Chapter 56. Lost Voice
When Escallion found Belladonna, he threw down his sword and quickly knelt beside her.
With trembling hands, he pulled her limp body into his arms.
He thought she would be as cold as snow, but there was still warmth left in her.
He could feel a faint breath.
She was alive.
Escallion, gasping for air, held Belladonna even tighter.
He couldn’t tell what emotion hit him—relief or something else—his mind was spinning.
“Escallion!!”
Graham, who had hurried after him, appeared.
He stopped when he saw Escallion hunched over, holding Belladonna.
“Did… did you find her?”
Hazel, who showed up after Graham, also froze when he saw them. Soon his nose turned red as he realized what happened.
“C-captain…”
Hazel, stuttering, walked over.
“How… how did she end up here… Captain, please don’t be too sad… Sniff… My lady is in a better place… Sniff…”
Escallion, still hugging Belladonna, reached out and grabbed Hazel’s cloak.
He tore it off and started wrapping Belladonna tightly.
“Ah! My cloak! Sniff… What are you doing?”
“So she won’t get cold.”
“S-so she won’t get cold… Ugh… Sob…”
Hazel started crying even harder.
Graham turned away with a complicated expression and said in a dull voice,
“Let’s… go back.”
The knights quickly became silent and gathered themselves.
Some took off their hats or lowered their heads, making the mood heavy.
Escallion, now with Belladonna bundled up, stood up and approached the others.
“Stop making a scene. Go back carefully.”
“Huh…?”
“We have to get down fast. Before my wife’s body gets colder.”
“Body? What do you mean? Is she alive?”
Graham and Hazel stared with wide eyes.
Escallion ignored them and hurried down the snowy mountain.
Belladonna’s whole body hurt.
She slowly came to her senses and frowned as hard as she could.
Where am I? I was in a dark cave, and a huge bear was—
Bear! The bear tried to eat me!
Belladonna snapped her eyes open and flailed her arms and legs, looking around wildly.
Come on, bring it on! I’ll fight until the end!
…?
Belladonna stopped moving.
This place… the familiar layout, the furniture. She was in her own room in Escallion’s castle.
What is this? When did I get here? Was it all a dream?
Now that she thought about it, she remembered having a vivid dream while she was out.
She felt like she should remember something, but her mind was blank.
…
Wait, what’s this?
Belladonna tried to sigh, but put her hand on her throat.
Ah, ah…? Ah…!
No sound came out.
What? What’s going on?
Belladonna forced air from her throat, but nothing happened. It felt like something was blocking her voice.
She grabbed a pillow and breathed roughly, panicking.
Get it together… Try again!
She opened her mouth and tried to speak.
But only her mouth moved—no sound filled the room.
What’s happening? Did the bear steal my voice? Wait, how did I get here…?
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Belladonna quickly turned her head to look at the opening door.
She hoped someone would come and explain everything.
“My lady…?”
Cindy entered, eyes wide open.
She dropped the new pillowcase she was carrying and rushed over.
“My lady!!”
Cindy…!
Belladonna opened her arms and hugged Cindy tightly.
Cindy cried and patted Belladonna’s shoulders and back over and over.
“Waaa… My lady, are you okay? Thank goodness you woke up! We were all so worried…!”
Belladonna nodded, stroking Cindy’s head.
She realized that not only had she barely escaped danger, but her servants had been worried sick waiting for her.
Soon, Cindy pulled back, wiping her tears.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Did those awful people hurt you? I mean besides your face!”
Face…?
Belladonna touched her face. She didn’t notice before, but there were big bandages on her right eye and left cheek.
Oh, no. I gave her a scar on her face by mistake.
She remembered the madman’s cruel face and words.
So it wasn’t a dream… A chill ran through her body.
Belladonna shook her head to answer Cindy—at least there were no other injuries.
What about the bear…? Belladonna frowned.
The last thing she remembered was the bear attacking her. How was she alive?
“If you feel bad anywhere, please tell me right away, okay?”
Belladonna nodded.
She looked around in confusion, trying to understand what happened.
Cindy noticed Belladonna was lost and explained,
“Amy and her boyfriend kidnapped you. They tried to steal some jewelry while the lord was gone, but they ran into you. Is that right?”
Belladonna remembered the nervous maid next to the man in the cave.
So her name was Amy?
Belladonna nodded weakly, and Cindy started to cry again.
“Amy paid back kindness with betrayal…! How could she touch you? They left you deep in a cave in the forest behind the castle. After a whole day, the lord found you.”
Escallion?
Belladonna looked at Cindy, surprised.
She thought Escallion had left the castle. Did he come back?
“If the lord hadn’t come back, I don’t know what would have happened. The knights can’t move without his permission, so we couldn’t search properly. But he came back just in time.”
“….”
“We thought we’d lost you! To be left in the cold woods in your thin pajamas… Amy, that awful girl! Even if she was desperate for money, how could she do that? When the lord showed up carrying you, we just…! Waaah!”
Cindy started crying again.
Belladonna hugged her and started thinking.
So Escallion found her? Then what about the bear? Did Escallion fight it?
“Sniff! The lord didn’t rest at all. He took the best knights to find Amy and her partner. With all this snow, they couldn’t have gone far.”
Belladonna took a deep breath and nodded.
She didn’t understand everything, but for now, she was just glad to be alive.
“Are you cold, my lady?”
Belladonna shook her head.
“Then I’ll bring you some food. You haven’t eaten or woken up for days.”
Belladonna grabbed Cindy before she could leave.
She held up her fingers, counting as if to ask a question.
How long was I asleep?
Cindy understood and let her shoulders drop.
“You were unconscious for three whole days. I’ll bring you some thin porridge, so it doesn’t upset your stomach.”
Ah, ah…
“…”
Ah! Ah!! Ahhh!!
“….”
Belladonna stomped her feet in frustration.
It wouldn’t come out. No matter how hard she tried, her voice wouldn’t come.
She never thought something so simple would be impossible.
What am I supposed to do?
Belladonna gulped down the tea Cindy brought her.
She tried hot water, deep breathing, and focusing all her energy on her stomach and throat, but nothing came out past her throat.
What is happening to me?!
She slumped against the bed’s headboard, staring at the ceiling.
I became the Saint overnight, and now I’ve lost my voice like one, too?
No! I can’t live like this!
Belladonna straightened up again.
Okay, focus… Aaaah!
“…”
She sighed and collapsed back onto the bed.
No… Maybe if I sleep, it’ll come back to normal.
She held onto hope that, after a deep sleep, her voice would return.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
Belladonna quickly looked up. Was it Escallion?
If Cindy told him she was awake, maybe he came to check on her.
Just the thought made her feel a bit relieved.
The last time she saw him, he was angry, storming out of his office. But he had searched the whole forest to save her.
Maybe his anger was gone. Or even if it wasn’t, maybe he didn’t hate her so much.
I want to see him…
Belladonna found herself pushing up the corners of her lips.
She hoped the person coming in was Escallion, so she could run into his strong arms.
Then she’d be able to explain everything…
