Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 40

#40. Scarlet Layton’s Letter

2024.04.09.

“Lord, Madam! Welcome back… Huh…”

Volff, who was opening the door to the villa to greet them, trailed off when he saw Escalioin standing before him.

The Lord and… a flower…?

The massive Lord was wearing a beautiful, large flower behind his ear.

Volff wondered if the Lord was unaware, so he cautiously raised his hand, trying not to be rude, and blurted out,

“Lord, your ear, near your ear… Th, there’s something…”

“Does it look good on me?”

“Pardon? Th, that is…”

“My wife said it looks good on me.”

Of course! It looks amazing! Belladona, the one responsible for putting it there, wore a proud smile.

Escalioin nonchalantly walked into the villa.

He had his arm around Belladona’s waist, a pleasant smile on his face.

Volff, who had been watching the affectionate couple enter the villa, stood still, blinking.

Were they like that all day?

Escalioin, who had entered the villa and was looking at Belladona’s face, turned his head towards Volff and said,

“Prepare dinner in about an hour. I want to eat right after I wash up.”

“Ah! Yes, I understand!”

Volff quickly erased his puzzled expression and hurried towards the dining room to prepare the meal.

*Whatever the case*, he thought, *it was enough that the two of them were happy*.

* * *

Belladona entered the master bedroom and plopped down on the bed, letting out a small breath.

They had gone out after breakfast and had been wandering around for longer than she had expected.

“Haa… It’s definitely hot.”

Escalioin, who had come in with her, walked past her to the closet on one side of the room, crossed his arms in an X, and threw off his top in one swift motion.

Belladona swallowed hard as she saw his sculpted side muscles revealed in an instant.

It was truly an incredible physique that she never got used to, no matter how many times she saw it.

He dropped his discarded top to the floor and opened the closet as if to find something to change into, then turned around and strode towards Belladona.

Huh…?

Startled by the sudden advance, Belladona’s eyes widened. *Is he, is he coming to me?*

“Just a moment.”

Escalioin muttered lowly and reached out to her.

Belladona stiffened with tension and shrank back.

Uh…?

But his large hand didn’t reach for her; instead, it reached for the side table next to her and picked up the stack of letters on it.

*Ah, you scared me…*

“Are these all for me?”

He asked as he picked up the letters, and Belladona nodded slightly.

He glanced at Belladona, who looked surprised, chuckled, and then stood in place, flipping through them one by one, examining the recipients.

“……”

She felt her body stiffen for a different reason without her knowing.

*If Escalioin finds Scarlet Layton’s name there…*

She was curious about how he would react, but at the same time, she felt a sense of rejection, not wanting to know anymore.

After a moment of hesitation, Belladona quietly lifted her eyes to observe Escalioin’s expression.

She wanted to see the change in his expression the moment he discovered Scarlet Layton’s name.

However, he showed no particular reaction even after flipping through all the envelopes and checking the recipients.

The indifferent golden eyes, which had not changed from beginning to end, suddenly turned to her.

“Bella.”

Huh…? Belladona, who had been unknowingly focused, flinched and blinked.

He was looking at her with an unreadable gaze.

“If you’re tired, you can wash up first.”

“……”

“I’ll call a maid for you.”

Before she could answer, Escalioin turned around and walked towards the door.

He opened the door and stuck his head out into the hallway, giving some orders to someone standing outside, and soon Cindy appeared.

“Madam… I’ll help you with your bath. The water is already prepared.”

Cindy, with a dejected face, grabbed Belladona’s arm and gently pulled.

Slowly getting up, Belladona looked back at Escalioin, who had already taken a seat at the table and was examining the contents of the envelopes one by one.

“……”

Although his face was still indifferent and businesslike, it was impossible not to notice that he was concerned about Belladona.

*So, he’s sending Cindy to get me to the bathroom… Is he uncomfortable with me around?*

Belladona sighed softly and moved towards the bathroom.

* * *

“Madam… I’m so sorry.”

As she sat back in the tub with white steam rising, Cindy poured warm water over her exposed shoulders and asked.

When Belladona raised her head, Cindy spoke with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

“I think I was too hasty. I should have made sure you were keeping up properly… I was so focused on finding the way, perhaps because I had been wandering around with you for too long…”

At Cindy’s words, Belladona moved her arm and stroked her dejected shoulder.

*She had been apologizing since a while ago. She didn’t have to go this far…*

Besides, Escalioin had said he had assigned a lot of knights anyway, right?

But Cindy still couldn’t shake her expression.

“It almost became a big problem… I wouldn’t have anything to say even if you dismissed me…”

*Why would I dismiss you!*

Belladona shook her head wildly as if to say no, comforting her.

“Do you really forgive me…?”

Nod, nod!

At Belladona’s reaction, Cindy lowered her head with a tearful face.

“Thank you, Madam…! I’ll be more alert from now on. Sniff, actually, I was worried because you didn’t seem to be in a good mood before you left. But it was nice to see you two looking happy when you came back.”

“……”

“Oh, I heard the Lord came back with a flower in his ear?”

Cindy burst into a small laugh, still with tears in her eyes.

“You’re the only one who could do that to our Lord.”

*Is that so?*

However, even with Cindy’s words, she didn’t feel much better.

*Scarlet could have done even more, right?*

She kept having cynical thoughts.

“Thanks to you, the servants had an amusing sight to see.”

Cindy tried to lighten the mood by bringing up a story in the brightest voice possible, but not a single word properly entered her ears.

Belladona stirred the water aimlessly, feeling somehow sulky.

* * *

A few minutes later, Belladona, who had washed up in warm water, went to sit in front of the vanity.

Cindy stood behind her, drying her long hair with a towel, and opened her mouth.

“Madam, I think dinner is almost ready by now? Would you like to go down and eat right away?”

*Dinner… What about Escalioin?*

Instead of answering, Belladona turned her gaze to Escalioin in the mirror.

He was sitting in a slouched posture, casting his gaze over numerous pieces of paper.

“……”

“Lo, Lord! How should we do dinner?”

When Belladona stared at Escalioin without answering, Cindy turned her head and asked.

Only then did Escalioin notice her gaze reflected in the mirror and stood up.

He came closer to Belladona, fiddled with her still damp hair, and opened his mouth.

“Bella, go down and eat first. I think I have something to take care of before dinner.”

“……”

*Something to take care of before dinner…?*

Instantly, a sense of disappointment washed over her. *Is it because of Scarlet after all?*

Even though he had been with her all afternoon, she couldn’t shake the gloomy feeling that he was leaving her side as soon as he received a letter from that woman.

“Why that expression?”

Escalioin, noticing her darkened expression, quickly lowered his head and asked.

Normally, she would have quickly put on a beautiful smile and shook her head as if it were nothing, but she didn’t feel like it now.

She felt anxious, sad, and frustrated.

“Bella.”

He called her name again, his face looking troubled.

He couldn’t understand why she, who had seemed fine until a moment ago, had sunk again.

*Damn it, what’s the problem…? I clearly said I would keep the secret…*

Instantly, a suffocating and anxious feeling shook him.

“……”

Eventually, Belladona forced the corners of her lips up and shook her head.

It was because she belatedly realized that showing her bad mood now would not help anyone.

Cindy, who had been standing quietly in the back, observing the subtle silence and troubled expressions of the couple, quickly opened her mouth.

“Um… Lo, Lord! I think Madam is just feeling tired! I gave her a warm bath, and she dozed off a little in the tub. So, it would be better to bring dinner to her room, right?”

Belladona felt grateful to the quick-witted Cindy in her heart and quickly nodded her head.

*That’s right. I was just sleepy, sleepy…*

“Okay, then prepare dinner in the room.”

At her words, Escalioin said with a slightly relieved face.

He carefully examined Bella’s expression again, then turned around.

“I’ll come before you go to bed, so have a good dinner. Make sure to eat a lot.”

Belladona smiled slightly and nodded.

As he disappeared out the door, relieved, Cindy also put down the towel she was holding and said.

“Madam, I’ll be back with your dinner. Please wait a moment?”

As Cindy left the room as well, Belladona, left alone, slowly turned her head.

She cast her gaze over the table where Escalioin had been sitting until just now.

“……”

She was curious.

She was very curious about the contents of the letter Scarlet had sent.

Belladona got up from her seat and approached the table where the letters were scattered.

Stopping near the table, she paused for a moment to catch her breath before cautiously reaching out her hand.

*Is this okay…?*

Belladona, hesitating with her hand awkwardly outstretched, looked back at the tightly closed door.

If there was a chance, it was now.

Swallowing hard, she quickly moved her hand and began searching for Scarlet Layton’s letter.

Hurry… Hurry…!

Perhaps because she was anxious, she couldn’t find the letter she was looking for among the many letters.

Belladona listened for footsteps in the hallway and continued to rummage through the pile of letters.

*Found it!*

Finally, Belladona found the envelope with Scarlet Layton’s name on it and quickly took out the letter inside.

She quickly moved her eyes to scan the contents.

“…Huh? Is this all there is?”

She had expected it to be filled with long and affectionate feelings, but Scarlet Layton’s letter was shorter and more concise than she had thought.

The letter contained only one line written in a graceful and fluid script that resembled her.

[300 gold coins, as quickly as possible. We’re also running out of firewood.]