The Perfect Bride - Chapter 32

“You’re later than I expected.”

“Y-you’re really still here.”

“I told you I’d wait. Did you see your mother off properly?”

“Yes.”

Silence followed.

Though the prince acted like a pandora’s box once he opened his mouth, he was mostly quiet. He knew how to enjoy silence. Opposite him, Natalie found it difficult to converse with him, yet grew visibly uncomfortable when the silence dragged on.

After much deliberation, Natalie finally spoke. There was something that needed to be addressed.

“…Um, Your Highness.”

“Ian.”

He was unbending when it came to how he was addressed. He never let it slide.

“Yes, Ian.”

“Alright. Go on.”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“Good heavens. What sort of thoughts did you have?”

The prince feigned surprise. His teasing tone was irritating, but she had grown used to it.

“Wouldn’t it be fine if you didn’t come looking for me on days like this? Just staying at the duchy would be enough for people to assume we were together.”

“Hmm.”

His reaction was ambiguous. Not wanting to see him every day, Natalie hastily added, “You’ve already shown enough of your courtship.”

Over the past week, Prince Ian’s courtship efforts had gone something like this:

“What a coincidence. When coincidences repeat, they become fate. What do you think, Natalie?”

Pretending to run into her—three times. Each time in a different place: the park, the art museum, the ball.

“I’m glad you’re staying at the duchy. Using the excuse of visiting Aster lets me see you, even briefly.”

Visiting the Duke of Horace’s residence at every chance.

“I hope this pleases you. Think of me when you watch the play.”

Purchasing a private theater box in his own name.

And when he showed up uninvited at the duchess’s garden party, presenting her with an enormous bouquet—

“My love—ah, I mean, Natalie.”

The prince had feigned embarrassment, claiming it was a slip of the tongue, and smiled bashfully. The ladies present had all coughed and choked in shock.

That intentional blunder marked the day even the baroness accepted his eccentricities as acts of courtship. It was also the moment Natalie saw him as the craziest man alive.

“P.S. With respect and affection, your Ian.”

And to top it off, each morning, gifts and cards were delivered to Natalie during the annex’s breakfast hour.

Since Prince Ian rarely appeared in high society, the impact was immense. Newspapers buzzed with headlines about the prince’s bold pursuit of Natalie Daus.

That storm of a week. Just remembering it was exhausting. Natalie cautiously spoke again.

“You’re not exactly a man of leisure. There’s no need to devote this much time. Lovers don’t have to meet every day.”

When the word ‘lover’ left Natalie’s lips, Ian blinked.

“Ah, right. We’re not even officially lovers yet. This is still one-sided courtship.”

Realizing her mistake, she quickly corrected herself. Ian repeated the word ‘lover’ under his breath, then smiled brightly.

“I am a man of leisure.”

“…Excuse me?”

“After my tour, I haven’t been reassigned yet. The ship I command is under repair.”

Natalie blinked, trying to gauge whether he was telling the truth. Seeing her skeptical eyes, Ian shrugged and crossed his arms casually.

“Really. It’s probably on the front page of the paper.”

What dreadful news. Natalie wore a face full of despair and muttered gloomily, “I haven’t been reading the papers…”

“What a shame. I even know how many dresses you own for banquets.”

The disgust on Natalie’s face was unmistakable. Ian’s lips curled up involuntarily.

“I’m hurt. Maybe show a little interest in me? We’re getting married soon.”

He looked far from hurt, speaking with a gleeful expression.

“…And divorcing, too,” Natalie muttered dryly.

Ian burst into laughter at last. Of course, Natalie had no desire to amuse him and hardened her expression.

They had been having this kind of pointless conversation for a week now.

Through some trial and error, she had learned that Ian tolerated a bit of backtalk—he even seemed to enjoy it.

She had tried to speak to him as little as possible, but he talked nonstop. She couldn’t ignore him all the time.

By now, she found herself snapping once out of every five exchanges. At this point, whatever happened, happened.

Then Ian added, ever so helpfully, “For the record, the repairs will take at least six months, Natalie.”

‘Damn it. That’s long.’

“Long, right?”

It was eerie how he could read her so well.

“And you’re already trying to slack off? If you’re going to do this, do it right. Do you think the servants at the duchy have no eyes or ears?”

“Ah…”

“They have mouths, too.”

No matter how much the Duke of Horace’s household paid for discretion, it wasn’t wise to trust completely.

“So don’t worry and just stick with me.”

“B-but still.”

But Natalie wasn’t someone to simply agree and go along.

“Even so, you don’t really need to associate with me. Only you and I know what was said, after all.”

At the sharp remark, Ian smiled faintly. His crescent-shaped blue eyes seemed to say, ‘So you noticed.’

Natalie gave him a sidelong glance with narrowed eyes.

She knew perfectly well he was deliberately getting under her skin.

Why did the prince engage in such meaningless actions? She had merely overheard his plans and offered her life in exchange for a one-year marriage.

‘And then there’s the whole “don’t hold back” thing.’

Why did it feel like he was dragging her out from where she had been quietly hiding?

“How could country nobles like us understand the minds of the highborn?”

She recalled something Dorothy once said. It made sense. Natalie gave up trying to figure out what went on in the prince’s head.

“…Well then, I think that’s enough for today.”

“Even though I tried so hard.”

“It’s been thirty minutes.”

For a man to stay in a drawing room for thirty minutes counted as a long visit. The prince blinked slowly, seemingly surprised.

“…Time flies.”

“So, when and where do you plan to show up tomorrow?”

“Parting like this feels unsatisfying.”

With his eyebrows tilted in a woeful expression, he looked at her. Natalie once again found herself speechless. Every time he made that face, she felt sure others really believed he was madly in love with her.

But when seen up close—

“What kind of expression is that? Try a little harder.”

—it was all fake.

In reality, the prince had locked up the baron’s daughter who had overheard a secret, and was teasing and tormenting her.

“I’m worried. At this rate, you’ll get eaten alive by the Princess of Fossa.”

“By Princess Sophia, you mean?”

“Yes. My cousin will be at the dedication ceremony next weekend.”

Of course.

“…So you didn’t just invite me for no reason.”

Ian’s courtship was like a perfectly rehearsed script. The necessary scenes, their settings, the people involved, and the lines to be spoken were all predetermined.

No matter how sweetly he whispered with that beautiful face, her heart remained cold—this was why.

“Sophia’s no pushover. Staring blankly at me like that won’t do.”

“Uh, what’s she like?”

“Hard to talk to.”

For a moment, Natalie thought he was describing himself. Maybe all royalty were like that.

“She has a bothersome sense of justice, and only believes what she sees. That’s the trickiest part. So it’s best to show her.”

“Meaning…”

“But look at your face right now. Anyone would think you’re looking at a lunatic.”

“N-no, absolutely not!”

Once again caught in the act, Natalie jumped. She couldn’t read his thoughts at all, yet he seemed to see right through hers.

“How could I dare think that about Your Highness?”

“Calm down. Like I said, I’m quite generous.”

“I’m well aware of Your Highness’s generosity, broader than the sea. But really, I didn’t mean…”

“To keep Sophia from interfering between us…”

As if to say he didn’t need insincere excuses, he brushed off her protest lightly.

“That day, you need to look like you’re hopelessly drawn to me, even though we can’t be together.”

Until now, Natalie’s role in his script had been to stand quietly or say ‘yes.’ But this time, she had a very specific direction to follow.

“You’ll need to practice.”

He said it with that same charming smile he always wore when being unreasonably pushy. No doubt, it was his way of shutting her up.

“To pull off that look of longing but restrained desire.”

Rendered speechless, Natalie couldn’t find anything to say in return.

“Oh, right. Pretending to long for me but not being able to approach, that’s the tricky part for you, isn’t it?”

Letting out a quiet laugh, the prince slowly rose to his feet and added, “You look like you’d love to throw me out, so I’ll get going.”

Natalie still had no idea what he was thinking. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was all just a game to him.

Maybe life at the top was so dull that tormenting a helpless lady became a form of amusement.

As Ian stepped out of the drawing room, Natalie hurried after him in small steps. With his long legs, he quickly gained distance unless she rushed to keep up.

“I’ll help you practice. You’re hopeless at acting anyway.”

She suddenly wondered what expression he had on his face. Was he wearing that usual satisfied smile after successfully teasing her?

Natalie stared absentmindedly at the back of his head, so much taller than hers. With each step he took, his soft blond hair swayed gently before her eyes.

She found herself thinking it was rather beautiful.

“That’s why we’ll be seeing each other tomorrow, too.”

He turned suddenly and whispered. Caught off guard, Natalie froze on the spot.

“Ah, Natalie. Do you know how to ride a horse?”

She didn’t. She couldn’t even remember how she answered.