Chapter 18
Tall trees that seemed to be several hundred years old stood there, their thick, sturdy branches holding two pairs of old swings. Startled by the unexpected sight, Natalie relaxed a bit when she realized no one was around.
A place to sit.
Hesitant at first, Natalie cautiously stepped into the peaceful garden. Only after confirming several times that no one was nearby did she sit on a swing and finally breathe properly.
“Sigh…”
It was still early spring, and the night air filled her lungs with a chill. From afar, carried by the cool breeze, the sound of the orchestra’s music and people’s conversations seemed to reach her ears. Her startled heart gradually calmed.
‘Let me hide here a little longer, then slip back to the hall. I’ll tell Mother I’m going straight back.’
She planned to collect her thoughts and rest briefly. But the harsh world did not allow her even a moment’s respite.
Crunch, crunch.
From somewhere, the sound of footsteps on grass and voices began to approach.
Nothing had gone her way for a long time. Natalie really wanted to cry now.
She hurriedly got off the swing, crouched low, and hid behind a large tree. Contrary to her wish that they wouldn’t come this way, the sounds grew closer.
‘I’m really going crazy.’
Natalie squeezed her eyes shut.
***
“So, which lady will you dance with?”
Charlotte hurried after Ian’s retreating figure and asked.
“The lady Marcus chose. Probably one of the pink dresses.”
Ian deliberately gave an answer he knew his bothersome twin sister would hate.
“Ian!”
“Oh dear. Looks like you’re upset. Want to choose yourself?”
His playful voice was full of laughter, unaware of his sister’s deep worry. Charlotte frowned and stopped abruptly.
Ian ignored her and casually walked to the swing, sat down, and smiled at Charlotte, motioning for her to come over and stop fussing.
Charlotte, the host of today’s ball, was exceptionally beautiful even to her own brother, but her expression was fierce enough to kill. Yet, since they shared the same face, Ian remained unfazed.
Charlotte was the one who looked disappointed. Reluctantly approaching the swing, she said,
“Fine. It’s better this way. Stop this ridiculous bride hunt.”
“Then how will my sister become queen? By having me assassinated?”
“Ian, this isn’t the time for jokes. Why do you keep acting like a child?”
Ian burst into hearty laughter, amused. Charlotte gave him a stunned look and asked,
“Do you really not care? Is marriage a joke to you?”
“I still don’t understand what the problem is.”
“Is marrying a problematic lady and divorcing a year later the same as marrying a perfect princess and having a smooth marriage?”
Charlotte lowered her voice, worried someone might overhear. She didn’t realize Natalie was hiding just behind the tree nearby.
‘What’s going on? What are they talking about?’
Natalie’s face paled as she hid behind the tree.
Charlotte and Ian were surely the famous twins of the Grand Batten royal family. It was Malik House, and the ball was hosted by the princess herself.
And this was the princess’s garden. A prince’s marriage, yes. But divorce?
Clearly, she had chosen the wrong hiding place.
‘I shouldn’t listen any further.’
Yet her heart raced with curiosity. The country’s affairs seemed serious with whatever the princess and prince were plotting.
As Natalie swallowed nervously behind the tree, the prince and princess’s verbal sparring continued.
“What do you mean by a smooth marriage?”
“You can meet a woman you truly respect and rely on. There aren’t many good princes, but there are many good princesses. Maybe you’ll even truly love your wife.”
“Truly love? Have you ever seen a political marriage where that happened?”
“…”
“I haven’t. I’ve seen many become enemies. Our parents are a good example. Just as you hate political marriages, so do I.”
Nothing was wrong with that. Their negative view of political marriage started with their parents. Fear of an unhappy marriage was one reason Charlotte delayed hers.
“Political or arranged marriage. Whether a well-raised foreign princess or a problematic Grand Batten lady, it’s all the same to me.”
“That’s definitely different, Ian. Don’t take it lightly.”
“Oh, sure, it’s different. The former is a lifelong stud, the latter at least guarantees freedom after a year.”
“…Forget that damn divorce plan. Once you have the label of divorce, even you won’t regain your honor.”
Ian smiled brightly at his sister’s outburst.
“Right, the moment I divorce, I’ll never sit on the throne. So Charlotte, my dream is to be a divorced man.”
“You’re really… how can you be so carefree alone?”
He seemed very comfortable with himself. But from an outsider’s view, his bold plan was quite uncomfortable.
And Natalie, who had unintentionally overheard the prince’s dream, felt like she might go crazy. The fascinating talk quickly turned into overwhelming state secrets she couldn’t handle.
“…Miss…!”
A sudden noisy shout came from afar, but it was neither welcome nor comforting.
That crazy pervert still hadn’t left. Natalie swallowed hard and covered her mouth.
At the same moment, Ian and Charlotte also reacted to the sound.
“…What’s that noise?”
Before Charlotte could finish murmuring, someone hurried into the princess’s garden.
“Your Highness, Princess.”
It was Ian’s aide, Marcus Peeble. Seeing the tense atmosphere, Charlotte slowly got up from the swing and approached him.
“Marcus, what’s the commotion?”
“Lord Humperwood is causing a disturbance.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed at the name Humperwood. Charlotte asked irritably,
“You mean the Marquess? Why?”
“He says he’s looking for something in the garden.”
“This is my private garden. What could he be looking for?”
“He’s drunk and can’t explain properly. But a guard saw a young lady, so they’re searching the garden. Hopefully, she’s just lost, but it could be an intruder. Your Highnesses should move.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. If the guards caught her now, she’d attract huge attention. Worst case,
‘I might be killed quietly for overhearing a secret plan.’
She felt like she’d jumped from the frying pan into the fire. She looked around frantically. Just five steps ahead was the flowerbed where she had fallen escaping the pervert.
‘If the guards start searching here, it’s over. If I can get back over the flowerbed and retrace my steps, maybe I won’t be caught.’
She didn’t know what the right choice was. But she was sure she couldn’t let them find out what she’d overheard.
Natalie lowered her body carefully to avoid making noise. Then she began to inch forward toward the flowerbed. If needed, she planned to leap over it and run at full speed. She didn’t know how long she could hold out.
“Hmm. It’d be troublesome if someone from a low-class magazine snuck in. Marcus, you should…”
Charlotte, just as tired of gossip as Queen Violet, reacted sharply.
While she gave Marcus various orders, Ian still sat on the swing. He looked indifferent to the commotion and slowly took in the garden’s scenery. He wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer before entering the noisy ballroom.
A cool breeze blew pleasantly, making his eyelids droop. With his vision blocked, his other senses seemed sharper.
He caught a faint scent of unknown fruit sweetness on the breeze that hadn’t been noticeable before.
Finally, Ian opened his eyes.
‘It’s too much to ignore…’
He had hoped to quietly enjoy his thoughts, but it seemed impossible. He turned his head and stared as if measuring the circumference of a thick tree trunk. More precisely, at something hiding behind it.
Slowly leaning back while holding the swing’s ropes, the thing hiding behind the tree gradually revealed itself.
Ian blinked at the unexpected sight.
“……”
A scarlet rear, crawling stealthily, unaware of his gaze, kept moving forward.
“……”
His eyes grew wide for the first time in a long while. The bright scarlet shape illuminated by the mansion’s light was unmistakably a rear.
And he definitely recognized it.
“…Pfft.”
He burst into laughter without resistance.
At the same moment, the rear twitched and stopped moving. Marcus and Charlotte, who had been speaking seriously, turned to look at him.
“Why are you laughing?”
Charlotte frowned. Ian hanging from the swing, giggling awkwardly, looked very strange.
“Ian?”
Ian tried to cover his mouth with one hand to hold back laughter. When he shook his head as if nothing was wrong, Charlotte asked,
Like a deer startled by a hunter, a loud noise of something brushing through the bushes echoed through the garden.
“Pfft.”
Again, laughter burst uncontrollably through his fingers.
“Your Highness!”
Marcus, realizing something had been hiding behind the tree and fled, rushed forward. Ian stopped him with a raised hand.
Marcus looked at the prince in confusion.
“Looks like she overheard our conversation.”
“Did you see what she looked like?”
Ian, trying to hold back laughter, asked seriously. Charlotte nodded to answer as he struggled not to laugh again.
“I’ll bring the guards immediately, Your Highness.”
“It’s okay. She’s someone I know.”
“Someone you know? What do you mean?”
“I didn’t expect things to turn out this way. It can’t be helped. I’ll go and talk to her.”
Ian finally composed himself and spoke gently as usual.
“What are you going to talk about?”
“Your Highness?”
“So, guards, stand down. Don’t arrest anyone.”
Charlotte and Marcus exchanged glances, wondering if Ian’s outrageous behavior meant he’d truly lost his mind.
