Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 60

Don’t Get Caught by Your Husband! 60. The Cardinal of Astania (60/130)

#60. The Cardinal of Astania

2024.04.29.

“…….”

Umm?

But no matter how long she waited, he didn’t approach.

Belladonna, feeling puzzled, cautiously opened her eyes.

Right in front of her, she saw Escalion’s face, looking embarrassed.

She blinked blankly, and his expression calmly changed.

“Slowly get down. And don’t fall again. Don’t take off your coat.”

At that moment, Belladonna’s face turned bright red.

Ah, I’m crazy……!

Escalion wasn’t thinking anything, but she had brazenly closed her eyes, recalling past events all by herself.

The person in question hadn’t wanted anything, but she had gone far ahead on her own, which was incredibly shameful and embarrassing.

M, sorry!! Belladonna covered her reddened face and quickly got off him.

Escalion, freed from her, easily got up and vigorously brushed the dirt and dust off his clothes.

‘Ha……. How foolish…….’

With deep self-loathing, Belladonna stood up.

At the same time, a slightly sad feeling washed over her.

Now we……. Can’t we go back to how we were before?

Ah, and why is the weather so cold?

“Sniff.”

Feeling awkward, she just sniffled, and Escalion, who was standing behind her, grabbed her shoulder and quickly turned her around.

Before she knew it, her vision spun around, and soon his surprised face appeared before her eyes.

He was looking at her intently with a serious expression.

“Are you crying?”

“……?”

No……? Belladonna shook her head and twisted the shoulder he was holding.

She was already mortified, so why would she be crying…….

Escalion, staring down at Belladonna, who seemed more composed than he expected, opened his mouth.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking at all.”

“…….”

“I thought you……. Felt the same way as I did. No, at least I thought you felt similarly. That living in Gribalta with me, although unfamiliar and difficult, wasn’t so bad…….”

Escalion sighed and turned his head. Belladonna took a step towards him.

He was right. I am…….

But this time, Escalion stepped back as much as Belladonna stepped forward.

“Don’t come any closer to me. I don’t want to be mistaken anymore.”

Escalion, having said that briefly, turned around and left the stable without giving Belladonna a chance to say anything.

Left alone, Belladonna lowered her head.

In the quiet stable, only the sounds of the horses neighing remained.

* * *

“Madam! Where have you been?”

As she trudged back into the castle, she saw Cindy hurrying towards her.

“Oh dear, it must have been very cold outside. Your cheeks are completely red……. Huh? Why are your clothes such a mess? Did you perhaps fall and roll around somewhere?”

Belladonna, feeling awkward, fiddled with her coat and nodded towards Cindy, who was examining her from head to toe.

Cindy quickly looked concerned and led her away.

“Let’s go up to your room quickly! Wash up and change into new clothes!”

Nod, nod.

As she climbed the stairs to the second floor, Cindy, who was following behind, pointed towards the reception room connected to the lobby and said.

“Madam, you need to get ready and come back down soon. The Cardinal from Astania and his accompanying priests have just arrived.”

The Cardinal? From Astania……?

At Cindy’s words, Belladonna stopped walking upwards.

She turned her head and looked towards the reception room.

“We were surprised because they visited so suddenly without any notice! Did you perhaps hear anything about it separately, Madam?”

At Cindy’s words that the Cardinal and priests from Astania had visited, her heart began to beat anxiously.

The Pope had already sent a letter to separate her and Escalion.

But now he sent people again?

With trembling hands, Belladonna grabbed Cindy’s sleeve, pointed towards the reception room, and tilted her head.

“Ah, who came? He was a rather young cardinal with long hair and an impressive kind smile. What was his name again? Ni, Nicol……. Ah! I think they said it was Cardinal Nicholas!”

Nicholas……?

Belladonna bit her lower lip as she confirmed the name of the priest who had visited Gribalta.

Nicholas Castle.

The Pope of Pronons’s faithful right-hand man, and an authoritative figure who firmly grasped the power of the Vatican along with him.

‘To send that man…….’

During her time as the Saintess of Astania, he was the cardinal she had spoken with the most, excluding the Pope, and he was like a limb, always attached to the Pope like a shadow.

If he sent such a person directly to Gribalta…….

The Pope clearly wanted to know what kind of relationship Belladonna had with Escalion and was anxious about it.

He must be trying to see if he can take me back to Astania as soon as possible…….

“You must be happy that someone you know well has visited Gribalta after a long time! The Lord is currently welcoming the guests, but we should also get ready and go down!”

Belladonna was once again dragged upstairs by Cindy, who was holding her hand.

* * *

“The Madam has arrived.”

Wolf, who lightly knocked on the reception room door, said in a loud voice.

Wolf waited for Escalion’s permission before turning the doorknob.

Belladonna tried to manage her expression as she moved inside.

“Saintess Belladonna!”

Nicholas, who was sitting at the table inside, was seen jumping up from his seat.

He approached her with a bright smile and opened his arms wide.

“It’s been almost three months since the wedding, but why does it feel like so much time has passed! I’m glad to see that you look better than before.”

Wh, what is this……? Is he trying to hug me?

Belladonna glanced at Escalion, who was sitting across the table and looking up at her, before awkwardly moving closer to him.

Nicholas lightly hugged her and brought his face closer.

We weren’t this close, why is this person suddenly acting like this…….

At that moment, Nicholas, who had come close, whispered in her ear at a volume that Escalion, who was standing behind, couldn’t hear.

“You should smile. Where did that beautiful, doll-like smile go, and why do you have such a common expression?”

“……!”

Belladonna, startled, flinched.

The moment she heard that voice, she felt like she was back in Astania.

The moments when she was always shrinking and smiling silently like the Pope’s doll, because Astania was unfamiliar and the people of the Vatican were scary.

“…….”

Nicholas gently stroked her stiff shoulders and stepped away.

“His Holiness wanted to come in person, but he couldn’t leave the Vatican.”

“…….”

“Instead, I feel honored to be able to take Saintess Belladonna with me like this.”

Take me?

Belladonna, with wide eyes, quickly turned her head to look at Escalion.

Could it be that the Pope had already made a move, and Escalion had agreed? Even to the divorce?

Escalion, who was leaning against the sofa, spoke indifferently.

“Anyone listening would think the Cardinal is taking my wife away from me. It’s just that the Saintess is needed for His Imperial Majesty’s birthday celebration.”

The Emperor’s birthday…….

Now that she thought about it, it was around this time of year.

The Emperor’s birthday was one of the most important events in the Elinus Empire. In the capital where the Imperial Palace was located, a festival celebrating the birthday was held for a week, and in Astania, where the Vatican was located, the Saintess would personally use her divine power to heal the sick and care for them, bestowing kindness, love, and affection.

‘There was a reason why the Pope set our marriage period to three months.’

The Pope was planning to bring Belladonna back to Astania before the Emperor’s birthday celebration and have her resume her role as the Saintess.

“Take away, hahaha. Why would you say such a sad thing…….”

Nicholas said, laughing out loud.

Having said that, Nicholas looked at Belladonna and gave her a gentle smile.

“How could the Saintess, who was like the Vatican’s mascot, be absent from such an important national event as His Imperial Majesty’s birthday? There are already many citizens who are sad that their one and only Saintess is married, so she needs to show her face at times like this and let them know that the Saintess’s position is secure.”

Nicholas, speaking in the kindest voice, asked Escalion.

“Lord, I’ll ask you again. Although there is still quite a bit of time left until the event, is it okay for us to take the Saintess in advance? I would like to give her time to catch up with the Pope.”

Escalion rolled his golden eyes, looking back and forth between Nicholas and Belladonna.

Belladonna fidgeted with her fingers with an anxious look.

No……. No!

If she went to Astania like this, she might never be able to return to Gribalta.

The Pope would use her as a hostage to buy time, and Escalion, who had already lost interest, might readily agree to the divorce he was demanding.

She really didn’t want that…….

Escalion, who had been quietly looking at Belladonna, moved his upper body to change his posture and opened his mouth.

“Why do I need to give permission to take Bella? More than anything, my wife’s opinion is the most important.”

At his words, Nicholas’s gaze was fixed on her.

Belladonna, startled by the gaze fixed on her, reflexively put strength into the corners of her mouth and pulled them upwards.

“What is Saintess Belladonna’s opinion? If you return to Astania with me, you will be able to help your father prepare for the event together.”

“…….”

“Ah, I forgot for a moment that our Saintess answers with a beautiful smile.”

Nicholas, who had been quietly looking at Belladonna, who didn’t answer, smiled and said.

“Such a kind smile, then I’ll take it as an agreement and start preparing.”

Ah, no……!

Even if she returned to Astania, there was no way she could use her divine power.

Belladonna, startled, belatedly shook her head frantically.

Nicholas confirmed that she was shaking her head, but turned his body away as if he hadn’t seen it and approached Escalion.

“Thank you for your consideration, Lord. Then we will depart as soon as tomorrow morning dawns…….”

“You’ve come a long way, is there any reason to leave so hastily?”

At that moment, Escalion, who was sitting in his chair, blurted out.

“Yes?”

“You seem to be moving too quickly.”

“But, as you know, the birthday celebration is not far away…….”

“I don’t know how much effort the Vatican puts into preparing for the event, but there are still more than two weeks left, aren’t there?”

“That is true, but…….”

Escalion turned his golden eyes to Belladonna and opened his mouth.

“It’s not often that my wife’s hometown guest visits Gribalta, so I would be very disappointed if you returned so quickly.”

“…….”

“You should receive proper hospitality before returning.”