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Chapter 7
First Night (1)
“Ah…!”
“Eek! Why is that in there?!”
The maids helping Belladonna were shocked. One of them quickly grabbed the necklace from the drawer and stuffed it into her own pocket. Another slammed the drawer shut.
“…”
“…”
Um… Doesn’t that just look even more suspicious?
Belladonna slowly turned her head to look at the maids.
They avoided her gaze and pretended to focus on her dress.
“Y-Your dress is so beautiful, my lady!”
“Yes! This color really suits your fair skin!”
“When the tailor comes, we’ll ask for more dresses in this style for you!”
Belladonna narrowed her eyes and reached for the drawer.
Could you maybe explain what just happened…?
Finally, Cindy, who was in the back, sighed and spoke up.
“I’m sorry, my lady.”
Again?
Belladonna slumped her shoulders, tired of hearing apologies.
“Amy, it’s yours, right? It’s Amy’s necklace. She must have left it there while cleaning.”
“Yes, sorry…”
The maid who had stuffed the necklace in her pocket added her apology.
Belladonna smiled a little and nodded, acting like she believed them.
Only then did the maids relax.
‘There’s no way that’s true.’
Belladonna’s smile faded as she looked in the mirror.
Even someone who didn’t know much about jewelry could tell the necklace was expensive.
It looked like the heavy necklaces she’d seen at the Vatican—much too expensive for a maid.
‘No way a maid could own something like that.’
She looked down at her knees.
‘This is a woman’s thing, found in the lady’s room, with signs it was used.’
She could almost hear the Pope’s sly voice in her mind:
“A big dowry and alimony. And sympathy for the poor Saint who was sent back by her unfaithful husband. That’s how we revive the Vatican—two birds with one stone!”
An unfaithful husband.
Unfaithful…
‘…That’s just trash, isn’t it?’
Belladonna clenched her small fists in anger.
“My lady, shall we go to the bath now?”
Cindy’s voice made Belladonna nod her head hard.
She really needed to cool down her rising anger.
It feels so nice…
After a hot bath in the wide, clean bathroom, Belladonna let the maids care for her hair and closed her eyes sleepily.
She was tired, and now warm and relaxed, she felt sleep coming.
Mmm… It smells good…
The maids gently rubbed scented oils on her hair, shoulders, waist, and thighs.
‘I think I’ll sleep well tonight.’
Belladonna remembered the bumpy carriage seats, the blanket on the ground, and even the hayloft she’d had to sleep in on her way to Griblata.
She glanced at the big, soft bed.
‘It’s been so long since I had a real bed!’
She smiled and let her body relax completely.
“My lady, shall we move now?”
To the bed?
Belladonna nodded and walked toward it.
But I shouldn’t just jump in on the first night, right?
“Ah, not this way—you’re going to the lord’s bedroom.”
Huh? Where?
“The lord’s room is on the other side of the second floor, across the main stairs.”
Bedroom…?
Half-asleep, Belladonna looked at Cindy in confusion.
“Oh dear, you must be tired. I wonder if you’ll be able to sleep tonight…”
“…?”
What… what does she mean?
“This way, please…”
Still standing there, Belladonna looked down at her body. She was wearing a thin nightgown that showed her shape.
And then, she finally understood.
Oh.
So tonight is… the wedding night?
“My lady?”
Cindy and the other maids waited by the door.
Belladonna awkwardly moved her arms and legs and walked over.
Wedding night…
She left the room with a pale face, quietly following the maids down the hall.
They stopped at the far end of the second floor, in front of a tightly closed door.
Knock, knock.
No answer—just the sound of water from inside.
The maids looked at each other, then carefully opened the door and turned to Belladonna.
“You can go in now.”
Belladonna nodded, suddenly feeling serious, and stepped into Escallion’s room.
Behind her, the door closed softly. To Belladonna, it sounded like prison guards locking up a cell.
“….”
Escallion wasn’t there. She could hear water in the bathroom.
She stood in the middle of the room, looking around.
It was about the same size as her room but had more furniture and didn’t feel empty.
Belladonna stared at the big bed in the center, swallowing hard.
She slowly walked over and sat awkwardly on the bed.
Sitting there made her realize she really was married now. She really had a husband.
‘But…’
It would only last for three months.
Having a wedding night would make things harder for both of them—especially for Escallion if he remarried later.
Belladonna had decided not to sleep with him since the Pope first told her to marry and divorce Escallion.
So tonight, I’ll just pretend to be sick!
I was already acting sick in the carriage, so it should work.
She looked at the bathroom door, where the water was still running.
‘Why is he bathing for so long…?’
Not knowing how long it would take, she crawled onto the bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling.
Yawn… I’m sleepy…
Belladonna yawned, tried to stay awake, and started counting the shapes on the ceiling.
‘One square, two, three, four…’
Without realizing it, she fell asleep.
Ah, it’s cold…
Belladonna frowned and curled up.
She instinctively moved toward something warm and pressed her face against it.
It’s a little hard, but it’s warm…
She pressed her whole body against the hard wall, moving her hands up and down.
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
A deep voice whispered in her ear.
Half asleep, Belladonna slowly opened her eyes.
Right in front of her was not a wall, but a man’s hard chest.
Aaaah!
What is this?!
She pushed at the “wall,” but she was the one who rolled away, all the way to the edge of the bed.
She looked up at Escallion with wide eyes.
“….”
Wow, I almost screamed.
Escallion turned to face her, resting his head on his arm, looking bored.
His robe was half-open, showing his muscular chest.
Belladonna stared, blinking, then quickly closed her eyes.
She tried to breathe evenly and pretend to sleep.
“Now you pretend?”
He spoke again.
Ah, maybe it’s too much?
Belladonna awkwardly opened her eyes and sat up.
“When I came back from my bath, you were sleeping with your mouth wide open. I was wondering whether to wake you.”
Mouth open?
Belladonna put her hand to her chin in surprise.
Escallion chuckled, reached out, and pulled her slim waist toward him.
“But since you woke up on your own, I should give you a reward.”
Suddenly, she was pulled into his arms.
Belladonna froze in place.
She let out a tiny breath, trapped between his thick arms.
Escallion, satisfied, slowly touched her back.
He kissed her hair, her forehead, and her nose, one after another.
‘He really is a playboy.’
Belladonna quickly raised her hands and covered his mouth. She made her most pitiful face and put her hands on her stomach.
“…What is it?”
He looked annoyed.
I’m sick…
Belladonna didn’t give up. She rubbed her stomach in circles, making her face look hurt and sad.
He watched her, then asked,
“You’re sick?”
Nod, nod!
“Now, at this time?”
…Nod, nod.
“Why does your stomach hurt suddenly?”
Uh…
She hadn’t thought that far, so she looked away.
“So, you want to just sleep tonight?”
Nod, nod!
“Hmm…”
Escallion looked at her, clearly knowing she was lying, and smiled playfully.
“But is that the way to ask for a favor?”
What now… What is he planning…?
There it was again—
That look, like a beast playing with its prey before eating it.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“If you want me to agree, why don’t you sing me a song or something?”
W-What?!
Belladonna looked up at him in shock.
Escallion lifted his strong shoulder in a shrug.
“If you do that, maybe I’ll listen to your request.”
“If you can’t, then forget it.”
He lowered his head toward her.
Belladonna, startled by his sudden closeness, quickly put her hands over his mouth again.
Escallion stuck out his tongue and licked her palm.
“…!”
What?! What is this pervert doing?!
Belladonna quickly pulled her hand away and turned bright red, screaming inside.
How could the Pope send the Saint to such a playboy?!
“It’s not hard. Just hum a little and I’ll let you go.”
Escallion teased her with a sly smile.
