‘It’s refreshing…’

Belladonna, who had been observing the distant sky, occasionally falling leaves, knights resting far away, and servants who looked cozy, slightly lowered her head.

She looked at Escalion, who was now making regular breathing sounds as if he had really fallen asleep.

A similar appearance to when they had encountered each other on the way back to the west of the Papal States last time.

This man, who exuded a somewhat dangerous aura when his eyes were open, seemed to soften that atmosphere when he was asleep.

Strangely, she thought that this sleeping man looked like an innocent child.

Belladonna unconsciously reached out her hand and gently touched his protruding brow bone.

‘His eyebrows are really thick…’

They must be twice as thick as mine?

As she admired without thinking, she slowly moved her finger along his forehead and down his straight nose bridge.

Looking closely, she could understand why the maids kept blushing when they saw him.

‘He is handsome, indeed.’

Her hand, which had paused momentarily on the bridge of his nose, moved down little by little.

Belladonna’s slender fingers finally touched his plump lips.

‘They’re soft…’

Belladonna tapped his lips as if entranced.

It happened in an instant – her hand, which had been moving freely without fear, was suddenly grabbed, and he opened his eyes, abruptly sitting up.

Belladonna stared at the golden eyes that stopped right in front of her face.

The golden eyes that had been staring intently at her curved into an arc.

“My wife is a habitual offender.”

Wha- What!

Heat rushed to Belladonna’s face.

Escalion opened his mouth with a leisurely smile.

“Constantly touching her husband, always groping…”

When did I ever!

Belladonna blushed, completely forgetting that she had been touching his face just moments ago.

She twisted her body, struggling to pull her hand free from his grasp.

Escalion smiled even more deeply and pressed his face close to hers.

“Can’t you hold back? We’ll arrive at the estate in four days at the latest?”

Belladonna shook her head vigorously with all her might.

No! No! I can hold back!

At that moment, Escalion suddenly raised his hand and covered her cheek.

“But I can’t hold back.”

She felt his hot breath very close.

Belladonna stared at him, too surprised to breathe properly.

“…”

At that moment, Escalion’s gaze became serious.

Belladonna closed her eyes unconsciously, recalling the kiss from the wedding ceremony.

I- I don’t know…!

“Your Highness! One of the horses pulling the carriage has been constantly… Ack, I-I’m sorry!”

Just then, one of the knights who had been approaching from behind to report to Escalion shouted abruptly, cutting off his words.

Confirming that the ducal couple was in an unusual atmosphere, pressed close together, he jumped in surprise and turned his body around.

Belladonna, startled by the knight’s sudden appearance, opened her eyes wide and looked up at Escalion in front of her.

He was frowning deeply as if annoyed.

“Haa…”

He sighed lowly and slowly turned his head.

Then he glared at the knight with dark golden eyes.

“Do I have to go and manage even a single horse myself? If a horse is acting up, you should soothe it or give it more food.”

“I-I’m sorry. I will do as you command.”

“…Which horse is it anyway.”

Despite saying that, Escalion separated from her and turned his body.

As he stood up completely from his seat, he glanced back at Belladonna who was still sitting on the blanket and spoke.

“Rest for a while. You’ll be more comfortable without anyone bothering you.”

Belladonna nodded slightly.

As he walked away following the knight who was hurriedly guiding the way, she exhaled the breath she had been holding while stroking her chest.

Whew, that was close…

The journey to the estate by carriage, which was close to an ordeal, finally came to an end late at night three days later.

Even then, if they hadn’t used the public portals placed along the way, it would have taken much longer.

Belladonna looked out at Escalion’s estate through the window, which had now become dark.

Gribblata.

It was the name of the northern estate personally bestowed by the Emperor to Escalion, and the name of the place where she would be staying for the next three months.

“It’s so dark, I can’t see anything.”

Escalion, who had been sitting with his eyes closed on the opposite seat, slowly opened his eyes and muttered.

“That’s rather fortunate. There’s nothing worth seeing yet anyway.”

Belladonna continued to look outside intently, regardless of his words.

Although it was very dark as Escalion had said, thanks to the estate residents eagerly lighting up to welcome their lord, she could see the modest and simple scenery of the village.

Despite the late hour, the estate residents had lined up along the streets in front of their houses to follow the procession of carriages.

It was cute and pleasant to see them smiling brightly, chattering, and throwing flower petals towards the knights’ brigade even in the darkness.

‘It feels similar to where I lived in my previous life.’

Belladonna smiled unknowingly, feeling somewhat familiar with the scenery.

That place had been very difficult, but also full of memories.

“…”

Escalion quietly observed her as she leaned on the window frame with her chin resting on her arm, looking outside.

What could be so fascinating and enjoyable?

It was worth watching her look around every corner like a child, turning her head this way and that.

The Holy Maiden of Astanya seems to give her heart easily to such things.

He snorted, but didn’t take his eyes off her.

Even in the dark night, her sparkling blue eyes kept catching his gaze.

The carriage passed through the village of estate residents and headed towards the castle located in the deepest part.

The sound of knights talking could be heard from the front, and the huge castle walls opened with an old wooden sound.

After entering for quite a while, the carriage finally came to a complete stop in front of the castle’s main gate.

“My Lord, My Lady, you must be tired from the long journey.”

An elderly butler who opened the carriage door for the couple bowed his head.

Escalion jumped out first and extended his hand to Belladonna.

Belladonna grasped his large and firm hand, which had become familiar by now, and got out of the carriage.

“This is the castle’s butler. He’s in charge of handling most of the castle’s affairs, so if there’s anything you don’t know, find him and ask.”

“My name is Wolf. I will do my best to assist the lady in adapting to this place from now on.”

Belladonna nodded and gave a bright smile.

In response to her smile, Wolf also returned a gentle smile.

He looks like such a kind grandfather…

“It’s quite late, so please proceed to the bedroom. I will order hot water to be prepared in the bathroom.”

“Yes, and make sure to distribute hot water and sufficient food to the knights and servants who have worked hard.”

“Yes, understood.”

After giving Wolf some simple instructions, Escalion let go of Belladonna’s hand and strode up the stairs leading into the castle.

As he disappeared, Cindy and the other maids came around her.

“My Lady, please follow us.”

Belladonna nodded and followed behind them.

Following Cindy, who was carefully watching behind, Belladonna entered the castle and encountered the lobby with high ceilings and a more elegant atmosphere than she had expected.

Wow, Escalion’s taste is more refined than I thought?

Although she had only seen luxury mansions in the Papal States, even to Belladonna’s eyes, which lacked particular discernment, his castle exuded quite a stylish atmosphere.

“I apologize. Because our lord had been unmarried and living alone all this time… the castle is rather lacking.”

Huh? This is considered lacking?

Wolf, who had followed behind them, spoke while observing Belladonna’s reaction.

“No matter how much we suggested renovating, he wouldn’t listen… We haven’t made any changes ourselves, so from now on, you can rearrange and decorate this castle however you wish, My Lady.”

But I don’t know how to do that?

“We will call for merchants at an early date, so please take your time to look around.”

Wolf added in a polite tone.

Belladonna once again surveyed the spacious lobby.

No matter how she looked at it, it didn’t seem to be at a lacking level…

“My Lady, shall we go up to the second floor?”

Belladonna nodded to Cindy, taking her eyes off the lobby, and moved towards the central staircase leading to the second floor.

The heavy carpet covering the stairs, beautiful landscape paintings and ornaments decorating the surroundings. Moreover, neat vases placed in just the right spots…

It seemed unlikely that this interior had been touched by Escalion, who had been a knight.

‘…It looks like someone has already carefully tended to this place before I arrived?’

Belladonna followed Cindy up the stairs with a puzzled expression.

“This way.”

Cindy pointed to a room with an open door on the right side of the corridor after going up to the second floor.

Entering the room, there was an empty space with a large window facing outside, a bed facing that window, a dressing table, a few small shelves, and an entrance leading to a bathroom.

“This is the space where you will be staying from now on, My Lady. You can gradually fill this place according to your preferences as well.”

Belladonna nodded with an awkward smile.

“You must be very tired from the long journey? I’ll help you undress, so please sit over there in front of the dressing table.”

Belladonna sat demurely in front of the dressing table that looked almost new.

‘Unlike just sitting and smiling without any opinion…’

Belladonna sighed inwardly.

At the Papal States, she just had to sit still, smile and nod, and everything would be resolved.

After all, she wasn’t supposed to have opinions at the Papal States, and she only had to sit in her place and smile as the Pope told her to.

‘But this place is completely different.’

Although it was only for three months, Belladonna had become the mistress of this castle for now.

Even if she didn’t want to do anything, it was obvious that the head servant and maids would ask for her opinions on various matters.

‘I’ll have to convey my opinions by writing on paper or something…’

Belladonna looked at herself in the mirror, considering what method would be most effective.

The maids were busily removing her hair ornaments and undoing the buttons on the back of her dress.

Feeling somewhat bored just sitting still, Belladonna unconsciously reached out and opened a drawer of the dressing table.

Clatter.

“…”

Huh? What’s this?

Belladonna looked at the inside of the drawer with a puzzled expression.

In the space she had expected to be empty, there was a necklace elaborately crafted with brilliant and sparkling rubies.

“…”

Moreover, a necklace with clear signs of having been used by someone.