Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 10

#Episode 10. To Our Castle

2024.03.10.

Belladonna swallowed hard and reached her arm out to Escalio.

He smiled contentedly, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gently lowered her down.

‘Whoa….’

As soon as her feet touched the ground, they sank into the white sand.

It was as if the soft sand was pulling her feet in.

Belladonna was flustered and quickly moved her legs.

I’m going to fall!

Escalio, who was watching her, chuckled.

“If you fall in completely, I’ll save you, so feel free to wander around.”

Gradually getting used to the sand, Belladonna slowly stepped towards the sea.

To where the waves crashed with a refreshing sound.

It was as if the sea was calling her.

“If you bravely go that close, your dress and shoes will definitely get wet, you know?”

Is that so?

Belladonna stopped walking abruptly at Escalio’s voice from behind.

Come to think of it, the waves crashing towards her were hard to predict.

She wanted to get closer, but she might end up getting Cindy’s carefully prepared dress and shoes wet if she dallied.

And she might get cold on the way back if she wore wet clothes….

Escalio, who had tied the horse in a suitable place and approached her, bent down.

‘Huh? What is he doing?’

Escalio took off his boots, rolled up his pants, and revealed his firm, smooth calves.

He looked up at Belladonna for a moment, grinned, and lifted her up.

Ugh, agh!

Belladonna, surprised, pounded his chest.

Being with this man is going to ruin my heart! I’m really going to scream!

“Ouch.”

He said in a nonchalant voice that didn’t seem to be in much pain.

Escalio readjusted her in his arms and strode confidently towards the crashing waves.

Huh?

Belladonna stopped punching him and quietly watched what he was doing.

Even as he walked towards the sea, the waves continued to crash, wetting Escalio’s bare feet, and rising higher to wet his calves.

Even so, he didn’t stop walking.

‘How far is he going to go?’

Belladonna looked down at the waves lapping below her with a worried expression.

Finally, Escalio stopped where the seawater lapped above his rolled-up knees and gently lowered her down with his strong arms.

“Touch it if you want.”

Escalio said, looking down at her.

Belladonna blinked her wide eyes and looked up at him.

So, right now….

‘He came all the way here to keep me from getting wet?’

Belladonna didn’t take her eyes off him and just blinked her blue eyes.

“If you’re just going to stare at your husband’s face like that, I’ll think I brought you here for nothing. You should be looking at the sea, not me.”

At his words, Belladonna was startled and turned her head.

Below, the lapping seawater was surging.

Belladonna carefully reached out and touched the seawater.

‘Ah, it’s cold!’

Belladonna quickly withdrew her hand from the unexpectedly icy seawater.

But… it’s fun.

Belladonna took a breath and reached out again.

Splash, splash.

She moved it around the surface, splashing water, and scooped up water with both hands before pouring it back down.

Wow, amazing! It felt like being in a giant bathtub.

“You’re like a child who loves to play in the water.”

Escalio said.

Hmm….

Belladonna, feeling playful for no reason, lifted her hand, wet with seawater, and shook it in front of his face, splashing him.

Escalio closed his eyes and chuckled.

“Is it fun?”

Yes. It’s fun, you rascal.

Belladonna opened her mouth and smiled, feeling good.

It wasn’t her usual elegant, artificial, smooth smile, but a genuine smile from the heart for the first time in a long time.

Escalio’s face turned serious as he saw her like that.

“So you can smile like that too.”

Huh?

Belladonna, who was looking back at the sea, turned her head at the sudden low voice.

But his face was back to his usual sly expression.

“If you’ve seen enough, let’s get out of here. The sea breeze is colder than you think, so you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

Belladonna nodded, feeling a little disappointed.

Escalio turned around without hesitation and strode out of the sea as he had come.

Belladonna looked at the sea spread out behind his shoulders.

Finally, he reached the sandy beach and gently put her down.

Belladonna looked down at the sand that was eating her feet again and playfully moved her feet.

Beside her, Escalio picked up his boots and moved.

“Come here.”

Am I a dog?

Even as she grumbled, Belladonna faithfully followed him.

He walked barefoot across the sandy beach to where the horse was tied, put his boots back down, and wrapped his arm around her waist to place her on the saddle.

“Hands.”

What is it? Does he really think I’m a dog?

Belladonna held out her hands to him.

He gathered her small hands tightly in his large hands and blew hot air on them.

“They’re completely frozen.”

Ah.

She didn’t realize it, but the seawater must have been colder than she thought.

She had only played with it for a short time, but that’s how it turned out?

She hadn’t noticed it until just now, but when he wrapped her hands in his warm hands and blew hot air on them, she could finally feel that her hands were abnormally cold.

‘Ah, but….’

Then, Belladonna’s gaze went down.

His pants were dripping with seawater, and his bare legs were revealed below.

‘If my hands are this cold, Escalio’s legs must be….’

Belladonna, looking down at his legs, which were a little redder than before, twisted her hands out of his grasp.

Escalio looked up at her with a puzzled expression, and she pointed to his legs with her finger.

Escalio lowered his head to see where she was pointing and chuckled.

“Is the benevolent saintess worried about my legs?”

Yes. Leave my hands alone and warm up your legs.

“I’ve rolled around on the northern battlefield so much that I don’t even feel this cold. Who’s worrying about who?”

He said nonchalantly and gathered her hands again.

Belladonna looked down at him with a feeling of guilt and discomfort.

It’s all because of me….

“But….”

Escalio lowered his head to her gathered hands and opened his mouth.

“…It’s not bad. This feeling.”

After speaking, he pressed his lips firmly on the back of her hand.

At the soft pressure, Belladonna inhaled without realizing it.

What is this feeling….

She shrugged her shoulders and quietly looked down at the top of Escalio’s head.

Following her cold hands, she could feel her heart beating rapidly.

Finally, Escalio raised his head and looked up at her.

“Shall we go back?”

Belladonna couldn’t answer and just stared into his burning golden eyes.

When she looked at him like this, she felt like she could see her own reflection in his eyes.

Escalio’s eyes were special.

“Bella. To our castle… shall we go back?”

He asked again.

Our castle…?

No, it was strictly Escalio’s castle.

“….”

But Belladonna couldn’t open her mouth to say that.

Finally, Belladonna slowly nodded, and Escalio pulled up the corners of his mouth as if satisfied with her answer.

“Understood, Saintess. As you command.”

* * *

“Oh my, Madam!”

By the time they hurried back to the castle, it was already dark all around.

Cindy, who was standing at the castle gate with a lit lamp, ran towards them as they entered the castle.

“Oh, you’re back, Lord… Madam! How could you go out with just a thick dress on such a cold day! What if you catch a cold!”

Cindy shouted, stamping her feet.

Belladonna smiled awkwardly.

That’s because she had returned in a warm state, wrapped in Escalio’s arms behind her, without feeling a single gust of cold wind.

Hehe….

“Take her inside quickly.”

Escalio jumped down and helped Belladonna down.

Belladonna felt a strange awkwardness and turned her head without making eye contact with him.

“Yes! I underst… Oh? Lord? Barefoot… are you barefoot? Where did you leave your shoes….”

Cindy asked, seeing Escalio getting off the horse barefoot.

The sight of the lord rolling up his wet pants and standing barefoot on the ground was unfamiliar and awkward.

No matter how free-spirited our lord is… what on earth did you do to end up like that?

Escalio swept back the hair that had fallen over his forehead and opened his mouth nonchalantly.

“Don’t worry about it, just take my wife inside quickly. The night breeze is very chilly.”

“Ah, yes, I understand!”

Cindy put the fluffy fur she was holding on Belladonna’s shoulders and led her away.

As she entered the castle with warm light flowing out, Belladonna only turned her head to glance at him.

Escalio was handing the reins to the stableman who had run to him and giving him some orders.

“….”

“Madam? Please come inside quickly. You’ll catch a cold if you stay any longer.”

Cindy, who was standing next to her, said again with a puzzled expression.

Belladonna quickly nodded and gave a habitual smile.

“Griblata’s cold snap comes suddenly. There’s still some time before it’s completely winter, but you should always bring thick clothes with you because it’s warm during the day but the temperature drops sharply at night!”

Nod, nod.

Cindy is a bit too nagging.

Belladonna nodded and went up the central staircase.

The faint salty smell of the sea seemed to come from her hair, which reached down to her waist.

She wanted to go to her room, wash up, and rest in a warm bed.

Oh, wait a minute… but….

Belladonna, who had gone up to the second floor with Cindy, hesitated at the fork in the road.

To the left was the bridal chamber, and to the right was her room.

‘Will I have to go to the bridal chamber again today…?’