Chapter 17
“There’s a rumor that Prince Ian will be getting married soon. Before his coronation as crown prince, they say.”
Suddenly, someone’s voice pierced Natalie’s ears.
Maybe, after confirming there was no one she knew, her nerves had relaxed and her old habits came back unconsciously. The way she kept overhearing things even while standing still… maybe her body just remembered.
She instinctively turned toward the sound. She saw two ladies fluttering silk fans. Without realizing it, she started eavesdropping on their conversation.
“If that’s true, then surely the bride is Princess Sophia of Fosa, isn’t it?”
“She’s the most likely, right? She’s the queen’s favorite niece, after all.”
“I can’t believe Prince Ian is actually deciding to marry. Does this mean Princess Charlotte really won’t ever marry?”
“It’s been a while, my lady…”
She wanted to listen a bit more, but a gentleman approached and greeted them, cutting their conversation short.
Natalie felt disappointed. Suddenly, she wondered what it would have been like if she’d been invited to a ball like this three years ago. It would have been a goldmine for inspiration.
‘I’d have spent the whole night dodging dances, sweeping the walls, eavesdropping on guests and servants. Then I’d tell Emily or Christina Doweigh all about it…’
She let her imagination take flight, then flinched. She realized she’d forgotten why she was here and was, out of habit, eavesdropping and daydreaming. She felt incredibly embarrassed.
‘Hopeless, Natalie.’
She wanted to run back to the hotel and hide in a corner, but unfortunately, she couldn’t.
‘When is the princess going to appear?’
The ball had already been going for a while. The third dance had already started, but Princess Charlotte, the host, still hadn’t shown herself.
Natalie, who planned to greet the princess and return to the hotel immediately, was starting to get anxious.
Meanwhile, the music was reaching its climax. This dance would end soon, and then the gentlemen would start moving around to ask for partners again.
Natalie left the wall and began to move slowly, trying to avoid them. But she soon stopped in her tracks. She’d spotted Dorothy, gliding across the floor with a gentleman.
“Hm. He’s tall, but he looks a bit old…”
Even though Dorothy sometimes acted like a mad dog, Natalie still felt protective of her little sister.
Still, the two on the dance floor looked good together, chatting constantly even as they danced. Most importantly, Dorothy looked happy.
And beyond them, across the floor, Natalie saw her mother watching Dorothy. The baroness, who had looked anxious all evening, was now smiling gently.
Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off her mother and sister’s smiles. Her heart swelled, and she felt her lips curl up in a smile.
Because of that, she didn’t notice the shadow approaching her.
“Miss Dawes, isn’t it?”
The sudden sound of her own name from behind sent chills down her spine.
Dawes? Did I hear that right? Her mind instantly filled with panic.
Natalie chose to leave. Pretending not to hear the voice calling her, she walked away without looking back.
“Miss Dawes.”
But before she could take more than a step, the voice called her again, louder and clearer. Natalie panicked and turned around.
“I knew it was you.”
“…Good evening, sir.”
He was a gentleman who looked about her father’s age, with a very kind expression. She’d never seen him before, but he acted as if he knew her. Her confusion grew. She chose her words carefully to avoid causing a scene.
“I’m afraid it’s been so long since I visited Dwan, I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember many faces. If you don’t mind…”
“This is our first introduction. I am the Marquess of Humperwood.”
“Ah… I see.”
She thought she’d heard of the prestigious family, but he was still just a stranger. Her heart began to pound. She imagined the worst intentions for a middle-aged man approaching her. She tried to hide her fear as she asked,
“Then, how do you know me, Lord Humperwood…”
“I see your dance card is empty.”
The Marquess cut her off in a booming voice. Instantly, all eyes turned toward her. Natalie, startled by the sudden attention, hunched her shoulders.
“Please, grant me the honor of the next dance.”
‘Damn. I’m caught.’
Natalie’s dance card was not empty. After dozens of balls, she’d learned to fill it with fake names to avoid dance requests.
But the Marquess seemed to know all the tricks of ladies who didn’t care for balls.
It was bad manners to refuse a dance when you had no partner. The middle-aged gentleman was experienced. Maybe he was drunk, even if he looked fine.
One thing was certain… if she made a fuss, she’d be caught with a fake dance card, and that would be worse.
“…Yes. Gladly.”
Natalie agreed to the dance as if spitting blood. She could feel the curious, gossipy stares dispersing.
At the same time, the Marquess’s wrinkled eyes crinkled in a smile. The kindly face twisted into something creepy, and Natalie instantly realized she’d made a mistake.
Of all things, it was a waltz. The Marquess gripped her hand painfully tight and pressed his shoulder against hers.
“Sir. Your shoulder is too close. Please keep your distance.”
“Ah… Is that so?”
Natalie’s voice was stiff as she pointed it out. The Marquess seemed surprised and moved away, but squeezed her hand even harder. Natalie clenched her teeth to suppress her instinctive discomfort.
Throughout the dance, the Marquess kept speaking to her with a sticky gaze. Natalie tried her best to think of anything else, repeatedly apologizing that she couldn’t hear him well.
‘Ugh. I can’t just pluck out my own eyes.’
But there was nothing she could do about his disgusting stare. She could barely breathe. At this rate, she might actually faint, as unlikely as that seemed.
But the real shock and horror came at the climax of the next turn.
“You keep pretending to be innocent, but isn’t something forceful more to your taste?”
“I’m sorry, but it’s too noisy, I can’t… What…?”
Natalie, reciting her usual polite response, stopped. Her mouth fell open in shock.
Oh God. Mother, what did I just hear?
The unpleasant man was, unbelievably, quoting a line from David’s novel that had been discontinued three years ago.
“Weren’t you the maid of Marquess Mabel’s daughter? I saw you at the charity ball and the races. Not a great beauty, but your looks are unusual enough to remember.”
The Marquess whispered ominously.
Christina Doweigh’s maid? And a rude comment on her looks, too. But she had no energy to protest.
“I didn’t realize then that you were David.”
He actually brought up David. She wished someone would tell her this was just a nightmare.
“You were David, and now you appear before me again. That must mean we’re destined.”
What was this crazy old man saying?
Natalie barely swallowed a scream. Even now, her determination not to draw attention kept her moving through the steps.
“And I know what you want.”
“Damn it… What do you know…”
Panicking, Natalie muttered a curse David might have used. The Marquess’s face lit up with excitement.
“Ah… You look so pure and young, but I know you’re more lascivious than anyone.”
Finally, Natalie was left speechless. He really couldn’t tell reality from fiction. He was a full-blown delusional case.
“I’ll satisfy you.”
“……”
A pervert. A disgusting pervert had appeared.
At that moment, the music ended.
Natalie immediately shook off the Marquess’s hand and took a step back. She curtseyed and then turned firmly away, hurrying off the floor. The urge to escape grew stronger with every step.
“Natalie!”
‘Shut up!’
He was suddenly calling her by her first name without permission. At this rate, he’d propose and marry her all by himself.
She’d survived three social seasons and thought she’d seen every kind of creep, but now she felt like crying.
‘I was worried about running into someone I knew, not some crazy pervert recognizing my face…’
She hurried away, glancing nervously behind her. The pervert was still following her, not giving up. He even had the nerve to greet acquaintances as he closed the distance. It was terrifying.
‘What do I do? Where can I go to lose him? If I draw any more attention…’
She could feel eyes on her already. At this rate, everyone would know “David” had dared to come to Dwan.
She gritted her teeth and headed for a quieter area.
Passing through the back door to the garden, she realized her mistake. Now there were too few people. Being chased by a pervert, this was a problem in itself.
Natalie’s eyes darted around, searching for a way out. Just then, she spotted a guard patrolling the garden.
“Guard! Guard! Over here!”
As expected of a royal ball, Natalie felt saved and hurried toward him.
“There’s a man over there, dressed properly but I don’t think he was invited. He’s middle-aged. Please check.”
With a desperate, urgent voice, the guard took her seriously. He moved in the direction Natalie had come from.
“Natalie!”
“Sir, this area is not open to just anyone. Please show your invitation.”
“You little—! Do you know who I am!”
‘Stop calling me by my name.’
She sat down in a corner of the garden, catching her breath, but the argument sounded closer than she expected. The pervert had followed her more closely than she thought.
Natalie bit her lip and got up again. She left the path, cutting through the bushes, deeper and deeper into the garden. Wandering alone through the overgrown garden at night felt utterly miserable.
She didn’t know how long she wandered through the grass.
At some point, a wide open space appeared before her.
