Chapter 27. I Want to Wear the Ring Together Tomorrow Morning
Great!
Belladonna shouted in her heart.
Wolf spoke respectfully, “Since the Emperor gave it to you, the townhouse hasn’t been used, so some repairs are needed. But you can live there for two months without any big problems. If we work hard, you can leave in three days.”
Belladonna didn’t say anything.
“I’ll tell Cindy and the other maids to get everything you need ready. There’s a short introduction about Sirlennia on the paper I gave you. Please read it, and if you have questions, ask me anytime.”
Belladonna smiled and nodded, feeling pleased.
So, she was really leaving Griblatta to go south to Sirlennia.
She felt relieved that her plan was working, but thinking she might leave and never return made her a little sad about leaving the good people here.
Wolf would stay in Griblatta, not come with her, right?
If I knew this would happen, I should have helped out more…
She looked at Wolf with regretful eyes.
Wolf didn’t seem to notice. He just pushed up his shiny glasses and kept talking.
“If you don’t have any objections, we’ll arrange for you to leave as soon as possible. I’ll choose the right maids and prepare the carriage.”
Belladonna nodded slowly.
That evening, Belladonna took a warm bath, then sat on her bed and looked straight at Escallion.
Isn’t this my room?
She snorted to herself and sat at her dressing table with Cindy’s help.
Escallion sat nearby, his upper body uncovered, looking almost like a statue. Cindy, feeling nervous, spoke up.
“My lady, should I dry your hair…?”
“I’ll do it.”
Escallion, who’d been watching, sat up and said,
“Huh?”
“I’ll do it. What should I do?”
He took the towel from Cindy and looked at her, waiting for instructions.
Cindy, surprised, looked back and forth between her master and mistress.
Belladonna gave Cindy a little smile in the mirror, saying it was okay.
Cindy pointed to Belladonna’s hair. “Just squeeze out the water from the ends gently, like this. Then you can shake it out like this…”
“I’ll try.”
Escallion got serious, holding Belladonna’s hair with the towel.
Ouch!
He pulled so hard that Belladonna’s head snapped back.
“Ah! Not so hard! Gently, like this…”
Cindy quickly put Belladonna’s head back in place and showed Escallion how to do it.
Thank you, Cindy…
Belladonna was grateful for Cindy’s effort. She looked at Escallion’s reflection in the mirror—he was listening to Cindy’s explanation, very focused.
“I still don’t know how hard to squeeze,” Escallion muttered.
He started squeezing very gently, like he was holding a tiny, fragile chick.
“That’s it! You’re doing well.”
“You can leave now.”
Cindy sounded much more relieved, but Escallion spoke in a grumpy voice.
“Huh?”
“I’ll finish it. You can go.”
“But…”
Cindy didn’t seem to trust him. She looked at the back of Belladonna’s head with worry, then slowly left the room.
“My lady… I’ll go now…?”
Belladonna nodded with a half-defeated look.
Cindy kept looking back, but finally left and closed the door.
“……”
“……”
After she left, silence filled the room.
Belladonna felt awkward in this unusual mood and looked at Escallion in the mirror.
Why is he so quiet all of a sudden?
Escallion kept drying her hair, squeezing and shaking, just like Cindy showed him.
That’s enough…
Belladonna raised her hand to stop him, and Escallion dropped the towel on the floor.
“Should we go to bed?”
Belladonna stood up and went to the bed.
She got in and got comfortable, but Escallion didn’t come over.
She looked back—he was standing by the bed, looking uneasy.
“Are you feeling okay tonight?”
Belladonna nodded like it was no big deal.
Escallion looked at her quietly, then seemed to make up his mind.
“Then… tomorrow morning… I want us to wear our rings together.”
Rings…?
It took Belladonna a moment to realize what he meant.
Her face turned bright red.
“Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
Escallion asked again.
Belladonna couldn’t move, just stared at him with big, surprised eyes.
What should I do?
She never expected him to suddenly ask for their wedding night like this.
She knew it would happen someday, but she had been too relaxed.
They’d slept in the same bed almost every night.
Even the most patient husband couldn’t wait forever.
What excuse should I use?
She thought fast.
Pretend to feel sick? But she already said she was fine…
A sudden stomachache? Her period? Or just run out of the room?
“Did I surprise you?”
Escallion’s deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
He raised a hand to cover his eyes, and Belladonna saw his ears turning red.
“Damn… If you don’t want to, I won’t force you. So please, don’t make that face…”
Face?
Belladonna looked up at him, her face showing her mix of shock, embarrassment, awkwardness, and guilt.
“I was just nervous.”
Escallion, still covering his eyes, spoke in a low voice.
“My wife is leaving for the southern townhouse soon, and I can’t go with her. We’ll be apart for at least two months.”
“Just thinking about not seeing you for two months… Damn, I think I got impatient.”
Belladonna understood his feelings.
Actually, now she felt bad for delaying their wedding night and planning for a divorce.
“After you get married, go to his territory and stay for just three months.”
The Pope’s sly voice echoed in her head.
Belladonna frowned, feeling a little sick.
At that moment, Escallion lowered his hand and saw her face.
Seeing her frown, he sighed.
“That’s a clear rejection.”
“Just forget I said anything.”
Escallion turned away.
“Go to sleep.”
That’s not what I meant…
Belladonna watched his back, feeling lost.
“A big dowry and divorce money. And sympathy for the holy lady abandoned by her wild husband—let’s try to get both.”
The Pope’s voice echoed again in her mind.
No… I don’t want this. I don’t want to be like that man.
Suddenly, something burst inside Belladonna’s heart.
It was everything she’d bottled up for the past year, living as the Saint without knowing anything.
I don’t want to do what the Pope says! I don’t want to just go back to Astanya like this!
“Should I turn off the light?”
Standing by the door, Escallion pointed at the lamp with his chin.
Belladonna quickly shook her head.
He seemed to think even this was a rejection.
Escallion tasted bitterness at the corner of his mouth as he grabbed the door handle.
Just then, Belladonna leapt from the bed and ran to him.
“What the…?”
Escallion caught her in his arms.
Otherwise, she would have tripped and fallen.
Belladonna rushed straight into his chest.
She couldn’t control her speed, but he caught her in time.
“Why are you doing this?”
He sounded confused.
Belladonna, face buried in his chest, shook her head.
He sighed softly above her.
“Okay, I said if you don’t want to, we won’t.”
Belladonna looked up at him.
She didn’t even know what she was feeling.
Maybe she was rebelling against the Pope.
Maybe it was her first time feeling true free will.
Or maybe, it was excitement and hope she’d always felt toward Escallion, or just a natural feeling.
Escallion misunderstood her sad eyes and gently pulled her away.
“I’m not angry. I just need to clear my head. Go to sleep, I’ll come back soon—”
Belladonna reached out, grabbed his shoulder, and stood on tiptoe.
She clumsily pressed her lips to his.
Unlock soon!~