The quick-witted Cindy grabbed her arm and led her to the right, blurting out:

“The lord said not to worry about anything today and get some rest!”

Not worry about anything?

Belladonna looked at her with a puzzled expression, and she spoke again.

“According to Wolf, the lord has a lot of work piled up because he’s been away from the estate for a long time due to the recent wedding and such. He forced himself to make time yesterday because it was the wedding night, but he’ll have to work late into the night for a while.”

I see…

Belladonna nodded and walked towards her room.

It seemed fortunate, but she felt sorry for him.

“Our lord used to work until late hours even before. And as if he doesn’t get tired, he would wake up earlier than anyone else in this castle to exercise at dawn.”

Cindy continued speaking with a voice overflowing with pride.

“We all say that Grablita has been able to prosper to this extent thanks to our lord! He pioneered a new port to accept ships and allowed free trade for merchants!”

Escalion…?

He complained about being given the most barren land, but it seems he’s been working hard all this time?

Belladonna felt a newfound appreciation as she entered her room.

Cindy removed the fur from her shoulders and opened the door to the bathroom filled with hot steam.

“He’s been so focused on work without a single woman around, we were really worried about who he would bring in as the mistress. But now that he’s brought such a beautiful madam, we’re truly delighted!”

“…”

Suddenly, her heart sank.

Belladonna snorted inwardly as she entered the bathroom.

Not a single woman?

Right. Not one, but probably three or four…

‘Could this be a line Escalion told her to say?’

Belladonna grumbled as she took off her dress and dipped her toes into the hot bath.

Oh my, it’s so warm…

She felt like all her fatigue was melting away.

“Madam, please relax inside! I’ll bring some cool tea because you might be thirsty. Please wait just a moment!”

Cindy ran out with a bright smile.

Left alone, Belladonna stretched her legs far and kicked as if to vent her frustration.

‘That complete playboy…’

The floating feeling she had while sightseeing by the sea with him and returning to the castle leaning on him suddenly plummeted into the mud.

‘It’s all that playboy’s skill! The skill of stealing women’s hearts!’

Belladonna pouted and crossed her arms.

She glared at the exotic patterned tiles across from her, recalling what had just happened.

Huh, really!

Does he think I’ll fall for that so easily?

How many women has he seduced like that!

“It’s because I’m not easily fooled…”

Belladonna muttered very quietly.

I almost let my guard down!

She frowned and leaned her head back on the edge of the bathtub.

“Haah…”

It was probably for the best that he said he’d be busy from now on.

I hope we don’t run into each other for a while…

Belladonna closed her eyes and let out small breaths repeatedly.

She felt inexplicably troubled, but she shook her head and forcibly pushed the feeling away.

‘I wish three months would pass quickly…’

She blinked her eyes while looking up at the ceiling.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Madam, the most famous jeweler and tailor in Grablita have visited the castle.”

A few days later, Cindy entered Belladonna’s room with a bright smile.

Belladonna nodded at her and went down to the reception room through the central staircase.

“Greetings, Duchess Diete!”

“Hello, Duchess!”

“Good day to you!”

As she entered the reception room, she saw a short, plump jeweler and a relatively tall tailor couple standing side by side to welcome her.

Belladonna nodded at them with a perfect smile.

“Ah…”

Upon seeing the saint’s smile, they momentarily had a dazed expression before quickly coming to their senses and opening their bags.

“Now, now! I’ll show you right away without delay! I’ve selected a few of the latest trending jewels in Grablita.”

“Us too! This is a dress with trendy lining from the capital, and this is a cape with a point of special lace ordered from abroad.”

Oh my…

Belladonna looked down at all the glittering things suddenly spread out before her eyes.

In her previous life, and even as a saint, she had never directly chosen anything she wore.

‘I used to just wear what the Pope chose or what the maids brought out…’

“May I ask what your preferences are?”

I don’t have any preferences…

As Belladonna turned around with a troubled face, Cindy, who was standing behind, quickly stepped forward and spoke.

“Hey, what do you mean preferences! Can’t you tell just by looking at our madam?”

“Pardon…?”

“She’ll be dazzlingly beautiful no matter what she wears! We specially invited you because you’re said to be the most famous in Grablita, can’t you even figure that out?”

“Ah…”

“Y-yes, of course!”

The jeweler and tailor couple fumbled with their items in embarrassment.

“The highest quality. Please prepare the most beautiful items on your own.”

No, no!

Belladonna, who had been quietly listening from the side, quickly grabbed Cindy’s wrist.

Where would we get that kind of money!

Besides, I’m… someone who’s leaving in three months! I can’t let them waste money on such things!

Anything moderate is enough!

“Oh, yes? Ah… I understand.”

Did you really understand properly?

Belladonna looked at Cindy with suspicious eyes.

Turning back to the jeweler and tailor couple, Cindy spoke with a serious face.

“She says to do it as quickly as possible, regardless of the cost.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“We’ll do our best to accommodate! Leave it to us!”

No, no!

Belladonna shook her head vigorously and gripped Cindy’s wrist tightly.

At that moment, the jeweler who had been flipping through his sketchbook stopped at a certain page.

He turned the sketchbook to show Belladonna and Cindy, saying:

“How about making earrings this time with this top-grade ruby you purchased last time?”

Last time?

Belladonna, who had been shaking Cindy’s wrist, stopped her action.

If it’s last time…

“What? What on earth are you talking about!”

Cindy shouted as she stood up abruptly. She snatched the jeweler’s sketchbook and quickly closed it.

With a pale face, she yelled:

“When did our lord ever purchase such a ruby? Aren’t you confusing him with someone else?”

The jeweler, finally coming to his senses, blinked his wide eyes repeatedly while glancing at Belladonna.

“Oh, oh my… Yes! I made a mistake. Not the lord, but, um… I confused it with a foreign merchant who bought it…”

“Really…! If you’re like this, we can’t do business with you anymore!”

“I-I’m sorry! My memory is failing me as I get older…”

The jeweler rubbed his fists on his knees repeatedly with an embarrassed face.

He seems very flustered…

Belladonna looked up at Cindy, who was still standing in place, with an unimpressed face.

‘Cindy really can’t lie…’

Belladonna, letting out a small sigh, pointed at the pen the tailor’s wife was holding and reached out her hand.

“Yes? H-here…”

As the tailor’s wife hurriedly handed over the pen, she smiled and took it, then began to write on the sketchbook the jeweler had put down.

[I don’t need luxury items. Just pick out a few practical things that can get me through this winter.]

“But…”

[I’ll give you plenty of time, so don’t push yourselves too hard.]

“Madam…”

Cindy muttered, sounding upset as she sat down.

Belladonna gave her signature radiant smile to the jeweler and tailor couple sitting across from her.

“Ah, Saint…”

“If the Saint wishes so, we’ll gladly…”

The jeweler and tailor couple looked as if they had received a deep blessing, then slowly nodded while facing her.

“Your thoughtfulness towards us is truly beautiful.”

“The Saint is indeed different…”

Different how…

Belladonna nodded again, paying attention to the smile on her face.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Madam…”

Cindy opened her mouth, watching her expression.

Belladonna looked at her with a smile as if nothing was wrong.

They had come out to the garden in front of the castle to personally see off the jeweler and tailor couple.

“A-about what the jeweler said earlier, you absolutely mustn’t worry about it, okay?”

Cindy, if you say it like that, won’t it make me worry even more…?

Belladonna nodded with a tired face.

“Our lord isn’t that kind of person…”

What kind of person?

By this point, she was truly curious about who the woman was that Escalion had gifted expensive jewels to and brought to the castle.

Belladonna, who had been watching the departing carriage, turned her body and cast her gaze towards the second-floor window.

‘Come to think of it, is this man really in the castle right now? Surely he hasn’t gone to meet that woman even now…’

Belladonna stood still, looking up at the second-floor window, then slowly turned her body.

‘…It’s not my business anyway.’

In three months, she would have to leave Grablita anyway.

And by then, the whole world would know what kind of woman he was hiding.

But…

‘…Why do I feel so bad?’

“Madam, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Cindy, standing beside her, looked up at her with worried eyes.

Belladonna shook her head with her habitual smile.

“…”

No! No!

I do feel bad! Getting married to me while having someone he truly loves on the side?

What kind of behavior is this, being unfaithful to both women?

Where did you sell your chivalrous spirit?

“Madam…? Wait a moment, you suddenly seem to be getting a fever…”

Cindy said, reaching out her hand towards Belladonna’s forehead.

Her hand felt very cool and refreshing, so it seemed she really was running a fever.

Yes, that’s right!

I’m burning up with anger, burning up!

Belladonna took a deep breath, trying to calm her boiling insides.

But…

‘Why do I feel so dizzy?’

“Madam! Are you alright? Your whole body is hot!”

Cindy screamed with a panicked face.

Even though she was standing very close, her voice sounded distant, as if echoing in her ears.

Belladonna blinked her eyes slowly, then collapsed downwards as the strength left her legs.

“Eek! Madam! S-someone help here!”

She could see Cindy grabbing her arms and looking around while shouting.

But even that felt like it was getting farther away before disappearing into darkness.