Episode 15 : Even if it’s just a kiss for a favor
“Why are you so surprised?”
Escalion asked, his golden eyes shining even brighter in the dark.
Well, that’s….You want to wear a bar and ring as soon as possible….That’s what it means…?
Escalion, who was looking down at her in great confusion, raised one corner of his mouth.
“Oh, if this room is more comfortable, I’ll come to this room.”
That’s not it!
Belladonna shook her head desperately.
She began to think intensely about how she could postpone sleep with him.
Escalion, who was looking at her as if he was having fun, spoke in his voice mixed with laughter.
“Really…..you are an easy woman to understand what you’re thinking.”
“…….”
“How could you keep so many of my people’s secrets with a face like that?”
He asked with a chuckle. Then he stretched out his finger and poked her white cheek.
“Don’t worry, I won’t eat you.”
“……?”
“The doctor said so. You are naturally quite weak. I was told that you could get sick again if you overexerted yourself even a little, so I was told to focus only on recovering your health for the time being. and gain some weight.”
Escalion stopped poking and opened his mouth.
“It’s a shame I can’t do it, but…
Well, there’s still plenty of time in the future.”
“…….”
“So don’t worry about anything, and sleep comfortably. isn’t that also a shortcut to recovering health?”
He caught her where she was sitting and placed her back on her bed.
Forced to lie down by his touch, Belladonna blinked at her distraught face.
‘As expected, I feel so uncomfortable……’
She couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, who had no idea about the annulment of her marriage.
Bella also shook her head and buried her face deeper into her pillow.
I hope three months pass quickly….
* * *
As each day passed, the north wind coming to Griblata grew stronger little by little.
Griblata was already heading towards full winter.
“Ma’am, aren’t you cold?”
When she turned her head, she saw Wolff standing there holding a fluffy blanket.
When Belladonna shook her head and smiled at him, he, who had been standing one step behind her, came closer and placed a blanket over her shoulders.
“The hallways are colder than I thought. More than that, there’s something I’d like to show you, would you mind taking a moment?”
what?
Bella also nodded her head.
“Thank you for your time. Then, please come here for a moment.”
Wolff took Belladonna into his office and lifted the thick ledger from his desk. Then he handed it to her and opened his mouth.
“This is the estimated amount of wood we will use this winter and the amount.”
Belladonna lifted one of her hands and looked over the cover of the ledger.
“Originally, I was in charge of it and proceeding arbitrarily, but now Madam is definitely there. starting this year, I would like to make decisions about the Duke’s castle after discussing with my lady.”
The Castle….
Belladonna looked at the ledger, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Wolff is truly a meticulous person…
Even the smallest piece of firewood had no trace of wasted use.
“It will be difficult to know everything right away. I think you can join me step by step starting today.”
Bella nodded and read the ledger with her eyes.
Although she didn’t know much about running a family, she had learned something from the Vatican over the past half-decade, so she wasn’t completely blind.
‘So this is all wood that will go to the kitchen, and this will go to the blacksmith shop……And the employees’ accommodations and this……It’s our bedroom.’
Belladonna slowly read the numbers in the ledger.
‘Compared to last year’s total usage….Hmm, then what is the difference?’
At that time, her eyes went to a certain place and stopped.
A certain amount of the wood purchased with Griblata’s budget was being shipped to places other than Griblata Castle.
‘Delivery address…….’
Next to the address where the lumber would arrive, there was a name written in neat handwriting.
[Scarlett Layton]
Bella also let out a shaky breath as she saw her name written down in her ledger.
‘It’s this woman.’
I knew it instinctively.
A woman whose address is where high-quality lumber purchased from the castle is regularly delivered.
A woman who has been to Escalion Castle and is the owner of the ruby necklace in the dressing table.
She is Escalion’s mistress.
Scarlett Layton.
As she defined her in her mind, her subsequent feelings were one of futility and frustration.
She wonder what it has to do with her husband’s mistress, and she will end her relationship after three months anyway….
‘No, being annoyed means being annoyed!’
Belladonna nervously put down the ledger.
If this is going to happen, why on earth did you say you were getting married? Or at least live with that woman who can’t live without her!
“lady……?”
I could hear Wolff’s curious voice, but I still couldn’t concentrate.
And if it’s going to be like this….
‘……Or don’t be so nice to me.’
Bella also quietly placed her hand on the ledger on Wolff’s desk and was lost in thought.
As her husband, Escalion was neither very needy nor picky.
He was not one to shower Belladonna with much of his affection or attention, but he did try to grant her most of the time when she wanted something, and he would accommodate her as best as he could.
‘After I fell, he didn’t touch me.’
Escalion didn’t pressure her regarding the covenant ceremony, nor did he bring up the issue of succession.
Even though he slept in the same bed all the time.
‘We’re not a couple who really cares about each other, but……’
However, finding out about her husband’s mistress in this way was definitely not a pleasant feeling.
“lady……? Are you okay?”
Wolf asked again.
Only then did Bella finally escape from her thoughts and raised her head and met her eyes.
“Is it too complicated? I tried to summarize it as simply as possible….”
Belladonna shook her head slightly and smiled.
She picked up the pen that had been lying next to the ledger, which she had thrown away out of frustration a moment ago, took the paper, and began to write.
[There was enough to take a look. I think you have done a good job of taking charge of the duchy’s household during this time, so please proceed as is. I will only trust you from now on.]
I could feel Wolff’s eyes shining with relief as he checked Belladonna’s neat handwriting.
He couldn’t hide the corners of his mouth that turned up in pride and joy.
“I understand, ma’am……! i will continue to provide regular reports on performance-related matters. If there is anything you don’t understand or if there is anything you would like to change, please feel free to let us know at any time!”
Belladonna smiled and nodded at him.
* * *
“Ugh, it’s cold!”
Cindy stepped into bella’s room, adjusting her collar.
She threw dry firewood into the fireplace in Belladonna’s room, creating a bigger fire.
“Ma’am, isn’t it too cold?”
Cindy asked as she turned around, causing Belladonna to shake her head. Thanks to her maintaining the appropriate temperature in the room, Belladonna did not feel too cold.
Bella was sitting in a rocking chair by the large window, and I glanced at her to look outside.
It was clear that the bleak season of losing green color was approaching.
“Ah, madam! Have you heard the story?”
At that time, Cindy approached me with her eyes shining like a child.
She sat down across from Belladonna, who was looking through some of the ledgers Wolff had handed her, and she began to open her mouth excitedly.
What are you talking about?
“Griblata’s biggest festival is happening next week!”
festival?
Belladonna tilted her head.
“This is a festival where villagers gather together to pray to Elieza, the goddess of snow, before the weather gets colder! the are thankful that the year ended successfully, and they also hope that next year will be as prosperous and safe as this year.”
Ah, so you’re saying it’s an end-of-year festival?
Belladonna reminded of Astanya’s year-end festival.
The last time I attended as a saint…
It was one of her few fond memories, too.
“Since you came to Griblata for the first time this year, how about you participate along with the lord?”
Hmm….But does Escalion want to participate in a festival or something?
“The lord secretly likes things like festivals!”
As if reading my expression, Cindy added,
really?
When Belladonna gave a surprised look, she continued her explanation.
“Last year, he went out wearing regular clothes and had a lot of fun, I guess? My lord, he secretly doesn’t like being seen by others or receiving attention.”
That’s really surprising.
Belladonna thought.
He has a sly and playful personality, so I thought he liked standing in front of others….
‘perhaps…as he says repeatedly, he came from a commoner background, so it might be more familiar to him.’
“Anyway, let’s go out with the lord this time! It’s going to be so much fun!”
At Cindy’s suggestion, which was thrust into her face and exhaled forcefully, Belladonna nodded at her without even realizing it.
That evening, Belladonna glanced at Escalion as she entered her own room.
He came in, drenched in cold air as usual, took a hot bath in the small bathroom attached to her room, and then came out and came to her bed.
“What do you have to say?”
asked the perceptive Escalion to Belladonna, holding out her own palm.
Over the past few days, the couple has been having small conversations through their voices and handwriting.
As if Bella had been waiting, she brought his large palm to her knees and wrote down each letter with her fingers.
‘Next.week.festival.’
“Are you talking about the year-end festival that will be held next week?”
Escalion asked bitterly.
“It will be very different from what you enjoyed in Astanya, right? you’re won’t be much to see since she’s already come down from there with her eyes raised.”
but…I want to go!
Belladonna looked at Escalion with expectant eyes, but he was stern.
“Besides, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. If you walk around exposed to the cold air all day, you will inevitably end up in bed for several more days. It’s very frustrating for those who are waiting for my wife to get better.”
Sheesh….
Belladonna couldn’t help but nod her head.
Escalion, who had been silently watching her give up, opened his mouth again.
“Why are you giving up so quickly?”
“……?”
what.
You told me not to go.
“My wife listens very well to her husband, doesn’t she? She might have to be stubborn or whiny sometimes.”
Bellady blinked her eyes without knowing what was happening.
Come to think of it….
As she lived as a saint, it seemed like it had become a habit of her to not even flinch at the Pope’s words, and she couldn’t even think of asking him one more time.
‘I’ve become accustomed to behaving like a puppet without even realizing it.’
Then listen, please!
“But I can’t just grant your request.”
Escalion tugged the corners of his mouth into signature relaxed, sly smile.
It’s like that again, again!
Then what should I do?
As Belladonna looked with her chagrined face, he lifted his finger and tapped his own right cheek.
“Yiu should at least give me a kiss.”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
