Don't Get Caught by Your Husband!

Episode 3 : Dare to be a Couple

“Saint?”

As she was catching her breath in front of the entrance to the restaurant, the maid came out and looked up at her with a puzzled look on her face.

Belladonna managed her quick expression and gave her one of her elegant smiles.

“Ah, Saint…..The Pope is waiting.”

The maid with her ecstatic face personally pushed open the dining room door.

Belladonna slowly walked inside and looked at her father sitting at the table.

“Belladonna, are you here?”

He asked in a low voice while holding a glass of water.

Belladonna bowed in a natural gesture and greeted the Pope, then sat down across from the long table.

She looked at the Pope and stretched out her hand towards her cup, and his majestic voice was heard once more.

“Oh, can you wait a little while for dinner? I have a meeting with someone today.”

Meeting?

Bella also rolled her blue eyes once and nodded her head.

It was not uncommon for someone to accompany the Pope to a meal. Anyway, Belladonna just had to eat without saying anything, listening to their story with one ear and spilling it with the other.

‘I’m hungry.’

Belladonna quenched her appetite while looking at the delicious food on her table.

I don’t know who it is, but please come quickly.

Knock knock–

At that time, a knock on the door was heard from behind.

Ah, I guess the guest arrived on time.

Belladonna got up and turned to greet the Pope’s guest. She put on her signature bright smile and looked at the door that was slowly opening.

It was clearly a high-ranking noble who visited the Pope for political reasons…..

‘……..!’

Hah……?

Belladonna’s eyes widened as she looked at the huge figure coming through the door opened by the maid with red cheeks after checking the person.

“Sir Diete. welcome.”

The Pope took a step forward and extended his hand to him.

That big man who came into the restaurant and casually shook hands with the Pope….

It was the man who had been sleeping calmly under the tree a little while ago. He, he is the intruder…..!

‘Oh, no……’

Belladonna couldn’t take her eyes off him due to her giddy feeling as she slowly swept her down.

He is at least a hand taller than ordinary people and has a sturdy body. Black hair flowing naturally over the forehead and golden eyes shining dangerously beneath it.

It was clear that earlier, under the tree, he was dressed in simple, tight-fitting clothes, but now that he was in front of the Pope, he was dressed in full uniform.

But nuttons weren’t fastened properly.

“I meet the Pope.”

When he opened his mouth, a pleasant bass sound came out.

“Bella?”

The Pope asked Bella, who was standing motionless.

At his call, Belladonna, who only then came to her senses, pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

She slightly bowed her head to show respect to him.

Hah….I think I’m a bit screwed….

“Hahaha, this is my one and only daughter, Belladonna. I think my daughter was momentarily entranced by your handsome appearance.”

“I think it’s me who should be enchanted, not the saint.”

The man answered, looking directly at Belladonna with his shining golden eyes.

Bella too felt like she was being sucked into his deep eyes, her breath caught, and she swallowed her saliva, feeling him come.

W-what are you looking at….?

Belladonna worked hard to control the corners of her mouth as cold sweat poured down her back.

Hahaha…..

“Haha, that’s too much praise. Please sit down. The food that the servants worked so hard to prepare will get cold.”

The Pope let out a hearty laugh, turned and pointed at the table.

Guide the man to his seat, then moved over to his seat across from him and sat down in his chair.

Belladonna also sat in her own chair, paying attention to the man sitting slightly away from her.

No way…..he probably didn’t hear my voice earlier.

Probably not.

Probably not…..Right?

“As you already know, my daughter can’t speak.”

No, do you want to get to the point like this?

Belladonna raised her head and looked at the Pope who suddenly spoke.

Belladonna, who was a bit disturbed by what had happened a moment ago, quickly turned her eyes to look at the expression of the man sitting next to her. There was no answer from the man who lifted the wine glass to his lips.

“……..”

He felt her gaze and suddenly looked at her eyes.

Bella, who met her eyes with his shining gold ones, was startled and quickly turned her head away.

“She lacks a lot for a woman….but please think positively.”

What? So what? What are you talking about with the person in front of you?

Belladonna feeling frustrated and anxious, wiggled her hands under the table.

Perhaps because I thought that my voice might have been heard, I kept feeling anxious, unlike usual.

She slowly reached her hand across the table and took her glass of water, bringing it to her mouth.

My throat is burning, my throat is burning….

“Actually, I had already made up my mind on the way.”

A low voice came from the man sitting next to me. Both the Pope and Belladonna’s eyes were focused on him.

He put down the wine glass he was holding with a leisurely gesture and opened his mouth.

“No matter how much I do, I can’t marry someone I don’t even know.”

“Phfp.”

Belladonna, who was drinking water, spit out everything in her mouth.

The clear water soaked not only her dishes but also her dress.

“Saint! Are you okay?”

Her maid, who was standing one step behind her, quickly came up to her and wiped her wet clothes with a dry cloth.

Bella also nodded her head, her face bright red.

“Bella, are you okay? You must have been very surprised.”

The Pope looked at his daughter with worried eyes.

However, she was able to easily find the meaning of the reprimand contained therein.

Belladonna bit her lower lip once and quickly raised the corners of her mouth to indicate that it was okay. She gave a grateful smile to the maid who was diligently cleaning the area around her.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

You speak so quickly, Pope…

The Pope quickly tore his indifferent eyes away from her and looked at the huge man in front of him.

“Can I take that as a rejection?”

She had a rough idea of what today’s lunch would be like and thought to herself, “I’m Bella too.”

She thought she was lucky that he had rejected this sudden marriage proposal.

She didn’t want to get involved with this strangely scary and mysterious man.

“And yet I’ve been thinking about it all the way.”

The man still spoke in a relaxed voice.

It seemed like there was some joy in his voice.

Bella noticed his subtle emotions and closed her eyes tightly. No way, right?

“That means…..?”

“Seeing the saint in person like this makes me want to punch my past self who had the intention of rejecting her.”

The Pope’s face slowly began to brighten after hearing the man’s answer.

The man turned his head and looked at Belladonna with a wonderful smile.

Seeing his handsome appearance, the maids standing in her dining room all opened their mouths and blushed, but Belladonna couldn’t do the same.

His burning eyes were like those of a wild beast with its prey in front of him.

Bella was still staring at him, then he slowly opened his mouth.

“If you will allow me, I would like to accept your marriage proposal.”

“……..”

“It means that I dare to form a deep conjugal relationship with the saint

Belladonna tightened the corners of her mouth that had begun to tremble.

I couldn’t tell if I was smiling as beautifully as usual.

Ah, I guess this intruder wasn’t asleep earlier….

***

“Belladonna.”

The man who had been sitting uncomfortably became uncomfortable after being left alone with Belladonna in the restaurant.

The Pope, who had been sitting silently for a long time, opened his mouth.

Belladonna nodded slightly.

“Escalion Diete. They said he was a war hero from a commoner and received the title of duke, territory, and an enormous amount of property from His Majesty two years ago.”

“…….”

“Marry that man.”

Yes, I heard it earlier…..

Belladonna lowered her head with a distraught expression. It was so sudden for her to marry a man she had never seen before.

The Pope clicked his tongue once while holding a wine glass and continued speaking.

“The financial condition of the Vatican is a mess these days. The number of believers who used to donate large amounts of money is decreasing, and people’s interest is not the same as before.”

Isn’t that just because the Pope indulges in extravagance?

Belladonna spoke in her mind and looked up at the Pope with as much worry as possible.

“The temple needs change.”

By my marriage? Belladonna, who momentarily failed to control her expression, frowned.

“Escalion Diete. Do you understand why I chose that rude and humble man to be your husband, my beautiful and wise daughter?”

The Pope asked, bringing the wine glass he was holding to his mouth. He smiled sinisterly and started giggling.

Belladonna looked at him with sunken eyes.

Do people know that the Pope, whom the people of the Empire respect so much, actually looks like this?

“I plan to extort a lot of wedding funds from a country bumpkin who has a lot of money and doesn’t know how to spend it. After you get married, follow him to his territory and stay there for just three months.”

Marriage funds…..?

This is the amount that a husband-to-be pays to the family of the person he will take as his wife, and the amount varies greatly depending on the woman’s family of origin.

If you’re the Pope’s only daughter…It was clear that the amount would be one of the largest in the Eleanor Empire.

“I plan to file a divorce three months later, citing his flaws as an issue, and receive a solid amount of alimony in addition to the wedding funds.”

At the Pope’s words, Belladonna frowned again.

Divorce three months later…..?

What on earth are you talking about?

“Belladonna. Don’t you think it would be a waste to send away Astanya’s one and only saintess as just a man’s woman? The nobles want you. And I have to use you more.”

The Pope slowly exhaled and took another swig of his wine glass with a twisted smile.

The red liquid leaking from the side of his lips looked dirty.

“I received information from a close associate, so don’t worry about divorce. Well, it would be better if he offend you during the marriage period and get him beaten you up. It’s like having one more justification.”

“………”

“Lots of money from alimony and marriage. The temple was revived by people who felt compassion for the saint who was beaten. Let’s aim for these two birds with one stone, this is it!”

After he finished speaking, the Pope giggled at his tricks and rocked his body back and forth.

If I’m not for sale, what am I?

Belladonna clenched her fists that were on her knees. She is a saint. How did she endure this kind of life?

• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •by Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •