Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 21

#21. Understanding

March 21, 2024

Belladona sighed softly, relaxing her shoulders.

Escalión, unaware that she knew about Scarlet, was doing his best to seek her forgiveness.

So, she couldn’t stay sulky like this…

Considering Scarlet, who would be there for him when they divorced in three months and he was bewildered, she even felt she should be grateful to her.

Belladona raised her hand and picked up the pen on the table.

As she was about to write on the paper, Escalión got up and approached her, extending his hand.

“Do it on my palm.”

“……?”

Why bother?

“You used to use my palm when talking to me.”

Escalión sat close to her, placing his large left hand on her lap.

Belladona, overly conscious of their touching thighs, placed her fingers on his palm.

‘I. Am. Not. Angry.’

“Really?”

He never listened to the end. He always grasped the content before she finished the sentence and asked like this.

Belladona nodded. Escalión narrowed his eyes suspiciously and asked again.

“Then why won’t you accept my gift?”

‘I. Already. Have. Many. Jewels.’

“I remember you having more when you were the Saintess of Astanya [a high-ranking religious figure]? You didn’t bring much when we married, so I want to make up for it.”

Well, she would be returning in three months anyway…

No, thinking about it, it had already been a few weeks since she came to Gribalta, so only two months were left.

Belladona felt a cold wind blowing in her heart and raised her fingers again.

‘I. Don’t. Have. Occasions. To. Wear. Them.’

“Then shall I host a banquet for you?”

Escalión asked abruptly.

Belladona immediately shook her head, refusing. She hated banquets.

She disliked crowds, and she couldn’t stand people saying beautiful things to her face and gossiping behind her back.

And if there were those who had confided secret stories to her…

‘They would be glaring and looking for a chance to have a private meeting with me… And that’s too tiring.’

They worshiped the Saintess in the confessional, but they didn’t want the Saintess to come out of the confessional and socialize with others.

They just wanted her to keep their secrets and listen to their dirty stories in the dark confessional forever.

And she had no desire to meet such people again.

“Bella.”

At Escalión’s voice, Belladona snapped out of her thoughts and looked up.

In the golden eyes staring straight at her, she was reflected.

He gazed at Belladona with an unreadable expression and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

“…….”

What was he sorry for?

Did he still think she was angry about him going to the year-end festival alone?

Belladona looked at him without answering.

Escalión frowned, looking embarrassed, and swept back his falling bangs.

“There are still… There are still many things I can’t explain to you.”

“…….”

Belladona stared up at Escalión.

The image of yesterday came to mind. Scarlet standing with him.

Was his mistress included in what he couldn’t explain?

Soon, Belladona gave up.

The absurd fact that their marriage had a set term once again broke her will.

She slowly nodded.

Anyway, before Escalión could tell her anything, she would leave him.

As she nodded obediently, a look of relief crossed his golden eyes.

“My wife is understanding.”

Understanding…

Belladona chuckled inwardly.

Could resignation or renunciation be called understanding in other words?

* * *

“Madam! Did you sleep well? A letter has arrived from Astanya!”

From early in the morning, Cindy burst into the room with a fuss.

Woken up by Cindy’s cheerful voice, Belladona rubbed her eyes and raised her upper body.

Feeling something heavy and unfamiliar, she turned her head without thinking, and saw Escalión lying next to her, his broad shoulders exposed.

‘Huh……?’

Belladona blinked as if she were dreaming.

Usually, he left the room early in the morning, so they never met like this in the morning.

But why hasn’t he left yet……?

“Hurry and read it… Kyaaak!”

Escalión, not leaving the room even in the morning, seemed unfamiliar to Cindy as well.

Cindy, who had entered the room without thinking, screamed when she found him lying on the bed.

Turning her body quickly and running back to the door, Cindy asked.

“……L, Lord Escalión?”

Belladona nodded slowly.

Why is this man still sleeping like this?

“S, sorry! I thought only Madam was here… Ah, I’ll just come back later! Here, read the letter and call me if you need anything!”

Seeming to be bothered by him lying naked, Cindy covered her eyes and slowly approached Belladona, quickly handed her the letter, and turned away.

Belladona stared at the door where she had disappeared, then lowered her gaze to him, who was still calmly lying with his eyes closed.

He must be awake… Why is he still like this…

As if reading her thoughts, Escalión reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I was dying of boredom waiting for my wife to wake up.”

Belladona was pulled into his warm embrace, looking bewildered.

He slowly opened his eyes, checked her face, and raised the corners of his lips.

“I’ve only seen you sleeping soundly every time, so I wanted to see what you look like when you first wake up, like a warm, fluffy kitten.”

“…….”

Belladona clicked her tongue at his playboy-like way of speaking.

With that face, saying those words so casually, how could any woman not fall for him?

“It seems a letter has arrived from Astanya? You must be happy.”

Escalión said, looking at the envelope in her hand.

Belladona, who was about to tear open the letter without thinking, stopped and fell into thought.

‘What if there’s something unnecessary written on it……?’

She didn’t think the Pope would be that careless, but it was better to be careful.

Belladona nodded and stretched out her arm, gently placing the letter on the bedside table.

Escalión looked down at her, puzzled that she didn’t read the letter right away, but it didn’t last long.

“What are you planning to do today?”

Belladona rolled her blue eyes and pulled his palm towards her.

‘I. Will. Learn. Household. Management. From. Duke. Volf.’

“Why bother? Volf does it well on his own, doesn’t he? Let’s go out and play today.”

Escalión said with a charming smile. His golden eyes began to shine playfully.

Belladona frowned and pondered.

In fact, learning the household affairs of the castle from Volf wasn’t very interesting.

‘Anyway, Volf takes care of everything, so all I do is give the final confirmation…….’

Escalión used his finger to gently rub Belladona’s forehead.

He smiled constantly, as if he was in a good mood.

“Call the maid who ran away in surprise earlier. Tell her to dress you warmly.”

* * *

Belladona, wearing several layers of clothes, came out into the hallway with Cindy.

Through the window visible from the second floor, she could see Escalión leading a horse out of the stable in the distance.

‘Is he thinking of riding a horse again today?’

Feeling a subtly excited feeling, she was going down to the first floor when she heard a commotion from the kitchen on the right.

Huh? What’s that sound?

Surprised, Belladona stopped walking, and Cindy quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the castle gate.

“Let’s go quickly, Madam!”

“I’m innocent!!”

At that moment, the kitchen door burst open and someone jumped out, falling in front of her feet.

Oh my!

Startled, Belladona stepped back. Cindy stood in front of her, blocking her.

A man with a blue bruise on his face, as if he had been badly beaten by someone, crawled on his knees and bowed his head towards her.

“Madam! Please listen to me! I’m innocent!”

“This guy? Don’t speak carelessly in front of Madam! Get out of here!”

“Yeah! You don’t even know it’s a favor to let you leave on two feet, daring to……!”

What on earth is going on?

Belladona turned her troubled gaze to Cindy.

But Cindy, like the other servants surrounding him, was just looking down at the man with cold eyes.

Growing desperate, Belladona grabbed Cindy’s sleeve.

S, still, shouldn’t we at least hear what he has to say……? He looks so wronged…….

Cindy glanced at her once, sighed, and dragged her towards the castle gate.

Belladona was dragged away by Cindy, looking back at the shabby man still lying on the floor.

‘What’s going on…….’

“Madam, don’t even look that way!”

Cindy, standing next to her, said firmly.

Since Cindy was acting like this, it seemed certain that the man had committed a very serious wrong, whatever it was.

“That man has committed a great crime. He committed a wrong that the Lord hates the most! Our Lord has a surprisingly warm side, but there’s one thing! There’s one thing he never forgives.”

What is it?

Belladona looked at Cindy.

What on earth did he do wrong to be treated like that?

Cindy bowed slightly to Escalión, who was approaching them from afar, and quickly opened her mouth.

“Betrayal.”

Cindy still had a cold face.

“The Lord never forgives his people for betraying their loyalty. That man deceived the Lord and was caught colluding with another nobleman. It wasn’t a big deal, but just turning his back on the Lord is enough for him to be punished.”

Belladona felt a cold sweat running down her back.

B, betrayal……?

“Smiling brightly in front and doing something else behind your back. Our Lord hates that the most.”

Escalión, who knew nothing, was getting closer and closer to her.

Belladona gave him a beautiful smile and quickly racked her brains.

Di, did I hide the letter from Astanya well……?