The Perfect Bride - Chapter 25

The fact that he danced at all was surprising, but to dance twice with the same young lady? People came up with all sorts of interpretations regarding Prince Ian’s eccentric behavior.

“His Highness must really… enjoy sensual novels.”

“Could he actually be interested in my sister? I mean, of course not, but still.”

When the baroness murmured in a daze, Dorothy replied.

Then, as if realizing how absurd that thought was, she laughed it off, saying lowly nobles like them could never understand the intentions of highborn figures.

Ever since finding out that all this miracle was thanks to Prince Ian being a fan of David, Dorothy had been noticeably warmer toward Natalie.

“Unless he’s being blackmailed, don’t you think His Highness might just be curious about ‘David’? He doesn’t seem like the type to care about what it means to dance twice with the same partner at a ball.”

Most people came to a similar conclusion.

In fact, guests of Duchess Catherine of Horace, having quietly learned that Natalie Daus was ‘David,’ couldn’t hide their burning curiosity about how she had ended up as one of the duchess’s guests.

‘I’m the one who’s being blackmailed, dear sister.’

Just yesterday, she had joined that ridiculous scheme after committing the sin of overhearing the words of a highborn. It had only been ten hours since she signed the series of papers after Sir Marcus Peeble, the prince’s aide, explained everything to her.

“For the record, I’m not going to block the articles. Don’t be too shocked by the morning papers.”

Those were the prince’s final words to her before they left the ball at dawn. Judging by the look of pure amusement on his face, it was certain that her real name and the name “David” had made it into the papers in one way or another.

‘Do I open it or not.’

Natalie stared fiercely at the stack of newspapers, torn.

Fortunately, her mother and Dorothy seemed too preoccupied to care about today’s edition. Just as Dorothy began spinning around the breakfast room, footsteps echoed down the hall.

Donna appeared, her face flushed with excitement as she rushed toward the three women. Though there were maids from the ducal household, the three preferred Bianca’s maid, Donna, who understood the Warfield family’s circumstances better.

“Lady Warfield, young ladies!”

“Oh, Donna. What is it?” The baroness stood at once and asked as if she had been waiting.

After catching her breath, Donna exclaimed loudly, “The young lady has visitors—suitors, to be precise!”

“Suitors, plural?”

The baroness couldn’t help but raise her voice. She had tried not to show it, but deep down, she had worried that no one would come to court Dorothy.

But there had been no need for concern. Backed by the Duchy of Horace, it was only natural that the young lady would become the flower of the season.

“Dorothy! My darling, how wonderful!”

The baroness turned to her daughter with a face full of relief. Dorothy jumped in place and ran straight into her mother’s arms. A squeal of joy erupted from both at once.

‘Good heavens. Dorothy actually has suitors.’

But Natalie couldn’t feel only joy.

As she watched her mother and Dorothy embrace, she picked up a newspaper from the table with a resolute look. Now that she had seen the price with her own eyes, she felt ready to read anything it said.

Shocking! Prince Ian’s lover. Is the lucky woman David?

As Prince Ian makes a public declaration of affection, the subject is none other than Miss Natalie Daus, the daughter of Baron Warfield and former author of sensational novels under the pen name “David”…

Tap.

Despite her resolve, she had to put the paper down after reading only one line.

Lover? Declaration of affection?

The article was far more direct than she had imagined, openly inviting scandal.

Alarmed, Natalie instinctively looked to her mother and Dorothy. At that moment, Donna held out a silver tray toward her.

On it lay a folded note. When she glanced up in confusion, the quick-witted maid smiled as if to say, “Yes, it’s for you.”

Nesbell Park. 1 o’clock.

That was all it said.

A long sigh slipped through Natalie’s lips.

***

“Suddenly insisting on a walk…”

While Dorothy was off with Catherine for a tea party, Natalie dragged her mother out for a rather sudden stroll.

“To think you’d pick such a crowded place. I’ll never understand you.”

The baroness muttered as she looked out over the swarms of young men and women in Nesbell Park.

The reason this park had become the center of Dwan’s social scene was because it sat near the luxurious West Side neighborhood overlooking the Shon River, and more importantly, it was connected to the bustling Illen Street, frequented by the city’s fashionable youth. Any gentleman or lady without a morning appointment after breakfast would invariably end up at Nesbell Park.

“How did Dwan come to this… such savagery.”

Visiting Dwan for the first time in about twenty-five years, the baroness let out a quiet sigh at how much the world had changed. When she saw a man and woman sitting close, whispering intimately, she even raised a hand to cover her eyes.

To the east of the park lay a vast field for horseback riding, and to the west, starting from the entrance of the walking trail, was a large lake. Setting up a picnic near the lake and mingling with other groups had become the latest trend among the youth.

Nesbell Park, a wild ground where passionate pursuits unfolded between men and women.

For the baroness, who even got flustered at the sight of couples waltzing, it was an outrageous scene.

Under normal circumstances, Natalie would never have stepped foot here either. Like a timid herbivore wary of predators, she glanced around nervously.

‘If not for that note. No, if not for that damned royal ball!’

She felt like a child caught doing something wrong. The constant tension and thrill were exhausting sensations for someone who had resolved to do nothing.

“Oh dear, let’s just return to the duchy. This place is so… I don’t even know where to look. It’s overwhelming.”

When the sweet laughter of couples on the breeze reached them, the baroness finally suggested they leave.

Everywhere she looked was indecent, and her daughter was acting unusually. She had insisted on this walk, but now she walked with her hat pulled low, eyes on the ground, fidgeting and glancing about like a guilty soul.

“Right? It’s already time anyway. We should go back, shouldn’t we?”

Natalie’s face brightened as she spoke, clearly hoping for approval.

There she goes again. The baroness thought she would never truly understand her daughter and gave a vague nod.

Just as the two women turned to head back toward their carriage—

“Miss Daus.”

Someone called Natalie from across the path.

She froze in place when she saw the man suddenly appear before her. A completely unexpected standoff.

“What a coincidence.”

Oblivious or pretending to be, the man approached her with delight.

His look of genuine surprise nearly made Natalie believe it was a true coincidence.

“We meet again, Lady Warfield.”

Prince Ian, appearing in the park with only his aide, lightly kissed the baroness’s hand, then turned to Natalie.

“Dearest Miss Daus.”

His shamelessness and acting skills were impressive. Natalie curtsied first, then quickly assessed the situation.

The prince looked oddly shy and hesitant, like someone in a secret romance. Behind him stood Marcus with an unmistakably troubled expression.

Natalie recognized that this meeting was entirely the prince’s doing.

“So this is why I suddenly wanted to stroll through Nesbell Park. Must’ve been to meet you.”

The prince smiled brightly.

The sun’s glare made Natalie squint. His smile was brighter than the spring sunlight on her crown.

“Shall we walk together for a bit, Miss Daus?”

The idea of walking alongside him filled her with dread. Just as he had promised, he was dressed like a flamboyant peacock.

Natalie had no talent for masking her feelings. The slight smile she had forced onto her lips quickly collapsed.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Something was definitely wrong with him.

What could he possibly like about her bitter face and lackluster tone? Yet he chuckled. Clearly enjoying himself, his demeanor knocked the wind out of her again.

Prince Ian drew attention wherever he went. And this morning, his face had graced the front page. Naturally, everyone in the park turned to look.

They must’ve scoffed at the paper’s headline.

How dare they link anyone to our angel? What a money-grubbing parasite!

They likely cursed the journalists who wrote it and hurled insults at “the disgrace of society, Miss Daus.”

But the so-called angel was now personally validating the article. People stared in shock as if witnessing a disaster, watching the strolling prince and the young lady walking beside him with her head bowed.

Natalie endured the curious and sometimes hostile gazes.

When she glanced back, she could see her mother being escorted by Marcus at a ten-step distance. Though she must have been thoroughly shocked, the loquacious aide seemed to be helping her regain composure.

Another glance at the man walking beside her. She stole a peek. After much hesitation, she cautiously asked, “Um, why did you call for me today…?”

“We agreed to meet every day. Did you forget?”

The prince arched an eyebrow and replied, looking deeply hurt.

But Natalie knew even that expression was part of the act.