The Perfect Bride - Chapter 34

What? No sooner had she turned around than her waist was seized.

She gasped as her body was lifted into the air.

“W-what…!”

Suspended in midair, Natalie instinctively grabbed onto Ian’s shoulders.

“It’s fine. Relax.”

“Ian! P-put me down!”

“If you don’t, you’ll scare Monica. Relax.”

“Ahh…! Don’t let go, please. Ian, no! Your Highness!”

The unfamiliar high perspective and the sudden lift overwhelmed her. She was aware she was making all kinds of strange noises.

Ian laughed innocently as he carried the panicking Natalie. The way she clung to his shoulders like a lifeline strangely pleased him.

But his actual job was that of a strict and composed naval commander.

“Stay still.”

Ian gave her a soft smile, and Natalie, fooled by his gentle expression, let a glimmer of hope pass through her eyes.

“Ah…!”

Then he set her down on the horse and let go without hesitation.

‘This lunatic!’

Natalie screamed internally.

She frantically reached for Ian again, but he had already stepped back.

“Get me down now…!”

Ian raised a finger to his lips, as if warning her not to shout, and motioned toward Monica with his eyes.

Understanding his gesture, Natalie froze. Her face twisted in resentment.

She glared daggers at him while the horse stood obediently still. Ian burst into another laugh.

“Now take the reins.”

“T-today has been quite enough. Please let me down.”

Natalie whispered as quietly as possible so as not to disturb Monica, and Ian, handing her the reins, mimicked her tone.

“You’re just going to sit for today. Marcus will lead you.”

Natalie turned reflexively toward Marcus. He gave her a faint smile as if to say, I’m fine.

‘…No matter how I look at it, Sir Peeble really isn’t someone who should be reduced to holding reins.’

Natalie felt slightly guilty, but there was no time for that.

As Ian mounted his horse, Marcus gently pulled Monica’s reins. Monica began to move.

“Hold tight to the handle in front of the saddle, Miss Daus.”

“Oh, God. Mother. This is madness. Sir Peeble, wait!”

Natalie wobbled and flailed in panic. It was certainly a ridiculous sight.

Watching her, Ian’s smile began to fade. Her flustered reactions had been amusing, but her frightened trembling was not.

‘How strange. The first time usually feels scary, but then becomes fun.’

It had been that way for Charlotte, and for himself. But Natalie’s reaction was far from what he expected. His smile finally vanished.

“Marcus, stop.”

In the end, the ride didn’t even last five steps. Clicking his tongue quietly, Ian dismounted. He strode over to Monica and extended his arms to Natalie.

Still disoriented, Natalie flinched at the sight of his outstretched arms. Not knowing what he was up to, she hesitated before reluctantly leaning toward him.

As her full weight settled into his arms and her trembling arms wrapped around his shoulders, Ian once again felt that strange sense of satisfaction. He found himself lowering her more slowly than he meant to.

But time never stopped.

His arms lightened. The warmth and fullness vanished. Ian furrowed his brow faintly.

At that same moment, Natalie’s legs gave out and she staggered like a newborn foal. Ian quickly reached out and caught her arm before she could fall backward.

“……”

He had kept her from falling into the mud, but Natalie felt no gratitude.

She would have no regrets if she could just hit him once.

Reading her thoughts clear as day, Ian let out a short chuckle. At the same time, Natalie’s patience hit its limit.

She clenched her teeth and grabbed Ian’s wrist with her free hand.

Then, like collapsing onto a bed, she threw her full weight backward. She was determined to drag him into the mud with her if it meant sacrificing her dignity.

Splat.

“……”

“…Natalie, what are you doing?”

But the difference in size and strength between them was larger than she thought.

Natalie stared at herself, sitting in the mud while still holding the prince’s wrist. Then she slowly raised her head.

And met the face of a prince who looked like he had never seen such an idiot in his life.

“…Ha.”

She couldn’t help it. A laugh escaped. Once it started, it grew into loud, unrestrained laughter.

Ian blinked, faintly frowning.

He had caught her from falling, only for her to hurl herself into the mud. Then, to top it off, she laughed like mad.

“…You always choose the most incomprehensible actions.”

He murmured softly, then as if in a trance, dropped to one knee to meet her eye level.

It didn’t matter that his knee sank into the mud. He just wanted to see her smiling face more closely. It was a look she had never shown before.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile like this.”

Since when had seeing someone else smile felt so good?

Ian realized that the corners of his lips had lifted without him noticing. Smiling just because the other person smiled—how ridiculously simple.

‘You laugh like a child.’

Watching her lash out with frustration had been entertaining, but this—this was several times more enjoyable. It made him feel like a fool, but there was no helping it.

But the moment their eyes met, her laughter faded.

Ian wanted to see her smile again. His eyes sparkled as he said, “Smile again.”

But contrary to his wish, her smile disappeared completely. The awkward stiffness of her face made him feel unexpectedly disappointed.

Her neck, then her earlobes, then her cheeks flushed one after another. It was different from the flush that came from irritation.

Whatever disappointment he had felt vanished as Ian broke into a bright grin.

“There it is.”

The mischievous words came out on instinct.

“That expression should be enough. Do you have a mirror?”

Her face twisted up, growing even redder, but she still shook her head, trying to answer—just like her.

No mirror. She was oddly conscientious in strange ways.

“You’re really red right now. Like an apple.”

At those words, Natalie’s face completely crumpled.

Ian couldn’t hold back his laughter. Still chuckling, he rose to his feet first.

‘Afraid of everything, a magnet for trouble, all bark and no bite… what am I supposed to do with her.’

One new thing he learned today was that Natalie’s smiling face brought him more joy than seeing her flare up.

“Get up.”

Ian extended his hand to her, still stuck in the mud.

Natalie, her face flushed and contorted, looked at the offered hand and pressed her lips together, then slowly reached out. She knew now wasn’t the time for pride. She was a fairly rational woman.

“Ah…”

The moment Ian pulled on her hand, a low groan slipped between her teeth. He stopped moving at once. His gaze dropped to her foot, half-buried in the mud.

“It’s twisted.”

At the same time, a look of despair crossed Natalie’s face. She opened her mouth, then closed it and gave a reluctant nod. She looked as if she could die on the spot.

Ian clicked his tongue and knelt down in the mud again. He seemed annoyed, but the corners of his lips were lifted in amusement.

Realizing what the prince was about to do, Marcus cried out in alarm, “Your Highness! I will…!”

But the prince was already moving faster.

He reached into the mud without hesitation and pulled out Natalie’s foot. His hand dug into the filthy sludge with no trace of reluctance.

Natalie was already overwhelmed. But Ian didn’t stop there.

The next moment, he lifted her without warning.

Like a princess, held in both arms.

Natalie gave a silent scream. Mouth agape, she stared up at the prince in disbelief.

He merely blinked his large eyes at her, as if her shock was curious.

Marcus, unable to bear watching his master exert himself, stepped forward in a fluster.

“Your Highness, I can assist Miss Daus.”

“What nonsense is this, Marcus?”

The prince widened his eyes and turned his body halfway, as if shielding Natalie from being taken.

“She’s my beloved. Naturally, this is my duty.”

At his firm voice, Marcus’s expression twisted. At the same moment, Natalie’s face exploded with color. She could take no more and began to thrash.

“…This is unnecessary, truly!”

“What if you can’t walk for life? Don’t worry. I’ll deliver you safely to your guardian.”

Ian feigned seriousness, mocking her struggle.

“Your Highness—no, Ian! This is too much!”

Natalie’s anxious cry rang out loud.

Momentarily forgetting himself, Marcus stood frozen, watching the backs of the prince and his fake lover as they grew distant.

He felt sorry for the startled baron’s daughter, but from afar, they really did look like a couple enjoying a blissful moment together.

“Why on earth…”

Marcus was at a loss. To him, it was baffling enough that the baron’s daughter had thrown herself into the mud.

‘His Highness always abhorred anything dirty…’

Now here he was, covered in mud, grinning like a fool. He did not look sane.

Maybe the prince’s prickly nature had softened, but that notion vanished as soon as the carriage bearing the baron’s daughter disappeared from view.

“…What is this?”

Ian looked down at himself, covered in mud, and frowned sharply.

Marcus’s face hardened even more than before.