#32. Shall I Comfort You?
April 1, 2024
Pavion, noticing Cindy rushing toward her with the enthusiasm of a child, bowed to Belladona.
“It seems today is not the day, Madam. But other opportunities will arise. I hope you will always find happiness, regardless of what may come.”
Before Belladona could respond, he pulled up his robe’s hood and quickly made his way toward the garden.
He headed for the entrance without a backward glance.
Oh…….
She watched the wizard’s retreating figure, lost in thought. Cindy, having approached unnoticed, placed a hat on her head, pulled the strings down, and tied a ribbon under her chin, exclaiming,
“It seems the wizard came to bid you a final farewell, Madam? He was a bit old, but his skills were quite impressive, wouldn’t you agree? There! It suits you perfectly! Let’s go over there, shall we!”
Belladona nodded.
As she walked, guided by Cindy’s hand, she glanced back at the direction in which Pavion had disappeared.
“……”
*Is that wizard truly trustworthy?*
The fact that he had recognized she wasn’t the real Saintess [a holy figure in this world] at a glance made her uneasy and nervous, yet also brought a faint sense of relief.
It was strangely comforting to know that she wasn’t alone in the world with such a significant secret.
*Maybe… through him, she might discover why she had become like this?*
Belladona stared at the spot where Pavion had vanished for a long moment before finally turning away.
It felt as though a small storm had passed.
And she sensed that an even greater storm awaited her.
* * *
“It’s damn hot.”
Escalion grumbled, tossing aside the thin top he had been wearing.
Even in the chilly Gribalta, he sometimes slept naked.
There was no way he could feel comfortable in this place, where the average temperature was much higher.
Inside the master bedroom at the Shirenia estate, Escalion reached out and took Belladona’s hand, bringing it to his cheek.
“How can my wife be so cool even in such a hot place?”
As if she had transformed into a cool cloth, Belladona looked up at him blankly.
He playfully wiggled Belladona’s hand and subtly moved closer.
“Hold me. You’re a big part of why I’m so hot.”
Without hesitation, Belladona reached out and embraced him.
His broad, warm shoulders were more than enough to fill her slender embrace.
Hugging her tightly, Escalion gently murmured against Belladona’s neck.
“Why are you being so agreeable today?”
Belladona closed her eyes silently and held him even tighter.
Ever since her encounter with Pavion, an unfamiliar anxiety had been gnawing at her.
She felt she couldn’t bear it unless she did this.
“…Did something happen?”
Escalion, noticing Belladona’s unusually rapid heartbeat, pulled away slightly and asked.
His deep golden eyes, filled with concern and affection, were fixed on her.
Looking into Escalion’s beautiful eyes, a sudden wave of sorrow washed over her.
Waking up again in the Saintess’s body after a painful fever and death.
In truth, it was a kind of blessing that she could be happy enough to enjoy.
Although the Saintess’s life wasn’t exactly joyful, she was at least alive and breathing.
Belladona had been living each day as if she were merely enduring, unable to die again or truly become the Saintess.
*‘I thought it was at least better than my previous life. Even if I lived like this and eventually went back to die as I was… I thought it wouldn’t be so bad.’*
But after meeting Escalion, she was gradually becoming greedy.
The desire to never return to Astania, where the Pope resided.
The desire to escape from everything that burdened her and caused her pain.
The desire to ignore everything and continue to be with him…….
*‘If you look at me with those eyes… it keeps making me feel different.’*
Belladona carefully exhaled to calm the emotions rising in her throat.
“Why are you crying?”
Escalion, who had been watching her intently, asked in a low voice.
*Huh? I’m not crying…….*
Plop.
At that moment, tears that had been welling up unknowingly streamed down her cheek and landed on the back of his hand.
He stared at the droplets on his hand before raising his gaze to meet hers.
“…Which bastard was it? Did that wizard say something else again?”
Belladona hurriedly shook her head at his hardening expression.
*Ah, why did tears have to fall suddenly…….*
Hic. She sniffed.
“Then? Is it because you came here and it’s not as good as you thought? Just wait a few days. I’ll change everything to your liking……”
Escalion raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears flowing down Belladona’s cheek.
His palm, calloused in places and not particularly soft, moved clumsily over her face.
Belladona raised her arm and placed her hand over his.
She rubbed her face against his paused palm and leaned into him deeply.
Escalion’s warmth gave her a sense of stability.
She could feel her anxious heart gradually calming down as she leaned on him.
She wanted to hold him even tighter and lose herself in his broad embrace.
“Bella.”
Escalion murmured softly.
“I don’t know what to do when you cry.”
“……”
“It feels like my head is going to explode. What should I do? What can I do to make you stop crying?”
Belladona blinked slowly. She was beginning to feel at peace in his presence.
There was no need for anything special…….
Simply being together like this was enough comfort for her.
“Tell me anything, huh?”
*Anything……?*
Then, a bottle of wine left by Volf on the bedside table caught her eye.
*It is said to be wine made from grapes harvested in Shirenia. I heard it tastes very good.*
*Leave it there.*
*Yes, I understand.*
It had been left by Volf, who had briefly visited to ensure she had everything she needed in the new room.
Belladona slowly raised her hand and pointed to the wine bottle.
Escalion, following her finger, frowned instantly.
“Wine? You’re going to drink wine?”
Nod…… Belladona nodded slowly.
*Should I try it…….*
Escalion turned his head and looked down at her with a suspicious expression.
“Do you even know how to drink? I doubt the Pope would have allowed his only daughter to drink.”
*I’ve never tried it before, but……* She rolled her eyes.
*Isn’t it similar to grape juice? Or not.*
“…Well, whatever. It’s not a bad idea to relieve stress with alcohol when something upsetting happens.”
Finally, Escalion, after muttering quietly, sat up and reached for the bedside table.
He grabbed the edge of the table and pulled it closer to the bed. With one hand, he picked up the wine bottle and pulled out the cork.
With a cheerful *pop!* sound, a sweet grape scent filled the air.
Oh…….
With practiced ease, Escalion turned over two wine glasses and poured about half of the wine into each.
He handed one to Belladona and looked down at her with a worried expression, saying,
“Don’t try to drink it all at once. Savor the aroma first and then slowly wet your tongue.”
*Savor slowly……!*
Belladona, who had received the wine glass with both hands, looked down at it with determination before suddenly bringing it to her lips.
Then, Escalion pulled the glass away from her again and said.
“Uh-uh. We have to toast first.”
*Ah, that’s right!*
Belladona quickly clinked her glass against his.
Seeing how adorable she looked, Escalion chuckled.
*Can I drink it now?*
Belladona, who had been watching Escalion’s expression, saw him smiling and bringing the wine glass to his lips, so she did the same.
Sniff sniff.
A much richer and more concentrated scent than grape juice tickled her nose.
With an expectant heart, Belladona tilted the wine glass and wet her lips.
*‘…Delicious!’*
Belladona, who licked her lips and tasted the wine, sparkled her eyes.
It was a much deeper and richer taste than grape juice.
She hurriedly tilted the glass again and sipped the wine.
“Aren’t you drinking too fast?”
Escalion, who had already emptied his glass and set it down, looked at her and asked.
*But you drank it all up……?*
With a small rebellious feeling, Belladona bravely swallowed the remaining wine.
*Kuh……! Is this just like delicious juice? Maybe I’m more of a drinker than I thought?*
“Is it palatable?”
Nod nod!
“I just realized that my wife was a born drinker.”
Escalion chuckled and picked up the wine bottle to pour more into his glass.
*Give me too!*
Belladona held out her empty glass as if she wouldn’t be denied, and he asked with a dumbfounded expression.
“You want to drink more? Should you just go to sleep?”
Shake shake!
“You’re already flushed, why are you insisting on drinking more?”
Escalion said, placing the back of his hand on her cheek.
Her soft cheeks, already warm and radiating heat, were undeniably cute.
*Give me more!* Belladona shook the glass she was holding up and down, constantly urging him.
“I don’t know what to do with you.”
Escalion shook his head and filled her glass.
Belladona smiled brightly and brought it to her lips again.
“Look at you, your eyes are all glazed over and you’re smiling. Anyone can tell that you’re a novice drunk who’s drinking alcohol for the first time today.”
Belladona ignored his words and swallowed the remaining liquid.
As he said, her eyes were gradually glazing over, the corners of her lips were slowly rising, and her mood was steadily improving.
*Is this why people drink alcohol? The feeling of her body floating wasn’t bad.*
Everything she had been seriously worrying about just a moment ago felt like it was being dismissed as nothing.
Belladona took a deep breath and blinked her eyes.
“Now, really, stop.”
Escalion snatched Belladona’s glass, which had been emptied again in an instant.
Belladona looked at him with regret, smacking her lips.
“Why were you crying? Tell me now.”
Escalion asked, holding out his palm.
She stared blankly at his large palm before resting her cheek on it instead of spreading her fingers.
She could feel Escalion panicking and supporting her.
“Bella, are you drunk by any chance?”
“……”
Belladona rubbed her warm cheek against his palm.
She liked Escalion’s rough palm, which had been giving her rest and warmth until just now, so much.
“…Okay, let’s just sleep.”
A resigned voice fell over her head, which was pressed against him and rubbing against him.
At his words, Belladona raised her head, which had been buried in his palm.
Escalion’s face, with his ears flushed red and a troubled expression, came into view.
His golden eyes, always so affectionate.
Sob!
Emotions suddenly welled up again.
Belladona pouted her lips, and Escalion was startled and leaned closer.
“Why suddenly? Did I do something wrong? Could it be because I didn’t give you more alcohol?”
Shake shake…….
*Is this what it’s like to be drunk? Her emotions are fluctuating wildly…….*
The only difference from before was that she was crying not because she was sad, but because she was grateful and happy to him.
She was grateful for his always being so affectionate.
Belladona slowly reached out and brought his hands to her cheeks.
Their wavering gazes met.
“Bella.”
Finally, Escalion spoke. He asked with a soft, intense gaze.
“…Shall I comfort you?”