DCYH~19

Chapter 19

Yupranga 76th Street (2)

“Ma’am?”

Hazel, who was walking ahead, turned his head with a confused face.

He looked puzzled because Belladonna wasn’t following.

Belladonna stood still, staring at the narrow alley as if searching for something.

“What’s wrong?”

Finally, Hazel walked back to her and stood by her side.

Belladonna looked at the beginning of Yupranga 76th Street with a heavy heart.

Scarlet Layton.

That name kept coming up, no matter how hard Belladonna tried to ignore it.

Wherever she went in Griblatta, there were always traces of Scarlet.

“……”

It wasn’t really anger.

She and Escallion weren’t close enough as husband and wife to feel such things.

Their marriage would clearly end in three months, so it was only temporary.

‘But this…’

Belladonna swallowed dryly and blinked.

She felt a strange curiosity. Maybe that’s what bothered her.

Belladonna couldn’t help but stare at the narrow alley, caught by an unknown urge.

“Hmm? Is there something over there…?”

Suddenly, Belladonna reached out and grabbed Hazel’s falling cloak.

She took a deep breath, as if making a big decision, and led Hazel into the alley.

“Ma’am! Where are you going?!”

Hazel shouted, confused, as Belladonna dragged him along.

They could have gone just a few more steps and reached the carriage to the castle safely…

Belladonna hurried through the long, narrow alley, looking side to side.

Yupranga 76th Street, 135.

That was the address of Scarlet Layton’s house that she remembered.

Belladonna turned right and started walking.

“Ma’am! Where are we going…?”

Hazel looked troubled, worrying about the situation now that he was sobering up.

Going this way… Oh no!

Hazel remembered something and suddenly stopped walking, closing his eyes tight.

Belladonna, who was still holding his cloak, stopped too.

“……?”

Why did he stop?

Belladonna looked at Hazel with a confused face.

Hazel frowned and spoke with a troubled voice.

“Ma’am, maybe we should go back. If we’re late, the captain might scold me…”

Just a little farther, and she would reach Scarlet’s house.

Belladonna turned her head, feeling unsure. Should I just run over there?

But if she arrived at Scarlet’s house, she didn’t know what to do next.

Maybe…

‘I just wanted to see her face…’

But what would seeing her face even do?

A voice in her head started to argue.

‘Just go see her face! Aren’t you curious what kind of woman left traces in Escallion’s castle? It’s just pure curiosity!’

‘No, why bother? You’ll leave in three months anyway, and you’ll never see Escallion again. Don’t care about useless things!’

Belladonna silently stared at the small gray building at the end of the alley.

Yupranga 76th Street, 135—that must be the house.

“……”

Suddenly, the door of the house she was watching opened, and someone walked out.

“Eek!”

Hazel, surprised, grabbed Belladonna and hid them in the bushes by the road.

What? Why is he doing this?

Belladonna was pulled away without knowing why.

Crouching behind a big tree, Hazel urgently put a finger to his lips.

“Shh! Quiet!”

Does he want me to stay quiet? Why?

Besides, I can’t even talk out loud, silly.

She was confused, but more curious about the person coming out of the house.

Belladonna nodded at Hazel and peeked through the bushes.

The person coming out was a tall, slim woman.

‘…Is that Scarlet Layton?’

Even from far away, the woman was beautiful with sharp features.

Her long black hair wasn’t shiny, but it still looked pretty.

Belladonna quietly watched the woman, who gave off a unique feeling.

“Ugh…”

Hazel made a strange sound beside her.

The fact that Hazel hid with her made Belladonna more sure that the woman was Escallion’s lover.

Click.

Then, someone else appeared through the half-open door.

Belladonna knew the man very well.

“……”

Belladonna bit her lip as she watched the big man—Escallion—walk out.

Escallion walked stiffly and stood beside Scarlet.

Standing together on the darkening street, they looked like a perfect couple.

That fact made Belladonna’s heart feel tight.

“Go inside.”

Escallion said to Scarlet as he passed her by.

Scarlet nodded calmly.

“Wait.”

Scarlet stopped Escallion as he was about to leave.

She gently brushed something off Escallion’s hair with her hand.

Escallion quietly accepted her touch, looking like he was used to it.

“Okay. Go.”

“Come again.”

Their words were short, but Belladonna could tell from the way they talked that they had known each other a long time.

Escallion turned away from Scarlet and walked toward the main road.

Scarlet watched him go and then slowly went back into her house.

“……”

Belladonna silently watched Escallion’s back as he left.

She felt strange. She didn’t know if she regretted coming here.

“Ma’am…”

After Escallion was gone, Hazel quietly stood up beside her.

He looked at Belladonna, wanting to say something, his eyes darting around as he spoke.

“Um, well… How do I explain this… The two of them have known each other a long time…”

But Belladonna didn’t want to hear it.

She wasn’t in the right state to hear about it from her husband’s knight.

She shook her head and forced a small smile.

“Ma’am…”

Hazel looked even more awkward, but Belladonna didn’t care anymore.

She stood up as calmly as she could and walked out of the bushes.

She pointed her chin in the direction of the carriage, ready to go back.

When she returned to the castle, Escallion still wasn’t back.

I thought he’d come back right away, but I guess not.

Belladonna walked upstairs with a sour feeling.

“Ma’am, I’ve prepared warm water!”

Cindy said, preparing a bath for Belladonna.

Even after her bath, drying her hair, and changing into clean pajamas, Escallion didn’t come home.

Thinking he might have gone back to Scarlet made her feel even worse.

Belladonna irritably pulled the blanket over herself and tried to sleep.

She woke up a little near dawn.

Belladonna felt strong, warm arms wrap around her waist and slowly opened her eyes.

She was used to this by now, but tonight it bothered her even more.

Belladonna moved and pushed Escallion’s arms away.

“You weren’t asleep?”

His low, sleepy voice came from behind her.

It tickled her ear, but she didn’t move her shoulder.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Belladonna nodded without looking at him.

She felt him pause behind her, but she never turned to look.

At last, Escallion gave up and turned to lie on his back.

‘He said he had something urgent, but it was about Scarlet, wasn’t it?’

It must have been urgent…

Belladonna closed her eyes, feeling angry.

She heard his even breathing and thought he had fallen asleep, but suddenly he spoke.

“Um… are you upset?”

It took her a moment to realize he was asking about leaving her at the festival.

Belladonna slowly shook her head.

“Then, can you show me your face?”

Escallion scooted closer to her.

Belladonna frowned and slowly moved away from him.

Don’t come closer!

“When my wife is angry, I can’t think about anything else. I’m even more nervous now than when facing an enemy.”

Escallion groaned and spoke in a low, tense voice.

Belladonna let out a quiet snort.

“What can I do to make you feel better?”

He gently tucked her hair behind her ear as he asked.

Even with his kindness, she only got angrier.

At the same time, she felt a strange doubt.

‘Is it normal for me to feel so bad?’

I can never get closer to Escallion anyway…

As she thought hard, Escallion’s quiet voice came again.

“How about this? When the sun rises, I’ll call the jeweler. You can pick anything you want. If his things aren’t good enough, I’ll bring a merchant from Astanya.”

“Or do you want a dressmaker? I can get you more beautiful dresses. If you need anything else, just tell me. You being upset makes me feel like a scared child.”

Belladonna blinked, listening to his troubled voice.

Should I really feel like this, being just a three-month wife?

And why does this man try so hard to make me happy?

Her thoughts got more and more confusing.