Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 29

Don’t Get Caught by Your Husband! 29. To Cirenia (29/130)

#29. To Cirenia

March 29, 2024

“Madam, are you awake?”

As expected, Cindy cautiously entered and asked.

Belladonna lifted her face from the pillow and sat up.

“You’re awake! I was worried because you woke up late today.”

While saying she was worried, Cindy asked with eager eyes. Probably…….

‘She’s checking if I’ve shared the ring with Escalion.’

Soon, the lord and his wife would be living apart for several months, so from the servants’ perspective, sharing the ring as soon as possible would be more stable and better.

But no, Cindy…….

Belladonna felt embarrassed and apologetic as she got out of bed.

“Lord Volf said that the carriage to the townhouse will arrive soon. Then we can leave tomorrow morning as planned.”

Volf’s work is really fast.

Belladonna nodded, newly impressed.

“I’ll prepare a warm bath for you. Wouldn’t it be better to warm up before eating?”

That’s what I wanted! Cindy is the best!

Belladonna nodded with a soft smile.

After washing in warm water and coming down the central staircase, she could see the servants moving busily.

They were piling up fabrics, food supplies, and wood materials, loading them onto the wagons outside.

“Since we’ve never properly used the townhouse in Cirenia, they say there aren’t basic necessities. We’ll have to do more organizing once we get there… but they’re taking everything we can take for now?”

Cindy, who came down with her, helped explain.

Volf, with his sharp eyes, stood in the lobby on the first floor, checking each item the servants brought.

“I heard Cirenia isn’t that cold. We probably don’t need these thick fabrics.”

“Oh, really?”

“And it’s better to leave out those food supplies. They can spoil easily in the heat.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Most of the servants were born and raised in Gribalta, so they didn’t seem to know much about Cirenia.

“It was very difficult for the maids to decide who would go to Cirenia with the madam and who would stay in Gribalta with the lord.”

Belladonna turned to Cindy with a ‘why?’ look, and Cindy drooped her shoulders and sighed.

“Everyone wanted to go to Cirenia… The cold in Gribalta is harsh even for us.”

At her answer, Belladonna turned her head and looked at the servants on the first floor.

She felt uneasy, as if she were the only one escaping to a warm and good place.

“It would be great if the lord could go too… Then most of us could follow!”

“…….”

“Madam… Wouldn’t it be possible for you to mention it once? Huh?”

Cindy asked with a subtle look of expectation.

Belladonna avoided her gaze and stepped down.

Volf, who was giving orders to the servants, turned around at the sound of someone approaching.

“Ah, Madam! You’ve arrived.”

Belladonna sent Volf a kind smile. Volf pointed to the luggage and gave a brief explanation.

“I’ve only packed the essentials for now… If we need anything else, we can buy it there or call for another wagon.”

Essentials…? Is this the essentials?

Belladonna was newly surprised by Volf’s definition of ‘essentials’ and continued to watch the enormous amount of luggage being loaded.

Cindy also seemed surprised, as she widened her eyes and asked.

“What exactly is missing in Cirenia? And why do we need so many food supplies and fabrics?”

“Well, it’s for both of you, so it can’t be helped.”

“Pardon? Both of you?”

Huh? Both of us?

Belladonna and Cindy turned their heads at the same time. Volf smiled brightly and nodded.

“A little while ago, the lord said he would go with you. He seems uneasy about sending the madam alone.”

“Kyaa! Really? The lord is going too?”

“That’s right.”

Volf nodded with a pleased smile, and Cindy jumped up and down in place, turning to Belladonna.

Wait a minute… What?

“Madam! The lord is going too! Yay! That’s great! Then can we all go?”

“If both of you go down to the townhouse… we plan to leave only the minimum number of people to manage the castle in Gribalta and have everyone go down together. What do you think, Madam?”

Volf and Cindy’s eyes were simultaneously fixed on Belladonna.

So, Escalion has decided to go down to the townhouse in Cirenia with me?

Why… why?

Doesn’t this defeat the purpose of going south to avoid him? It looks like we’ll be even closer!

“Madam…?”

When she didn’t answer, Volf tilted his head and asked again.

Belladonna belatedly came to her senses and nodded absentmindedly.

“Wow! Do the other maids know about this?”

“Yes, I just told Lucia, so they’re probably all packing now. You should go pack too.”

“Yes! Yahoo! Madam, wait a moment!”

Cindy, smiling brightly, crossed the lobby and disappeared towards the maids’ quarters.

Belladonna watched Cindy’s back as she ran off excitedly, then turned her head back to Volf.

“Since the number of people has suddenly increased, the departure time will be delayed. Would you like me to call you again so you can rest in your room?”

Nod, nod.

Belladonna nodded and immediately turned and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

She wasn’t going back to her room; she had to find him.

That irresponsible lord who changed his mind at the last minute…!

Reaching the second floor, Belladonna immediately turned left and walked towards his room.

Bang!

Because she was flustered, Belladonna pushed open the door without knocking and stopped when she found the person standing inside.

Hmm… Huh?

Escalion was looking at her, having stopped in the middle of changing clothes, as if he had just been about to change.

“…….”

“…….”

T-that is…….

The dark skin and well-defined muscles contrasted with the smooth white shirt he was wearing, catching her eye.

She swallowed hard without realizing it.

Escalion looked at the intruder, who was holding the doorknob and had frozen in place, then casually took off his shirt completely and threw it on the floor.

“What’s the rush, again?”

He moved and opened the closet door, then looked inside with a troubled face.

Belladonna still couldn’t move, only blinking her wide eyes.

I-I have to apologize for this……!

“It’s going to be hot, so I should definitely wear something thin.”

He muttered, lifting his thick arm and flipping through the clothes hanging in the closet one by one.

Ah, you really are going down with me…….

At the confirmation-like words, Belladonna slowly let go of the doorknob she was holding.

Escalion, who had already changed into the thinnest tunic he seemed to have, approached her.

A warm and cool scent wafted over her, as if he had just taken a shower.

“What did you come for? It can’t be because you missed me.”

Instead of answering, Belladonna looked down at her own clothes.

A dress for the changing seasons that wasn’t too thick or too thin.

Even if they were going to a warmer region, it would be cold during the immediate journey, so she couldn’t understand why he had found such thin clothes to wear.

“You were charging in with such ferocity, and now you’re being passive again?”

Escalion said with a voice full of laughter.

He put one hand under Belladonna’s chin, lifted it up with force, and made her look at him.

Belladonna reached out and pointed to his tunic.

This is no good! Too cold!

“Hahaha, are you worried about me because my clothes are thin?”

Nod, nod! Even if you were born with a scorching heat, there’s so much snow outside; how can you wear something like that?

At her worried and concerned gaze, Escalion smiled pleasantly and said.

“That face is cute too, but it seems you haven’t gone down yet? You don’t know who’s here on the first floor.”

When she asked with a ‘who’s here?’ expression, he tucked her hair behind her ear and answered kindly.

“I called a wizard. I asked him to create a portal that can take us to Cirenia in one go.”

‘A wizard……?’

“But it seems his abilities aren’t outstanding, so he said it’s impossible to do it in one go because the distance is quite far. He said he’ll transport us in two stages, passing through an intermediate village. He said it won’t take even half a day to get to Cirenia.”

At Escalion’s explanation, Belladonna’s wide eyes lit up.

She had taken several public portals operated by the empire while coming from Astagna to this place, but their length was short, so it wasn’t a new or exciting experience.

The scenery she saw each time she came out of the portal didn’t change much.

‘But a portal that goes from Gribalta to Cirenia in just two steps?’

With that much, she thought she might have a fun experience where the scenery would be noticeably different when entering and exiting.

‘……But a portal of that size must have cost quite a bit?’

Because the Pope was extremely stingy with money for his only daughter, it was a luxury she hadn’t experienced when she got married and came here.

Even if she had a lot of money saved up, could she afford to spend enough to hire a wizard just for a short trip? Maybe it would be better to just take the carriage…….

When Belladonna’s expression was once again filled with worry, Escalion raised the corners of his lips and said.

“Oh, are you worried about Gribalta’s finances now? Don’t worry. I’m not so poor that I can’t even get a portal for my wife who’s running away to the south because it’s too cold here.”

He lowered his head and gave Belladonna a light kiss on the forehead, adding.

“I wanted to get down there quickly, even if it meant spending a little more money. If I stay here any longer, I’m afraid my wife, who’s already turned white from the cold, will become whiter than the snow.”

The place where his lips touched tingled.

Belladonna raised her hand and rubbed her forehead.

I clearly came to ask what was going on…….

I can’t believe that instead of arguing, I’m stuck with him, having a friendly conversation.

Ah, what should I do? I’ve been swept away again. As she muttered to herself, he asked again.

“Is it still a long way until we leave?”

Nod.

“Then let’s go watch the new wizard create the portal. He said he’ll start soon.”