“…”

No, I was going to bring it closer.

… It’s too high!

Escalion was too tall to face directly.

Belladonna barely touched her lips to somewhere on his chin, not reaching his lips, and quickly came back down.

‘It’s ruined. I shouldn’t have done it at all.’

Belladonna, back on the ground, couldn’t meet his eyes and lowered her head.

This, even I wonder what I was trying to do…

She let out a small sigh. She was very frustrated, but still didn’t have the courage to speak up.

In the end… I won’t be able to do anything. So the result will be the same.

Disappointment and self-loathing swept over her all at once.

“What does this mean right now?”

Just then, a stiff voice was heard from above.

Wondering if he might be angry, Belladonna quickly raised her head.

But what entered her sight was Escalion, uncharacteristically flushed red all over his body.

His slightly trembling golden eyes, now deeper in color, were staring straight at her.

“Can I interpret this as I please?”

“…”

“Can I interpret it my way? Hm? Bella.”

Escalion asked, bending down to bring his face close to hers.

Belladonna bit her lower lip once and nodded.

At the same time, a hot hand touched her thigh and her body floated up towards the ceiling.

‘Oh my!’

Belladonna’s vision was quickly blocked as she instinctively steadied herself on his shoulder.

Escalion, who had easily lifted Belladonna with one hand, firmly grasped the back of her head with his other hand and pulled her towards him.

Their breaths intertwined.

‘I can’t breathe…’

Escalion’s kisses were always a bit rough and a bit pitiful.

He continuously pushed her with his lips and tongue, while constantly pulling her with the hand firmly placed on the back of her head.

Belladonna couldn’t gather her thoughts at all with his thick tongue constantly exploring inside her mouth.

Escalion, who had walked to the bed, carefully laid Belladonna down on it.

Her body suddenly turned, and she felt the soft blanket on her back.

“Haa…”

Escalion, breathing heavily, impatiently took off his top and threw it aside.

The crumpled shirt under his hand fell limply to the floor below the bed.

Belladonna, with a flushed face, looked at him as he climbed on top of her.

She could feel her heart pounding violently throughout her entire body. From head to toe, her whole body was throbbing intensely.

“Bella…”

He whispered softly from above her and lowered his head again.

His hot, moist breath and lips touched her neck.

Escalion bared his teeth and gently nibbled on Belladonna’s slender neck, just enough not to hurt.

It felt unbearable. At this unfamiliar feeling, Belladonna tightly closed her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands.

Otherwise, she felt she might unwittingly let out muffled moans.

“Don’t do that.”

Escalion growled lowly and grabbed her hands.

He stared at her with intense eyes, then slightly turned his head and pulled Belladonna’s nightgown down below her shoulders.

The soft cotton one-piece dress flowed down as he applied force, revealing her round shoulders.

Escalion, who had been staring at the white skin as if entranced for a moment, continued with light kisses.

Chuk, chuk, chuk.

Pleasant sounds echoed through the room.

As the tension eased, her body, which had been completely stiff, gradually began to relax.

Belladonna felt a ticklish sensation in her shoulder blades and lower abdomen, and hunched her shoulders.

“You always smell so good.”

Escalion mumbled with his lips on her shoulder.

“And that scent drives me crazy.”

With one hand, he carefully arranged her flowing hair, and with the other, he sought her hand and interlaced their fingers.

Belladonna turned her head to look into his eyes, which were very close.

‘Why is he being so gentle?’

Soft and careful touches, hot and passionate gazes…

‘This is almost like…’

The question “Do you like me?” rose to the tip of her tongue.

If she let her guard down and relaxed even a little, it felt like it would burst out of her mouth at any moment.

“Bella.”

Just as she was absentmindedly opening and closing her mouth, Escalion spoke first.

Belladonna closed her slightly parted lips and stared at him.

“If you don’t want to, say it now. I don’t have confidence I can stop in the middle.”

Belladonna blinked.

If asked if she disliked it, she didn’t. But…

‘It’s too sudden though…’

As the atmosphere softened and her surging emotions somewhat subsided, she belatedly wondered if she had been too hasty.

No matter what, wasn’t it a bit too much to rush at him in anger…?

Her gaze naturally moved to Escalion’s bare upper body as she pondered for a moment.

Being prone to overheating, Escalion usually slept without wearing much.

But to be pinned down like this by him wearing nothing…

Gulp.

Belladonna unconsciously swallowed while unable to take her eyes off his impressive chest muscles.

Oh, what should I do…

“Pfft.”

Noticing her gaze, Escalion lowered his head and let out a laugh like air escaping.

Why are you laughing…?

“Do you know what your expression looks like right now?”

“…”

“Scared stiff, but just as curious.”

“…”

“Expectant, but afraid.”

Correct.

Belladonna, hit right on the mark, turned her head away in embarrassment.

Escalion silently looked down at her for a while, then let out a deep sigh and flopped down beside her.

Lying on his side facing Belladonna, he spoke in a voice drained of energy.

“What am I supposed to do with you?”

“…”

“Hm? Bella. How should I treat my wife?”

Escalion raised one hand and poked at her cheek.

“I’ve hardly spent time with women since I was born. So I don’t even know how to be with a woman, let alone a wife.”

Belladonna silently stared at him as he kept fiddling with her cheek.

At first, she was convinced that such remarks he occasionally made were just lies or pretense.

But now it seemed somewhat true. No, she wanted his words to really be true.

“…You’re too difficult.”

Escalion muttered softly.

“I’ve never paid so much attention and care to anyone in my life.”

Looking at Belladonna, who still gave no answer, Escalion supported her back and pulled her into his arms.

Belladonna naturally settled into his embrace as usual.

“It’s disappointing, but I don’t think I can give you what you expected today. My mind is too complicated.”

Escalion gently stroked from the back of her head down to her back.

“It’s a big deal for me too, not just for you, to have a wife. I tried not to think much of it, but it’s not working out.”

“…”

“Do you know you keep causing changes in my life?”

At his question, Belladonna peeked her head out of his arms and looked up at him.

Changes?

She wanted to ask, but his palm suitable for writing letters was too far away.

Belladonna unconsciously raised her finger and brought it to his chest.

The upper chest looked firm and flat, good for writing letters.

‘What. Chan.’

Before she could finish writing the words to ask what changes, Escalion jerked back and caught her hand.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

Escalion asked with a shocked expression, his bronze skin flushing red again.

Huh? What…?

As Belladonna looked at him with an uncomprehending face, he covered his eyes with one hand and let out a low groan.

“I went easy on you, but you didn’t even realize…”

So what…

Belladonna withdrew her finger awkwardly.

Escalion, who had been silently turning to face the ceiling and catching his breath, opened his mouth.

“Bella.”

Somehow, his voice calling her name sounded pleasant.

“If I give you my side, will you give me yours?”

When Belladonna couldn’t answer, he turned his body to face her.

He asked with calm golden eyes, resting on one arm.

“Will you tell me your story someday?”

Belladonna looked up at him with a confused expression.

Story…

She couldn’t tell if it was just a conventional phrase, or if he really thought she could speak.

Escalion reached out and brushed her hair.

He pulled a handful of it towards him and brought it to his lips.

After keeping his lips buried in her hair for a moment, he raised the corners of his mouth charmingly and said,

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

The next day, when Belladonna opened her eyes with the sun high in the sky, she hurriedly looked to her side.

He’s gone…

Escalion must have left early in the morning, as a coldly emptied space greeted her.

“Phew…”

In the end, nothing happened.

After their brief conversation, Escalion, who had been staring intently at Belladonna, trapped her in his arms as usual and went to sleep.

“Maybe it’s for the best…”

Last night was, even in her own opinion, too impulsive.

Thinking of Escalion, who had sat quietly breathing heavily with deeply sunken eyes, she felt her whole body heating up again without realizing it.

“Ugh…!”

Belladonna let out a tiny shout and kicked away the blanket she had been covering herself with.

I don’t know, I can’t figure it out! Staying with him like this is too dangerous! We almost really consummated the marriage…!

As she was thrashing about wildly, she suddenly stopped.

‘Consummating the marriage with him… is that what I really wanted?’

She just didn’t want to return to suffocating and terrible Astania after two months, and didn’t want to do as the lecherous Pope wished.

Consummating with him…

Belladonna turned her body around and buried her face in the pillow.

“Sob, I don’t know… I want to go to Silenia quickly…”

She felt like going to a completely different place, neither the detestable Astania nor by Escalion’s side where strange emotions kept arising.

Knock knock.

Just then, the sound of someone knocking on the door was heard.