Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 11

#11. What Kind of Person Is He?

2024.03.11.

Quick-witted Cindy grabbed Belladonna’s arm and pulled her to the right, blurting out,

“The Lord told you not to worry about anything today and get plenty of rest!”

Not to worry?

Belladonna looked at her with a puzzled expression, and Cindy spoke again.

“According to Volf, the Lord has a mountain of work piled up because he’s been away from the estate for so long due to the wedding and other matters. He practically forced himself to take yesterday off for the wedding night, but he’ll be working late into the night for the foreseeable future.”

I see…….

Belladonna nodded and started toward her room.

It seemed fortunate, yet she felt a pang of sympathy for him.

“Our Lord has always worked late into the night. And he never seems to tire; he’s always the first one up in the castle, doing his morning exercises.”

Cindy continued, her voice filled with pride.

“Griblita has prospered as much as it has because of our Lord! We all agree on that! He opened a new port to welcome ships, and he allowed free trade for the merchants!”

Escalion……?

He complained about being given the most barren land, but it seems he’s been working diligently all along?

Belladonna entered her room with a newfound feeling.

Cindy took off her fur coat and opened the door to the steamy bathroom.

“He’s been so focused on work without a woman by his side that we were all wondering who he would choose as the lady of the house. We’re all so happy that he brought such a beautiful mistress!”

“……”

Suddenly, her heart sank.

Belladonna scoffed inwardly and stepped into the bathroom.

Without a woman?

Right. He probably has not just one, but three or four women…….

‘……Did Escalion tell her to say that?’

Belladonna grumbled, took off her dress, and dipped her toes into the hot water.

Ah, so warm…….

She felt her fatigue melting away.

“Madam, relax and let your fatigue melt away! I’ll bring you some cool tea; you must be thirsty. Please wait a moment!”

Cindy smiled brightly and hurried out.

Left alone, Belladonna stretched her legs out and kicked as if to vent her anger.

‘That lecherous bastard…….’

The feeling of floating in the air when she was watching the sea with him and returning to the castle leaning on him instantly plummeted into the mud.

‘It’s all that lecher’s skill! The skill to steal women’s hearts!’

Belladonna pouted and crossed her arms.

She glared at the exotic patterned tiles across from her, recalling what had happened earlier.

<……Not bad, this feeling.>

Hmph!

Did he think I’d fall for that so easily?

How many women has he seduced like that?

“It’s only because it’s me that I’m not falling for it…….”

Belladonna muttered very quietly.

I almost let my guard down!

She frowned and leaned her head back against the edge of the tub.

“Haa…….”

It was a good thing he said he would be busy for a while.

I hope I don’t have to see him for the time being…….

Belladonna closed her eyes and repeatedly let out small breaths.

She felt uneasy for some reason, but she shook her head and forced it away.

‘I wish three months would pass quickly…….’

She looked at the ceiling and blinked.

* * *

“Madam, the most famous jeweler and dressmaker in Griblita have come to the castle,” Cindy said with a bright smile as she entered Belladonna’s room a few days later.

Belladonna nodded to her and went down to the drawing-room via the central staircase.

“Duchess Diete, hello!”

“Hello, Duchess!”

“Greetings!”

As she entered the drawing-room, she saw a plump, short jeweler and a taller dressmaker couple standing side by side to greet her.

Belladonna gave them a perfect smile and nodded.

“Ah…….”

Those who witnessed the saintess’s smile were momentarily ecstatic but quickly came to their senses and began to open the bags they had brought.

“Well, well! I’ll show you right away without delay! I’ve picked out some of the latest trendy jewels from Griblita.”

“Us too! This is a dress with lining that is popular in the capital, and this is a cape accented with lace specially ordered from a foreign country.”

Uh…….

Belladonna looked down at all the glittering things that had suddenly unfolded before her eyes.

Not only in her previous life but also when she was a saintess, she had never personally chosen what to wear.

‘I just wore what the Pope chose or what the maids gave me…….’

“What is your preference?”

I don’t have any preferences…….

As Belladonna looked back with a troubled face, Cindy, who was standing behind her, quickly stepped forward and spoke up.

“Hey, preferences! Can’t you tell just by looking at our madam?”

“Yes……?”

“It’s obvious that she’ll be dazzlingly beautiful no matter what she wears! I specially invited you because you are the most famous in Griblita. Can’t you even figure that out properly?”

“Ah…….”

“Y-yes, that’s right!”

The jeweler and dressmaker couple fumbled with what they had brought, looking flustered.

“The highest quality. Please prepare the most beautiful things.”

Oh, no!

Belladonna, who had been listening quietly by her side, quickly grabbed Cindy’s wrist.

Where would I get that kind of money!

Besides, I’m…… leaving in three months! I can’t let you waste money on such things!

Anything moderate is enough!

“Ah, yes? Ah……. I understand.”

Did you really understand?

Belladonna looked at Cindy with suspicious eyes.

Cindy turned her head back to the jeweler and dressmaker couple and spoke with a serious face.

“She says to do it as soon as possible, no matter how much it costs.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“I’ll try to match it as much as possible! Just leave it to us!”

No way!

Belladonna shook her head wildly and grabbed her wrist tightly.

At that moment, the jeweler, who was flipping through the sketchbook, stopped at a certain page.

He turned the sketchbook he was holding and showed it to Belladonna and Cindy, saying,

“How about making earrings with this highest-grade ruby that you purchased last time?”

Last time?

Belladonna, who had been shaking Cindy’s wrist, stopped her actions.

If it was last time…….

“Yes? What, what are you talking about!”

Cindy shouted, jumping up from her seat. Then, she snatched the jeweler’s sketchbook and quickly closed it.

She shouted with a pale face.

“When did our Lord buy such a ruby? Aren’t you confusing us with someone else?”

Only then did the jeweler come to his senses, looking at Belladonna’s expression and blinking his wide eyes repeatedly.

“Ah, oh my……. Yes! I made a mistake. I mistook it for something that a foreign merchant bought, not the Lord…….”

“Really……! We can’t do business with you in the future if you’re like this!”

“Ah, I’m sorry! My memory is failing as I get older…….”

The jeweler repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists on his knees with a troubled face.

He must be very embarrassed…….

Belladonna looked up at Cindy, who was still standing tall in her place, with an indifferent face.

‘Cindy really can’t lie…….’

Belladonna, letting out a small sigh, pointed to the pen held by the dressmaker’s wife and held out her hand.

“Yes? H-here…….”

The dressmaker’s wife inadvertently handed over the pen, and she smiled, took it, and began to write on the sketchbook that the jeweler had put down.

[I don’t need luxury goods. Just pick out a few practical things that can get me through this winter adequately.]

“Yes? But…….”

[I’ll give you plenty of time, so don’t overdo it.]

“Madam…….”

Cindy muttered sadly as she sat down.

Belladonna gave her specialty, a bright smile, to the jeweler and dressmaker couple sitting across from her.

“Ah, Saintess…….”

“If the Saintess wishes so, I will gladly…….”

The jeweler and dressmaker couple had faces as if they had received a deep grace, and then they looked at her and slowly nodded.

“Your consideration for us is truly beautiful.”

“As expected, the Saintess is different…….”

What’s so different…….

Belladonna nodded again, paying attention to the smile on her face.

* * *

“Madam…….”

Cindy began, watching her expression.

Belladonna looked at her with a smile as if nothing was wrong.

They were out in the castle’s front garden to personally see off the jeweler and dressmaker couple.

“You, you absolutely mustn’t pay attention to what the jeweler said earlier?”

Cindy, if you’re like this, won’t I pay even more attention……?

Belladonna nodded with a tired face.

“Our Lord is not that kind of person…….”

What kind of person is he?

At this point, I really started to wonder who the woman was that Escalion gave expensive jewels to and even brought to the castle.

Belladonna, who was watching the departing carriage, turned her body and cast her eyes towards the second-floor window.

‘Come to think of it, is this man even in the castle right now? Could it be that he’s gone to meet that woman again…….’

Belladonna stood still and looked up at the second-floor window before slowly turning her body.

‘……It’s none of my business.’

In any case, in three months, she had to leave Griblita.

And by that time, the whole world would know what kind of woman he was hiding.

But…….

‘……Why do I feel so bad?’

“Madam, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Cindy, who was standing next to her, looked up at her with worried eyes.

Belladonna habitually smiled and shook her head.

“……”

No! No!

It’s true that I feel bad! He’s marrying me, but he has someone else he truly loves?

What is he doing, being dishonest to both women?

Where did his chivalry go?

“Madam……? Wait a minute, you suddenly seem to have a fever…….”

Cindy said, reaching out her hand towards Belladonna’s forehead.

Her hand felt very cold and cool, so it seemed like she really did have a fever.

Yes, that’s right!

I’m so angry that I’m burning up!

Belladonna calmed her bubbling stomach and took a breath.

But…….

‘Why am I so dizzy?’

“Madam! Are you okay? Your whole body is hot!”

Cindy shouted with a panicked face.

Even though she was standing very close, her voice felt distant, echoing in her ears.

Belladonna slowly blinked her eyes, then collapsed down, her legs giving way.

“Kyaa! Madam! H-help me!”

Cindy grabbed her arms and looked around, shouting.

But even that felt like it was getting farther and farther away before disappearing into the darkness.