Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 41

#41. What Reason Do You Need to Kiss a Girl You Like?

2024.04.10.

What is this……?

Belladonna read the short sentences over and over, taken aback by the unexpected content.

‘What is this, sounding like a debt collector hounding for money?’

Could it be Escalión……? Is he giving Scarlett everything, even his liver and gallbladder?

Is he the type to be subtly submissive to his woman?

As all sorts of imaginings filled her head, the sound of footsteps, presumably Cindy’s, grew closer from across the hallway.

Belladonna quickly stuffed the letter back into the envelope, tossed it onto the table, and returned to her seat.

“Madam! I’ve brought your meal.”

As soon as Belladonna sat on the vanity chair, the bedroom door opened, and Cindy entered, carrying a tray full of food.

Belladonna smiled and rose from her seat.

“Surely, there are many food ingredients in Cirellenia that can’t be found in Griblatta! Today’s dish is made by preparing fish mainly caught in Cirellenia’s Riti River and steaming it…….”

Cindy explained diligently, but it went in one ear and out the other.

Belladonna kept replaying the short sentences from Scarlett’s letter in her mind, nodding vaguely.

“It must be delicious, right? Please, try it!”

Nod, nod.

Belladonna moved to the table and looked at the food Cindy had prepared.

It looked appetizing, but her mind was still filled with thoughts about the contents of Scarlett Layton’s letter.

Just then, Cindy clapped her hands and exclaimed excitedly.

“Oh, right, Madam! Did you hear? The Griblatta Knights are arriving in Cirellenia tomorrow!”

The Griblatta Knights? In Cirellenia?

But the Griblatta Knights should be staying in Griblatta to protect the territory……?

As Belladonna turned around with a puzzled look, Cindy added further explanation.

“Not all of them are coming! Most are staying to protect the territory. A select few and some newly hired mercenaries are forming a small unit to come down. It took them a bit longer because they couldn’t use the portal like we did. They have to protect the lord and lady’s villa here, and they’re also doing new training, or so I heard from Volf.”

Cindy, you’re the only one for me.

Escalión doesn’t tell me these things…….

Belladonna nodded, feeling somewhat bitter.

“To be honest, I’m a little excited! The Griblatta Knights are famous for being handsome and having great bodies, right? And with the lord joining them, it’ll be quite a sight!”

Cindy covered her cheeks with both hands and said shyly.

Famous for being handsome and having great bodies?

‘Is that so?’

Belladonna pondered.

When she was in Griblatta, she had encountered many knights walking around the castle or greeting her, but not a single one of them had caught her eye.

‘No matter how I think about it, there doesn’t seem to be anyone more handsome or with a better body than Escalión…….’

“Anyway! It was our maids’ favorite pastime to peek at the knights training in Griblatta, and now they’re coming here! Cirellenia is a hot place, so they’ll probably take off their outer layers easily, right? Kyaa!”

“…….”

Belladonna stared at Cindy silently.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that, Madam……!”

Huh? What did I do…….

Belladonna subtly averted her gaze.

“Honestly, we’re not the only ones who are happy about the Griblatta Knights coming to Cirellenia, you know? All the unmarried women in Cirellenia must be looking forward to it too!”

Cindy exclaimed in a resentful voice.

“What woman wouldn’t like a man who shows off his muscles, effortlessly wields a weapon as big as himself, and has a healthy face with glistening sweat?”

Hmm. If it’s like that…… I might understand.

Belladonna slowly nodded, vaguely recalling Escalión training.

Certainly, he exuded a much more wild and rugged charm when he was training with the knights than usual.

His arms were much thicker from using his strength, his breathing was rougher, and his eyes were sharp, with sweat dripping down his chin…….

“Anyway! The knights will be staying in a temporary training ground set up in one corner of the villa, so don’t be surprised if it gets noisy from tomorrow, Madam.”

Belladonna nodded again.

* * *

That night, Belladonna lay alone on the wide bed, staring at the ceiling.

‘He said he’d come before going to bed.’

Escalión hadn’t returned until late, probably because he was very busy with work.

Belladonna turned her head and looked at the tightly closed door.

“Is he busy preparing 300 gold coins…….”

She murmured softly.

300 gold coins, and firewood. It didn’t sound like something you’d say to a lover to anyone.

“Does he really owe that woman something, or what…….”

At that moment, something quickly flashed through Belladonna’s mind.

Belladonna jumped up from where she was lying and muttered to herself.

“Could it be some kind of code that only the two of them can understand?”

That seemed plausible.

The sentence that might seem like a demand for debt or an order to others could be a love code that only the two of them could decipher.

‘300 gold coins, as quickly as possible. Also, firewood is running low.’

Then how on earth do you decode those words?

“Does it mean love is lacking? So, come back to Griblatta quickly……?”

Belladonna continued to mutter.

“Maybe firewood is a metaphor for their burning love…….”

Bang.

At that moment, the closed bedroom door opened, and Escalión appeared.

Belladonna was startled and quickly closed her open mouth, watching his expression.

Even after being caught eavesdropping, she had to be careful.

“You weren’t asleep?”

He asked, raising his eyebrows as if surprised as he stepped into the room.

He immediately approached the bed where she was sitting and took off his top, tossing it aside.

Since coming to Cirellenia, throwing his top off in their private space had become a daily routine.

Even so, is it really that hot here, even in winter……?

“Can’t sleep?”

Escalión climbed onto the bed and placed his large hand on Belladonna’s cheek.

Belladonna naturally tried to lean her face into his hand, but quickly snapped out of it and stiffened her neck.

I almost leaned on him without realizing it!

Scarlett Layton was still on her mind, making her uncomfortable and awkward with him.

“The work took longer than expected, so I left my wife alone for a long time.”

“…….”

“But I’m glad to see you awake when I thought you’d be sound asleep.”

Escalión smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth refreshingly.

He didn’t know what his wife was thinking with her small head, but the fact that she was in the same bed with him tonight was satisfying enough in itself.

Escalión naturally pulled Belladonna’s face closer.

They were now a couple who had become accustomed to a certain level of physical intimacy.

Without any hesitation, he lowered his face to hers.

Just as he was about to bring his lips to hers, something else touched his lips first instead of soft, plump lips.

“……What is this?”

Belladonna’s palm had come out to block his lips.

Escalión raised one eyebrow and asked.

Belladonna was blocking her mouth with a firm and resolute face that he had never seen before.

No, no! Belladonna expressed a clear refusal.

“You don’t want my lips?”

“…….”

“Is other places okay?”

Escalión asked, playfully raising the corners of his mouth.

As if other places would be okay? Belladonna shook her head again.

“I want to know why.”

“……Why?”

Belladonna asked in a very small voice.

“Why?”

Hearing her voice, Escalión immediately frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re asking. Are you saying it’s wrong for me to kiss my wife?”

Belladonna looked up at him silently.

She wanted to know Escalión’s true feelings.

His true feelings, even though he seemed to cherish his wife so much, but in reality, he had a mistress hidden in his territory.

Escalión, who was quietly gazing at Belladonna as if she wanted an answer, raised one hand and scratched his eyebrow.

“I don’t know what kind of answer to give. I’ve only grown up among men since I was young. It’s not easy to figure out what women want.”

I just want to know your true feelings…… Belladonna’s expression darkened.

Escalión, who was watching her, let out a soft groan and lowered his head.

“What reason do you need to kiss a girl you like, anyway?”

Escalión’s earlobes and neck were bright red.

His reddened skin harmonized well with his tanned upper body, making him feel aesthetically beautiful and very attractive.

“I have nothing more to say. That’s all. I like you. Damn it, I like you.”

“…….”

“But if you don’t feel like it today, you don’t have to.”

He said, still keeping his head down.

Belladonna, who had been sitting still, reached out her arms and lifted Escalión’s face, which was bowed.

A warm sensation quickly spread through her palms.

“Bella.”

Escalión whispered softly, lifting his eyes towards her.

His golden eyes, which seemed both excited and deeply subdued, gazed at her.

It was a lovely gaze filled with clumsy sincerity.

The moment she faced him, Belladonna felt her heart melting quickly and becoming soft.

‘Okay, this is…….’

Belladonna pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

At this moment, thoughts of Scarlett Layton faded, and only his immature sincerity was touching her.

‘He likes me…….’

Even if Escalión didn’t only like her, if he showed her this much heart, there was no reason for her not to respond to him.

‘……I don’t know anymore.’

Belladonna met Escalión’s eyes, which were now gazing at her with a deepened gaze.

It was a painful thing, but at least if he showed her this much sincerity when he was by her side…….

Belladonna felt like she could endure everything else.

‘At least staying by his side is much better than going to Astanya [presumably a place she dislikes]…….’

This is enough, this is enough.

Belladonna kept repeating to herself and lowered her eyes to look at his lips.

Escalión, noticing her gaze, quickly closed the distance.

He grabbed Belladonna’s chin and pressed his lips against hers.