Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 44

#44. Drinking Without My Husband

2024.04.13.

“Welcome, Madam! Welcome!”

“……”

“Ah, just a moment! The sun is strong, so please wear this hat!”

Cindy, who had been running towards the door, turned back inside to grab a wide-brimmed hat and placed it on Belladona’s head.

Belladona reluctantly allowed herself to be led outside.

As they left the villa and approached the temporary training grounds, the rough cheers and exclamations of the men grew louder.

Cindy pointed to where they were gathered, shouting.

“Oh? It looks like some intense training has started! The knights are all gathered over there.”

That looks more like a festival than training……

Belladona and Cindy approached the crowd, who seemed to be enjoying an interesting spectacle.

The closer they got, the louder the knights’ voices and the more intense the atmosphere became.

“Excuse me! Make way, please! The Madam is here!”

“Oh, Madam!”

“This way, please! Hey, move aside!”

As Cindy called out, the knights who noticed them shuffled to make room.

Belladona nodded awkwardly and stepped forward.

At that moment, a wooden sword, snapped in half, flew through the air and landed with a thud not far from her.

Simultaneously, the knights erupted in a deafening cheer.

“Yaaay!”

“Lord Escalio won!”

Looking up, Belladona saw Escalio, roughly wiping the sweat from his brow, looking down at the man sprawled before him with a refreshing smile.

His dark skin, beautifully tanned under the bright sunlight, was exposed, making him look very healthy and attractive.

The sight of his chest, heaving up and down, and the clear drops of sweat running over his sculpted abs stole Belladona’s gaze.

……Wait, is he taking off his clothes right now?

“Oh! It looks like those two were sparring! Lord Escalio seems to have won. By the way, who is that lying down? I don’t think I’ve seen him before……”

Cindy, standing beside her, said softly.

Belladona quickly turned and stood in front of Cindy.

“Why, Madam? Do you need something?”

Cindy asked, her face puzzled at the obscured view.

Belladona blinked her large eyes, more embarrassed by her own impulsive action.

Did I just…… block Cindy’s view of Escalio?

Belladona was even more flustered by her own actions.

But, how can he just strip like that in front of a lady……!

“Bella?”

Just then, Escalio’s voice came from behind.

Turning stiffly, she saw him wiping the sweat from his neck with a cloth someone had thrown to him, looking at her.

“Bella? Is that the Saintess?”

At Escalio’s words, the man who had been lying on the ground, catching his breath, jumped up.

The man gazed at Belladona with dark, interested eyes, then grinned and bowed his head.

“Greetings, Madam! I’m Graham, a mercenary.”

His refreshing smile was very similar to Escalio’s.

Belladona gave a soft smile and nodded slightly.

“Oh……. So the rumors weren’t wrong. No, she’s even better than I heard! Ah! I grew up in the same mercenary group as this guy since we were very young. We’re like brothers……”

“Stop talking nonsense and move.”

“Agh!”

Escalio kicked Graham, who had just gotten up, hard again and approached Belladona.

He came right up to Belladona and reached out his hand to her without hesitation, then stopped and stepped back.

“What brings you here? I didn’t think you were interested in training. It’s not much of a spectacle.”

But Belladona was more interested in the hand he had pulled away.

Why? Why did he pull back his hand?

Escalio, noticing that Belladona’s gaze was on his hand, scratched the back of his head sheepishly and said,

“My hands are a bit dirty. They might smell of sweat.”

“Ugh, what’s with this soft attitude? It’s too much to bear.”

Graham, who had gotten up and approached them, nudged Escalio.

“Shut up. And stay away. You smell bad.”

“Madam! Is this guy treating you well? I don’t think he’s a good husband because he never shows his true feelings.”

“He’s much better than you, no matter what.”

“What?”

Belladona stared blankly at the two men who had started bickering.

On the surface, he was being grumpy, but Escalio seemed to be in a good mood.

Perhaps because he was truly close to the mercenary Graham, she felt intrigued and strange as she saw a comfortable, original side of him that she had not seen before.

“Now go.”

“I’m going without you telling me! You beat me up mercilessly, so I’m sore all over! Do you have a healer?”

“Go over there.”

“Okay, see you later. I’ll see you later too, Madam.”

As Graham disappeared with his head bowed, Escalio said awkwardly.

“He’s a bit rough, isn’t he? He didn’t get a proper education. Even after I settled in Griblata, he traveled the world as a mercenary. But now that he has a family to support, I told him to quit the wandering life and join my knighthood.”

Belladona nodded, watching Graham’s retreating figure.

“Tonight, I’ll probably be with Graham. If you’re uncomfortable with him, you can have dinner at a different time or eat alone in your room.”

No! I want to be together!

Belladona quickly shook her head, and Escalio raised his eyebrows as if he hadn’t expected it.

“You want to be together?”

Nod, nod!

She thought he would like it, but he surprisingly narrowed his brows and pondered.

Soon, Escalio shrugged and said,

“It won’t be easy.”

“……”

“Then I’ll see you at the dining hall later.”

He flicked Belladona’s cheek and gave a smirk.

* * *

“Oh, have you arrived?”

As she entered the dining hall, Graham, who had been sitting on the chair as if lying down, jumped up and greeted Belladona.

Where is Escalio? As she naturally turned her eyes to find him, Graham answered instead.

“Ah, Escalio said he would wash up before dinner. You must have missed each other on the way.”

I see!

Belladona nodded and smiled at him.

Graham, who had been gazing at her perfectly saintly smile, quickly averted his eyes.

“Ah, this is……. It’s my first time seeing someone like the Saintess……”

As Belladona took a seat on the opposite chair, Graham noticeably fidgeted and grabbed the water glass in front of him.

He gulped down the clear water as if it were alcohol.

Is he very thirsty?

“Madam, I have brought the wine that the Lord asked for.”

At that moment, Volf, who had been standing behind, stepped forward and held out a thick bottle with both hands.

It’s a bottle of wine I’ve never seen before, is it strong?

“Oh! That’s perfect, it was awkward. May I have a drink first?”

Graham, delighted by the bottle Volf was holding, spoke up.

Belladona nodded to Volf, indicating that it was okay, and he moved to pour the dark liquid into Graham’s glass.

“More! Please pour a little more.”

Graham, who seemed happy just watching, wiggled his body up and down, and Volf, after hesitating, poured the wine into his glass until it was overflowing.

Belladona lightly gestured that he could drink first, and Graham bowed his head and emptied the full glass in one go.

“Kuh……. You gave me good wine.”

Graham, frowning and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, took the bottle from Volf and filled his glass to the brim.

He raised his eyes to look at Belladona and opened his mouth.

“Ah, would you like some too, Madam?”

Wine……?

Belladona looked back and forth between the thick bottle and Graham holding it.

But she had a previous record of getting very drunk on two glasses of wine last time.

Remembering that, Belladona quickly waved her hand to decline.

I, I’m okay……

Then, Graham nodded as if he was happy about it and emptied the full glass in one gulp again, giving a satisfied smile.

“You were keeping this good wine all to yourself? I would have eaten it all before you came.”

How delicious is it for him to be like that……

Belladona unconsciously smacked her lips and stared blankly at Graham, who was pouring glass after glass of wine into his mouth.

Is it stronger than wine?

“Madam, shall I bring out the food in advance?”

At that moment, Volf, unable to bear the awkward atmosphere and feeling sorry for him drinking only alcohol on an empty stomach, whispered softly.

Belladona, who had the same thought, nodded, and Volf winked at the maids in the back and moved towards the cooking room attached to the dining hall.

As all the servants inside the dining hall disappeared, Graham raised his head and glanced at Belladona.

Perhaps because he had drunk five glasses in a row, his gaze was slightly unfocused.

“Madam……. I’m sorry for being rude. I don’t have any experience in these kinds of situations……”

Belladona gave a smile, meaning it was okay.

“Besides, I can’t stand being with women. My wife always nags me about that. But I never do it because I dislike the other person.”

“……”

“I’m shy. I’m shy! I’m even more like this in front of my wife. How could a soft and kind wife be born to a guy like me……. I can’t believe it, so when we’re alone, I always say stupid things. So how can we communicate properly?”

Belladona bowed her head and laughed silently.

Graham, who looked like a rough and fierce mercenary, seemed to be a man with more pure affection than she thought.

“It’s not just me. Escalio is such a simpleton, I laughed so hard when he said he was getting married.”

Escalio is a simpleton? That can’t be.

Belladona laughed again quietly.

With his actions and words towards her, as well as his appearance and physique, he must have been popular with women since he was young.

‘Besides……’

As Belladona naturally thought of Scarlett Leyton again, the smile slowly disappeared from her lips.

For a man who already has a woman other than his wife to be a simpleton, Graham really didn’t know his friend very well.

Graham picked up the bottle with one hand to fill his glass again.

Belladona unconsciously and impulsively raised her glass and held it out to him.

“Huh?”

“……”

“Are you……. asking for wine?”

As Graham slowly asked back, Belladona nodded.

I suddenly feel very bad.

Graham looked back and forth between the bottle in his hand and the glass Belladona was holding, then smiled and poured the wine.

“You’re going to be my drinking buddy! It’s the greatest honor.”

Soon, Graham, who had filled his glass to the brim, raised his glass and held it out to her.

“Then, shall we have a toast?”

Belladona smiled and lightly clinked her glass against his.

Of course! Cheers!