Chapter 35. I Like This Man
“Madam! A letter’s arrived for you.”
The next morning, Cindy came into the bedroom, holding a bundle of envelopes.
Belladonna, sitting at the table under the big window, looked up from her breakfast.
“Let’s see… Oh! This one’s from Astanya!”
Ugh…
Belladonna’s face twisted as she chewed her eggs.
I was enjoying my meal, but just hearing that made my stomach churn…
I’ll read it later…
Belladonna took the envelope from Cindy and tossed it face-down, stabbing a piece of bacon with her fork.
“The rest seem to be for the lord. I’ll take them to his office. Please wait a moment!”
Wait, give them to me! I’ll take them!
Belladonna reached her hand toward Cindy, raising her eyebrows.
Since Escallion always came to the room in the evening anyway, there was no reason for Cindy to make a trip to the study.
“Oh, will you deliver them, Madam?”
She nodded.
“Thank you! Then I’ll leave them here. Most of the urgent letters go to Wolf, so these are probably just personal.”
Belladonna nodded and finished her bacon.
Better eat well before reading the Pope’s letter… Who knows what upsetting things he’ll say this time…
“By the way, it seems like His Holiness really loves you, Madam.”
“Kgh.”
Belladonna nearly choked on her mashed potatoes at that.
“Are you okay, Madam?”
Cindy poured her a full glass of water in concern.
Belladonna forced herself to drink and calm down.
If only you knew… The Pope loving the Saintess? That’s the strangest thing I’ve heard…
“Please eat slowly! You’ll get a stomachache.”
Belladonna nodded, forcing a smile.
Cindy sat across from her and eyed the unopened letter.
“The Pope writes you a lot, doesn’t he? He must really care for his married daughter to check up so often.”
“…”
“I envy that kind of father-daughter bond! My father never cares what I’m up to. All he cares about is drinking and card games…”
Belladonna dabbed her mouth with a napkin and listened.
“But things are better now. He used to gamble so much my younger siblings had to quit school, but ever since the lord hired me, he’s stopped.”
Cindy… so you were the breadwinner…
Cindy shrugged as if it was nothing.
“Anyway! I wish I had a kind father like the Pope.”
Belladonna looked down at the Pope’s sealed letter.
Cindy’s got it all wrong. The Pope’s real reason for writing is just to check if I’m still under his control, and maybe find out if there’s trouble between me and my husband he can use…
Belladonna sighed and picked up the letter.
She set her cutlery aside—she was done with breakfast.
“Madam, are you finished? Should I bring you some fresh tea? There’s fruit syrup made with Sirlennia fruits. It’s supposed to be very good in water!”
Belladonna smiled her agreement, and Cindy hurried out.
Left alone, Belladonna leaned back and tore open the letter.
“Ugh, I don’t want to read this…”
She forced herself to read the neat handwriting filling the page.
As she read, her face turned stiff.
“Why is it always exactly what I expect…”
The letter was just as she’d guessed.
A reminder that in a few weeks she had to return to Astanya to be the Saintess again, and a hint to hold out a little longer, get a big settlement, and divorce.
“How long is he going to say the same thing over and over…”
Belladonna pressed her fingers to her tired brow.
Ever since last night, her mind had been a mess.
She hadn’t decided anything for sure, but one thing was clear:
She never wanted to go back to the Vatican in Astanya.
And for that to happen…
“I’ll have to keep this marriage with Escallion going for a long time…”
But how? Even if she refused to talk about divorce, the Pope could just use Escallion’s weakness to demand it himself.
So, neither marriage nor divorce was ever really my choice…
“But what is the weakness the Pope’s holding over him?”
All she knew was that there was “a flaw” the Pope’s agents discovered, but Escallion never seemed to show anything like that.
Did he cheat someone during his mercenary days? Did he cross someone powerful?
“Ugh…”
She stood up, head spinning.
I don’t know anything. I need to stop thinking…
She glanced at the stack of letters for Escallion on the table.
The ones addressed to Escallion…
On a whim, she picked them up to check the recipients.
She hadn’t meant to snoop; she just needed a distraction.
She sat on the bed, shuffling through the envelopes—until her hands stopped.
Between letters with heavy, rough men’s names—probably from mercenaries—there was a name she recognized.
One she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Her headache seemed to vanish, replaced by a cold chill.
“Madam?”
Cindy entered with a glass bottle of fruit tea, only to find Belladonna dressed and ready to leave, standing by the mirror.
“Are you going out? Tell me, I’ll help!”
Belladonna shook her head and moved to the door.
Her face was calm and serious—so different that Cindy hurried after her.
“W-wait, let me come with you! I’ll be quick!”
But Cindy was already racing ahead to fetch her things.
Belladonna sighed.
I wanted some time alone…
Scarlet Layton.
She’d just seen Scarlet Layton’s name among Escallion’s letters.
Seeing that name—the one she’d buried deep—was like a bucket of cold water poured over her.
I guess I never really belonged by Escallion’s side, after all.
How could I stay with a man who has someone he really loves…
The thought brought a wave of sadness.
I thought they’d ended things, but…
If Scarlet is still writing him, maybe Escallion…
Belladonna shook her head hard and moved.
We’re getting divorced anyway!
I’d rather die than go back to the scheming Pope in Astanya, but I can’t force myself to stay with a man who already has a lover.
…Especially if that’s Escallion’s…
Belladonna stopped in place.
What she felt now wasn’t just hurt or betrayal for a husband she’d soon leave.
Why does this hurt so much…?
She clutched her chest. The unfamiliar ache was heavy.
I know the answer, but I don’t want to admit it.
It’s all because he’s too kind… That shameless flirt, playing with women’s hearts however he wants…
She shook her head and hurried toward the stairs.
Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.
But as she started down, she saw Cindy leading someone familiar into the lobby.
A huge shadow—Escallion—followed, listening to Cindy’s explanation.
No, not now!
Belladonna froze, gripping the railing.
“Bella?”
But when she looked up into Escallion’s beautiful golden eyes—
When she felt her heart plummet and then race like crazy—
Belladonna had no choice but to admit it.
It was a sad thing, but…
Ah, I’ve come to like this man.
