Chapter 24. Can’t Hold Back
“Thank you. Please take your time and look at the report while sitting here.”
Wolf took the account book with Belladonna’s signature, put it on the desk, and pulled out a chair for her.
Belladonna looked at the chair he kindly pulled out.
Uh, but I wanted to go back to my room…
“There’s a lot to check, right?”
No, I was just going to look quickly and go back…
“If you want to check carefully, you’ll need all morning to focus.”
No, I really want to leave…
“I’ll tell Cindy to bring some tea, Madam.”
Ah… okay…
Belladonna couldn’t escape Wolf’s gentle but stubborn way, so she nodded and sat in the big chair at the desk.
Well, I should at least act like the lady of the house for the time I’m here…
She fixed her posture, lifted her hand, and opened the thick report.
“……”
Wow, this is boring.
Wolf was a very good and fast butler, but writing fun reports was not his talent.
After just a few minutes, Belladonna lost focus and her eyelids felt heavy.
She tried to fight off sleep, blinking her eyes hard and reading the letters.
While struggling not to fall asleep, one page in Wolf’s report caught her attention.
It was a list of furniture for the bridal room.
Bridal room…? Does that room need repairs?
She knew the bridal room was where Escallion used to stay alone before she came. It had a big bed and some furniture, but nothing special.
So why does it need repairs or new furniture?
“Oh, the bridal room doesn’t need any big repairs. We’re just getting a new bed, a new dressing table, and a new wardrobe.”
Wolf glanced at the page she was looking at and explained, while writing notes with his pen.
New bed, new dressing table, new wardrobe? Why…?
Belladonna still looked puzzled, so Wolf explained more.
“The lord gave special instructions. He thought the old furniture was too worn out and not stylish anymore. He usually didn’t care about such things, but now that you’re here, he seems to care a lot more.”
Hmm… Was the furniture really that old?
Belladonna never really looked at the furniture because she was busy sleeping in a new place with a strange man. Even if she had noticed…
‘What would a poor farmer’s daughter know anyway?’
She shrugged a little. She didn’t trust her own taste.
“Madam, here’s your tea.”
Just then, Cindy came in with a steaming cup of tea and put it on the desk.
Belladonna looked up at Cindy and gave her a thankful smile.
Cindy left, and Wolf also stood up as if he had something to do.
Oh? Is he leaving?
“Madam, please look over things comfortably. I have something to tell the staff, so I’ll be back soon.”
Oh! Yes!
Please go!
Belladonna smiled even more than usual.
As soon as Wolf closed the door, Belladonna jumped up.
Whew, that was so boring. Time to stretch!
She raised her arms and walked over to the sunny window.
Even though it was cold outside, the winter sun felt warm on her skin.
‘It’s so warm…’
Belladonna moved closer to the window and enjoyed the sunlight.
She saw the servants walking around the big garden, smiling and greeting each other. They looked a bit like the people from the church, but more friendly and cheerful.
‘Griblatta is really a nice place.’
It was cold in the north, but the people here were warm-hearted.
The servants, and the people at the festival, all seemed nice and gentle.
‘And Escallion too…’
Hmm, maybe not a warm heart, but definitely a warm body…
Belladonna sat on the wide window sill and leaned her head on the corner, feeling comfortable.
The window sill was wide enough for her small body.
Sitting there, she felt sleepy.
The warm winter sunlight covered her like a blanket.
No wonder I’m sleepy. Wolf’s report was so boring…
She yawned softly and closed her eyes.
I’ll just sleep a little…
Belladonna woke up a bit when the office door quietly opened.
Is it Wolf?
If it was Wolf, she should wake up and get up, but her body didn’t want to move.
This spot is too comfortable… I’ll sleep more…
She even opened her mouth a little as she fell asleep.
The person who came in stopped when he saw Belladonna sleeping on the window sill.
If it’s Wolf, he’ll wake me up or leave. Who cares, I’m sleeping.
Belladonna stopped caring and fell deeper asleep.
“……”
Escallion came into the office and was stunned.
Under the big, bright window, his wife was sitting and sleeping like a painting.
The winter sunlight behind her looked like a halo, making her look just like the beautiful Saint that the people of Astanya always praised.
Escallion stared at her, not even breathing, and clenched his fist.
He remembered when Pope Brielle sent that letter to his castle.
It was a rude letter, almost an order, telling him to marry Belladonna, with no proper introduction or polite greeting.
‘Did the Pope think someone like me could say no to his command?’
He had childish anger toward the Pope, a bit of curiosity from an old song, and the idea to just go through with the marriage since he had to do it anyway.
“Ha…”
Escallion let out a deep sigh and covered his eyes with his hand.
But this new feeling… what is it?
He looked at the desk.
She said she was studying.
The report was less than a third finished, but she had fallen asleep. He felt annoyed, but also thought it was cute.
He smiled a little and went to his wife sleeping on the window sill.
The sill looked hard, so he wanted to move her to the soft bed in the bridal room.
He had finished work early, so he could lie down with her.
He bent over and reached out to pick her up, but her slightly open lips caught his eye.
“……”
Looking at her, he felt his mouth go dry and his blood rush.
Even though she was so slim and small, her lips looked full and beautiful—almost annoyingly so.
He hesitated, then slowly touched her lips with his finger.
When his thick finger touched her, Belladonna frowned a little and moved her lips.
‘This is driving me crazy…’
Escallion let out a low groan.
Ever since that kiss, he kept having dirty thoughts about his innocent wife.
He looked down at the floor and took a deep breath.
He wanted to just move her to bed, but…
“……”
When he looked up, he stopped.
Belladonna was awake, looking at him with sleepy eyes.
“You were sleeping so well…”
That was all he could say.
Escallion cursed himself in his mind and clenched his jaw.
Belladonna smiled at him like it was funny.
And she looked so pretty that…
‘I can’t hold back anymore.’
Escallion leaned in on impulse.
It tickles…
Belladonna frowned because something kept touching her lips.
Go away… I’m sleepy…
‘Ugh…’
But the warm, thick thing on her lips didn’t stop.
Belladonna started to wake up, feeling it softly and carefully move over her lower lip.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was someone’s dark head.
“……”
Escallion was leaning down, breathing softly.
What is he doing?
Belladonna blinked her heavy eyes, confused.
Escallion gripped the window sill tightly, his fingers white from holding so hard.
She stared at his hand, and then he slowly raised his head.
Belladonna, still sleepy, looked up and met his golden eyes.
“You were sleeping so well…”
Escallion spoke in a way she had never heard before, looking deeply focused or maybe lost.
His face looked funny in her half-dreaming state, so Belladonna smiled without meaning to.
What a silly face…
Then, a breeze blew, and his warm scent filled the air.
At the same time, something hot touched her forehead.
She moved back, thinking she’d hit her head on the window, but Escallion’s hand was already holding her head in place.
‘Whoa…’
Belladonna’s eyes grew wide as she stared into his golden eyes right in front of her.
She felt like she was completely awake now.
