The Perfect Bride - Chapter 20

“Please, grant me the honor of escorting such a beautiful young lady.”

The prince, with the face of an angel, held out his palm as he spoke. His voice was courteous, and his gesture was considerate.

But the look in his eyes, Natalie thought, seemed to say, ‘I know your sins. Can you really refuse this hand?’

Staring down at the large hand, Natalie turned her head to look at her mother.

The baroness, clutching her daughter’s arm as if it were a lifeline, wore a face of deep confusion.

Surely, her own expression must look the same.

Natalie gently patted the back of her mother’s hand and slowly pulled away. She couldn’t afford to make more of a scene in front of her delicate mother.

“Mother, I’m not feeling well. Please allow me to leave first.”

“But how will you return alone without an escort?”

Dorothy was deep in conversation with a gentleman. The baroness couldn’t leave the ballroom.

The prince glanced at Catherine, who had stepped back, and she elegantly stepped forward with a smile.

“There are many kind ladies in Grand Batten who will assist an unwell guest.”

Turning slightly, she introduced a middle-aged woman.

“Mrs. Bate.”

The woman, introduced as Mrs. Bate, gave a slight bow to the baroness and Natalie.

“…I don’t know how to thank you for such kindness.”

The baroness, awkwardly expressing her gratitude, leaned toward Natalie and whispered as if unsure what to do.

“Dear, is this really okay?”

Natalie thought to herself: probably not.

“…Please explain it well to Dorothy.”

As she turned her back to her mother, her eyes met those of Earl Humphwood. He looked at her as one might glare at a cheating wife.

That filthy gaze was enough to push her into the coffin that Prince Ian had left open.

‘A pervert’s hand or the hand that might kill me—better the latter.’

Being treated like some kind of deviant just for having written a few racy novels in her youth was unbearable.

Natalie, filled with disgust, turned sharply and took the prince’s hand. She didn’t dare meet his eyes.

Instead, she focused on the moment their fingertips touched.

‘He’s nicknamed an angel, so surely he’s generous and kind. He wouldn’t actually kill me, right?’ she thought with a faint hope.

So she didn’t see the fierce smile the prince gave as soon as she took his hand. Had she seen it, she might have regretted not choosing the pervert’s instead.

With perfect pressure, the prince enveloped her fingertips and began to lead her away.

Being led out of the ballroom while holding the prince’s hand felt, somehow, like walking naked through a crowd.

***

Clatter.

Inside the jolting carriage, Ian stared intently at Natalie seated across from him. They had crossed paths before, but this was the first time he had seen her this closely.

‘I thought things ended when I helped her during the trial. I never imagined I’d see her again.’

The carriage interior was dark, lit only by the streetlamps outside. Her expression wasn’t clearly visible, but it was obvious she was frightened. Her breathing was uneven, and her eyes stayed fixed to the floor.

It wasn’t an unusual reaction. Most people either froze in awe, fawned over him with flattery, or couldn’t even breathe properly when standing before Ian.

‘Why does she stand out so much?’

She was amusing in a rare way, but not particularly memorable. In fact, he had completely forgotten about her until he happened to run into Roger Heaton at White Tail Club.

So why was he facing her now?

Because the baron’s daughter, who always gave him a fresh surprise, had overheard something she never should have.

He had followed that bright red backside, expecting another show—and she had delivered yet another dramatic scene.

Earl Humphwood was a renowned critic with whispered rumors of deviant tendencies. He had long been suspected of being David. The girl who had been fleeing for her life had ended up caught by that very pervert.

He had followed her out of vague curiosity, but instead of being entertained, he had been thoroughly disgusted.

Natalie hiding in Charlotte’s garden, and Humphwood searching the garden—watching them squabble in hushed voices made the situation clear enough.

The disgust of breathing the same air as such a man. It was a familiar feeling for the sharp-natured prince.

This time, it was his revulsion toward Humphwood that moved him. Volunteering to escort her, drawing public attention—none of it was like him. But that was why.

Ian’s eyes sparkled like a curious boy meeting a strange new creature. Natalie, on the other hand, was dying inside.

‘Now what do I do with her?’

For now, he would have to be polite.

Ian spoke slowly, “Did I do something unnecessary?”

The sudden question made Natalie jolt upright in her seat.

Ian’s brow twitched slightly at her erratic reaction.

“…It didn’t seem like you were mute,” he mumbled as if disappointed.

“Th-thank you for your help, Your Highness.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Only then did Natalie realize she hadn’t even introduced herself to the ‘probably kind’ prince.

“Ah, I’m…”

“Yes, Miss Natalie Daus.”

‘…How does he know my name? Could it be related to that sudden invitation? Was I also one of those bizarre bride candidates?’

That would explain why the prince knew her face and name….

But the prince’s plan had seemed more like a national-level scam. Her face twisted uncontrollably.

Though the prince smiled prettily as if to reassure her, it had little effect on Natalie, who was already in a full panic.

“Your stride was awfully fast.”

The prince, showing no intent to genuinely soothe her, got straight to the point.

“Tell me, how much did you hear in the garden?”

“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Haha. I’d prefer not to waste time.”

The laugh was chillingly out of place on such an angelic face. Sensing danger on instinct, Natalie reflexively lifted her gaze.

“……”

It was still the same handsome face, yet it felt as though he had become someone entirely different. No—this was probably the first time she was seeing him clearly.

In the dim carriage light, his eyes were black and cold, their true color unreadable. That piercing gaze she’d felt earlier when he offered his hand hadn’t been a mistake.

“Judging by your reaction, you heard it all.”

So much for kindness. The so-called gentle prince was nonsense.

“What a shame.”

Now that she looked, only his tone and lips were sweet.

Overflowing self-assurance, that absolute confidence. He was more arrogant than anyone she’d ever met, flawlessly composed and seemingly without weakness.

‘He doesn’t seem kind at all. Who on earth called him an angel?’

Natalie quickly dropped her head and lowered her gaze. Honestly, when Mrs. Bate, her supposed escort, hadn’t boarded the carriage with her, she had kind of expected this.

“Miss Daus, eavesdropping is a grave offense, and there are many ways to silence someone. What do you think is the easiest method?”

“I… really…”

“You’re a writer. Use your imagination.”

He even invoked David. The prince knew far too much about her. Her unease grew sharper.

“By the way, my aide and the princess are scarier than I am.”

“I—I didn’t…”

“You’re lucky it was me who caught you.”

Lucky? Of all things to say, this man—who had just ruined what was now officially the worst day of her life—dared to call it luck. The moment Earl Humphwood recognized her, the day had already plummeted into disaster.

“Miss Daus, I’m rather merciful, so I’ll offer you a choice.”

“A… a choice?”

Natalie lifted her eyes with a flicker of hope.

“Yes. Two options.”

The prince smiled with a face that, for a moment, looked almost kind.

“One is being eliminated the moment you step out of the carriage. The other is marrying me.”

“…Excuse me?”

Natalie recoiled instinctively, her face twisting in disbelief.

“What can I do, since you heard everything?”

The prince didn’t list out her disloyalty. Instead, in a kind voice, he said she had left him no other choice.

“Personally, I recommend spending a year as my wife, then getting divorced. You heard it earlier, right? My dream is to become a divorcee.”

He smiled as if he were offering her a rare honor.

“…Please spare me.”

When Natalie pleaded with a trembling voice, the prince responded with a sympathetic look, “Of course, I’d like to spare you too.”

A faint hope flickered in Natalie’s eyes.

But the prince had no intention of granting it.

With an exaggerated sigh, as if truly burdened by her situation, he added, “But since you heard everything, there’s no helping it.”

“But I really…”

“I don’t want unnecessary sacrifices. And for someone with your background, you’re actually an excellent candidate. There’s no need to explain the plan again. It’s efficient.”

So what if she overheard a little? Natalie felt slightly wronged.

“The more I think about it, there’s no one more fitting than you to be my bride. What do you think?”

The story of a mistreated girl marrying a prince was a fantasy.

In reality, a noble daughter could not marry a prince.

Maybe in a distant future where social ranks faded—but for at least the next fifty years, that wall wasn’t going anywhere.

So that statement couldn’t be a sweet confession.

‘You’re asking me to jump into the gutter with you.’

Natalie shook her head softly with the saddest expression she could manage. But in front of the unrelenting prince, it was useless.

“You won’t find a man better than me, either.”

There had to be something wrong with him. He spoke of divorce like he was offering some grand honor.

“A year as my wife can get you a lot.”

At that moment, moonlight—previously hidden behind the clouds—seeped in through the carriage window and partially lit the prince’s face. His blue eyes sparkled clearly.

“For example.”

Natalie had a bad feeling about whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

“The ruined reputation of you and your family, all because of that obscene novel you wrote.”

As expected. Natalie froze like she’d been stabbed.

“A ruined reputation is hard to restore.”

But the prince didn’t stop.

“But if you become my wife, you might be able to open up your sister’s blocked path to marriage.”

Natalie let out a faint breath. Dorothy’s tearful, screaming face filled her mind.

If she could, she would turn back time and live her life over. She had imagined countless scenarios of what might have been.

But fairy godmothers weren’t real. Time moved on relentlessly.

And now, the prince was speaking of a miracle only a fairy godmother could perform.

“If you do nothing, nothing changes. But you…”

‘You should’ve done nothing.’ Bianca’s voice still echoed like a curse.

“You seem like someone who wants to get better.”

After three years of cowering and doing absolutely nothing, now she couldn’t do a single thing.

“I think we can help each other, Miss Daus.”

She had first met him when she was at her most pitiful and ashamed.