The Perfect Bride - Chapter 19

Perhaps death was not in her cards, as Natalie managed to retrace her steps in a daze without running into any guards or losing her way. It was the first stroke of luck she’d had all day.

Before reentering the ballroom, Natalie hastily brushed off the dirt and headed straight to find her mother.

“Mother!”

“Natalie, where have you been? I thought you’d left without even greeting the princess… Good heavens. What on earth happened to you?”

The Baroness of Warfield, who had been gently scolding her, gasped when she finally took a proper look. Natalie’s appearance was disheveled, and there were even leaves stuck in her hair.

Mindful of the onlookers, the baroness quickly plucked the leaves from Natalie’s crown and dragged her to a corner. Her voice trembled with concern.

“Natalie, what have you been doing?”

“I—I think I should leave now. I’ll return to the hotel.”

“What? Your name is on the official guest list. If only Dorothy greets the princess, what would Her Highness think?”

“Shortness of breath. I wore my corset too tightly and can’t breathe. If you say that, surely the princess will understand.”

“Oh, come now. That’s not appropriate. Are you really unwell, or is it something else…”

‘Why am I like this, Mother? This time, I might truly ruin the Daus name.’

Natalie debated whether to confess everything to her mother right then. But she didn’t want to worry her frail mother further, and time was running out. She forced a smile toward her anxious mother.

“I just felt sick and tripped while walking through the garden. So I think it’s best to leave before I make a scene—or rather, I really need to change out of this dress…!”

“Miss Daus.”

Both Natalie and the baroness froze at the low voice.

The speaker was the old Earl Humphwood.

Natalie had momentarily forgotten about the pervert. She squeezed her eyes shut in dread and instinctively turned her back to him, worried someone nearby might remember that David’s real name was Natalie Daus.

“…Lord Humphwood, we meet again. This is my mother, Baroness of Warfield. Mother, this is Lord Humphwood.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Warfield.”

The old earl had already resumed the guise of a courteous gentleman.

The baroness offered a graceful curtsy. Her movements were impeccable, but she couldn’t fully hide her unease at the fact that the earl had recognized Natalie.

“Natalie, you disappeared as soon as the dance ended, so I didn’t get a chance to offer you refreshments.”

He addressed her with inappropriate familiarity. Ignoring her mother’s questioning stare, Natalie forced a smile.

“Thank you, but I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll return now.”

“Haha. So you plan to continue our game of hide and seek…”

His disturbing words made her expression falter. It seemed the earl believed this was a flirtation between lovers.

“A lady shouldn’t leave alone, should she? If the lovely baroness permits, I’ll escort you and find a companion to accompany you.”

He offered his escort.

“No, please. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you. Please enjoy the rest of the ball.”

“Is there another gentleman escorting you?”

“I’m sure I can find someone to assist me.”

“Where?”

“Not in my line of sight, at the moment.”

Her voice began to sharpen despite herself.

“It seems you’ve been avoiding proper introductions with the other guests, haven’t you?”

The more she resisted, the more delighted he appeared. His tone turned low and menacing, far from that of a gentleman.

‘Do nothing. Don’t ruin it.’

Though rage was boiling up, she chanted inwardly and endured. Still, it was infuriating. Why did she have to suffer humiliation and fear from someone so repulsive?

‘I’m already miserable enough without this…’

Heat surged to her crown, her heart pounding like it might burst. She wanted to strike the man in front of her and scream.

“Dear… Natalie.”

Just then, the baroness, who had been fidgeting at her side, tightened her grip on Natalie’s arm and whispered.

It was then that Natalie noticed something odd. The surrounding area had grown strangely quiet. At some point, even the orchestra had stopped playing.

“Isn’t that…”

The baroness murmured, barely audible, as she stared toward the entrance of the ballroom. Natalie turned her head to follow her mother’s gaze.

“……”

When she was little and went into town, the village ladies always used to say the same thing.

In Dwan, there might be many handsome men with pale skin, blond hair, and blue eyes, but Prince Ian was unmistakable the moment you saw him.

They said he looked different.

“…Ah.”

Her tangled thoughts evaporated in an instant, and before she realized it, a short gasp escaped her lips. Her wildly beating heart calmed, and time began to flow slowly.

‘It’s really just like they said.’

Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off the man who seemed to be walking straight toward her.

The shock she had felt as a teenager when she first saw Roger couldn’t compare. In truth, the memory of that day was so old it had become completely distorted.

‘That man is Prince Ian.’

The feeling that the prince was walking toward her wasn’t just a fantasy. Astonishingly, the prince stopped in front of her. More precisely, in front of the old Earl Humphwood.

The earl bowed low before the prince. “Your Highness, Prince Ian.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Humphwood.”

Like everyone else, Natalie could do nothing but stare blankly at Ian. She couldn’t look away. He was just that striking, just that radiant.

“This young lady already has an escort. Me.”

When the prince said this, framed by the shimmering chandelier behind him, Natalie’s mind went blank. So this was what it meant to be ensnared by someone’s gaze.

“So there’s no need for you to offer.”

Her brain seemed to take far longer than usual to process information. It was difficult to understand the prince’s words right away.

“Isn’t that right?”

Surely, this angelic man had just asked her something very important.

“The moment you meet him, you’ll fall in love.”

Just like the gossip she had once overheard from a group of older women, he truly did seem worthy of everyone’s love. He was beautiful and full of charm. Just standing in front of him made her feel undeserving.

Loving the brightest sun in the sky—always noticeable wherever it went—was the easiest thing in the world. Natalie knew the moment she first laid eyes on him: she might very well fall in love with this prince.

But anyone would. Anyone would fall in love with the prince the moment they met him.

Still, this love would likely take the form of admiration, so she would never be hurt by it. It might be one of the most intense sensations in her life, but only that much—just a fleeting feeling, Natalie told herself.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived earlier than expected. How did…”

Before the dazed Natalie could respond, a noblewoman she hadn’t noticed approached. It was the Duchess of Horace, Catherine, who had spotted the prince and hurried over.

“It’s been a while, Catherine. It seems I’ve disrupted the ball.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. Everyone has been waiting only for you and Her Highness.”

“I’m honored. But what can I say? I must escort this young lady.”

As Ian gestured toward Natalie, Catherine followed his gaze.

“Your Highness, this young lady is…”

She maintained her elegant smile but was visibly flustered.

“Catherine.”

“…It must be that seeing the pride of Grand Batten again has left me momentarily overwhelmed.”

Realizing the prince’s intention to avoid further questions, Catherine skillfully changed the mood. Her playful remark was enough to make the surrounding onlookers laugh awkwardly.

“Why are you all just standing there? Shouldn’t you be enjoying the princess’s ball?”

With a dramatic flick of her fan, Catherine called out toward the dance floor. Only then did the ballroom return to life. The spectators dispersed, and the orchestra resumed its performance in a rush.

Throughout it all, his gaze remained fixed on Natalie.

And Natalie was no different. Frozen in place, she couldn’t even think to look away.

After a moment of tense stillness, Ian suddenly stepped forward toward her. He didn’t stop there. Reaching out, he moved his hand toward her cheek.

His face came close in an instant, and Natalie’s eyes widened. It looked like his fingers were about to brush her cheek.

But instead, she felt the faint tug of something being lifted from her hair. As she tried to catch up, Ian kindly offered the answer right in front of her eyes.

“A piece of straw.”

He had removed a strand of straw that had been caught in her hair and smiled meaningfully as his eyes curved gently.

At the same time, Natalie’s heart dropped and then began to race faster than before.

The princess’s garden.

The prince’s dream—divorce.

“I believe we have something to talk about.”

He whispered softly, just loud enough for her to hear, before taking a step back. When their eyes met again, Natalie knew it instantly.

‘That’s the look of someone who knows everything. The prince knows. He knows I heard everything.’

She had hoped there would be no witnesses. But the worst had happened.

Who would have thought the prince himself would come to find her?