Chapter 23. Heart Beating with Truth
“Madam!”
“……”
“Madam! Are you okay?”
Cindy waved her hand up and down in front of Belladonna’s blank face.
But Belladonna just slowly blinked her eyes and couldn’t snap out of it.
“Madam! What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
Cindy put her hands on her hips and tilted her head.
Today, ever since Belladonna came back from going out with the lord, she had been like this.
Even when she came back on the horse, even when Cindy helped her bathe in the warm tub, dried her hair, and brought dinner to her room—Belladonna was still out of it.
“……”
“Madam, I’ll leave now, okay? Call me if you need anything, all right?”
Belladonna nodded, still with a blank face.
Cindy looked back at her again and again, then finally left the room and closed the door.
When Belladonna was alone, she suddenly moved and buried her face into the bed.
“Ahhhh…!”
She couldn’t believe what had happened.
Belladonna raised her head for a moment and touched her red lips with her finger.
She kept remembering her fast breathing, and his rough lips that made her feel impatient.
Belladonna naturally started thinking about what happened just a little while ago, and her face turned red again as she kicked her legs.
‘No way! I kissed him!’
It was all because of the mood.
They were so close, their eyes almost touching. His body was hot, so different from the cold air. His eyes were full of strong desire, looking down at her…
All of that…
‘I don’t know! I don’t know anything!’
Belladonna hugged her pillow and screamed inside.
On top of that, soon it would be night and Escallion would probably come into her room like always.
She would have to sleep next to him in this state?
She was sure she wouldn’t be able to sleep all night.
Click.
Just then, the doorknob turned and the door opened, as if to break her imagination.
Belladonna quickly stopped what she was doing and pretended to sit calmly.
Escallion came in, looking like he just finished washing.
“……”
He paused for a second after coming into the room, and met her eyes.
They looked at each other without saying a word, both with serious faces.
‘This is so awkward…!’
Finally, Escallion turned down the light and came to the bed with his usual playful smile.
“I thought you’d be knocked out, but you look okay.”
He carefully lifted the blanket and got into bed beside Belladonna.
He moved his big body to get comfortable and pulled Belladonna into his arms.
He had the same face, same way of speaking, same way of holding her as always.
Belladonna blinked inside his arms, feeling confused for some reason.
“You stayed outside in the cold for a long time. You might catch a cold. Don’t forget, if you get sick, you can’t go out.”
What? But you’re the one who took me to the lake!
Belladonna looked up at him with eyes full of protest.
He just laughed in a low voice and gently stroked the back of her head.
“Go to sleep before you get sick. Wolf said he’s going to teach you even more from tomorrow. He seemed upset that I took you away without telling him.”
“……”
“Tomorrow morning, I have to leave early. There are so many merchants who want to trade through Griblatta’s port. I’m going to meet them.”
Just like always, Escallion told her about his plans for tomorrow.
It really seemed like he was acting exactly the same as usual, not caring at all about the kiss.
Belladonna felt even more upset because of that.
‘He’s such a womanizer. Maybe a kiss means nothing to him?’
But for me, that was my first real kiss…
She pouted her lips, feeling wronged.
After talking, Escallion seemed to fall asleep easily, not worried at all.
She could see his chest moving up and down regularly.
‘It looks like I’m the only one thinking about it… This is so unfair…’
Belladonna sighed quietly and closed her eyes.
Her heart was confused and messy, and the feeling wouldn’t calm down.
At that moment, she heard a familiar and regular sound by her ear.
Thump, thump, thump.
At first it was so soft she almost didn’t notice, but once she paid attention, it sounded so loud it shook her ears.
‘What’s that sound…?’
Belladonna looked up at him.
His eyes were closed like he was sleeping, but even in the dark, his ears were bright red.
“……”
Without realizing it, Belladonna smiled.
He might not be as nervous as she was, but he was definitely thinking about the kiss too.
She smiled and snuggled deeper into his arms.
She felt Escallion flinch. The sound of his heart beating got even louder in her ears.
The next morning, Belladonna woke up alone in the big bed.
Just like he said last night, Escallion had left early to meet with the merchants who wanted to trade with Griblatta.
Belladonna blinked and then reached out to open the nightstand drawer.
She took out the letter from Astanya.
“……”
It was a letter from the Pope.
Belladonna felt a little nervous as she opened the envelope and took out the letter.
[To Bella.
I hope you are doing well in Griblatta. This old father worries more and more every day.
I also wonder if you are keeping the promise you made with me before you got married. You must serve your husband and always respect him.
By the time this letter arrives, it will have been a month since you left Astanya to get married.
I miss you very much today.
If you have time, please write me back. I hope to see you again someday.
Pope Pronunce Brielle.]
The Pope’s seal was stamped at the bottom of the letter.
Belladonna read the letter again from start to end and gave a small, bitter laugh.
She knew what the words hidden in this ordinary, serious father’s letter really meant.
‘He’s reminding me not to forget the divorce in three months.’
Belladonna let out a small sigh and leaned her head back on the bed.
The Pope was always planning to call her back.
Even though she was far from Astanya, he kept sending letters to make sure she wouldn’t forget.
When she woke up, she was happy. Now, her heart felt trapped in a small box.
Belladonna looked quietly at the place where Escallion had slept last night.
“……”
Now, there was a little more than two months left to live together as husband and wife.
That fact made Belladonna’s heart ache more and more.
‘Where is this nervousness coming from?’
At first, she thought she just didn’t want to go back to the Pope.
She didn’t want to stay silent and be a trash can for people’s feelings in the confessional again.
She didn’t want to be forced to smile beautifully in situations she couldn’t understand.
But now…
She was scared to see disappointment in Escallion’s eyes.
‘He said he never forgives betrayal.’
Could he ever forgive a wife who tried to betray him with the Pope?
Belladonna shook her head slowly.
Probably not.
She bit her lower lip and frowned.
She squeezed the letter in her hand until it was wrinkled.
Her heart felt even more crushed than the ruined letter.
“…So, this is the list of materials that need repairs this year.”
Wolf gave Belladonna a thick report.
Belladonna took it with an awkward smile.
“The windows in the parlor are not old, but since we’ll have more guests, it’s better to replace them all. The other things were suggested by the staff.”
Windows in the parlor, the stair rail up to the fourth floor, the empty room’s chandelier on the third floor, the old oven in the kitchen…
There were more things to fix than she expected.
Belladonna checked the list carefully and started to remember if there were other places that needed repairs.
‘This castle must be older than I thought…’
“Oh, and about the wood you checked before, we finished paying the carpenter we always work with. The wood will be delivered slowly over two months.”
Belladonna nodded.
Wolf opened the old account book again.
“I put the receipt here at the bottom. If there’s no problem after you read it, please sign here.”
Belladonna picked up the pen without thinking.
As she was about to sign where Wolf showed her, something above it caught her eye.
‘Wait… Did something change?’
“If you’re done, give it to me…”
Wolf reached out, but Belladonna pulled the account book away.
She wanted to check again.
Wolf just nodded and looked at other papers.
Belladonna carefully checked the account book.
She narrowed her eyes and read the numbers. Soon, she noticed what was different.
“……”
It was gone.
The wood that was supposed to be sent to Scarlet Layton’s address had been completely erased, as if nothing was ever there.
‘Why did her address disappear?’
Belladonna frowned and looked at the account book Wolf was holding.
“Madam? What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the account book?”
Wolf asked, looking worried.
Belladonna quickly smiled and shook her head.
As she signed where Wolf pointed, she thought deeply.
‘There’s no way they stopped sending wood in one day… Did Escallion find out I know about that woman?’
‘Did he tell Wolf to erase everything about Scarlet from the records?’
Belladonna frowned.
Maybe Hazel told Escallion everything that happened.
Unlock soon!~