Chapter 19
Natalie retraced her steps without encountering any guards or losing her way. It was the first bit of luck she had all day.
Before entering the banquet hall, she brushed off the dust roughly and immediately sought out her mother.
“Mother!”
“Natalie, where have you been? I thought you left without greeting the princess… What on earth happened to you?”
The baroness scolded her softly but was shocked when she saw Natalie’s disheveled appearance. Leaves were even stuck in her hair.
Conscious of those around her, the baroness quickly plucked the leaves from Natalie’s hair and pulled her aside. With a trembling voice, she asked,
“Natalie, what were you doing out there?”
“I… I think I need to go back right away. I’ll return to the hotel now.”
“What? You have an invitation, yet if only Dorothy greets the princess, what will she think?”
“I’ll say I’m having trouble breathing. I’m wearing a tight corset, so the princess will understand.”
“My dear, even so, are you really unwell, or is it something else?”
‘Why am I like this, Mother? This time, it might really ruin the Dawes family because of me.’
Natalie debated whether to tell her mother immediately. But she didn’t want to worry her fragile mother any further, and she doubted she had the time. She forced a smile for her anxious mother.
“I just felt unwell and tripped while walking in the garden. So I thought it best to return before making any mistakes. No, I should change my dress immediately…!”
“Miss Dawes.”
Both Natalie and the baroness froze at the soft voice.
The owner of the voice was the Marquess of Humperwood.
Natalie recalled the pervert she had momentarily forgotten and closed her eyes tightly. Holding her breath, she turned away awkwardly, afraid someone nearby might remember that David was Natalie Dawes.
“Lord Humperwood, we meet again. This is my mother, the Baroness of Warfield. Mother, this is Lord Humperwood.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Lady Warfield.”
The Marquess had donned the mask of a courteous gentleman.
The baroness bowed gracefully but couldn’t hide her embarrassment that the Marquess recognized Natalie.
“Natalie, you disappeared right after the dance, and I didn’t get to offer you refreshments.”
The friendly tone made Natalie force a smile, ignoring her mother’s accusing gaze.
“Thank you, but I’m not feeling well. I should return.”
“Ha ha. Planning to keep playing hide and seek, I see…”
Natalie couldn’t help but let her smile fade at the strange train of thought. The Marquess seemed to think this was a passionate push-and-pull between lovers.
“A lady can’t leave alone, can she? If the beautiful baroness permits, I will escort you and see you off.”
The Marquess volunteered to escort her.
“No, you don’t need to spoil the mood for me. Please enjoy the ball.”
“Is there another gentleman escorting you?”
“Someone else will help me.”
“Where?”
“Not in front of me, at least.”
Her voice sharpened unintentionally.
“It seems you’re avoiding introductions with other gentlemen and ladies. Is that right?”
But the more she tried to avoid him, the more the Marquess enjoyed it. His threatening manner was anything but gentlemanly.
‘Don’t do anything. Don’t ruin this.’
Though her anger flared, she chanted a silent prayer to endure. Still, she felt wronged. She didn’t understand why she had to feel humiliation and fear from a pervert like him.
‘I’ve had enough without this.’
Her scalp burned, and her heart pounded as if about to explode. She had the urge to strike the man before her and scream.
“Hey… Natalie.”
At that moment, the baroness, anxious beside her, gripped Natalie’s arm tightly and whispered.
Natalie suddenly realized how strangely quiet it had become. The orchestra had stopped playing at some point.
“Is that…?”
The baroness looked toward the banquet hall entrance, murmuring barely audibly. Natalie, a moment late, followed her mother’s gaze.
“……”
When she was young, the ladies in the bustling village square used to say over and over:
In Dwan, there are many handsome men with pale skin, blond hair, and blue eyes, but the real ‘Prince Ian’ is instantly recognizable.
He looks different.
“…Ah.”
All her twisted thoughts vanished in an instant, and she let out a short gasp. Her racing heart slowed, and time seemed to stretch.
‘It’s really true.’
Natalie couldn’t take her eyes off the man who seemed to be walking straight toward her.
The shock from first seeing Roger in adolescence couldn’t compare. In fact, it was so long ago that those feelings were distorted.
‘That man is Prince Ian.’
The feeling that the prince was coming toward her wasn’t an illusion. Surprisingly, the prince stopped right in front of her. More precisely, in front of Lord Humperwood.
The Marquess bowed to the prince.
“Your Highness, Prince Ian.”
“Long time no see, Lord Humperwood.”
Like everyone else, Natalie had done nothing but watch Ian. She couldn’t look away. He was so vivid and radiant.
“This lady has an escort. It’s me.”
Bathed in the glow of the sparkling chandelier, the prince said this as their eyes met. At that moment, Natalie gave up thinking entirely. She realized what it meant to be captivated by someone’s gaze.
“So there’s no need for you to offer to escort her.”
Her brain took several times longer than usual to process the prince’s words.
“Isn’t that right?”
Right now, that angelic man seemed to be asking her something very important.
‘The moment you meet him, you’ll fall in love.’
Just like the gossip she once overheard, he seemed worthy of everyone’s love. A beautiful and lovely man. Standing before him, she felt almost ashamed.
Loving the brightest sun that stands out everywhere is easy. Natalie instinctively knew she would love the prince the moment she first saw him.
But anyone would. Anyone who met the prince would fall for him.
Though this love might only be a form of admiration, and she’d never be hurt by it. It would be a rare, intense feeling, but only that much, she believed.
“Your Highness, you arrived earlier than expected. How…”
Before Natalie could answer, a noblewoman appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. It was Catherine, Duchess Horace, who had just noticed the prince and hurried over.
“Long time no see, Catherine. Sorry for interrupting the ball.”
“Don’t say that. Everyone’s been waiting for Your Highnesses.”
“It’s an honor. But what now? I have to escort this lady.”
Ian nodded toward Natalie, and Catherine followed his gaze.
“Your Highness, this lady is…”
She maintained an elegant smile but looked briefly flustered.
“Catherine.”
“…It’s been a while since I’ve seen Grand Batten’s pride. I suppose I’m a bit distracted.”
Catherine skillfully changed the mood, understanding the prince’s hint not to ask more. The onlookers awkwardly laughed at her pleasant banter.
“What are you all standing around for? Not enjoying the princess’s ball?”
Only after Catherine fanned open her fan and shouted toward the floor did the banquet hall thaw. The guests discreetly dispersed, and the orchestra hurriedly resumed playing.
All the while, Ian’s gaze remained fixed on Natalie.
Natalie was no different. She stood frozen, unable to avoid the prince’s eyes.
After a strange standoff, Ian suddenly stepped toward Natalie. He didn’t stop there but reached out to touch her cheek.
Natalie’s eyes widened as the prince’s face came close. His fingertips seemed about to touch her cheek.
But unexpectedly, she felt a stray hair brush away. As she slowly processed what had happened, the prince kindly showed her the answer.
“A straw…”
The prince removed a straw stuck in her hair and smiled meaningfully, his eyes narrowing.
At the same time, Natalie’s heart sank. Then it began to beat faster than before.
The princess’s garden.
The prince’s dream, a divorced man.
“I think we have something to talk about.”
Whispering just loud enough for Natalie to hear, the prince stepped back. When their eyes met again, Natalie knew.
‘That’s a knowing look. The prince knows. That I heard everything.’
She had hoped there were no witnesses. The worst had happened.
She never expected the prince to come after her himself.
