Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 13

#Episode 13. So, Don’t Be Sick

2024.03.13.

“Ugh…….”

The small groan grew gradually louder, and Belladonna’s brow furrowed in response.

Escalion flinched, his arm still frozen in place. Should he wake her?

“Haa……!”

Before he could move, Belladonna opened her eyes with a sharp gasp.

“Haa……. Haa…….”

Belladonna’s blue eyes were unfocused for a moment, but gradually cleared.

Her tearful gaze seemed to fix on the ceiling.

Slowly, her ragged breathing subsided.

“…….”

Escalion watched Belladonna without moving, his fist clenched on his knee.

After a long silence as she caught her breath, Belladonna slowly turned her head.

The washcloth he had placed on her forehead fell onto the bed with a soft thud.

Soon, her blue eyes, which had been circling around the fallen washcloth, met his.

“…….”

“…….”

*What, what is it?*

Belladonna looked up at Escalion with a confused expression.

*Why does he look so angry?*

His eyes were cold, yet she couldn’t look away. It had been a long time since she’d seen his face so clearly, not since they had gone to the sea together.

The two held each other’s gaze.

Escalion broke the contact first, closing his eyes briefly before speaking.

“Are you awake?”

“…….”

He took a deep breath, as if trying to control his anger, and then slowly exhaled.

“They said it’s the flu. You had a high fever. Why didn’t you tell me you were sick sooner?”

The flu?

Belladonna slowly shifted her gaze.

*So, it wasn’t just a flush of heat, but a real fever….*

Escalion, who had been sitting in a chair with his arms crossed, slowly stood up.

He seemed to trap Belladonna, who was lying on the bed, between his arms as he looked down at her.

“Since you can’t speak, are you saying you couldn’t tell me?”

Belladonna frowned slightly.

*What kind of wordplay is that….*

“If you don’t feel well, say so. If you’re uncomfortable, say so. If you don’t want to, say you don’t want to….”

He paused, took another breath, and then continued, his voice tight.

“If you can’t speak, then write it down. Like you did on my damn palm last time!”

*Why is he so annoyed…?*

Belladonna looked up at him, bewildered. She was the one who was sick, and she couldn’t understand his anger.

Escalion was just as taken aback by his own outburst.

He took rough breaths, trying to calm the anger that had unexpectedly exploded, then bent down and lowered his head towards her.

*Thud.*

Escalion’s forehead lightly bumped against Belladonna’s.

“Damn it, you have a high fever. What do you mean, a slight fever?”

Escalion muttered a small curse and lifted his forehead. He picked up the washcloth that had fallen on the bed and rinsed it again in the cold water in the basin next to the bed.

*Splash, splash. Trickle.*

The sound of Escalion wringing out the washcloth filled the quiet room.

As she waited, he placed the cool cloth on her forehead, and a soothing sensation spread gradually.

*Cool….*

Belladonna blinked, enjoying the relief from the heat, and looked at him.

“I’ve never seen anyone so weak in my life,” Escalion grumbled, lowering his head.

“Was it a problem that you were exposed to the sea breeze a few days ago?”

“…….”

“Damn it…….”

He cursed again, this time in a self-reproaching voice.

*Knowing that she was wearing thin clothes, knowing that her slender wrists were barely a handful… You stupid bastard….*

At that moment, Belladonna, who had been lying still, raised her hand and placed it on the back of his hand.

Escalion raised his head and met her gaze, her palm much hotter than usual.

Belladonna focused on her stiff lips and forced them into a smile.

*I’m okay!*

Escalion’s eyes flickered as he saw her smile.

“You…….”

*Well, what can I do? The journey from Astanya to Gribalta was long. The cold wind by the sea was strong, and as you said, this body is weak. It’s possible to get sick. In any case, even this is much more bearable than the illness that drove me to death in my previous life.*

Belladonna shrugged slightly and tried to smile again.

Escalion, who had been looking down at her, frowned, sighed deeply, and lowered his head again.

Belladonna placed her hand on the top of his head and gently stroked it.

*I don’t know what it is, but cheer up, you bastard.*

“……Who is comforting whom?”

*Does he really have mind-reading abilities?*

Belladonna was startled and slowly removed her hand. However, she couldn’t pull it away completely, because he raised his head and quickly snatched her hand, bringing it to his lips.

“Don’t be sick,” Escalion said, kissing her slender fingers.

“I’ll pay more attention from now on.”

“…….”

“If it’s really hard to say, if it’s uncomfortable to express it… Then just stay still. I’ll pay a little more attention.”

The fingers that Escalion’s soft lips were touching tingled every time he spoke.

And strangely… she felt a tingling sensation near her heart, even though he wasn’t touching her there at all.

“So, don’t be sick,” Escalion said in a low voice.

Belladonna stared into his deep golden eyes. She couldn’t understand all the emotions contained within, but she knew he was worried about her.

Belladonna slowly nodded.

* * *

“Madam, how are you feeling today?”

Cindy, bustling into the room, opened the curtains, filling the dark space with bright light. She opened the window a crack for ventilation, then turned and approached the bed.

Belladonna blinked and slowly sat up.

“Let’s see…….”

The cool breeze that entered with Cindy was refreshing.

Cindy placed her hand on Belladonna’s forehead and sighed with relief. “Ah, thankfully the fever has almost gone down! Are you thirsty? Would you like a cup of warm water?”

*Uh-huh, thirsty….*

When Belladonna nodded weakly, Cindy quickly turned and went out.

“Yes! Please wait a moment!”

Belladonna stared blankly at the door Cindy had left open, then slowly turned her head to look out the window.

The bright light felt unfamiliar yet welcome.

“…….”

*How many days has it been?*

She narrowed her eyes, pondering. Whether it was because her body was truly weakened, she had been sick in bed for more than three days. Her previous life’s body was like that, and the Saintess’s body seemed just as frail.

She didn’t remember much, as she had mostly been asleep or lying down powerlessly, but Escalion seemed to have visited and taken care of her more often than she realized.

*Isn’t taking care of Gribalta busier than I thought?*

While she was lost in these thoughts, she heard a ‘knock, knock’ at the open door.

*Could it be?*

Belladonna was startled and turned her head. *Is it Escalion?*

But in the doorway stood Cindy, smiling and holding a tray.

“Hahaha, I guess I forgot to close the door? I brought warm water!”

*Ah….*

Belladonna nodded, forcing a smile. She felt a pang of embarrassment and disappointment, which felt awkward.

“Are you not hungry?”

Cindy handed her a steaming teacup.

Belladonna received it with both hands and slowly shook her head. Far from being hungry, she felt bloated and had no appetite.

“Oh dear, you should eat a lot, especially at times like this! You need to eat a lot to recover quickly!”

*I know, but I have no appetite.*

Belladonna silently lifted the teacup to her lips. As the warm liquid passed her lips, moistened her throat, and flowed down, she felt the bloatedness ease slightly.

Cindy, sitting on a chair next to Belladonna’s bed and swaying back and forth, glanced at her and spoke.

“You need to get well and healthy soon, so you can share rings with our Lord…….”

“Cough…… Cough!”

Belladonna, who had been drinking tea absentmindedly, coughed and lowered her head.

*R, rings…?*

“Oh my, are you okay? I’m sorry, Madam! I really said something unnecessary this morning……!”

Cindy, startled, jumped up and looked for a dry cloth.

Belladonna wiped her mouth with the cloth and made an embarrassed expression.

*If it’s a ring….*

In the Elinus Empire, newlyweds exchanged rings the morning after their first night, holding a simple covenant ceremony. The act symbolized that they had become a true couple and were ready to have a child.

“I’m sorry. You’re still not feeling well…….”

*Embarrassing….*

Belladonna blushed. On the day she arrived in Gribalta and spent her first night with Escalion, there were no traces on the bed sheets, and she seemed fine, so it wouldn’t be hard to realize that nothing had happened between them.

*But Cindy, I don’t plan to share rings with him in the future either….*

Cindy, who had wiped Belladonna’s mouth and the surrounding blankets, spoke again.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable… We just hope that you will have a covenant ceremony with our Lord as soon as possible and stay in Gribalta for a long time… I’m sorry if it was burdensome.”

Cindy lowered her head, looking dejected.

Belladonna stroked her arm and gave her a reassuring smile.

After stroking Cindy for a moment, she raised her head and looked out the window.

“Soon, a complete winter will come…….”

Cindy, also looking out the window, muttered, “The winters here are particularly harsh and cold. Madam, who has only lived in Astanya, which has a warm and mild climate all year round, may have a much harder time.”

She grabbed Belladonna’s blanket and fiddled with it, continuing, “I’ll tell the bedding room to add more cotton to Madam’s blanket. Make it thicker.”

*Thank you….*

Belladonna stared at Cindy, who was taking care of her in so many ways, with touched eyes.

“But still, there’s nothing as warm as a husband’s embrace! If it’s too cold, having frequent conjugal nights with the Lord might be a good idea! Kyaa!”

*Uh-huh, cancel that….*

Belladonna turned her head with a tired look. She felt that Cindy’s nagging would also be a formidable hidden danger for the next three months.