“My lady?”

The one who opened the door and appeared was not Escalion, but Wolf.

Relief filled Wolf’s gaze as he confirmed that Belladonna had woken up.

“Cindy said that the lady had awakened… It’s true! I’m so glad!”

Wolf nodded while rubbing his chest.

Belladonna forced a smile while feeling a slight disappointment.

Escalion… Had he not returned to the castle yet?

“You’ve even finished your meal properly… Well done! Is there anything you’re uncomfortable with?”

Wolf approached her and kindly asked after checking the empty bowl beside the bed.

Belladonna shook her head.

Other than having no strength in her body and truly being unable to speak, there wasn’t much discomfort.

Wolf nodded as if relieved and then stood awkwardly in place.

Hm? Does he have something to say?

Belladonna looked up quizzically at Wolf, who was pacing in front of her with an unnatural expression.

Wolf avoided her gaze, scratching the back of his head before slowly opening his mouth.

“Well… The lord has returned.”

Belladonna’s lips curved up slightly upon hearing Wolf’s voice.

“Aimee and her accomplice were hiding in an old inn at a port not far from here. They were probably planning to leave Griblata by ship.”

“…”

“The lord caught them himself and imprisoned them in the castle’s underground dungeon. They will soon face trial and receive appropriate punishment, so you need not worry about that. They’ll likely receive the harshest penalty under Griblata’s territorial law. After all, they dared to lay hands on the lord’s wife and property.”

While Belladonna was also curious about their punishment, she wanted to hear more about Escalion right now.

So where is Escalion now?

“Ah, anyway, that’s the current situation. So, my lady, you don’t need to worry and just focus on recovering your health.”

Wolf bowed deeply and turned as if about to leave immediately.

Ah, wait…! So what about Escalion?

Belladonna urgently reached out and grasped the hem of Wolf’s coat.

“Why, why are you doing this, my lady?”

Wolf turned his head with an awkward expression as she grabbed his coat. Belladonna quickly picked up the notepad and pencil on the bedside table.

“The, the lord… is currently in his office.”

“Of course he knows.”

He knows…

Belladonna slowly lowered her hand holding the pencil after hearing Wolf’s answer.

“…”

He must be busy…?

Seeing that he didn’t come to see her even though he knew she was awake, it seemed he must be extremely busy.

Yes, that must be it…

Belladonna forced herself to calm down and gave Wolf a smile indicating she understood.

After confirming her expression, Wolf hesitated for a moment before bowing his head and leaving the room.

She hoped his urgent business would be finished soon.

But that day, and the next day, and the day after that, Escalion did not come to see Belladonna.

Now that she had almost fully recovered and could get up from bed and walk around, Belladonna stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining her appearance.

Is it too haggard or unsightly?

“…”

No matter how long she waited, he didn’t come, so she had no choice but to go find him herself.

To think they lived in the same castle yet she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him…

By this point, it was clear that he wasn’t just busy, but still angry with her.

‘But I can explain everything.’

Belladonna swallowed dryly and resolved herself.

What the Pope wanted from the beginning, with what intentions she came to Griblata, how she changed while living with him, and what her true feelings were now…

She could explain it all.

Finally smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt, Belladonna turned around.

She carefully left the room and headed towards Escalion’s office.

Knock knock.

‘…Is no one there?’

Just in case, she knocked once more, but there was no response from inside.

Belladonna quietly put her ear to the door to see if she could hear anything.

“…”

I can’t hear anything. Where could he have gone?

Belladonna slowly turned and looked down the empty corridor.

He could have gone out to inspect the territory, or he might be training with the knights in the practice grounds.

If not that, he might be in the underground dungeon to see Aimee and her accomplice, or in the dining hall…

Belladonna hurriedly moved to check all the likely places.

‘He’s not here…!!’

But Escalion was nowhere to be seen in the entire castle.

Occasionally passing servants would greet her, but without a notepad or pencil at hand, it wasn’t easy to ask them where Escalion was.

No, where on earth could he be?

As she was about to return to her room on the second floor with no results, she saw Wolf supervising tile repair work in the lobby.

Belladonna quickly approached him.

“Oh, my lady! It seems you’re well enough to move around now. That’s good.”

Wolf turned to her with a bright smile.

Belladonna just nodded to him briefly and gestured towards the castle with her eyes.

If not others, the sharp-witted Wolf would surely understand what she meant right away.

“Uh… the, the lord?”

As expected!

Belladonna nodded vigorously.

But Wolf scratched his cheek uncomfortably and hesitated to speak.

“Well… you see…”

Wait a minute… What’s with this reaction?

As she was looking at Wolf with a puzzled expression, one of the servants laying tiles spoke up instead, raising his head.

“Hm? I believe the lord is resting in his room.”

“Y-You!”

In his room? Why didn’t I think of that? Belladonna’s face brightened as she learned where Escalion was.

But Wolf, who had raised his voice to reprimand the servant who answered, immediately closed his mouth while watching Belladonna’s reaction.

Hm…? Is this something I’m not supposed to know?

The servant who had suddenly been scolded asked with a puzzled expression, just like her.

“Wolf sir, why are you acting like this? Just a moment ago, you clearly…”

“Be quiet now!”

Wolf, who had silenced him, hurriedly turned to Belladonna.

“Y-Yes, my lady. The lord has been overworked lately and hasn’t been able to rest properly, so he’s currently resting in his room. However…”

Wolf continued slowly.

“He, he’s very tired… He said not to let anyone in.”

“…”

Belladonna’s head slowly lowered as she heard his words.

By this point, she could tell. Escalion was now conspicuously avoiding her.

Wolf, watching her reaction, carefully opened his mouth.

“When the lord wakes up, I’ll let him know that you were looking for him. So please don’t strain yourself waiting, and stay in your room, my lady.”

Belladonna climbed to the second floor with heavy steps and was about to enter her room when she turned her head.

At the opposite end of the corridor from her room, she could see Escalion’s room door closed.

“…”

Just as she was about to return to her own room, Belladonna changed her mind completely and turned in the opposite direction.

Although Escalion didn’t seem to want to meet her, she missed him terribly.

If he wouldn’t see her when he was awake anyway, she at least wanted to catch a glimpse of his face while he was sleeping soundly.

‘Just for a moment, just a very brief moment…’

Belladonna walked down the corridor, muffling her footsteps.

Finally, reaching his room door, she carefully placed her hand on the doorknob.

For a brief moment, she wondered if this was okay, but then shook her head.

Belladonna turned the doorknob carefully to avoid making a loud noise.

As soon as the door opened, a familiar heavy scent wafted over her.

‘Escalion’s scent…’

Belladonna held back the tears that suddenly welled up without her realizing and peeked into the room filled with traces of him.

“…”

On the large bed, she could see his broad back as he lay face down without clothes.

His dark-colored back, well-defined with clear muscles, moved up and down rhythmically as he breathed.

Click.

Belladonna carefully closed the door behind her as she stepped inside.

‘He must have been really tired…’

Normally, he would have immediately noticed the sound of someone entering the room, but Escalion was still breathing evenly.

Belladonna swallowed dryly, then slowly moved her steps towards his bed.

As she got closer, the sound of Escalion breathing became clearer and his scent grew stronger.

After observing him for a moment, Belladonna carefully sat down on a chair not far from the bed.

‘Secretly peeking at someone sleeping…’

Somehow it felt like she had become a terrible stalker, but just sitting here at a distance watching him sleep brought peace to her heart.

Belladonna slowly leaned back in the chair.

‘He saved me…’

She had been kidnapped by someone with ill intentions, abandoned in a cave, and attacked by a bear, facing death.

In that final moment when she was helplessly being attacked, she seemed to have thought of Escalion…

She felt both grateful and sorry towards him.

“Mmm…”

At that moment, Escalion made a small sound and shifted his body.

Oh no, did he wake up? Was it because of me? Belladonna held her breath and watched him, feeling unnecessarily guilty.

Escalion, who had been lying face down, slowly turned over and opened his golden eyes, staring blankly at the high ceiling.

“…”

Soon, his gaze, which had been slowly blinking while looking upwards, moved in an instant towards her.

Unlike Belladonna, who startled and flinched, Escalion didn’t seem particularly surprised.

‘But…’

Belladonna’s cheeks flushed red as she unexpectedly met Escalion’s eyes.

His muscular upper body without a stitch of clothing, the drowsy look and atmosphere as if he had just woken up, his slightly disheveled hair and distant gaze all created a somewhat sensual impression.

Ah, no! This kind of thought right now…!

As she was blushing alone at these impressions that didn’t fit the situation at all, Escalion quietly opened his mouth.

“I thought I said not to let anyone in.”