Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 57

#57. I Told You Not to Let Anyone In

“My Lady?”

The one who opened the door wasn’t Escalion, but Volf.

Volf’s eyes showed clear relief as he confirmed Belladonna was awake.

“Cindy said you were awake, My Lady…! I’m so glad!”

Volf sighed in relief and nodded.

Belladonna felt a twinge of disappointment and forced a smile.

Escalion… hasn’t he returned to the castle yet?

“You even finished your meal properly…! Excellent! Is there anything that’s making you uncomfortable?”

Volf approached her and kindly asked, checking the empty bowl next to the bed.

Belladonna shook her head.

She had no strength in her body, and other than not being able to speak, nothing was particularly uncomfortable.

Volf nodded, relieved, and stopped awkwardly in his place.

Hmm? Does he have something to say?

Belladonna looked up at Volf, who was pacing in front of her with an unnatural expression, with a puzzled face.

Volf avoided her gaze, scratched the back of his head, and slowly opened his mouth.

“Um… the Lord has returned.”

Belladonna’s lips slightly curved upon hearing Volf’s voice.

“Amy and her accomplice were hiding in an old inn at a port not far from here. They were probably planning to leave Griblata by ship.”

“……”

“The Lord personally caught them hiding and imprisoned them in the castle’s dungeon. They will soon be tried and receive appropriate punishment, so you don’t have to worry about that. They will probably receive the harshest punishment under Griblata’s territorial law, as they dared to lay hands on the Lord’s wife and property.”

Belladonna was curious about their punishment, but she wanted to hear more about Escalion now.

So, where is Escalion now?

“Anyway, that’s the situation. So, My Lady, please don’t worry and just focus on recovering.”

Volf finished speaking, bowed deeply, and turned as if he was about to leave.

Ah, wait a minute…! So, Escalion?

Growing impatient, Belladonna reached out and grabbed the hem of Volf’s suit.

“W-Why, what’s wrong, My Lady?”

Volf, who was grabbed by her, turned his head with an awkward expression. Belladonna quickly grabbed the notepad and pencil on the bedside table.

[Where is my husband?]

“T-The Lord is… currently in his office.”

[Did you tell him I woke up?]

“Of course, he knows.”

He knows….

Hearing Volf’s answer, Belladonna slowly lowered the hand holding the pencil.

“……”

He must be busy…?

Seeing that he didn’t come to find her even though he knew she had woken up, she thought he must be very busy.

Yes, that must be it….

Belladonna forced herself to calm down and gave Volf a smile, indicating she understood.

Volf, after checking her face, didn’t know what to do, then bowed his head and left the room.

She hoped his urgent business would be finished soon.

* * *

However, Escalion did not visit Belladonna that day, nor the next day, nor the day after that.

Belladonna, who had almost fully recovered and could get out of bed and walk, stood in front of the mirror and quietly looked at herself.

Does she look too haggard or unattractive?

“……”

Since he wasn’t coming no matter how long she waited, she had no choice but to go find him herself.

To think he wouldn’t even show his face even though they lived in the same castle….

At this point, she was sure that he wasn’t just busy, but that he was still angry with her.

‘But I can explain everything.’

Belladonna swallowed hard and resolved.

What the Pope wanted from the beginning, what her intentions were when she came to Griblata, and how she had changed while living with him, and what her true feelings were now….

She could explain everything.

Finally, Belladonna slightly smoothed out the wrinkled hem of her skirt and turned around.

She carefully left the room and headed for Escalion’s office.

Knock knock.

‘…Is no one there?’

Just in case, she knocked again, but no voice was heard from inside.

Belladonna cautiously put her ear to the door to see if she could hear any sound.

“……”

She couldn’t hear anything. Where did he go?

Slowly turning around, Belladonna looked at the end of the empty hallway.

He might have gone to look around the territory, or he might be training with the knights in the training ground.

If not, he might be in the dungeon to see Amy and her accomplice, or he might be in the dining hall….

Belladonna hurried her steps and looked around all the places she could think of.

‘He’s not here…!!’

But Escalion was nowhere to be seen in the castle.

Occasionally, servants who passed by greeted her, but she didn’t have a notepad or pencil with her, so it wasn’t easy to ask them where Escalion was.

No, where on earth is he?

As she was about to return to her room on the second floor without any luck, she saw Volf supervising the tile repair work in the lobby.

Belladonna quickly approached him.

“Oh, My Lady! It seems you are well enough to walk around now. I’m glad.”

Volf turned to her and smiled brightly.

Belladonna nodded to him roughly and gestured towards the castle with her eyes.

Even if others didn’t know, the quick-witted Volf would surely understand what she was saying.

“Um… Y-You mean the Lord?”

As expected!

Belladonna nodded enthusiastically.

But Volf scratched his cheek as if he was uncomfortable and didn’t open his mouth easily.

“Well… that is….”

Wait a minute… What is this reaction?

As she looked at Volf with a puzzled face, one of the servants who was laying tiles instead of him raised his head and opened his mouth.

“Hmm? I believe the Lord is resting in his room.”

“Y-You!”

Volf, as if scolding the servant who answered, raised his voice and immediately shut his mouth, looking at Belladonna.

Hmm…? Is it something I shouldn’t know?

The servant, who had been suddenly scolded, asked back with a puzzled face, just like her.

“Volf, what’s wrong? A moment ago, you clearly….”

“Just be quiet!”

Volf, who blocked his mouth, quickly turned to Belladonna.

“T-That’s right, My Lady. The Lord has been so overworked lately that he hasn’t been able to rest properly, so he is currently resting in his room. However….”

Volf slowly continued.

“H-He said he was too tired… and asked not to let anyone in.”

“……”

Hearing his words, Belladonna slowly lowered her head.

At this point, she could tell. Escalion was clearly avoiding her.

Volf, who was watching her reaction, carefully opened his mouth.

“When the Lord wakes up, I will tell him that you were looking for him, My Lady. So, please don’t wait in vain and stay in your room, My Lady.”

* * *

Belladonna, with weak steps, went up to the second floor and turned her head before entering her room.

At the end of the hallway opposite her room, she could see Escalion’s door was closed.

“……”

Belladonna, who was about to return to her room, changed her mind and turned completely in the opposite direction.

Although Escalion didn’t seem to want to see her, she really wanted to see him.

If he wasn’t going to meet her when he was awake, she wanted to see his face, even if it was just a little, while he was taking a nap without knowing anything.

‘Just for a moment, just a very short moment….’

Belladonna muffled her footsteps and walked down the hallway.

Soon, she reached his door and carefully placed her hand on the doorknob.

Just a little, she felt like she shouldn’t do this, but she shook her head.

Belladonna carefully turned the doorknob so as not to make a loud noise and opened it.

As soon as the door opened, a familiar, strong scent rushed towards her.

‘Escalion’s scent….’

Belladonna unknowingly held back the tears that welled up and peeked into the room filled with his traces.

“……”

On the wide bed, she could see his broad back, lying face down without any clothes on.

The dark-colored back, well-built with distinct muscles, was moving up and down regularly each time he breathed.

Click.

Belladonna stepped inside and carefully closed the door behind her.

‘He must have been very tired….’

Normally, he would have immediately noticed the sound of someone entering the room, but Escalion was still breathing evenly.

Belladonna swallowed hard and slowly moved towards his bed.

The closer she got, the clearer the sound of Escalion’s breathing became, and his scent was strongly felt.

After looking at him for a moment, Belladonna carefully sat on a chair not far from the bed.

‘Secretly stealing glances at someone sleeping….’

She somehow felt like she had become a terrible stalker, but just watching him sleep from afar brought peace to her mind.

Belladonna slowly leaned back on the chair.

‘He saved me….’

She was kidnapped by someone with impure intentions, abandoned in a cave, and was in danger of being attacked and killed by a bear.

At the last moment when she was about to be attacked, she seemed to have thought of Escalion….

She felt grateful and sorry to him at the same time.

“Umm….”

At that moment, Escalion made a small noise and turned over.

Huh, he woke up! Is it because of me? Belladonna was startled and held her breath, watching him.

Escalion, who had been lying face down, turned over and slowly opened his golden eyes, staring at the high ceiling with a dazed look.

“……”

Soon, his gaze, which had been looking upwards and slowly blinking, moved in an instant and turned towards her.

Unlike Belladonna, who was startled and flinched, Escalion didn’t seem very surprised.

‘But….’

Unexpectedly, Belladonna’s cheeks turned red as she met Escalion’s eyes.

His muscular upper body, with not a single thread on, his languid eyes and atmosphere as if he had just woken up, his slightly disheveled hair, and his distant gaze were creating a somewhat sensual feeling.

Ah, no! Not these thoughts right now…!

As she was blushing alone with feelings that were completely out of place with the situation, Escalion opened his mouth in a low voice.

“I told you not to let anyone in.”