Don’T Get Caught By Your Husband! [EN]: Chapter 82

Don’t Get Caught by Your Husband! 82. Reunion (2)

#82. Reunion (2)

2024.05.21.

Ugh…!

Belladonna flinched and cowered at Escalión’s touch.

It wasn’t intentional, but Escalión grabbed a badly wounded spot.

Ah, it hurts….

Escalión, even more surprised by Belladonna’s trembling and cowering, quickly pulled away.

“Ah, sorry….”

Ah, that’s not it…!

Belladonna belatedly shook her head and tried to relax her expression, but her thigh, which hadn’t fully healed, continued to throb.

“….”

The heated atmosphere cooled down in an instant.

Escalión stepped back, moving further away from her, and exhaled deeply.

He swept the hair that had fallen over his forehead back and frowned.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you….”

“….”

“Damn it, I didn’t mean to come on so strong as soon as I saw you. I didn’t come to find you just for this.”

No, it’s not that I didn’t like the physical contact! Belladonna waved her hands, trying to explain.

Anyone could see that her actions just now were out of fear of the deepening physical contact.

But she couldn’t exactly lift her skirt and show the wound on her thigh to clear up the misunderstanding.

Escalión raised the back of his hand and roughly wiped Belladonna’s makeup from his lips.

“You didn’t have to try so hard to hold back.”

I wasn’t holding back…!

Belladonna sighed, frustrated that her true feelings weren’t getting through.

How much more clearly do I have to say it? How much I like you, how glad I am that you came all the way here, how I feel right now…!

This damn voice! When will it come back!

Escalión, who had been staring at Belladonna, who looked like she was about to explode, finally spoke.

“Some reunion this is for a married couple.”

“….”

“You tremble and can’t stand it even when I touch you like this.”

Argh!

Belladonna screamed inwardly.

Was Escalión always this frustrating?

Did something happen in Griblatta while I was gone? Did someone list 100 reasons why I clearly hate you or something!

Belladonna quickly turned around and picked up the paper and pen on the side table.

[I didn’t avoid you; I was just surprised because it’s been so long, too.]

“….”

[I mean it when I say I missed you. Why would I lie to you now?]

After reading the words, Escalión silently raised his eyes. His golden eyes were still full of distrust.

Ugh, I guess this is all my karma….

[I understand that you can’t trust me since you feel thoroughly backstabbed from your perspective. You said you’d return to Griblatta after the birthday celebration, but it’s been two months without a word, so you must be very disappointed this time too, but I had my reasons.]

Writing down my frustrating feelings as they are, it seems quite brazen….

Belladonna stared blankly at what she had written, then quickly added a sentence at the end.

[I’m sorry for making you wait.]

“Not sorry, but….”

Escalión groaned and rubbed his forehead.

He didn’t understand why he was like this, why he kept saying strange things that were different from what he meant.

Perhaps something had gone wrong from the moment he arrived in Astagna and found her standing among the pale, thin male priests.

Certainly, this me… is scary, isn’t it.

Escalión lowered his head slightly and looked at his body.

Even to his eyes, who had no interest in such things, he looked like a threatening figure, the opposite of the priests of Astagna.

“Ah, damn it.”

Damn Scarlet.

He cursed his half-sister in his heart and moved his feet.

“Let’s go to the Papal Palace first. I think I’ll go crazy if I stay here any longer.”

[You came to return the divorce papers.]

Belladonna quickly scribbled on the paper and held it out in front of Escalión’s eyes.

Escalión raised one eyebrow and read her writing.

“I’m just trying to return what you left behind.”

[I don’t want to. I told you I wouldn’t get a divorce.]

“Who said anything about that? I just came to return it.”

[If you give that to Father (referring to the Pope), then you really can’t take it back….]

“Bella.”

Escalión snatched Belladonna’s wrist as she was writing. He looked straight at Belladonna and opened his mouth.

“I only said I came to return the divorce papers. It’s right to return it to you since you left it behind. I never said I would give it to the Pope, so what are you talking about since earlier?”

Ah….

Belladonna belatedly blinked her eyes.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

Escalión was just going to greet the Pronons Pope about coming to Astagna; from the beginning, he was going to return the divorce papers to Belladonna, not give them to the Pope.

“I have no intention of involving the Pope in anything related to you. Our problems are our problems. Our marital problems.”

“….”

“If you understand, guide me to the Papal Palace.”

Escalión stated firmly.

Belladonna, who had been staring at him blankly, had no choice but to nod.

There was no way she could stop him from even saying hello.

* * *

“The Lord of Griblatta, Escalión Diete, and his knights have arrived.”

Timothy, who was guarding the front of the office, said in a loud voice, and the door opened inward.

At the action meaning permission, Timothy quickly moved away from the door and cleared the way for Escalión, Belladonna, Hazel, and Graham.

Pronons, who appeared through the door of the Papal Palace, opened his mouth with the most benevolent smile on his face.

“Welcome, Lord Diete. And all the other knights as well.”

“I greet the Pope.”

Escalión bowed his head politely in a pleasant baritone voice.

Following him, Hazel and Graham also bowed.

“Thank you for welcoming us without hesitation despite our sudden visit.”

“No, I am more honored. Well, let’s have a more detailed greeting later; come this way for now.”

The Pope said, pointing to the seats already set up inside.

Escalión, Hazel, and Graham entered in turn, and Belladonna was about to follow when the Pope raised his arm and stopped her.

Huh?

“Belladonna, you don’t have to come in.”

Why, why not me? Belladonna raised her head with a puzzled face.

Then, a crack appeared on his face, which had only looked benevolent, that others could not see.

Belladonna, sensing the dark light he showed when he used violence against her, was startled and widened her eyes.

“I heard that you were having a hard time today because the number of believers didn’t stop, so wouldn’t it be better to go to your room and rest?”

“….”

“And anyway….”

He turned to Escalión, who was sitting in the seat prepared inside, and whispered very quietly, so that he couldn’t hear.

“…what use is someone who can’t say anything coming in.”

Ugh….

Belladonna clenched her fist tightly and bit her lower lip.

What on earth is he trying to say…? Is he going to trade me again or something? Like when we had a marriage of convenience that I didn’t know about?

“Yes, that would be better, wouldn’t it? Then do that. I hope you get some rest.”

Even though she didn’t answer, the Pope smiled as if he had heard her say she would. Then he closed the door.

Belladonna stared blankly at the door that had slammed shut right in front of her. She felt her arms trembling involuntarily with cold anger.

“Um, Saintess?”

At that moment, Timothy, who was standing a few steps behind, approached.

Belladonna took a breath, managed her expression, and turned around.

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

No, no.

Belladonna shook her head at him, who was showing her kindness, and walked to a long chair not far from the entrance to the Papal Palace and plopped down.

If they don’t let me in, I’ll just wait until they come out!

In a situation where she didn’t know what the Pope would say to Escalión, it was better to snatch him away and clear up any misunderstandings as soon as their conversation was over than to just let misunderstandings pile up between them.

‘That way, I’ll be able to return to Griblatta as soon as possible!’

Belladonna sat down and anxiously bit her lip.

“Then, may I sit next to you and wait?”

Without even turning to look at Timothy, who was asking cautiously, Belladonna nodded.

Soon, she felt him carefully sitting next to her.

“….”

A strange silence flowed.

Belladonna stared at the floor and sat blankly, then unconsciously put her hand in her pocket.

I’m bored….

At that moment, something rattled inside. Huh? What is this?

Without thinking, she took out what she felt in her hand, and she saw the small bottle she had found in the confessional earlier.

Ah, that’s right. I forgot to leave this in the room.

“Oh? That’s….”

At that moment, Timothy, who had been sitting quietly next to her, spoke.

Huh? Do you know what this is?

“Isn’t that the tonic that the Saintess usually enjoys drinking?”

Tonic…? This?

Belladonna shook the liquid in the small bottle back and forth and stared at it quietly.

The Saintess hid a tonic in the confessional? Why?

“You used to drink it often, but I was worried because you didn’t seem to be drinking it recently. I guess you were keeping it separately.”

Um… So, this is what the Saintess usually enjoys drinking.

I guess she usually prevented her body from deteriorating with things like this because her energy would weaken if she used too much divine power!

That’s why! Lately, I’ve been using divine power continuously, so my healing power isn’t the same as before, and my body has no strength. I should have found it and drank it sooner!

Belladonna looked down at the bottle with a feeling of injustice.

So, the key was just a drawer key to collect the Saintess’s personal belongings? This is the only bottle… Did she drink the rest?

“You seem to be in much better condition after drinking it. I thought it must be really effective.”

But can I just drink this even though it’s not mine? Still, it’s the Saintess’s thing….

But lately, I’ve been feeling that my body and divine power aren’t the same as before, so my greed grew.

‘If I just drink this, will I be able to return to my original condition? I want to heal all the wounds on my body that haven’t healed yet….’

Belladonna glanced at Timothy, who was still smiling.

‘Besides, if even Timothy knows about it, someone must be making this for her, right? So, it’s okay if I drink about one bottle….’

After finishing her thoughts, Belladonna slowly opened the lid of the bottle.

After hesitating briefly, she brought the bottle to her lips and swallowed the liquid inside.

I don’t know anymore!

‘Ugh, it’s bitter…! I guess medicine that’s good for the body is bitter!’

Belladonna wiped her wet lips and put down the empty bottle.

“Please give me the empty bottle. I’ll throw it in the trash.”

Ah, thank you!

The moment she handed the empty bottle to Timothy without much thought, she felt the background slowly turning.

Soon, she felt dizzy.

‘Huh?’

Her hand, handing him the empty bottle, shook wildly and appeared to be divided into two.
Huh… What is it?

Belladonna blinked her eyes blankly.

It wasn’t intentional, but her eyelids closed and opened very slowly as if they weren’t her own.