower of high society’s eyes sparkled.
