Belladonna leaned against the wide headboard of the bed, looking at her husband.
Escalion was sitting at the round table in the room, reviewing thick documents.
The small table, mismatched with his enormous physique, looked like a toy for playing house.
‘How urgent must those documents be for him to work until this late at night…’
Not long after Escalion finished his work and entered their bedroom, Wolf had hurriedly visited and handed over thick documents before leaving.
Belladonna watched Escalion’s profile, resenting Wolf for not letting him rest until late at night.
‘But…’
Unlike his usual playful and sly demeanor, his face was calm and composed.
His brow slightly furrowed in concentration and his golden eyes moving constantly.
Even the occasional nervous gesture of brushing back the hair falling over his forehead…
‘Somehow he looks different today?’
Belladonna unconsciously swallowed dry saliva as she focused intently on his serious appearance.
Is this what he looks like when he’s working? Could he make such expressions…
“What. You’ll bore holes in my face.”
At that moment, Escalion casually spoke as he turned a page of the report.
Belladonna, belatedly realizing the words were directed at her, flinched in surprise.
Me? Me…?
Lowering the report to the table and turning his gaze to Belladonna, Escalion tilted his head and asked.
“What new form of torment is this? Are you attacking me with your eyes?”
“…”
“I need to be able to understand what my wife wants.”
Belladonna rolled her eyes and made an embarrassed expression.
Did I stare too much without realizing it…
After staring at Belladonna who was feigning ignorance, Escalion let out a small sigh and rose from his seat to approach the bed.
Belladonna felt both tension and anticipation as she shifted slightly to make room for him.
“I really can’t concentrate in the bedroom. I should just sleep and do this tomorrow.”
Escalion flopped down on the spot next to her.
Belladonna watched him cautiously, then slowly extended her finger.
Noticing her intention, he spread his palm wide.
‘You. Have. A. Lot. Of. Work.’
“You’re asking if I have a lot of work? All the tasks that need to be processed go through Griblata to here, and then back through Griblata, so the deadlines seem tight. I might have to go back briefly soon.”
Escalion answered while tiredly rubbing his eyelids.
He might have to go back to Griblata…
After checking Belladonna’s face, he chuckled and spoke.
“Don’t make such a pitiful expression. Were you staring like that because you were curious about how much work I had? Or are you displeased that I’m looking at documents even in the bedroom?”
He raised the corner of his mouth and poked Belladonna’s furrowed brow.
Belladonna was pushed back slightly, then sprang up like a roly-poly and raised her finger again.
‘Is. It. Okay. Now?’
He must have realized what she was asking midway through writing the letters, but Escalion didn’t stop her.
After confirming the question to the end, he raised only his eyes and asked.
“Why? Do you have something you need to do?”
Faced with his somewhat expectant gaze, Belladonna looked puzzled, then raised her finger again to write on his palm.
‘I. Want. To. Hear. A. Story.’
“A story? What kind of story?”
Escalion asked in a voice full of disappointment after checking Belladonna’s writing.
What’s this? Did he have something he was expecting?
Though curious, she was more interested in hearing his story.
Belladonna moved her finger diligently.
‘Past.’
“Past…?”
Escalion furrowed his brow.
Suddenly asking about the past? He couldn’t grasp what she wanted to know.
After staring at him intently all evening, now suddenly wanting to talk about the past…
“…Ah.”
Ah, could it be.
Glancing at Belladonna’s strange expression, Escalion scratched the back of his head as if troubled.
Could she be asking about Scarlet? Thinking she was my past lover?
But if that was the case, he had no story to tell.
“Well… I’m not sure what kind of story you want to hear. Aren’t you tired? I think we should sleep now, shall I turn off the lights?”
Escalion noticeably faltered as he tried to get up from his seat.
But Belladonna’s hand was faster.
She grabbed Escalion’s palm tightly and placed her finger on it again.
But Escalion grasped her finger firmly.
“It’s late. We should sleep.”
Who was it that usually kept talking and wouldn’t let me sleep until late?
Belladonna pulled out her finger without blinking an eye and wrote letters again.
‘I’m. Curious. How. You. Lived.’
“…You’re curious about how I lived?”
Escalion asked.
Nod nod! Excited about the story she wanted to hear, Belladonna nodded vigorously.
Pondering something for a moment, Escalion leaned back comfortably and looked at her.
“You suddenly want to hear my story? It probably won’t be very interesting.”
No! I think it will be interesting!
Belladonna turned fully towards him, her eyes sparkling.
Escalion naturally interlaced his fingers with hers, which had been resting on his palm.
His warm palm enveloped Belladonna’s hand.
“I’m not sure what my wife is curious about? But I’m not good with words. If you get sleepy while listening, just go to sleep.”
Belladonna nodded with a slight smile.
After looking at her for a moment, Escalion scratched his eyebrow as if embarrassed and opened his mouth.
“I joined a mercenary group at eight and learned how to wield a sword, then I followed the older men around doing odd jobs. As I did that, my skills improved, and before I knew it, I was on the battlefield. I beheaded the enemy commander as I was taught, and His Majesty the Emperor bestowed upon me a title and land. The end.”
“…”
Belladonna, who had just started to concentrate, blinked blankly at the suddenly ended story.
The end…? No, this isn’t about being bad with words…
“That’s the end.”
Escalion repeated in response to Belladonna’s dumbfounded reaction.
“That’s really all I remember. All I knew how to do was swing a sword, so I never had the chance to look back on my life or reflect on it. I lived as a wanderer here and there, so there’s not much worth talking about.”
Belladonna stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded as if understanding.
Whether it was because he had lived simply and truly didn’t remember much, or because he didn’t want to share deeper stories with her yet, she couldn’t tell.
‘I can’t directly ask why his parents passed away…’
But she still wanted to hear more of his story…
Blinking for a moment, Belladonna raised her finger again. Right! This much should be okay to ask?
‘Where. Was. Your. Favorite. Place. You’ve. Been.’
“My favorite place I’ve been?”
This level of question should naturally lead to hearing stories about his past, and if she was lucky, maybe even stories about Astanya.
If he lived in Astanya, where did he stay? In her previous life, the village she lived in was located on a main road, so mercenaries passing through Astanya often stayed there…
‘But I’ve never seen a mercenary with a face like this.’
Belladonna thought as she glanced at the pondering Escalion.
If a mercenary with this level of beauty had passed through the village she lived in, surely all the young women in the village would have been abuzz talking about this man.
But she had never heard such talk!
“Hmm.”
After contemplating for a moment, Escalion turned to her with a grin.
Huh? Why are you looking at me like that…
“Out of all the places I’ve been, my favorite is Sirlenia.”
He said as he stretched out his arms and pulled Belladonna into his embrace.
Escalion sat Belladonna on his thick thighs and looked up at her.
“No matter how much I think about it, Sirlenia is the best.”
Escalion was looking at her with his ears tinged red. She thought the palm of his hand on her back felt unusually hot.
Why does he think Sirlenia is the best? Is Cindy right that he actually likes warm places?
Escalion, who had been quietly looking up at her, curved the corners of his mouth gently and spoke.
“Because I’m here with my wife, everything is good.”
Hearing his voice, Belladonna took a small breath.
‘Ah, this man…’
Unless she was a fool, there was no way she couldn’t understand why he was acting like this.
This man, who always gave her affectionate yet passionate gazes, and touched her with gentle yet careful but heated hands, truly cherished his wife.
“…”
Belladonna looked down at him with trembling eyes.
An emotion she couldn’t tell whether it was happiness or sorrow washed over her.
“You haven’t been outside of Astanya much, have you?”
At Escalion’s question, Belladonna slowly nodded.
Just as in her previous life when she was born as the daughter of a poor farmer and died young, the Saint also had never left Astanya to enjoy freedom.
“If there’s anywhere you want to go, just tell me anytime. I’ll take you there.”
Escalion said.
Belladonna quietly looked down at him for a moment, then raised her finger.
‘You’re. Busy.’
“No matter how busy I am, I can make time for my wife. Just like how I followed you all the way here this time.”
“…”
“Then my favorite place might change.”
He raised the corners of his mouth in an attractive smile.
“…”
The fact that Escalion held her in his heart made Belladonna feel excited and her heart flutter.
But at the same time, the reality that she would have to betray him and return to Astanya in a few weeks made her heart endlessly anxious.
‘…What if I don’t go back like this?’
Belladonna was startled by her own thought.
The possibility that she had only considered very slightly until just a few weeks ago had somehow grown immensely and was now shaking her heart.
If I betray the Pope, and also betray the Saint, and stay by Escalion’s side…
‘…What would happen then?’
Thump, thump.
A fierce sound, whose it was unclear, rang in her ears.
She couldn’t tell if her pounding heart was due to excitement, anxiety, or fear of her unfaithful thoughts being discovered.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
