Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 34

#34. Palm Conversation

2024.04.03.

Belladona sat leaning against the headboard of the spacious bed, gazing at her husband.

Escalion sat at a round table in the room, reviewing thick documents.

The small table, clearly not designed for his large frame, looked like a child’s toy.

‘How urgent must those documents be to keep him working this late…’

Not long after Escalion had entered their bedroom after finishing his work, Volf had rushed in, handing him a thick stack of papers.

Belladona watched Escalion’s profile, resenting Volf for not letting him rest so late into the night.

‘But…’

Unlike his usual playful and sly demeanor, his face was calm and composed.

A slightly furrowed brow showed his concentration, and his golden eyes moved incessantly.

Even the nervous gesture of sweeping back the bangs that occasionally fell over his forehead…

‘Why does he seem like a different person today…?’

Belladona unconsciously swallowed hard, intently watching his serious demeanor.

Is that the face he makes when he works? Could he even make such an expression…

“Why? Are you trying to bore a hole through my face?”

Just then, Escalion, who had turned a page of the report, spoke casually.

Belatedly realizing that the words were directed at her, Belladona startled, and her shoulders trembled.

Me? Me…?

Escalion put down the report he was holding, turned his gaze to Belladona, and tilted his head, asking.

“What new form of harassment is this? Attacking with your eyes?”

“…”

“I need to know what my wife wants.”

Belladona rolled her eyes, wearing an awkward expression.

Did I stare too much without realizing…

Escalion stared at Belladona, who was feigning innocence, then let out a small sigh and got up from his seat, approaching the bed.

Belladona felt a mix of tension and anticipation, slightly moving over to make room for him.

“I can’t seem to concentrate in the bedroom after all. I’d rather sleep and do it tomorrow.”

Escalion plopped down on the bed.

Belladona watched him carefully, then slyly extended her finger.

He noticed her intention and spread his palm wide.

‘So. Much. To. Do.’

“So much to do? All the tasks to be processed must go through Griblatta [likely a place or organization] and then come here, and then go out through Griblatta, so it seems the deadline is tight. I might have to go back for a bit soon.”

Escalion rubbed his tired eyes as he replied.

He might have to go back to Griblatta…

Escalion smiled as he saw Belladona’s face and opened his mouth.

“Don’t make such a pitiful face. Were you staring at me so intently because you were curious about whether I had a lot of work? Are you unhappy that I’m looking at documents even in the bedroom?”

He raised the corner of his lips and poked Belladona’s furrowed brow.

Belladona leaned back slightly, then sat up straight and raised her finger again.

‘Is. Now. A. Good. Time?’

Even though he must have realized what she was asking in the middle of writing the letters, Escalion didn’t stop.

After confirming the question to the end, he only raised his eyes and asked.

“Why? Is there something you want to do?”

Meeting his expectant gaze, Belladona wore a puzzled expression, then raised her finger again and wrote on his palm.

‘I. Want. To. Hear. A. Story.’

“A story? What story?”

Escalion asked in a very disappointed voice after confirming Belladona’s writing.

What is it? Was he expecting something else?

She was puzzled, but more than that, she was curious about his story.

Belladona moved her finger diligently.

‘Past.’

“Past…?”

Escalion frowned.

Suddenly the past? He couldn’t grasp what she wanted to know.

She had been staring at him intently all evening, and suddenly she wanted to talk about the past…

“…Ah.”

Ah, could it be.

Escalion glanced at Belladona with a strange face and scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

Could it be that she’s asking about Scarlett? Does she think she’s my past lover?

But if that’s the case, there was no story to tell.

“Um… I, I don’t really know what story you want to hear. Aren’t you tired? I think I should go to sleep now, should I turn off the lights?”

Escalion tried to get up from his seat, creaking noticeably.

But Belladona’s hand was faster.

She grabbed Escalion’s palm tightly and placed her finger on it again.

But Escalion gripped her finger tightly.

“It’s late. You should sleep.”

Who was it that kept talking to me until late at night, not letting me sleep?

Belladona didn’t bat an eye and pulled out her finger, writing the letters again.

‘How. You. Lived. Curious.’

“…You’re curious about how I lived?”

Escalion asked.

Nod, nod! Belladona nodded vigorously, eager for the story she wanted to hear.

Escalion, who had been thinking about something for a while, leaned back comfortably and looked at her.

“Suddenly you want to hear my story? It’s not a very interesting story though.”

No! It sounds interesting!

Belladona turned her body completely towards him, her eyes sparkling.

Escalion grabbed her hand that was resting on his palm and naturally intertwined their fingers.

The warm palm enveloped Belladona’s hand.

“I don’t know what my wife is curious about? But I’m not good at talking. If you get sleepy while listening, just go to sleep.”

Belladona smiled slightly and nodded.

Escalion looked at her for a moment, then scratched his eyebrow as if embarrassed and opened his mouth.

“I joined a mercenary group at the age of eight and learned how to wield a sword, and after that, I followed the uncles around doing odd jobs. As I did that, my skills improved, and when I opened my eyes, I was on the battlefield. I beheaded the enemy commander as I had learned, and His Majesty the Emperor bestowed a title and territory upon me. The end.”

“…”

Belladona, who had just been concentrating, blinked blankly at the story that had suddenly ended.

The end…? No, it’s not that he’s not good at talking, but…

“That’s the end.”

Escalion said again at Belladona’s bewildered reaction.

“It’s really because that’s all I remember. I only know how to swing a sword, so I didn’t really have a chance to look back on my life or reflect on it. I lived a wandering life here and there, so there’s not much to tell.”

Belladona stared at him blankly, then nodded slowly as if she understood.

Whether it was because he had lived a simple life and really didn’t remember much, or because he didn’t want to tell her deep stories yet, she couldn’t tell.

‘I can’t directly ask why his parents died…’

But I want to hear more of his story…

Belladona blinked for a moment and raised her finger again. That’s it! I can ask this much, right?

‘Of. All. The. Places. You’ve. Been. Which. Was. The. Best.’

“Of all the places I’ve been, which was the best?”

With this level of question, she would naturally be able to hear his past stories, and if she was lucky, she might even hear about Astanya [likely a region or country].

If he lived in Astanya, where would he have lived? In her previous life, the village she lived in was also located on a road, so mercenaries passing through Astanya often stayed there…

‘…I’ve never seen a mercenary with this face though.’

Belladona glanced at Escalion, who was lost in thought.

If a mercenary with this level of beauty had passed through the village she lived in, surely all the young ladies in the village would have been buzzing about this man.

But she had never heard such a thing!

“Hmm.”

Escalion pondered for a moment, then turned to her and smiled.

Eh? Why me…

“The best place I’ve ever been is Cillenian.”

He stretched out his arms and pulled Belladona into his arms.

Escalion sat Belladona on his thick thighs and looked up at her.

“No matter how I think about it, Cillenian is the best.”

Escalion was looking at her with both ears flushed red. She felt that his palms touching her back were excessively hot.

Why does he think Cillenian is the best? Is it really because he likes warm places, like Cindy said?

Escalion, who had been quietly looking up at her, made a soft arc with the corners of his lips and spoke.

“Because I’m here with my wife, everything is good.”

Belladona inhaled slightly at his words.

‘Ah, this man…’

Unless she was a fool, there was no way she wouldn’t realize why he was doing this.

This man, who always sent her affectionate and passionate gazes, and who stirred her with gentle, careful, yet hot touches, truly cherished his wife.

“…”

Belladona looked down at him with trembling eyes.

An emotion that she couldn’t tell whether it was happiness or sadness washed over her.

“You haven’t been out of Astanya much, have you?”

At Escalion’s question, Belladona nodded slowly.

Her previous life, where she was born as the daughter of a poor farmer and died young, was the same, but the Saintess had also never left Astanya to enjoy freedom.

“If there’s any place you want to go, tell me anytime. I’ll take you.”

Escalion said.

Belladona quietly looked down at him, then raised her finger.

‘Busy.’

“No matter how busy I am, I can make time for my wife. Just like how I stubbornly followed you all the way here this time.”

“…”

“Then the place I like the most might change.”

He raised the corners of his lips and gave an attractive smile.

“…”

The fact that Escalion held her in his heart made her flutter and her heart race.

But at the same time, the reality that she had to betray him and return to Astanya in a few weeks made her heart endlessly uneasy.

‘…What if I don’t go back like this?’

Belladona was startled without realizing it as she thought of the question.

The possibility that she had only thought of very slightly just a few weeks ago had somehow grown so large that it was shaking her heart.

If I betray the Pope and the Saintess and stay by Escalion’s side…

‘…What will happen then?’

Thump, thump.

A loud noise that she couldn’t tell whose it was rang in her ears.

She didn’t know whether her pounding heart was due to excitement, anxiety, or fear that her unfaithful heart would be discovered.