“…….”
Hmm?
But no matter how long she waited, he didn’t approach.
Belladonna opened her eyes slowly, puzzled.
Right in front of her, she saw Escalion’s face with an awkward expression.
As she blinked her eyes blankly, his expression changed to one of composure.
“Slowly get down. Don’t fall again. And don’t take off your coat.”
At that moment, Belladonna’s face turned bright red.
Ah, I’m crazy……!
While Escalion wasn’t thinking of anything, she had closed her eyes shamelessly, recalling past events.
The fact that she had gotten so far ahead on her own when the person in question didn’t want anything made her feel terribly ashamed and embarrassed.
S-Sorry!! Belladonna covered her reddened face and quickly got off his body.
Free from her, Escalion lightly rose to his feet and vigorously dusted off the dirt and dust on his clothes.
‘Hah….. How foolish….’
With a deep sense of self-loathing, Belladonna stood up.
At the same time, a slightly melancholic feeling came over her.
Now we….. Can we never go back to how we were before?
Ah, why is the weather so cold too.
“Sniff.”
As she sniffled awkwardly, Escalion, who was standing behind her, grabbed her shoulders and quickly turned her around.
Her vision suddenly spun, and soon his surprised face appeared before her eyes.
He was studying her intently with a serious expression.
“Are you crying?”
“……?”
No……? Belladonna shook her head and twisted her shoulders that were held by him.
As if she wasn’t embarrassed enough already, what tears…..
Escalion, who had been staring down at Belladonna, who looked more composed than expected, opened his mouth.
“I don’t understand what you’re thinking at all.”
“……”
“I thought you…… felt the same way I did. No, at least I thought you felt similarly. That although it’s very unfamiliar and difficult, life in Griblata with me isn’t all bad……”
Escalion sighed and turned his head. Belladonna took a step towards him.
He was right. I…….
But this time, Escalion stepped back as much as Belladonna had approached.
“Don’t come any closer to me. I don’t want to misunderstand anymore.”
Escalion, who had spoken briefly, turned and left the stable before Belladonna could say anything.
Left alone, Belladonna hung her head.
In the now quiet stable, only the snorting sounds of the horses remained.
[This is the timeline separator]“My lady! Where have you been until now?”
As she trudged back into the castle, Cindy could be seen scurrying over.
“Oh my, it must have been quite cold outside. Your cheeks are completely red…… Huh? Why are your clothes such a mess? Did you fall and roll around somewhere?”
Belladonna nodded awkwardly, fiddling with her coat, as Cindy looked her over.
Cindy’s face immediately turned sympathetic as she led her.
“Let’s go up to your room quickly! You should wash up and change into fresh clothes!”
Nod nod.
As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, Cindy, who was following behind, pointed towards the reception room connected to the lobby and said:
“My lady, you need to get ready and come back down quickly. Cardinal and his accompanying priests from Astanya just arrived.”
Cardinal? From Astanya……?
At Cindy’s words, Belladonna stopped her ascent.
She turned her head to look towards the reception room.
“They came so suddenly without any notice, we were surprised too! Did you perhaps hear anything about this beforehand, my lady?”
At Cindy’s words that a cardinal and priests from Astanya had visited, Belladonna’s heart began to beat anxiously.
The Pope had already sent a letter to separate her and Escalion.
And now he sent people again?
Belladonna grabbed Cindy’s clothes with trembling hands, pointed towards the reception room, and tilted her head questioningly.
“Oh, you’re asking who came? It was a fairly young cardinal with a kind smile that left an impression, what was his name again? Ni, Nichol….. Ah! I think they said it was Cardinal Nicholas!”
Nicholas……?
Belladonna bit her lower lip as she confirmed the name of the priest visiting Griblata.
Nicholas Castle.
He was the faithful right-hand man of Pope Pronens, and one who firmly held power in the papal court along with him.
‘To think he would send that man…..’
During her time as the Holy Maiden of Astanya, he was the cardinal she had conversed with the most besides the Pope, and one who always stuck close to the Pope like a shadow.
For him to be sent directly to Griblata……
The Pope must be desperate to know what kind of relationship Belladonna and Escalion had now.
He must be trying to confirm if he could bring me back to Astanya as soon as possible…….
“You must be happy that someone you know well has visited Griblata after so long! Right now, the lord is greeting the guests, so let’s hurry and get ready to go down too!”
Belladonna was led upstairs once again by Cindy’s hand pulling her along.
[This is the timeline separator]“The lady has arrived.”
Wolf lightly knocked on the reception room door and announced in a loud voice.
After waiting a moment for Escalion’s permission, Wolf turned the doorknob.
Belladonna stepped inside, trying hard to manage her expression.
“Holy Maiden Belladonna!”
Nicholas, who had been sitting at the table inside, could be seen jumping to his feet.
He approached her with a bright smile, spreading his arms wide.
“It’s been almost three months since the wedding, but why does it feel like so much more time has passed! I’m glad to see you looking better than before.”
What, what is this…… Is he going for a hug?
Belladonna glanced briefly at Escalion, who was sitting across the table looking up at her, then awkwardly leaned towards him.
Nicholas embraced her lightly and brought his face close.
We weren’t this close, what kind of act is this person putting on all of a sudden…….
At that moment, Nicholas, who had come close, whispered in her ear at a volume that Escalion, who had fallen back, couldn’t hear.
“You should smile. Where did that beautiful doll-like smile go, making such a human-like expression?”
“……!”
Belladonna’s shoulders hunched in surprise.
The moment she heard that voice, she felt as if she was back in Astanya.
Those moments when she was always shrinking, saying nothing and just smiling like the Pope’s doll because Astanya was unfamiliar and the people of the papal court were scary.
“……”
Nicholas gently stroked her stiffened shoulders and pulled away.
“Your father wanted to come himself, but he couldn’t leave the papal court.”
“……”
“Instead, I consider it an honor to be able to come fetch Holy Maiden Belladonna myself like this.”
Fetch me?
Belladonna’s eyes widened as she quickly turned to look at Escalion.
Has the Pope already made his move, and Escalion agreed? Even to divorce?
Escalion, who was sitting leaning back on the sofa, said dryly:
“If someone heard that, they might think the Cardinal was stealing my wife away. It’s just that the Holy Maiden is needed for the Emperor’s birthday celebration.”
The Emperor’s birthday…….
Come to think of it, the Emperor of Ellinerus’ birthday was around this time.
The Emperor’s birthday was one of the most important events in the Ellinerus Empire. In the capital where the imperial family resided, festivals celebrating the birthday were held for a whole week, and in Astanya where the papal court was located, the Holy Maiden would use her holy power to heal and care for sick people, bestowing affection, love, and compassion.
‘So that’s why the Pope set our marriage period to 3 months.’
The Pope had intended to bring Belladonna back to Astanya before the Emperor’s birthday celebration to have her take on the role of Holy Maiden again.
“Stealing her away, haha. Why such resentful words……”
Nicholas laughed out loud.
Having said that, Nicholas smiled gently at Belladonna.
“How could the Holy Maiden, who is practically the mascot of the papal court, be absent from an important national event like the Emperor’s birthday? Many citizens are already upset that the one and only Holy Maiden got married, so we should at least show her face at times like this to let them know her position is still secure.”
Nicholas asked Escalion in the kindest voice:
“Lord, I’ll ask once more. Though there’s still plenty of time before the event, would it be alright if we took the Holy Maiden with us in advance? We’d like to give her some time to catch up with the Pope.”
Escalion rolled his golden eyes, looking back and forth between Nicholas and Belladonna.
Belladonna fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes anxious.
No….. No!
If she went to Astanya like this, she might never be able to return to Griblata.
The Pope would use her as a hostage to buy time, and Escalion, whose heart had already left, might readily agree to the divorce he demanded.
I really don’t want that…….
Escalion, who had been quietly looking at Belladonna, changed his posture by moving his upper body and opened his mouth.
“Why are you asking for my permission to take Bella? Above all, my wife’s opinion is the most important.”
At his words, Nicholas’ gaze fixed on her.
Startled by the gaze fixed on her, Belladonna reflexively forced the corners of her mouth to lift up.
“What is Holy Maiden Belladonna’s opinion? If you come back to Astanya with me, you’ll be able to help your father prepare for the event together.”
“……”
“Ah, I forgot for a moment that our Holy Maiden answers with a beautiful smile.”
Nicholas, who had been quietly looking at the silent Belladonna, said with a grin:
“Such a benevolent smile, then I’ll take that as agreement and start preparing.”
Ah, but that’s not……!
Even if she returned to Astanya, there was no way she could exert holy power.
Belladonna, startled, shook her head vigorously belatedly.
Nicholas saw her shaking her head, but as if he hadn’t seen it, he turned abruptly and approached Escalion.
“Thank you for your consideration, my lord. Then we’ll depart as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow……”
“Do you have to leave so urgently after coming such a long way?”
At that moment, Escalion, who was sitting in the chair, blurted out.
“Pardon?”
“You seem to be moving too hastily.”
“But as, as you know, the birthday celebration is not far off……”
“I’m not sure how much effort the papal court puts into event preparations, but there’s still over 2 weeks left, isn’t there?”
“That may be true, but……”
Escalion turned his golden eyes to gaze at Belladonna and opened his mouth.
“My wife’s hometown guests have come all the way to visit Griblata, I’d feel bad if you left so soon.”
“……”
“You should receive proper hospitality before leaving.”
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.]
