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Chapter: 27
“Are you all right?”
The prince asked.
Well… this much, I think I’m fine.
“Soon, Dorothy will find a suitable husband and succeed in marriage, so this isn’t such a bad outcome.”
Yes. I’m still okay. In fact, it’s better than I thought. I guess I’m getting used to being pointed at.
It was amusing, in the middle of it all, that the prince wore a concerned expression over a poisonous little flower like me. I almost wanted to applaud his flawless performance.
“…Your Highness, I’m sorry, but I think I should be heading back for today.”
But I can’t do anything more today. I can feel the prince staring at me intently.
“Then I shall escort you to your carriage.”
Fortunately, he didn’t probe any further. The standard response returned.
Natalie carefully supported her stiffened mother. The Baroness didn’t say a word and let her daughter take her by the hand.
Since the Duchess was acting as Dorothy’s chaperone, Natalie thought it would be better to return her mother to Warfield.
Her tightly clenched lips had split, leaving a metallic taste of blood on her tongue.
“Just how did the heir to the throne end up like this?”
“How could that woman not have lured the naive prince? It’s obvious.”
While talking to Marcus, Ian vaguely overheard some foolish chatter.
No wonder he had been staring at the ground.
Ian clicked his tongue lightly. Unconsciously, his pace quickened toward her.
“…”
Ian’s gaze lingered on Natalie’s lower lip.
Up close, it was quite the sight. In the brief moment he looked away, blood had sprung on her lower lip, and she looked completely defeated.
Even at an age where one could believe she might have three children, this young lady seemed unbearably fragile. Of course, her mother was beside her, but still.
Ian slowly brushed the hair off his forehead. It was one of his habits when displeased, and Marcus quietly swallowed from behind him.
Ian raised his eyes and looked past her back. In the distance, he saw some dark-clad men with tall hats scattering quietly.
Cowardly little things.
He memorized their faces quickly and then lowered his gaze.
Her brown eyes noticeably flinched and avoided him. Upon closer inspection, they were wet.
Realizing that, his heart began to beat faster and faster. An unpleasant feeling.
The oddly elevated mood he’d felt since a few days ago plummeted.
How could someone look so pitiful? More pitiful than a squirrel who’s lost its home and even its acorns. His nape tingled.
Compassion, a slight sense of responsibility. It was that feeling again.
“Miss Dows.”
It was an impulsive decision to stop her as she bowed to greet him after helping the Baroness into the carriage.
“Should I just hit her?”
“…Excuse me?”
“I have keen hearing.”
Her expression flickered with embarrassment.
“…Because of me, you had to hear something pointless.”
“It’s not about that.”
Ian waved his hand as if to dismiss the importance of it.
He didn’t want to see that expression. Imagining her shrinking there alone made his stomach turn.
‘I can’t stay by her side all day…’
“Next time, just slap her cheek. That’d be better.”
It was a rather impulsive remark.
For a moment, he wondered how someone could get so anxious from mere compassion and a touch of responsibility, but he couldn’t find an answer right then.
Natalie’s eyes went wide, and soon, her expression showed disbelief at the absurd words she’d heard. Without acting skills, her control over facial expressions was poor.
She probably had no idea what kind of look she was giving the prince.
“…Not just anyone can do that,” she muttered, squeezing in all her resentment and sorrow in every word.
“The prince would never know, even if he died and came back.”
The last words were so quiet they were almost inaudible.
When the sharp nature of Natalie Dows, long thought dead, surfaced, Ian felt his heart, which had been racing out of control, finally calm.
He couldn’t figure out what this strange relief following the anxiety was.
Ian felt like a merciful prince like never before, capable of giving her the moon and stars if she wished.
“That much I can handle quietly.”
“You make boring jokes.”
“Killing would be difficult, though.”
His not-so-joking joke made Natalie unable to hide her unwillingness to deal with him.
Ian’s lips twitched, amused by the deep brown eyes that were beginning to dry from indignation.
Yes, this is it. This is her. It even made him feel a little happy.
“I don’t particularly like seeing blood. I have a weak stomach.”
“I just want to live quietly. Though it seems that’s impossible now, I won’t let blood be spilled in any situation.”
“Really? Then we get along well.”
“…I don’t think we do.”
Feigning ignorance of her irritation, he teased her, and she responded with a timid but firm voice.
“…May I get on the carriage now, Your Highness?”
Her face flushed red; she was on the verge of bursting. Ian decided it was time to stop teasing her.
He stepped aside like a gentleman.
Natalie, looking somewhat prim, passed him and headed straight for the carriage.
In the next moment, Ian experienced another shocking impulse.
‘Why am I like this?’
It felt like he had spent a week’s worth of conversation with her just now, yet watching that round back of her head move away made his mouth itch again.
“Don’t hold back. If you want to hit, then hit. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
When he came to his senses, he realized he had spoken impulsively without thinking.
Natalie, who had been about to get into the carriage with Marcus’s escort, glanced back at Ian with a creak.
“If it’s too hard for me to do it, you can have me do it. Or Marcus. He’s here to clean up messes.”
Both Marcus and Natalie froze for different reasons.
Natalie seemed to consider it briefly, then turned back to face him. She whispered while checking the surroundings.
“…If I really do something, it’ll be troublesome for you.”
“Do as you wish. You’re allowed.”
Ian chuckled silently at the words that came out without going through his brain.
But he had no regrets. It felt like something he absolutely had to say.
After a while, Natalie looked completely flustered, muttering silently as if she had lost her mind.
Ian hated fools who thought they had multiple lives. But watching Natalie’s reaction right now was unexpectedly entertaining and rewarding.
“I’m glad it seemed that way.”
Today, he might even be dumber than her.
Natalie, realizing he had read her lips, stiffened. After moving her lips a few times, she finally spoke.
“…Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
“Do you wish for anything from me?”
Pfft.
But Natalie Dows had been surprisingly stubborn.
Her face was the most serious Ian had ever seen. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha, what did you say?”
“I asked if you wish for anything.”
She was very serious. It would have been rude to keep laughing, so Ian bit his teeth to show seriousness.
“For now, marriage. A year later, divorce.”
“…I meant, is there anything else?”
“From me to you? Do you perhaps have many things?”
Every time he acted like a villain, Natalie couldn’t bring herself to ask if he was interested in her.
Yes, of course not. Unless the prince was truly insane, he wasn’t doing this out of affection for me. She pursed her lips, anticipating ridicule.
Ian looked at her carefully, then slowly spoke.
“Well….”
Her eyes, brighter than usual in the sunlight, were full of suspicion and wariness. He smiled.
“After hearing you speak, I think there might be something.”
“What… what is it?”
“But I’m not sure myself.”
“….”
“When I find out, you’ll be the first to know.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
She answered with a reluctant expression, frowning as if she wasn’t grateful at all.
Ian’s eyes gleamed. He felt he could make that face even funnier.
“Your Highness, then I shall—”
“Ah, first, let’s change that title a little.”
“Title?”
“Ian.”
Her face twisted in frustration. Delighted by her reaction, Ian urged her.
“Call me.”
“How could I dare call the prince by his name?”
“David? It’s a nickname only family uses, but I’ll allow it for you.”
“….”
“My middle name is David. You’ll get used to it.”
“Ian.”
“Yes, Natalie.”
Mentioning ‘David,’ she instantly flattened herself. Ian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“Hah…”
She sighed right in the prince’s face, but he didn’t care.
“…May I ask one last question?”
“Of course.”
“Will this ruin the Grand Batten?”
“…My bride seems surprisingly patriotic.”
“It won’t fail, right?”
“Technically, this is patriotic. It’ll likely be a great success. Just watch.”
She reluctantly nodded with her usual skeptical expression.
“Any more questions?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Ian.”
“…Yes, Ian.”
Ian relaxed his eyes at her response, then suddenly asked:
“Do you know there will be an exhibition at the Royal Art Hall in two days?”
What is he up to now? Natalie tensed reflexively.
“Yes. Lady Horace and my younger brother are attending, as far as I know.”
“And you?”
“I don’t need to go with my brother anymore. Besides, if I went to such a crowded place, I’d just be a nuisance…”
“Come with me.”
The voice was crisp and clear.
“We’ll meet there in two days.”
…Two days? Natalie’s face lit up with joy. She asked,
“Then is tomorrow a day off?”
