Chapter 51. The Pope’s Trap
“Even if Escallion pretends to be fine, when he lost his parents, he was only seven years old. I got to be with my mother for a long time, but Escallion never had a family before he met me. And even after we met, it wasn’t a normal relationship.”
Escallion, who always seemed the strongest, actually had the deepest wounds.
Maybe even his playful and carefree attitude was just a mask to hide those wounds.
Thinking about him made Belladonna’s heart ache.
“Take good care of Escallion. As long as his wife never betrays him first, Escallion will always stay the same.”
Belladonna was about to nod, but one word made her freeze.
Betrayal…?
<Just follow him to his territory after marriage, and last exactly three months.>
<After three months, point out his flaws and get a divorce, collecting a nice settlement and dowry as well.>
<A generous dowry, a settlement, and the sympathy for a saint abandoned by her wicked husband—let’s go for both!>
The Pope’s greedy voice and sly laughter echoed in her ears.
Belladonna clenched her fists tightly in her lap.
At first, it hadn’t been that way… But now, she had absolutely no intention of betraying him.
Now, she couldn’t even imagine leaving Escallion and going back to Astanya.
‘I have to tell him.’
Belladonna repeated to herself.
She needed to tell him why the Pope sent her, exactly what he wanted, what her real feelings were now, and how they had changed.
She had to tell him everything.
‘But…’
What would happen if she revealed the Pope’s real plan?
The Pope, Prononce Briel, was an incredibly powerful figure in the Ellinus Empire.
Everyone respected and adored him, and there were millions of followers who would risk their lives for him.
If Escallion learned the truth, would he just stand by and do nothing?
‘And would he… believe me?’
I actually planned to marry you for money and divorce you, but now I truly love you and want to stay by your side.
A scheming Pope who cared only for money, and a daughter who could speak but hid it—anyone would see them as classic con artists.
Besides, I’m not even the real Saint Belladonna…
Escallion had always shown her his true self, without any lies, but she had only shown him a false front and kept secrets.
Thinking of this made her nervous all over again.
“Madam, are you alright?”
Scarlett noticed Belladonna’s pale face and grabbed her arm with concern.
Belladonna snapped out of her thoughts and forced a smile.
“By the way, it seems being a lord keeps him really busy. He’s being called away all the time—we barely get a moment together.”
Scarlett glanced at the drawing room door, mentioning that Escallion hadn’t returned yet.
He couldn’t even stay long in Sirlenia, so he must really be overworked these days. Poor Escallion…
Scarlett checked her watch and spoke.
“Oh, I should go before it gets too late.”
Ah! Remembering Escallion, Belladonna turned to look out the window. It was already completely dark outside.
Then I should go call Escallion…!
Belladonna started to get up to call him, but Scarlett stopped her and made her sit down again.
“Don’t worry about it. Leave him be. Anyway, I’ll be coming by often now.”
Coming by often…
Scarlett gave a shy smile as she said this.
It looked so cute and warm, Belladonna also smiled gently back.
She nodded and held Scarlett’s hand.
Yes, please visit often!
“I’ll be going now, Madam!”
Scarlett stuck her head out of the carriage and waved.
Take care! Belladonna also waved both hands in return.
She stayed where she was until Scarlett’s carriage passed through the castle gate and disappeared.
So much for ‘just a minute’… How much work is Wolf making him do?
Belladonna grumbled about Wolf stealing Escallion and walked up the stairs toward his office.
She knocked without hesitation, and a pleasant voice answered from inside.
“Come in.”
Belladonna felt her heart flutter and a smile creeping onto her lips as she entered the office.
Hmm…?
She was excited to tell Escallion that Scarlett had left, but the mood in the office was strange.
Belladonna stopped, suddenly nervous.
Escallion was sitting there, staring at her with a look she hadn’t seen before.
What… What’s going on? Did something happen…?
The air in the office was heavy. Belladonna felt like she was being crushed by the tense atmosphere.
She stood still, swallowing hard.
Escallion’s eyes, watching her from his chair, were completely different from usual.
She forced herself to look away and quickly glanced over his desk.
…Ah.
An envelope stamped with the Papacy’s seal was lying there.
When Belladonna saw it, her heart started pounding.
That must be the letter with the confidential seal Wolf mentioned earlier.
Wolf must have been worried it was something serious from the Papacy.
Belladonna silently stared at the envelope.
The Pope had sent her many letters in the past, just checking in, but never one directly to Escallion.
What is this about? Could it be…?
Trying to stay calm, she walked closer to him.
“Scarlett went home.”
“Yes. I heard the carriage leaving.”
Escallion answered without looking away from her.
His cold tone made Belladonna freeze in place.
Her mind was spinning with confusion.
Why was she here? Should she leave? What was she supposed to do?
“I guess… you were really busy. You couldn’t even see her off.”
Belladonna barely managed to get the words out.
Escallion, still watching her, turned over the envelope on his desk.
“A letter came from the Pope.”
“…”
“One for you, one for me. There are two in total.”
“…I see.”
Belladonna forced a smile.
She still didn’t know why the Pope sent them or what was inside.
“I didn’t plan to read your letter. I just opened the one with my name on it.”
Escallion picked up a sheet of paper from the desk.
“I read my letter, but the contents were strange. I think the Pope confused the letters meant for you and me.”
He held out the letter to her.
With trembling hands, Belladonna took the letter. A chill ran down her spine.
She stood there, staring at the letter.
It had been three months since she’d married Escallion, and she’d expected the Pope to do something soon—but not like this.
No way…
With shaking eyes, she read the letter.
[My beloved daughter,
Now it’s already three months into your marriage. There’s less than a month left until our plan. It must be hard on you, but please bear with this dreadful marriage a little longer.]
Belladonna sucked in a breath.
It really was from the Pope, but the style was completely different from usual.
He never wrote so directly about their plans before. He always used indirect or vague words so no one else would notice.
She looked up at Escallion, who was still watching her, then dropped her gaze to the letter again.
[I still feel bad for sending you to Lord Diete for financial reasons. If you hadn’t made the plan to divorce him after three months, the Papacy would only keep struggling. Everyone here will remember your sacrifice for a long time.]
What is this…? That I planned to divorce him after three months?
Belladonna’s hands began to shake.
[I’m sorry to Lord Escallion Diete, but I believe he’ll understand God’s deep will. Please finish your marriage quietly and without trouble. Oh, I’ve included the letter you sent me recently, so please burn it all at once there. This will likely be my last letter. See you soon in Astanya.
Your loving father.]
Belladonna looked up suddenly.
A letter I sent…?
“Looking for this?”
Escallion waved another sheet of paper.
Belladonna trembled, realizing what it was.
“It’s the letter you sent to the Pope a few days ago. Maybe there were too many eyes at the Papacy, so they couldn’t dispose of it any other way.”
He tossed the letter toward her.
Belladonna stared at the paper as it fluttered to her feet.
[Father, don’t worry. Everything will go according to our plan. But before that, I want to know what exactly is my husband’s flaw, as you mentioned. If I know his weakness, I can end things wisely when I file for divorce.]
Seeing those words in her own handwriting, Belladonna’s face went pale.
They were just sentences she wrote to trick the Pope and find out his real plans.
She only wanted to keep the Pope believing she was still on his side, so she could learn his intentions and find a way to stay with Escallion.
But to anyone else, they would look like the words of a wife ready to end her marriage with Escallion—just as the Pope’s letter described.
