Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 15

#15. Even a Kiss for a Favor

March 15, 2024

“What are you so surprised about?”

Escalion asked, his golden eyes, even more radiant in the darkness, wide with curiosity.

Th-that’s… I just want to wear the r-ring as soon as possible… Is that what it means…?

Escalion, looking down at her, who was utterly bewildered, raised one corner of his lip.

“Ah, if you’re more comfortable in this room, I can come to this room.”

That’s not it!

Belladona shook her head desperately.

She began to think fiercely about how she could postpone sharing a bed with him.

Escalion, watching her with amusement, said in a voice mixed with laughter.

“Really… you’re a woman whose thoughts are easy to read.”

“……”

“How could you protect the secrets of so many imperial citizens with that face?”

He chuckled and asked. Then, he reached out a finger and poked her white cheek.

“I’m not going to eat you, so don’t worry.”

“……?”

“The doctor said so. He said your body is naturally quite weak. If you overdo it even a little, you might get sick again, so focus on recovering your health for the time being. And gain some weight.”

Escalion stopped poking her and opened his mouth.

“I’m very disappointed… Well, there’s plenty of time in the future.”

“……”

“So, don’t worry about unnecessary things and just get some sleep. Isn’t that a shortcut to recovering your health?”

He grabbed her, who was sitting blankly, and laid her back down on the bed.

Forcibly laid down by his touch, Belladona blinked with a troubled face.

‘Still, I feel so uncomfortable…’

She also felt sorry for him, as he couldn’t even think about the annulment of their marriage.

Belladona shook her head and buried her face deep in the pillow.

I wish three months would pass quickly…

* * *

As each day passed, the north wind that visited Griblatta grew stronger little by little.

Griblatta was already heading towards a complete winter.

“Madam, aren’t you cold?”

Turning her head, she saw Volf standing there with a fluffy blanket.

Belladona shook her head and gave him a smile. He, who had been standing a step behind, came closer and covered her shoulders with the blanket.

“The hallway is colder than I thought. More than that, there’s something I’d like to show you. Would you have some time?”

What is it?

Belladona nodded.

“Thank you for your time. Then, please come this way for a moment.”

Volf, who took Belladona to his office, picked up a thick ledger that was on his desk.

And he handed it to her, opening his mouth.

“This is the estimated usage and amount of wood that will be used this winter.”

Belladona raised one hand and flipped through the cover of the ledger.

“Originally, I was taking charge and proceeding arbitrarily, but now that you are here, Madam, from this year on, I would like to decide on the estate’s finances in consultation with you.”

Finances…

Belladona felt a slightly uncomfortable feeling and looked through the ledger.

Volf is really a meticulous person…

There was no trace of carelessly using even the smallest firewood.

“It will be difficult to know everything right away. It seems like you can work with me gradually from today.”

Belladona nodded and read the ledger with her eyes.

She didn’t know much about managing a family, but she wasn’t completely ignorant because of what she had learned at the Vatican over the past six months.

‘So, this is all the wood that will go to the kitchen, and this is to the smithy… And the servants’ quarters and this is… our bedroom.’

Belladona slowly read the numbers in the ledger.

‘Compared to the total usage last year… Hmm, then what are the differences?’

At that time, her gaze stopped at one place.

A certain amount of wood purchased with Griblatta’s budget was being delivered to a place other than Griblatta Castle.

‘The delivery address is…’

Next to the address where the wood arrived, there was a name written in Volf’s neat handwriting.

[Scarlett Layton]

Belladona, having confirmed the name written in the ledger, took a trembling breath.

‘This is the woman.’

She could tell instinctively.

The woman at the address where the high-quality wood purchased from the castle was periodically delivered.

A woman who had been to Escalion’s castle and was also the owner of the ruby necklace in the dressing table.

Escalion’s mistress.

Scarlett Layton.

As she defined it in her mind, the emotions that followed were futility and annoyance.

What does it matter if it’s the mistress of a husband whose relationship will be over in three months…

‘No, being annoyed is being annoyed!’

Belladona put the ledger down irritably.

If that’s the case, why did he even say he would get married! He should just live with that woman he loves to death!

“Madam…?”

Volf’s puzzled voice was heard, but she still couldn’t concentrate.

And if that’s the case…

‘…Then don’t be so nice to me.’

Belladona quietly put her hand on the ledger placed on Volf’s desk and fell into thought.

Escalion as a husband was neither greatly lacking nor picky.

He didn’t pour passionate affection or attention on Belladona, but he tried to grant her wishes in most cases and tried to make things as convenient as possible for her.

‘He really didn’t touch me after I collapsed.’

Escalion did not pressure her regarding the engagement ceremony, nor did he mention the issue of succession separately.

Although, he went to bed in the same bed every night.

‘We’re not really a couple who cherish each other, but…’

Even so, finding out about her husband’s mistress in this way was definitely not a pleasant feeling.

“Madam…? Are you alright?”

Volf asked again.

Only then did Belladona barely escape from her thoughts and raise her head to meet his eyes.

“Is it too complicated after all? I tried to summarize it as simply as possible…”

Belladona shook her head slightly and smiled.

She picked up the pen that was next to the ledger she had thrown down irritably a moment ago and started writing on a piece of paper.

[There was nothing lacking in the overview. I thought you would have done well, since you have been in charge of the estate’s finances all along, so please proceed as is. I will continue to trust you.]

Volf’s eyes were felt to be shining with relief as he confirmed Belladona’s neat handwriting.

He couldn’t hide the corners of his mouth rising with pride and joy.

“I understand, Madam…! I will continue to report regularly on matters related to the castle. If there are any parts that are difficult to understand, or if there are any changes you would like to make, please feel free to tell me at any time!”

Belladona smiled and nodded.

* * *

“Ugh, it’s cold!”

Cindy said, pulling her collar as she entered the room.

She threw dry firewood into the fireplace in Belladona’s room, creating a bigger fire.

“Madam, aren’t you too cold?”

Cindy asked, turning around, and Belladona shook her head.

Thanks to her keeping the room temperature appropriate, Belladona was spending her time without feeling too cold.

Belladona, who was sitting in a rocking chair by the large window, glanced sideways and looked outside.

It was clearly felt that a desolate season, losing its green color, was approaching.

“Ah, Madam! Have you heard the story?”

At that time, Cindy approached with her eyes shining like a child.

She sat across from Belladona, who was looking through several ledgers that Volf had given her, and began to speak excitedly.

What story is she going to tell?

“The biggest festival in Griblatta is being held next week!”

Festival?

Belladona tilted her head.

“Before the weather gets colder, the villagers gather together to pray to Elieza, the goddess of snow! They also give thanks for safely finishing the year, and pray that next year will be as prosperous and peaceful as this year.”

Ah, so it’s a year-end festival?

Belladona recalled Astanya’s year-end festival.

She attended as a saintess for the last time…

It was one of the few pleasant memories for her too.

“This is your first time in Griblatta this year, so how about you participate with the Lord?”

Hmm… But would Escalion participate in something like a festival?

“The Lord secretly likes festivals!”

Cindy added, as if reading her expression.

Really?

Belladona made an unexpected expression, and she continued to explain.

“Last year, he went out wearing plain clothes and had a great time, probably? The Lord secretly doesn’t like being noticed or receiving attention.”

That’s really unexpected.

Belladona thought.

She thought he liked standing in front of others because of his playful and mischievous personality…

‘Maybe… as he repeatedly says, he’s from a commoner background, so that’s more familiar to him.’

“Anyway, go out with the Lord this time! It’ll be really fun!”

At Cindy’s suggestion, which she strongly spat out while sticking her face out, Belladona nodded absentmindedly.

That evening, Belladona glanced at Escalion, who had entered her room.

As usual, he came in with a lot of cold air, took a bath with hot water in the small bathroom attached to the room, and came to her bed.

“Do you have something to say?”

Escalion, who was quick to notice, asked Belladona and held out his palm.

For the past few days, the couple had been having small conversations through their voices and through writing on their palms.

Belladona, as if waiting for it, brought his large palm to her lap and wrote down one letter at a time with her fingers.

‘N.e.x.t. W.e.e.k. F.e.s.t.i.v.a.l.’

“Are you talking about the year-end festival that will be held next week?”

Escalion asked indifferently.

“It’ll be very different from what you enjoyed in Astanya? You’ve already come down with high expectations from there, so there won’t be much to see.”

But… I want to go!

Belladona looked at Escalion with expectant eyes, but he was firm.

“Besides, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. If you spend all day in the cold wind with that body, you’ll be bedridden for a few more days without fail. From the perspective of someone who’s just waiting for his wife to get healthy, that’s a very annoying thing.”

Cheh…

Belladona nodded helplessly.

Escalion, who had been watching her give up, opened his mouth again.

“Why are you giving up so quickly?”

“……?”

What is he saying.

You told me not to go.

“My wife listens to her husband very well? You should be stubborn or whine sometimes.”

Belladona blinked her eyes, not knowing why.

Come to think of it…

Perhaps because she had been living as a saintess and couldn’t budge at the Pope’s words, she hadn’t even thought of asking him one more time.

‘I’ve become accustomed to acting like a puppet without even realizing it.’

Then just grant my wish!

“But I can’t just grant your request.”

Escalion pulled up the corners of his lips, giving that unique, relaxed, and mischievous smile.

There he goes again!

Then what should I do?

As Belladona looked at him with an aggrieved face, he raised his finger and tapped his right cheek.

“You’ll have to give me a favor kiss.”