Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 48

#48. Back to Griblatta

“What?”

Escalion moved away from Belladonna, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

He’d been lost in thought, imagining what she might enjoy in Cirellenia, so her desire to leave came as a complete surprise.

He turned to Belladonna, whose face was set with determination.

“Griblatta is still bitterly cold. It’s hardly a suitable place for you, with your delicate constitution…”

“But we can’t simply abandon Griblatta every winter,” Belladonna countered calmly.

“Besides, this winter marks our first as a married couple, and if the Lord’s wife abandons the territory during its first winter, it could create a negative impression among the residents. So, I believe it would be best to return, even if it’s a bit of a hassle.”

Escalion crossed his arms, a frown etching itself onto his face.

If any of the territory’s residents dared to think ill of Belladonna, he felt an urge to personally escort them out of Griblatta.

“And when we return, please send for Scarlet.”

“Scarlet?”

“Yes. She’s family. I’d like to invite her to the castle for a meal with us.”

At Belladonna’s suggestion, Escalion fixed her with an inscrutable gaze.

*Is she upset? Have I not opened up to her enough yet? Am I moving too fast…?*

Just as worry began to gnaw at him, Escalion nodded.

“Okay. If it will make you feel better.”

“Thank you,” Belladonna replied, relief evident in her voice.

* * *

“Madam, I’m so sad…!”

Cindy, in the midst of packing, plopped down with a dramatic thud.

Belladonna felt a pang of guilt knowing that so many servants and knights had to undertake the long journey again because of her sudden decision. She turned to Cindy with a sympathetic look.

“But I’m starting to miss Griblatta too.”

Cindy, who had been staring forlornly at her luggage, suddenly perked up.

“The weather here is lovely, but the food isn’t quite right, is it? Griblatta boasts such a variety of flavors in every dish, while here everything is either overwhelmingly salty or cloyingly sweet.”

*Is that so?*

Belladonna didn’t eat much in general, and when she did, she usually found the food agreeable.

*Perhaps it’s because I was always so hungry in my past life…*

“I’ve been missing my siblings back home, so this is actually good timing! I should go back and make sure Father is taking good care of them.”

Belladonna was grateful for Cindy’s words, whether they were heartfelt or simply meant to ease her own burden.

“I heard the Lord is summoning a wizard for our return trip, right?”

When Belladonna nodded, Cindy made a sound of satisfaction.

“That’s wonderful! The portal was so convenient when we arrived! But the wizard we’re calling this time isn’t the same old wizard as before, is he? The Lord didn’t seem to trust him very much.”

Belladonna shook her head.

The wizard Escalion had recently hired was younger and, supposedly, more competent.

*Come to think of it, Fabion…*

A strange feeling washed over her as she thought of the old wizard who knew her secret.

*Will I ever see him again?* She pondered for a moment, unsure whether seeing him again would be a blessing or a curse.

Belladonna sat down and sighed softly.

As soon as the carriage emerged from the portal connecting Cirellenia and Griblatta, Belladonna was filled with regret.

The intense cold, which seemed to seep into her very bones, enveloped her completely.

*Wow… This is no joke!*

Belladonna, nearly stumbling into Escalion as she stepped out, watched as the Griblatta servants rushed from the castle, arms laden with thick coats.

Sniffling, she already longed for the warmth of Cirellenia.

“Madam! Please put this on quickly.”

“It was bearable until last week, but it suddenly turned frigid yesterday.”

*Yes, I really chose the wrong time…*

Belladonna gratefully accepted the thick fleece coat and hurried into Griblatta Castle.

As she and Escalion passed through the entrance, she saw the servants lined up, bowing their heads in greeting.

“Lord, Madam! Welcome back!”

The servants, noting the matching rings on her finger and Escalion’s, exchanged contented smiles.

Belladonna felt a blush creep up her neck and discreetly tucked her hand under her coat as she ascended the stairs.

* * *

“Madam, it’s Volf.”

The next afternoon, Volf requested an audience with Belladonna.

Volf, after receiving permission to enter and sit, spoke with a determined air.

“I understand you wish to invite Scarlet Layton to the castle.”

When Belladonna nodded, he placed a document he was holding on the table.

“It seems the Lord has finally shared the story with you.”

“……”

“I apologize for not informing you sooner, even though I knew you were concerned about Scarlet. I felt it was my place to wait until the Lord spoke to you directly…”

Belladonna offered a reassuring smile, and Volf continued.

“The Lord has always been cautious when it comes to Scarlet. He conceals her existence more than necessary, and at times, he even seems to ignore her, even if that leads to misunderstandings.”

*Yes, it seems so… Does Escalion even realize that others perceive his sister as his mistress?*

Belladonna sighed softly.

“But please understand that the Lord’s actions were always intended to protect Scarlet.”

“……”

“Before inheriting Griblatta, the Lord was a mercenary, wandering the continent without settling in one place. Aside from the meager pay, he had many enemies. To be on someone’s side is to be someone’s enemy.”

Mercenaries are hired by lords or wealthy nobles to fight their battles.

The role of mercenaries is to instigate conflicts and eliminate targets.

*As a result, those who sought to control Escalion, who was a more skilled mercenary than most, would have naturally emerged. They could have threatened Escalion by using Scarlet as leverage.*

“At the time, the Lord didn’t believe he possessed the power or the means to protect his family, not even Scarlet. By intentionally keeping his distance, he couldn’t act as an affectionate brother. As time passed, the two have become almost like strangers. Scarlet only contacts the Lord when she needs something.”

Escalion, who likely never experienced a true family, must have been awkward in how he treated his sister, whom he wanted to protect but felt compelled to keep at arm’s length. It was obvious, even without witnessing it firsthand.

*There may be a thicker wall between them than I thought…*

“Watching from the sidelines, I can see that they are siblings who care deeply for each other, but neither seems to realize it…”

Volf sighed, then quickly waved his hand, looking flustered.

“Ah, I apologize! Please disregard my last statement, Madam. I spoke out of turn.”

Belladonna shook her head.

Even from Escalion’s own words, it was clear that he cared for his sister more than anyone else in his heart.

“Anyway… Scarlet currently resides in a house that the Lord has provided for her in Griblatta. Shall I send a message there, Madam?”

Belladonna nodded.

76 Yufranga Street. It was time to send a letter.

* * *

Belladonna, having composed an invitation with Volf’s assistance, gazed at the beautifully sealed envelope, complete with a wax seal.

*Will this be enough?*

She felt a mixture of anticipation and apprehension about Scarlet’s reaction.

*I hope that this opportunity will bring Escalion and Scarlet closer, allowing them to become ordinary siblings…*

She wanted to give Escalion, who had never known a true family, a family.

*And me…*

Belladonna’s heart skipped a beat.

*I also want to become his true family. I want to stay by his side, without returning to Astanya, and continue to be his wife…*

Belladonna, lost in thought as she stared at the envelope, shifted her gaze to the side.

A collection of envelopes, each bearing the Papal Seal, lay gathered in a pile.

They were all letters from Pope Prononce.

Looking at them, a sigh escaped her lips.

When she first arrived in Griblatta, she diligently replied to the Pope’s letters, which constantly reminded her not to forget the impending divorce, assuring him that she understood.

At the time, she believed that returning to Astanya, which at least held some familiarity, was preferable to adapting to a strange husband and a foreign land.

Furthermore, she felt obligated to obey the Pope’s commands as a saintess.

But recently…

“……”

Lately, Belladonna’s desire to remain by Escalion’s side had grown stronger, and she had stopped responding to the Pope’s letters altogether.

The Pope, perhaps sensing her lack of response, had been sending even more letters in recent days.

Belladonna raised her hand and pushed the unopened envelopes away.

*But I can’t continue to ignore the Pope like this.*

The Pope would demand a divorce after the promised three months, citing Escalion’s flaws as justification.

*I need to uncover Escalion’s flaws before that happens…*

Belladonna’s blue eyes, clouded with worry, turned back to the envelope in her hand.

From her observations, there was nothing about Escalion that the Pope could reasonably object to.

He possessed no hidden wealth, no military organization or justification to oppose the Emperor or the Pope, not even any physical defects.

But there was one thing: Scarlet…

**

Belladonna frowned, recalling the Pope’s sinister voice.

If it was related to his private life, it was clear that the Pope also believed Scarlet was Escalion’s mistress.

He would make a scandal out of Escalion daring to take a mistress after marrying the saintess who was revered by the people of the Empire, and use it as leverage to force her return to Astanya.

*What can I do to prevent this?*

At this point, with no official announcement that Scarlet was Escalion’s sister, Belladonna couldn’t reveal the truth.

And if it were revealed that Scarlet was Escalion’s half-sister, on the contrary…

*Scarlet could be hurt, as Escalion feared, and she could become someone’s target.*

There was no guarantee that it wouldn’t be the Pope…

For now, there was still about a month left until the promised three months were up.

Belladonna turned her head and looked at the pile of unopened letters.

*First, I need to find out exactly what the Pope is thinking.*

Belladonna opened a drawer and took out blank paper and a pen.

She had to pretend to be on Pope Prononce’s side for now and try to discern his true intentions.