Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 24

#24. I Can’t Stand It

March 24, 2024

“Thank you. Please, take a seat and review the report I’ve provided at your leisure,” Volf said, pulling out a chair for Belladona as he placed the ledger related to timber, bearing her signature, on the desk.

Belladona snapped out of her reverie and looked down at the chair he was kindly offering.

Oh, but I was going back to my room…

“I imagine there’s quite a bit to look over, isn’t there?”

Oh, but I was just going to glance at it and head back…

“If you’re going to examine it thoroughly, you’ll likely need to concentrate all morning.”

Oh, but I was just going to…

“I’ll have Cindy bring you some tea, Madam.”

Ah… Yes…

Unable to escape Volf, who was pressing her with a benevolent face, Belladona reluctantly nodded and sat in the chair in front of the large desk.

Well, I suppose I should play the part of the mistress, at least for the time I’m here…

She adjusted her posture and reached out to flip open the cover of the thick report.

“…”

Wow, this is boring.

Volf was a butler who did his job efficiently and quickly, but it seemed he didn’t have the knack for writing interesting reports.

Before even a few minutes had passed, her focus began to wane, and her eyelids grew heavy.

Belladona blinked slowly, then shook her head slightly, forcing her eyes to read the text.

As she battled the sleep that kept trying to consume her, a particular page in Volf’s report caught her eye.

It was a list of furniture to be placed in the bridal chamber.

‘The bridal chamber…? Was there something in the bridal chamber that needed repair?’

As far as she knew, the bridal chamber was a space Escalion had used alone until Belladona arrived at the castle, and other than the large bed and a few pieces of furniture, there was nothing special about it.

So, what kind of repairs and additions were needed?

“Ah, there’s nothing in the bridal chamber that specifically needs repair, but we plan to bring in a new bed, vanity, and wardrobe,” Volf said, glancing at the page Belladona was intently studying as he scribbled something with a pen on the other side of the room.

A new bed and vanity? And a wardrobe? Why…?

As Belladona continued to look puzzled, Volf provided further explanation.

“Those are instructions specifically given by the Lord.”

Escalion?

“Apparently, he feels the furniture in the bridal chamber is quite old and outdated. He’s never been one to care much about such things, but it seems he’s quite concerned now that you’ve arrived, Madam.”

Hmm… Was the furniture really that old?

Belladona herself hadn’t had the余裕 [yoyu – leeway or capacity] to pay attention to such things.

She hadn’t had a chance to properly examine the furniture, as she was too busy sleeping with a strange man in a strange place, and even if she had…

‘…What would a poor farmer’s daughter know anyway?’

Belladona shrugged slightly. She didn’t have much faith in her own taste.

“Madam, I’ve brought your tea.”

Just then, Cindy entered the office and placed a teacup with warm steam rising from it on the desk where Belladona was sitting.

Belladona looked up at Cindy and gave her a grateful smile.

As Cindy was about to turn back after finishing her task, Volf also rose from his seat, as if he had a schedule to attend to.

Huh? Is he leaving?

“Madam, please continue your review comfortably. I have some words to say to the staff, so I’ll be back shortly.”

Oh! Nod, nod!

Go quickly!

Belladona gave him a smile that was a little more sincere than usual.

As soon as Volf closed the door behind him, Belladona, now alone, jumped up from her seat.

Phew, I was getting bored, I need to stretch!

She raised her arms and stretched languidly, approaching the window where bright light was streaming in.

Despite the cold weather, the winter sunlight was warmly illuminating her.

‘Warm…’

Belladona moved closer to the window, basking in the sunlight with her whole body, and looked down.

Outside, she could see the figures of servants moving about in the large garden.

They were passing each other, smiling brightly and exchanging greetings, and their 모습 [moseup – appearance or figure], which seemed similar to the people of the 교황청 [gyohwangcheong – Papal State/Vatican] yet a little brighter and more energetic, was pleasant to see.

‘Gribalta seems like a really nice place.’

Although the weather was harsh due to its northern location, the people seemed to have warm hearts, unlike the cold weather.

The servants, and the 영지민 [yeongjimin – territory residents] she had seen at the festival, all seemed kind and 순박 [sunbak – innocent/naive].

‘And Escalion too…’

Hmm, would it be more accurate to say his body is 뜨끈하다 [tteugeunhada – hot/warm to the touch] rather than his heart being 따뜻하다 [ttatteuthada – warm/kind-hearted]?

Belladona, gazing at the cozy scenery outside, sat down on the wide windowsill while pondering various thoughts.

The windowsill was quite wide, making it easy enough for her, who was on the smaller side, to climb up and sit on it.

Sitting there, leaning her head against the corner and settling into a comfortable position, she felt like she was about to fall asleep.

The warm winter sunlight enveloped her like a blanket.

It’s only natural, since Volf’s report was incredibly boring…

She yawned softly and closed her eyes.

I’ll just sleep for a little bit and then wake up…

She groggily woke up when she heard the sound of the office door clicking open.

‘Is it Volf?’

If it was Volf, she would have to open her eyes and get up quickly, but her body wouldn’t listen.

This position is too comfortable… I’ll sleep a little longer…

She even slightly opened her mouth and lost her mind.

The person who entered the office stopped in their tracks upon seeing Belladona, who had fallen asleep while leaning against the windowsill.

She thought that Volf would either wake her up or leave on his own, but his lingering was strange.

‘But what do I care, I’m going to sleep.’

Belladona withdrew her attention from the person who had entered and fell back asleep.

* * *

“…”

Escalion, who had entered the office, was stunned by the unexpected sight.

Beneath the large window where bright light streamed in, his wife was sitting and sleeping like a painting.

The winter sunlight shining from behind her was like a halo, and her 모습 [moseup – appearance or figure] seemed like the very image of the beautiful 성녀 [seongnyeo – saintess] that the people of Astagna praised so highly.

Escalion, who was staring at her without even breathing, clenched his fist tightly.

He recalled the time when 교황 [gyohwang – Pope] Brielle had sent a letter to his castle in his mind.

A letter with content that seemed to demand marriage without a proper introduction or even a common greeting with courtesy.

It was an unpleasant letter filled with the impression that he was asking if someone like him could dare to disobey the 교황’s [gyohwang’s – Pope’s] almost command-like proposal.

It was a choice mixed with childish feelings towards such a 교황 [gyohwang – Pope], a bit of curiosity about the familiar song he had heard in his sleep, and the recklessness of wanting to get rid of the marriage he had to do anyway without bothering to reconsider, her marriage.

“Haa…”

He let out a deep sigh, gazing at Belladona with dark 금안 [geuman – golden eyes], and raised one hand to cover his eyes.

But what on earth is this strange feeling…

After standing there for a moment, he slowly lowered his palm and turned his gaze to the desk.

‘She said she was studying.’

The report spread out on the desk was not even a third of the way through, and when he thought of her falling asleep like that, he felt both dumbfounded and endeared.

He let out a sound like a deflating sigh and approached his wife, who was fast asleep leaning against the windowsill.

The windowsill looked hard, so he intended to take her to the bridal chamber’s bed and let her sleep comfortably.

He had deliberately finished his work early and returned, so it would be nice to lie down together.

As he bent down and reached out to Belladona to lift her up, her lips, which were slightly parted and exhaling soft breaths, caught his eye, revealing how soundly she was sleeping.

“…”

As he looked at that 모습 [moseup – appearance or figure], he felt his mouth dry and his blood rush.

The fact that her lips were so beautifully plump while her whole body was slender and thin was almost resentful.

After hesitating for a moment, Escalion raised his finger as if possessed and very carefully stroked her lips.

As his thick finger touched her, Belladona slightly frowned and pursed her lips.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Escalion let out a groan-like sigh and lowered his head.

Since that day’s kiss…

He felt a sense of depravity towards himself for constantly having dirty thoughts about his innocent wife who knew nothing.

Escalion, who had regained his composure to some extent while looking down at the floor, raised his head again.

He had made up his mind to move her to the bridal chamber this time without any 잡생각 [jap saenggak – unnecessary thoughts]…

“…”

Escalion, who had raised his head, stopped his actions as they were.

Belladona, who had already woken up from her sleep, was looking at him with eyes full of drowsiness.

“…You were sleeping so soundly.”

That’s all he could manage to say.

Escalion cursed himself severely in his heart and tightened his jaw.

At his words, Belladona smiled bashfully as if she found it funny.

And she was so pretty like that…

‘I can’t stand it.’

Escalion impulsively lowered his head.

* * *

It’s ticklish…

Belladona frowned at the unknown thing that kept touching her lips.

Go away, go away… I’m sleepy.

‘Ugh…’

But the warm and thick thing that touched her lips didn’t seem to want to stop easily.

Belladona slowly woke up, feeling it gently and very carefully stroking her lower lip.

The first thing she discovered as soon as she opened her eyes was someone’s black crown.

“…”

Escalion was breathing low with his head bowed towards the floor.

‘What, why is he doing that?’

Belladona, who was bewildered, blinked her eyes, which still felt heavy.

Escalion, who had lowered his head, was clenching his hand tightly on the windowsill as if he was having some difficult 고민 [gomin – worries/troubles].

The fingertips, which had turned 새하얗다 [saehayatta – pure white] because blood wasn’t flowing through them, caught her attention.

Soon, he slowly raised his head.

Belladona still turned her dazed gaze and met his 금색 [geumsaek – golden] eyes.

“…You were sleeping so soundly.”

Escalion, who had been staring at her, opened his mouth with an expression she had never seen before.

He seemed to be deeply focused on something, and on the other hand, he seemed to have completely lost his mind.

His 모습 [moseup – appearance or figure] was funny in her sleep, and Belladona smiled without realizing it.

What a silly expression.

At that time, it felt like a small breeze was blowing, and his masculine scent rushed in.

At the same time, something 뜨겁다 [tteugeopda – hot] touched her forehead.

Her body involuntarily recoiled.

She thought she would inevitably hit the back of her head against the window, but Escalion’s hand was already firmly holding her head in place.