Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 18

#18. 76 Yufranga Street (1)

March 18, 2024

Escalión frowned, sweeping the hair that had fallen over his forehead back.

He stuck out his tongue and hesitated, running it over his lower lip before slowly opening his mouth.

“Bella, something urgent has come up, so it looks like our festival outing has to end here. I’ll call a knight, so you should return to the castle first.”

Ah… I guess it can’t be helped.

Belladonna nodded with a disappointed look.

Escalión looked down at her for a moment, then turned his head back and gestured towards someone. A knight, who had been hidden in the crowd like the man who took the portrait earlier, stepped forward.

He was large, but unlike Escalión, he had a gentle face.

Who is this guy, and where did he pop out from…

“Escort Bella back to the castle.”

“Understood, Commander.”

The knight bowed to Escalión, and he moved away without hesitation.

Whatever the urgent matter was, he didn’t even give her a proper goodbye.

“…….”

Belladonna stood still, watching Escalión’s retreating figure as he strode away.

Before she knew it, knights who had popped out from here and there were following behind him.

They were all hiding, huh.

“Madam, my name is Hazel, and I will escort you to the castle.”

Just then, the knight who had remained by her side approached and greeted her.

Belladonna reflexively smiled and looked at him.

A gentle-looking face with brown hair.

At first glance, he didn’t seem like someone belonging to the fearsome Gryblata Knights.

‘He doesn’t seem to be one of those who came with us from Astanya…’

She seemed to have seen him in passing when she visited the Gryblata Knights’ training grounds a while ago.

“I’ve been with you since Astanya, Madam. Do you remember?”

Ah, no, haha.

Belladonna pulled her lips up further, feeling awkward, and nodded.

At her response, Hazel’s face brightened even more.

“I’m so grateful that you remember me! I’ll guide you to where the carriage is. Please, follow me.”

Hazel said, pointing to the wide road.

It was a shame, but she had to be satisfied with this much.

Belladonna looked back one last time at the crowded year-end festival street.

‘I probably won’t have another chance to come here…’

She ate a lot of delicious snacks, and she even got an unexpected portrait, so this should be enough.

Belladonna slowly moved her feet.

Hazel, who had been quietly looking down at her, hesitated and opened his mouth.

“Um, perhaps… do you feel it’s a shame to return like this?”

Huh?

Belladonna raised her head.

Hazel was looking back and forth between her and the street she was looking at with a serious face.

It was a bit of a shame, but she was also getting tired…

“Sigh… I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll explain it well to the Commander. I’m quite trusted, you know!”

What…? What is he going to explain?

Hazel gave a handsome smile to Belladonna, who still had a bewildered look on her face.

“Let’s enjoy the festival a little more before we go back!”

Ah, no…! I want to go back now…!

Belladonna waved her hands with a flustered expression. I’m okay! I’m okay!

I want to go back to the castle now!

“I can do this much, Madam! And the Commander isn’t such a rigid person.”

No, what? What can you do?

“Then, shall we go over there first?”

Hazel grinned and went ahead. Belladonna stared blankly at his excited back.

No, you idiot…

* * *

“Sooo…! Hic! When I was not even sixteen years old… I entered… the Gryblata Knights…! Hic! That’s how it… happened…!”

“…….”

“At first… it was difficult for me too… why wouldn’t it be? Hic!”

“…….”

Belladonna looked at the huge man in front of her with a lowered gaze.

“But our Commander…? He’s a man with a warm heart…! Hic! I know it…!”

“…….”

Hazel, who had suggested enjoying the festival a little more, seemed excited as he went around to this tent and that tent, buying delicious snacks with her.

‘He was definitely okay at the beginning.’

Hazel was a knight with a kind personality.

Unlike Escalión, who somehow made her constantly aware of him, he smiled brightly and made Belladonna laugh with comfortable jokes.

He had a sociable personality and had small, enjoyable conversations with the merchants, so the desire to return to the castle disappeared for a while…

‘…Why did he get so drunk!!’

Belladonna stared at Hazel with a dumbfounded face, his entire face and neck flushed red.

Hazel was sitting at the table, shaking his head, completely drunk and incoherent.

“Hehe… Still…? Madam…”

Ugh, I don’t want to hear it.

The most annoying thing in the world was the ramblings of a drunkard.

Belladonna crossed her arms and looked away from him as he babbled incomprehensible words.

She should have been more firm about going straight back to the castle!

“Madam…! Is there any other place you want to visit? Hic! I’ll go with you!”

If you were me, would you want to go anywhere with a drunken knight…?

Belladonna shook her head, trying to manage her expression.

She subtly stood up from her seat, meaning to return to the castle now.

“Oh…! Are you going back now? Good, good! I! I will safely! Escort you…!”

Hazel followed Belladonna and stood up from the chair, but he staggered greatly as if his legs had given out.

Belladonna was startled and reached out to support him.

“Aigo! [Korean exclamation, similar to ‘Oh my!’] I’m okay, I’m ooookay. How can a frail Madam hold me up…”

Hazel quickly waved his hand and tried to stand straight.

“The carriage isn’t far from here… Hic! Madam… Today’s events are a secret between you and me? Got it? Got it? A secret!”

Hazel gave a weak smile and held out his pinky finger to Belladonna.

Belladonna forced a smile and looked down at his red finger.

This will only end if I hook my finger with his…? Belladonna carefully hooked her finger with his and shook it.

“Hehe! I have a secret with Madam…!”

I get it, so let’s hurry back, please…

Belladonna turned her head with a very tired and fed-up face.

“Thank you for the meal, Mr. Owner…!”

Hazel, who came out of the bar, began to stagger in earnest.

Belladonna followed him diligently, wondering if she should support him or protect herself from being crushed by him.

At that moment, the noisy sound coming from across the street gradually began to grow louder.

“Looks like the guy won some money?”

“Hey, let’s go! Let’s drink more! I’m buying today!”

“Let’s gooo!”

Their faces were flushed red, and it seemed like they were a group of heavily drunk people as well.

No, why are they all so drunk when the sun hasn’t even set yet?

Belladonna subtly moved to get out of their path.

“Oh!”

“……!”

But it seemed like her movement was a bit late.

One of them, staggering, bumped into Belladonna’s shoulder hard.

Ouch, that hurts! Belladonna covered her bumped shoulder and unknowingly took a step back.

“Ah, I’m sorry… Ugh!”

It was even more instantaneous for Hazel to reach out his arm towards the man.

Hazel, who was walking ahead, turned his body in an instant and simultaneously choked the man’s neck with his thick arm and kicked his shin, sending him flying.

The man, who was attacked unexpectedly, fell over as he was.

He fell to the ground, looking at the sky, and a loud thud rang out.

“Ugh….”

“Hey, hey, are you okay…?”

The man’s group widened their eyes at the sudden event.

Belladonna was also startled and looked at Hazel.

No, what was that just now?

“Who dares to obstruct the path of such a noble person?”

It was a face that no one would have thought belonged to the man who had been smiling loosely until just now.

As he glared at them with a terrifying gaze, their faces turned pale as they reached out to the man sprawled on the floor.

“We, we’re sorry. My group is very drunk…”

“We apologize on their behalf!”

“Sorry!”

They quickly picked up the fallen man and repeatedly bowed their heads to Belladonna before running away as if their tails were on fire.

Uh… What… what just happened?

Belladonna widened her eyes and looked at the path they had disappeared down.

“Madam, are you hurt anywhere? I should have taken better care of you. I’m really sorry.”

Hazel, with the face of a seemingly fine knight, turned to her and frowned.

You, weren’t you drunk until just now?

Belladonna opened her mouth slightly and looked up at him before barely nodding.

He looked relieved after confirming that Belladonna didn’t seem to be seriously injured.

After a few seconds, he returned to his completely relaxed face and pulled up the corners of his lips.

“That’s a relief. Let’s go quickly, Madam… Hehe…”

What, a double personality?

Belladonna chased after him as he started walking again, his eyes glazed over.

‘Even while drunk, he makes sure to protect her…’

Belladonna shook her head, feeling sorry for having suspected the Gryblata Knights for a very brief moment.

‘Well, they are a knight order that has made great contributions in the war, so their skills must be outstanding…’

“Oh? Madam! I know this way!”

You’re the one who brought me here! Who would know if you didn’t!

Belladonna turned her head to where he was pointing, suppressing the rising annoyance once again.

“I sometimes come here with the Commander, ah… The back alley of the bar is connected like this! I didn’t know that! New route exploration complete!”

Hazel shouted like a child.

What he pointed to was a narrow alley between buildings, and at the end of the narrow road, the commercial district ended and the residential area began.

Belladonna turned her head and read the sign attached to the brick.

[76 Yufranga Street]

Yufranga….

Belladonna tilted her head, feeling that the address was somehow familiar.

Huh? What is it? Where did I see this street name?

There was no way there would be a familiar address in Gryblata, which she was visiting for the first time in her life.

“Then, let’s go! If we just go around that building, we’ll be where the carriage is parked. It gets colder when the sun sets! Let’s go back quickly before that!”

Hazel said as he took another step.

Belladonna, who was about to follow him, slowly stopped walking.

‘Wait a minute…’

76 Yufranga Street.

That was the woman’s address.