Belladonna, exhausted from being stuck in bed with Escalion all morning, finally emerged from the room in the late afternoon.

I’m hungry… As she descended the central staircase, Cindy, who was passing through the lobby, greeted her.

“My lady! You’re awake?”

“Mmm, Cindy.”

Hearing Belladonna’s languid voice, Cindy covered her mouth with one hand and widened her eyes. She exclaimed while bouncing on her feet.

“Oh my…! My lady’s voice is truly beautiful no matter when I hear it!”

Is that so…? Belladonna smiled, feeling embarrassed.

After returning to Griblata following the trial, Belladonna no longer hid her voice. The servants, initially surprised and awkward, seemed to have adjusted after about a week.

Except for Cindy, who still reacted like this.

“The lord is at the training grounds. Shall I call him for you?”

Cindy said as she approached Belladonna, who had fully descended to the lower floor.

Belladonna marveled anew at his amazing stamina. To be training again right after getting up, when they had been together all morning. While I just slept, nearly unconscious…

At this point, she wondered if the problem was with her rather than him.

“No, it’s alright. I think I heard him say he was going out while I was half-asleep. More importantly, I’m a bit hungry…”

“Ah! I’ll tell the chef to prepare a meal for you.”

Cindy scurried off towards the dining hall.

Belladonna watched her retreating figure with a slight smile.

“My lady.”

At that moment, Wolf approached and addressed her. Belladonna, who had been heading to the dining hall following Cindy, turned towards him.

“Yes? Wolf.”

“A letter has arrived from the Chief Minister at the Imperial Palace.”

“A letter?”

Belladonna took the letter he handed her. The snow-white envelope bore the Chief Minister’s name along with the imperial seal.

Is this about consulting me on Church matters, as he said he would after Pronunce Briel disappeared? Belladonna resumed her steps towards the dining hall while opening the envelope.

That evening, Belladonna sat on the bed, slowly reading through the letter from the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the door opened and Escalion, who had returned from training, appeared.

He looked down at Belladonna sitting on his bed with a very satisfied gaze and spoke.

“My wife sitting on my bed, I like it more than I expected.”

Escalion approached Belladonna and grasped her chin, kissing her. As the initially light kiss deepened, Belladonna pushed against his shoulders and said,

“Go wash up quickly!”

“I like a nagging wife too.”

He playfully licked the corner of her lips as he said this. Belladonna let out a small cry and pushed him away again.

A moment later, Escalion, having finished his shower, flopped onto the bed with his upper body still exposed. He shifted his body slightly towards Belladonna, who was still focused on the letter, and spoke.

“Is that the letter from the Chief Minister?”

“Yes, it’s about the Mage Tower Lord. It seems the former Pope had some leverage over him. So he had no choice but to help him. There might have been some shady deals in the selection of the Mage Tower Lord too…”

It seemed they couldn’t continue the investigation beyond that due to pressure from the Imperial Palace. The world is full of corruption no matter where you go…

She clicked her tongue inwardly and turned another page.

“Next… It looks like they’re having difficulty selecting the next Pope.”

After Pronunce Briel’s death, it seemed the priests’ opinions were divided in the process of selecting a new cardinal to become Pope.

“Originally, Cardinal Nicholas was the most likely candidate, right?”

“Since he was close to the former Pope, there’s a high probability.”

“That would have been disastrous.”

Escalion said, raising one eyebrow.

“They’re asking for my recommendation too… But what do I know?”

Belladonna frowned as she looked at the brief profiles of the cardinals written in the letter.

Unfortunately, I don’t know a single one of these people…

During her time at the Papal Palace, she had often been called to dinner parties by the Pope and exchanged greetings with cardinals, imperial priests, and new priests, but she couldn’t remember them properly.

Back then, she had been so worried about accidentally revealing her voice that all her attention had been focused on that.

“Didn’t you say at the last trial that you had someone in mind for the next Pope?”

“That was…”

Belladonna trailed off.

That was really just a thought about who might be suitable as the next Pope, without any real consideration…

“Who was it?”

“It was Father Timothy. I often hoped… that someone like Father Timothy would become Pope. But he’s still just a regular priest, not even a cardinal, so realistically it would be very difficult for him to become Pope.”

“Timothy?”

Escalion furrowed his brow as if trying to remember the name.

“Was he… the priest who went around with that small girl?”

“That’s right! I told you before that Timothy’s sister Tina also possessed holy power, didn’t I?”

“It would be good if those two siblings could lead the Papal Palace in the future.”

Belladonna nodded. That was indeed the picture she most desired.

Kind, diligent, and devout Timothy, along with Tina who had been chosen by God to possess holy power, seemed more suitable than anyone else to be the masters of Astanya.

Belladonna pondered, holding the letter.

“It’s unrealistic, but should I just tell him my thoughts as they are? Actually, I don’t know any of the people on the list the Chief Minister sent…”

“He asked for your opinion, so it’s right to give your opinion.”

I suppose so?

At Escalion’s words, Belladonna nodded and picked up a pen.

As she was about to head to the table to write a reply to the Chief Minister right away, Escalion grabbed her.

“Yes?”

Belladonna turned to look at him. Escalion, lying slightly askew, was holding her wrist with one hand and propping up his chin with the other as he looked up at her.

Why…? Do you have something to say?

“Bella, the bedroom is for sleeping. Not for working.”

Is that what you have to say…?

Belladonna recalled how he always used to bring work back to the room, put her to bed first, and then work late at the table.

It didn’t seem like something he should say, of all people, given how he used to be consumed by work.

“I’ll just quickly…”

“Do it tomorrow. Focus on me now.”

Escalion tightened his grip on Belladonna’s wrist.

Belladonna was pulled down and plopped onto the bed. Escalion raised his upper body and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Belladonna blushed and said in a small voice.

“Th-then please let this go so we can sleep.”

“Hm?”

Ignoring Belladonna’s words, Escalion pressed his hot lips against the back of her neck.

“You said this is a place for sleeping! You have to let this go for us to sleep!”

“Bella, I forgot to mention something.”

Still with his lips buried in the nape of her neck, Escalion mumbled. His hot breath tickled Belladonna’s neck with every word.

“This is a place for sleeping, but it’s also a place for making love.”

That’s completely arbitrary…!

She was about to open her mouth to protest immediately, but Escalion naturally turned her head and captured her lips. Belladonna’s voice helplessly scattered into his mouth.

The next morning, Belladonna lifted her heavy eyelids.

She couldn’t tell what time it was, but the sunlight coming through the window felt quite high, indicating it was late morning. I’ve overslept again…

Noticing she had woken up, Escalion turned and handed her a glass of water from the bedside table.

As he flexibly turned his waist, she could see his dark muscles tightening on one side like a painting.

After staring at it blankly for a moment, Belladonna just reached out her arm to take the water glass he offered.

Her whole body felt weak.

“Want me to help you up?”

When Belladonna slowly nodded, Escalion put his hands under her arms and lifted her up to sit. Belladonna leaned her back against the headboard and brought the water glass to her lips.

Her throat stung, probably from making sounds all night. After moistening her sore throat with water, she spoke.

“You haven’t left yet? I thought you had training today too.”

“I have somewhere else to go today.”

After finishing his words, Escalion got up from his seat. Walking to the wardrobe, he opened it and took out a thick women’s dress and coat.

Watching this, Belladonna asked.

“Did your tastes change so suddenly?”

At her words, Escalion raised one eyebrow and turned his head. He let out a dry laugh and said,

“No way. These are your clothes.”

“Why are my clothes in this room?”

“Because I told the maid to bring them.”

So why…?

She looked up at him with a face still not understanding, but Escalion didn’t seem to want to properly answer her question.

He took out the dress and coat in turn, still on their hangers, and came back with them.

Looking down at Belladonna, whose face was still not fully awake, he asked in a serious voice.

“The weather has warmed up a lot, but do you need a scarf or gloves too? If needed, ear muffs as well.”

“Am I going outside?”

“Yes, so hurry and get ready. Should I call a maid?”

Belladonna sat blankly, blinking her eyes. Perhaps because she wasn’t fully awake yet, she couldn’t properly understand what he was saying.

“Where am I going?”

“The mountain behind Griblata Castle.”

“Why?”

“Living together, I’ve noticed my wife’s stamina is too weak. I think I need to take you out occasionally to build up your strength.”

“But why?”

“Because you faint as soon as night falls.”

Looking up at Escalion, who answered nonchalantly, Belladonna finally felt herself gradually waking up.

So now… we’re going out?

Belladonna turned her head towards the window. Thick ice and snow were melting in places, but the weather still seemed harsh to her.

“…I don’t want to go. Go by yourself.”

“Bella, didn’t you hear me just now? This isn’t just a simple walk, it’s training to build up your stamina. So I can’t go alone.”

“Where in the world is there a husband who trains his wife… Eek!”

Seemingly deciding this wouldn’t do, Escalion stretched out both arms and scooped up Belladonna from the bed. Suddenly lifted high up, Belladonna flailed her legs and tightly grasped Escalion’s shoulders.

Escalion patted her back and said,

“Are you throwing a tantrum asking me to wash you?”

“Put me down!”

“You want warm water? Of course. My wife is sensitive to cold after all.”

He pulled up the corners of his mouth playfully and strode into the bathroom attached to the room. Belladonna had no choice but to prepare for a walk early in the morning.