Chapter 76. An Unbelievable Truth (1)
“How many days are left until His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday celebration?”
“Four days remain.”
“Still?”
Escallion, who had been resting his chin on his hand, frowned and crumpled the paper he was holding.
Seeing this, Wolf’s face turned pale as he spoke.
“My lord, that is an important document…!”
“Is it?”
“Yes…”
Escallion forcefully smoothed out the paper that had already been crushed into a ball.
“It feels like so much time has passed, yet there are still four days left. Why is time moving so slowly?”
Wolf glanced at him and thought quietly to himself.
It’s probably because Madam isn’t in Griblata.
“T-then, my lord, how about visiting Astanya for the birthday celebration?”
“I already sent a letter saying I wouldn’t go.”
“That can always be changed.”
At Wolf’s words, Escallion stopped fiddling with the paper.
Astanya…?
“There’s a mountain of work waiting in Griblata. You speak so comfortably.”
“You have me, don’t you? Since you’ve often been away for subjugations and wars, I’m confident I can handle most matters.”
No matter what, Wolf had to prevent the lord and lady from divorcing.
It was clear they cared deeply for each other, yet they kept missing each other. For their sake, Wolf was ready to sacrifice himself.
“Still, I’m not going.”
‘I’ll definitely come back.’
Belladonna’s earnest words surfaced in his mind.
Since she had tried so hard to promise she would return, he decided to stay here like a loyal hunting dog and wait for her.
If she truly returned to Griblata after the celebration, then…
‘…What do I even want to do with her?’
“By the way, Miss Scarlet is quite late.”
Wolf said this as he stood at the desk, holding the neatly arranged documents.
Escallion lifted his head at Wolf’s voice.
At the same time, there was a knock on the office door.
“She never knows how to behave quietly.”
Escallion let out a short laugh.
Wolf quickly turned and opened the door, smiling at the person outside.
“Welcome, Miss Scarlet!”
“Hello, Wolf. Hi, Escallion.”
Scarlet greeted them lightly and walked straight into the office without hesitation.
Wolf stepped aside to give the siblings some privacy.
“Then, please talk comfortably. I’ll have the maids prepare some light refreshments.”
“Thank you, Wolf!”
Scarlet replied cheerfully and dropped into the seat across from Escallion.
After glancing around the spacious office, she suddenly spoke.
“When exactly is your wife coming back? Why does time feel so slow? Isn’t it strange that there are still four days left?”
“I agree.”
Escallion tapped the desk with his fingers in a steady rhythm.
His irritation was obvious.
Scarlet leaned forward and asked,
“Can’t you just send me to Astanya? I want to see the Saint using her holy power with my own eyes.”
Holy power…
Escallion frowned deeply as Belladonna using her holy power came to mind.
Every time she used it, she consumed her own life force.
Just imagining how many people she would heal during the celebration—and how much of her life she would burn away—made his insides feel charred.
“That’s nothing worth admiring.”
“It’s an incredible ability! Healing the sick instantly—do you have any idea how lucky that is?”
“That’s not luck. It’s a terrible misfortune.”
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you suddenly so grumpy?”
Scarlet looked at him with confusion and continued,
“By the way, the maids say the priests from Astanya are very handsome. Did you see them properly?”
“What do they look like?”
Annoyed by the useless talk, Escallion lifted his golden eyes.
Scarlet shrugged.
“They’re handsome. The priests from Astanya.”
“I didn’t look closely.”
“The maids say they’re completely different from the men in Griblata. Since they don’t do rough physical training and spend all day praying in chapels, they’re pale, slender, and give off a pure feeling.”
“I’m not interested. Leave.”
“Like the male version of your beautiful, delicate wife.”
Despite his sharp words, Scarlet did not stop.
“I’ve told you before that you and your wife look very different. I’ve never seen the priests from Astanya myself, but maybe your wife suits them better, appearance-wise.”
At those words, Escallion fell silent.
Belladonna and the priests of Astanya…?
“The maids say that among them, the tallest priest especially stayed close to your wife. They said the sight was very beautiful.”
“……”
On the day Belladonna left for Astanya, Escallion had locked himself in his office.
He was afraid that if he saw her getting into the carriage, he might grab her—or use force without realizing it.
But if male priests had been clinging to her side and helping her closely that day, maybe he should not have stayed hidden.
Regret began to creep in.
Scarlet spoke with exaggerated concern.
“Oh dear, what if your wife doesn’t come back at all? What if Astanya has too many handsome men? Now I want to go too.”
Escallion stared at her in silence.
“And why are you saying this in front of me?”
“To upset you.”
Scarlet laughed softly.
Escallion glared at her for a moment, then shook his head with a tired expression.
“It seems Bella misunderstood everything. We’re people who can never truly grow close, even for a lifetime.”
“Then why did you send her to Astanya alone, if you care so much?”
At Scarlet’s question, Escallion could not answer easily.
He had told no one except Wolf that he was still considering divorce.
“I have things I must do in Griblata.”
“She must have been disappointed that you couldn’t even make time for her.”
“She’s already been disappointed in me enough.”
He said it bitterly.
Scarlet looked at him in surprise.
“Are you an idiot? Why do you keep disappointing the person you love?”
“I know.”
Escallion leaned back in his chair.
Looking up at the high ceiling, he let out a quiet, regretful breath.
“Why did I do that…?”
“Who are you?”
Belladonna flinched as she met the man’s eyes.
But the person who turned around was not Escallion—it was a completely different man.
He did not resemble him at all.
Belladonna blinked rapidly, still gripping the man’s arm in shock.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
The man asked again.
Startled, Belladonna quickly let go, lowered her head deeply beneath her robe, and shook it.
No… please go…
The man tilted his head, then walked away.
Belladonna’s shoulders drooped in deep disappointment.
“……”
I thought it was Escallion… Was I seeing things?
She stood still for a moment, then slowly turned around.
Time was tight. She needed to walk quickly back to the Holy See.
“Saint!”
Rosy, who had been waiting at the crossroads near the Holy See, spotted Belladonna and ran toward her, calling out loudly.
She looked extremely anxious from waiting so long.
Belladonna ran toward her with an apologetic expression.
I got lost…
She thought she would return quickly since she knew the road, but her memory kept confusing her, and she ended up wandering in circles again.
“Why are you so late? I was worried! Let’s go back quickly!”
Belladonna nodded and grabbed Rosy’s hand, running toward the Holy See.
“Saint! You’re finally back! Thank goodness. Half a day passed and you didn’t return—we thought something had happened.”
The knights guarding the entrance sighed in relief when they saw her.
Feeling awkward for worrying so many people, Belladonna gave a small, apologetic smile.
I’m sorry for making everyone worry…
Just as she was relieved she hadn’t returned too late, the most senior-looking knight stepped forward.
“Saint. The Pope has been asking for you since earlier. We covered by saying you stepped out briefly, but you should go see him.”
T-the Pope?
Belladonna’s eyes widened as she looked at Rosy.
Rosy looked just as shocked.
“Huh? The Saint didn’t have any special schedule today. There shouldn’t be any urgent matter…”
“We don’t know the reason either. Please go at once.”
The knights stepped aside.
Belladonna nodded, then hurried forward.
She took a shortcut toward the Pope’s office and climbed the stairs quickly.
Why is he calling for me? There was no service today, and the confessional wasn’t open…
He told me to rest for the birthday preparations…
Standing before the office, she gently knocked.
“Come in.”
The Pope’s low voice sounded heavy.
Feeling uneasy, Belladonna slowly pushed the door open.
Is he angry…? Why…?
The moment she stepped inside—
Something heavy flew straight at her face.
“——!!”
Belladonna collapsed to the floor without even screaming, clutching her face.
What… what just happened…?
Her vision went dark. Perhaps from shock, she felt no pain at all.
Her hands trembled as she stared blankly ahead.
Before she could even understand what had happened—
Someone grabbed her hair roughly and yanked her upward.
