Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 74

#74. Action (1)

2024.05.13.

“Ahem… It seems today isn’t my day. I’ll assume it’s because you’re busy preparing for the celebration of the Holy Birth.”

The nobleman spat out the words with a displeased tone.

Belladonna forced a smile and inclined her head.

She mustered all her strength to give him a beautiful smile, and she saw the nobleman’s terribly crumpled face smooth out slightly.

“Even if you are busy, please think of us, the believers. Since your marriage, we haven’t had the chance to confess to the Saintess.”

“……”

“Then, I will come again next time.”

The nobleman rose from his chair with a creaking sound.

Belladonna nodded and saw him off with a seemingly relaxed expression, though her heart was far from it.

Ah, I need to pull myself together… If the believers’ complaints reach the Pope’s ears…!

If that happens, there’s a high chance I won’t even be able to enjoy the little freedom I have now.

As the nobleman left, a priest poked his head through the open door.

“Saintess, the next believer is waiting. Shall I tell them to come in?”

Belladonna straightened her posture and nodded.

She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists as she received the next believer.

* * *

On the way back to her room after finishing her schedule, Belladonna dragged her feet with slumped shoulders.

I’m so tired….

The nobles of the Elinus Empire seemed to have so many worries and secrets that they often exceeded their allotted time, being dragged away by the priest, and some would come for several days in a row.

And each of them would quickly show disappointment if Belladonna didn’t seem to remember them properly.

‘But how am I supposed to remember so many believers…!’

Belladonna kicked at the stones on the ground in frustration as she walked.

As she grumbled in her heart and moved her feet, she heard priests talking in low voices not far away.

“Oh my, who gave you this?”

“Wizard! You know, that really old wizard? The one who grows his beard all the way down here…”

Belladonna abruptly lifted her head, which had been hanging low. An old wizard? Beard down to his thighs?

Could it be… are they talking about Fabion?

Turning her gaze to where the voices were coming from, she saw priests gathered under a large, beautiful tree, looking down at something.

“Really? He’s capable in many ways, isn’t he? Should I ask him to make one for me too?”

“Me too, me too! It’s so pretty…”

What, what is it…?

What did Fabion make?

Belladonna slowly moved her feet towards them. I want to see too!

“It won’t be easy. He appears and disappears like the wind. He only occasionally shows up at the Papal Palace, and since he doesn’t stay here, we don’t really know where his residence is.”

“That’s true… Still, if he appears next time, please ask him about mine! I want to have one too.”

“Okay, I’ll ask him if I run into him next time… Oh, Saintess?”

At that moment, one of the priests who were gathered noticed Belladonna approaching and greeted her.

Belladonna smiled brightly and moved closer to them.

“Did you have a good day, Saintess?”

“Are you going back to your room now? You’ve worked hard!”

The priests smiled and exchanged various greetings.

Belladonna nodded vaguely at them and subtly pointed to what they were looking at.

So, what is that…?

“Ah! Saintess, would you like to see this? A wizard who occasionally visits the Papal Palace made it. It’s a bracelet that can be tied and worn on the wrist like this. He said he put a light luck enchantment on it.”

Luck enchantment? Belladonna looked down at the thin thread bracelet the priest was holding out.

“He said he originally sells them for money, but if we collect and offer him some of the food that we priests eat, he makes them for us in return.”

“He’s a wandering wizard, so he doesn’t eat regularly. He’s already old… We feel uncomfortable, so we take care of him like that.”

Belladonna smiled once more, appreciating their kindness.

The priests who received her praise tilted their heads with proud expressions.

“Hehe…”

Hmm, so anyway, these priests don’t know where Fabion stays either? If I want to meet him, I have no choice but to wait for him to visit the Papal Palace…

“Ah! Could he be staying at the Gaia Hotel?”

At that moment, one of the priests who was looking down at the thread bracelet clapped his hands and blurted out.

“Gaia Hotel? Well, that’s very expensive. The wizard doesn’t seem to have much money…”

“No, well, the hotel owner is very kind to wizards. It’s no exaggeration to say that almost all the wizards visiting Astagna stay there. He might be giving them magical items like this instead of room fees?”

“Is that so…”

Gaia Hotel?

Belladonna perked up her ears and focused on the priests’ conversation.

‘If it’s the Gaia Hotel…’

She had seen it fleetingly in her previous life, so she knew its approximate location.

It would be nice if I could go outside for a while and find it… Wait, what’s my schedule for tomorrow?

Belladonna frowned and began to recall her schedule.

* * *

The next day, Belladonna looked for Rosie as soon as she got up.

Rosie, who was summoned by her without knowing why, looked down at the note Belladonna had prepared in advance, then raised her head with a puzzled expression.

“Suddenly going out? For about half a day?”

Nod, nod.

At Belladonna’s nod, Rosie made a thoughtful expression.

“You don’t have any appointments today, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to leave your seat so suddenly, especially with a big event coming up…”

At that moment, Belladonna grabbed her hand tightly and looked up at her with pleading eyes.

Rosie, please….

“S, Saintess… Th, then I’ll quickly ask the Pope and come back! Please wait a moment?”

At Rosie’s words, who was looking down at her with a pitiful face, Belladonna quickly turned her head, picked up a pen, and began to write something on the paper below.

[No. I want you to keep it a secret from Father until the end. As you said, I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry with a big event coming up.]

“But… do you really have to go yourself, Saintess? If you tell me what’s going on, I’ll go instead! How about that?”

That won’t do! Belladonna shook her head.

[Actually, I’m trying to buy a gift for Father [the Pope]. As you know, I’m married, and after the event, I’ll have to go back to Griblata, right? I thought Father would be very lonely when I go back to Griblata… I want to give him a gift that can replace me when I leave.]

“Oh my, is that so…”

Rosie, who checked the contents of the paper, covered her mouth with one hand.

Belladonna already knew that Rosie was living alone with her widowed father.

She often received outing passes from the Papal Palace and went to see her father in the city.

I’m sorry, Rosie, but I have to target your weak spot…!

After thinking for a moment, Rosie opened her mouth.

“H, how long do you think it will take? How about me accompanying you instead?”

No! I can’t do that! The gift for my father is just an excuse, and I have to go meet Fabion!

Belladonna shook her head with a face that said she couldn’t possibly ask for such trouble.

“I’m, I’m okay! If I’m with you, it will be much easier for the Saintess to get an outing pass! And actually…”

At that time, Rosie, who was watching Belladonna’s expression, carefully opened her mouth.

“I, I wanted to go see my father too… Actually, I’ve used up all the outing passes I can get this month. But if I’m with the Saintess… I think I can go out one more time…”

Belladonna looked at Rosie, who was slurring her words. Wait a minute, so….

Rosie wanted to use her as an excuse to go see her father.

If that’s the case… it’s a win-win for both of us, right?

Anyway, Rosie seemed to be planning to leave her and go meet her father as soon as she left the Papal Palace.

After thinking for a moment, she grabbed Rosie’s hand tightly and smiled.

Okay! Then please, Rosie! Let’s help each other out!

* * *

“Will it be half a day?”

“Yes, you know our Saintess is busy! She’ll be back soon.”

“Hmm… I know that Priest Rosie’s outing passes are over for this month, but can’t you be with another priest?”

“Ah, th, that’s…”

I thought I could get out easily, but the knights guarding the Papal Palace were not easy to deal with.

Rosie blinked her eyes with a noticeably embarrassed face, as if she didn’t expect to be blocked like this.

Belladonna, who was looking at Rosie’s profile, reached out her hand to the knight standing at the very front.

“Yes? S, Saintess…”

The knight flinched and looked down at her.

Belladonna gave a bright smile and grabbed the knight’s arm tightly. Please, nameless knight….

The knight’s face turned redder and redder as he took in her smile.

“…Ah, I understand. Open the door right now!”

Soon, the knight with a bright red face turned his body.

Belladonna gave him another smile of gratitude and moved through the door they opened.

Rosie quickly ran out after her.

“Phew, it’s thanks to the Saintess!”

What! It’s all thanks to you. Belladonna shook her head at Rosie, who was smiling shyly.

After walking straight out of the Papal Palace and reaching a fork in the road, Rosie glanced behind her and opened her mouth.

“Th, Saintess. Th, then… Shall we meet here after you’re done with your business…? I’ll only be a moment!”

Of course! If you let me go this quickly, I’ll be even happier!

Belladonna nodded greatly.

At Belladonna’s permission, Rosie’s face brightened even more.

“Then I’ll see you later, Saintess!”

She bowed deeply to Belladonna, then quickly turned her body and ran off.

Her father has been ill recently, so she seemed very worried.

Belladonna, who watched her go for a moment, deeply covered her face by pulling the hood of the robe she was wearing over her head, and moved her steps to the opposite side.

Gaia Hotel….

If my memory is correct, I have to move diligently from now on to get to that building.