Don't Get Caught by Your Husband!

‘….That’s the Pope’s intention.’

Belladonna forced herself to take in and then exhale her trapped breath.

‘He deliberately sent the letter that was meant to be sent to me to Escalion as if it were a mistake, and even included the letter I had written just before.’

The Pope’s dark laughter seemed to ring in my ears.

Her mind was dizzy and her hands were shaking.

Belladonna held her hands together and gave them strength.

‘Did he realize that I meant to deceive him and save my marriage? Or even this… Was it part of the Pope’s plan? He intentionally made this plan known, so that Escalion, not me, could pursue a divorce…?’

She strained her neck and struggled to make her voice sound.

“Wait a minute. Come on, let me explain.”

“Is there anything you can explain?”

At the cold answer that came back immediately, she flinched and closed her eyes tightly.

I felt like I had been too complacent all this time.

What kind of person is the Pope, and did i happily imagine spending the night with him without even thinking about it and staying by his side?

‘He wasn’t the kind of person who would give up so easily….’

A heavy, dark frustration consumed her body.

It was as if the ground beneath her had sunk in, and it seemed as if her legs would lose strength at any moment and she would fall.

Let’s calm down for now. Uh, where should I start explaining?

Bella also brought her fingers together in front of her and twitched them.

She had to say something to Escalion. She had to explain everything about this situation.

But perhaps because she was faced with such a sudden situation, her head couldn’t turn properly.

Well, so…

“Your mouth is closed, so it looks like you don’t have anything to say. If you’re at a disadvantage, just keep your mouth shut, it’s pretty easy, right?”

It was a sharp tone. I didn’t have to explain how deeply betrayed he felt by the letter he sent me.

Escalion, who had been looking at her for a moment, rose from his seat just as she was.

With a rough hand, he snatched the coat that was hanging on a simple hanger next to his desk.

Then he swung it around his shoulder and walked out at a fast pace, passing her just like that.

“Wa, wait a minute….”

Despite her voice, he didn’t slow down.

As Belladonna flinched and shrugged her shoulders at the bloody look, she heard the office door slam behind her.

“…….”

Silence fell in the office where he disappeared.

Belladonna passed her quickly, and she stood there in a daze, feeling the wind caused by Escalion.

Now, she had no idea what had happened.

* * *

That night, curled up alone in her wide bed, Belladonna bit her lower lip with a nervous look on her face.

It felt like an unexpected storm had swept away everything.

She lowered her face between her upright knees and groaned.

“Ugh……”

It felt so stupid….

It’s been so long since I’ve seen the Pope in person that I’ve forgotten what kind of person he is.

“I am very idiot……”

Belladonna sighed deeply, blaming herself.

The situation was so bad.

Escalion had learned that in addition to planning her three-month wedding, she had planned it all herself.

<Betrayal.>

<The lord will never forgive his people for abandoning righteousness.>

<As long as his wife doesn’t betray him first, Escalion will continue to be the same.>

The voices of the people of Griblata rang in my head.

It was clear that the Pope knew what kind of disposition Escalion had.

‘So, first of all, he tried to use Scarlett as a weakness to get mr divorce, and when there was a problem with that method, He framed the whole thing and tried to get Escalion to get divorce.’

“That popw dirty, cunning old man…”

Belladonna repeated quietly.

She lifted her head slightly and looked at the clock, which was already showing midnight, and the bedroom door still closed.

Since she was away, she hasn’t heard anything about him.

‘Are you not going to come to the room tonight…?’

She let out a worried sigh, blinked her eyes and thought for a moment before getting off the bed.

Let alone having a conversation to resolve any misunderstandings, I immediately started to worry about where he was and what he was doing.

It’s not like he hasn’t come back since he took his coat and went outside…

Belladonna got down to the floor, picked up the small lamp on the nightstand, walked over, and pushed open the bedroom door.

Did he go back to his office? Or is he in his room? In that case, I think it would be better to go and talk to him right now…

CREAK.

The old door opened with a sharp sound.

Belladonna came out into the hallway and looked around carefully.

Should I go to his room first? Just as she was about to head towards where Escalion’s room was, she felt the presence of someone across the hall.

Oh, what a surprise. Who is it? Is it Escalion?

She calmed her startled heart, narrowed her eyes, and raised the light toward that place.

Who are you?

“Who are you?”

At that time, the other person and Bella must have sensed presence, as her voice came from across the hallway.

Belladonna was startled by the voice of a woman she had heard for the first time and wasn’t Escalion’s. I quickly brought the light close to her face and she revealed who she was.

Click!

I heard the woman’s footsteps towards me as i checked her face.

“Ah, Madame…! What’s going on so you can’t sleep this night? Do you need anything?”

The maid who came closer opened her mouth.

Belladonna looked up at her still.

Her red hair tied into two pigtails, impressive freckles, and round eyes when she smiles.

Although she didn’t know her well, shr had familiarized her with her face as she passed between castles.

“Oh, would you like me to call Cindy?”

I didn’t need Cindy right now, so Belladonna’s quietly shook her heads.

However…..

Belladonna held her breath and stared at her maid.

I didn’t notice it when she was far away, but when I got closer and saw her face reflected in the light, I felt something awkward and strange about her.

The maid was looking around nervously with a somewhat distorted smile.

‘… What?’

Belladonna, feeling an unfamiliar feeling for a moment, slowly took a step back.

She smiled softly as she pointed to the back bedroom. I’ll just go back now…?

“Oh, are you going back to your room? All right.”

The maid nodded her head and smiled in relief.

I don’t know what it is, but let’s go back first! Maybe it’s because the castle is large and dark, but it’s somehow eerie!

Belladonna quietly turned around and headed towards her bedroom.

Since it was a large castle, it seemed to be a system in which the occupants took turns on duty.

I guess that kid is on duty today?

As I reached the bedroom door and reached for the handle, two hands suddenly came out from behind in the darkness.

Huh?

Before she could even recognize what it was, a black cloth soaked in wet liquid tightly covered her mouth.

“……!”

What, what…!

She didn’t know what was on the cloth and tried to keep her breath as best as she could, but the other hand was on her, squeezing her thin neck hard.

Belladonna, who suddenly became short of breath, inhaled without realizing it.

Oh, I can’t…

Belladonna felt her consciousness fading rapidly and she collapsed into the hallway.

* * *

Ugh, my head hurts….

Belladonna frowned and forced her eyelids to open.

Even though she opened her eyes, all she could see was darkness.

It wasn’t that it was actually dark, but it felt like something was blocking my eyes.

She felt the stinging sensation of the cheap fabric over her eyes, mouth, and wrists tied together behind her.

As I slowly exhaled and came to my senses, this time a stinging odor struck my head.

The cold penetrating her thin velvet nightgown was also significant.

What does this smell like? And where the hell am I…?

The place where her body was leaning was very cold and hard.

The stark and vivid sound of the wind entered my ears.

‘No way… Did I come outside and not in the castle?’

Suk, Suk….

At that time, there was a sound as if someone was grinding a very sharp object on a flat stone.

Bella also held her breath and focused on the sound.

“We have to leave quickly.”

Next, I heard a low, cold male voice that I had never heard before.

Leaving…? Belladonna frowned.

“Wait a moment, I have to think about what to do with the lord’s wife.”

Soon after, the maid she thought she had encountered earlier spoke up.

Judging from the voices being heard, Belladonna, the maid, and an unidentified man are here now.

It seemed like there were three people in total.

The man quickly became irritated by the maid’s words.

“Wh, why did you bring her here…!”

“I did that because i was so embarrassed! Who would have thought that she would come out into the hallway that night like a ghost?”

They raised their voices and looked back at Belladonna.

The man, who was looking down at Bella with his eyes and mouth locked tightly, let out a chuckle.

“Why are you covering her mouth? They say she can’t even talk.”

“I did that because I was so embarrassed, that’s why!”

“Anyway, you’re stupid… Okay, leave it alone for now. How much time do we have?”

Belladonna lay down as if she had not yet come to her senses and listened to their conversation.

“Originally it was leisurely, but it became urgent to bring the lord’s wife out. If the sun comes up right now, everyone will notice that the lord’s wife is gone. Anyone can come after us.”

“When?”

“Immediately after sunset, I saw the lord riding out of the castle on the blackest and fastest horse. You know that if he leave the castle like that, it will take at least three days before he come back.”

“Of course.”

Belladonna let out a small breath.

He went out on horseback…

It seemed like Escalion went out like that and went completely outside the castle.

“Damn, I was only planning on stealing a few items, but I ended up stealing people… And the lord’s wife!!”

As the maid shouted in embarrassment, the man could be heard replying without much emotion.

“I didn’t expect it to go smoothly anyway. Being caught by the Imperial Knights, taken to trial, and executed is the same as being caught by the lord of this place and being killed. At least there is hope that the latter will not be found out.”

Judge? execution…?

If they’re being chased by the Imperial Knights…

Is that man already a famous violent criminal in the empire? A frightened Belladonna took a small breath.