“Damn it… Call a doctor immediately!”

As Escalion shouted, Cindy, who was standing not far away, quickly turned around and went down the stairs.

Belladonna looked down at her palm with a confused expression.

Why, why is this…

“Cough!”

At that moment, another cough burst out.

Belladonna reflexively raised her other arm to cover her mouth.

After the coughing subsided, she looked down at her sleeve to find red blood splattered there as well.

Huh? Why does it keep…

“This is maddening.”

Suddenly, her body felt lifted and her vision flipped upside down.

Escalion, who had picked her up, forcefully kicked open the door to his room with his one free foot and entered.

Cradled in Escalion’s arms, Belladonna blankly stared at her palm and clothes.

Is this… what it meant by using divine power taking a toll on the body?

“Is this some kind of protest for tormenting you all night?”

“…”

“If you really wanted to drive me insane, you’ve succeeded…”

“Ugh, cough…!”

“Ah, damn it.”

Belladonna burst into another fit of coughing.

Continuously coughing up blood made her feel increasingly nauseous.

She clutched her chest with one hand.

Ah, it hurts…

From above, she heard Escalion muttering unintelligible curses.

Belladonna felt her consciousness gradually fading as she weakly rested her face against his chest.

“The coughing has stopped for now. I’ll prepare some medicine that’s good for coughing up blood.”

The doctor who had finished the examination looked up at Escalion standing nearby as he spoke.

Escalion looked down at Belladonna lying on the bed with his arms crossed.

His expressionless face that was impossible to read seemed especially cold and frightening today.

Belladonna blinked quietly while watching him cautiously.

“Is coughing up blood like that related to divine power?”

“As I mentioned before, divine power draws on one’s life force to some extent, so it puts a great strain on the body. I wonder if you suddenly used a lot of healing power after not using it for a while…”

Belladonna avoided the doctor’s gaze that she felt from behind his thick glasses.

It was true that she had suddenly used a lot of divine power, as she had been fascinated by how wounds disappeared without a trace and poured healing power all over her body.

‘I didn’t know divine power was related to life force…’

Belladonna fidgeted with her fingers, feeling somewhat resentful.

“Besides divine power, your body becoming very weak recently could also be one of the causes. It hasn’t been long since you regained consciousness after being found in the snowy mountains not too long ago.”

The doctor continued in a calm voice.

“Hmm, I wonder if you’ve done anything recently that used up a lot of physical strength…”

“Used up physical strength?”

Escalion frowned slightly.

Belladonna had always been physically weak and frail, so she hadn’t particularly overexerted herself since coming to Griblata…

“…”

As he recalled something, his face turned pale once again.

Escalion glanced down at the bed where Belladonna was lying with his golden eyes.

He remembered pushing her to the limit there last night.

“I suppose there probably wasn’t anything like that. Then it seems divine power is indeed the main reason.”

“Wait. What exactly does using up physical strength include?”

At Escalion’s question, the doctor turned his head.

“Using up physical strength?”

“I mean… things like lifting extremely heavy objects, or climbing a steep slope at a fast pace, that sort of thing?”

“Ah, of course it could be things like that. But it can also include overworking your body to the point of breathlessness or not getting proper sleep.”

“…”

Activities that make you breathless, not getting proper sleep.

As he listened to the doctor’s words, Escalion tightly closed his eyes. You crazy bastard. You piece of trash.

“Anyway, you should avoid overexertion as much as possible from now on. I’ll have someone send over medicine that’s good for coughing up blood later today.”

“Alright, thank you for your work.”

Escalion sighed as he ran his hand over his forehead.

Just then, as the doctor was packing up his bag, there was a presence at the slightly open door.

Turning to look, they saw Nicholas peeking into the room with a puzzled expression.

“Lord. I apologize, but what is all this about?”

“…Cardinal Nicholas.”

“It seemed someone was urgently looking for a doctor… Don’t tell me Lady Belladonna has been injured?”

At that moment, Belladonna glimpsed the weariness that quickly passed over Escalion’s face.

She had thought they might have become closer after enjoying drinks together, but it didn’t seem to be quite the case.

Well, it’s not easy to become close with someone like Nicholas.

When there was no further response from Escalion, the impatient Nicholas spoke up again.

“I’d like to see the Lady a bit closer, if you’ll allow it?”

At his question, Escalion turned to meet Belladonna’s eyes.

He seemed to be asking for her opinion.

It’s uncomfortable and I don’t like it…

Though she desperately wanted to shake her head and say no, she worried Escalion might find it strange if she did.

Belladonna reluctantly turned up the corners of her mouth.

“Please come in.”

“Doctor, explain the results to me one more time.”

Nicholas, who had entered the room without hesitation, stopped the doctor who was about to leave.

The doctor frowned slightly at the rude and forceful attitude of someone who wasn’t even his patient giving orders so bluntly.

Nicholas urged again.

“Tell me properly what exactly is wrong with Lady Belladonna! You’ve finished examining her, haven’t you?”

“I’ll explain it. You may go now.”

Escalion, who had been watching them, rescued the poor doctor.

The doctor bowed deeply to Escalion before leaving the room.

Nicholas glared at him with a displeased look.

“There have been various strains recently that have piled up. In addition to her already poor physical condition…”

“Strain? My lady! Why would you do such a thing!”

Before Escalion could finish speaking, Nicholas turned to Belladonna angrily.

Belladonna flinched and hunched her shoulders without realizing it.

“The Emperor’s birthday celebration is in a few days, you haven’t forgotten that, have you? You should have been taking proper care of your body all along!”

Nicholas continued to raise his voice.

Even when she stayed in Astanya, he often scolded her like this.

“As it is, you barely use your divine power a few times a year, so when you do use it, you need to share grace and blessings with as many people as possible! From now on, you should eat nutritious foods and focus on recovering your strength…”

“Is that really what you should be saying right now?”

At that moment, a chilling voice echoed through the room.

Startled by the sudden intensity, Nicholas quickly shut his mouth.

“…Pardon?”

“I asked if that’s really what you should be saying to my wife who has collapsed after coughing up blood.”

Belladonna raised her head that had been lowered.

His golden eyes were glaring fiercely as he still stood with his arms crossed.

Nicholas unconsciously took a step back as he spoke.

“W-what do you mean…”

“I’m talking about pressuring someone who has collapsed from poor health to quickly recover their strength so they can use divine power.”

“P-pressuring? That’s not what I…”

Nicholas trailed off under Escalion’s cold gaze.

“If my wife is to recover quickly before the birthday celebration as you say, being like this right now certainly won’t help.”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Nicholas cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to look at Belladonna.

With a humiliated expression all over his face, he forcibly pulled up the corners of his mouth into an awkward smile.

“That’s not what I meant, my lady. I was just so concerned that you were in such poor health…”

Knowing this was insincere, Belladonna inwardly let out a small sigh.

To the people of the papal state, Lady Belladonna was that kind of existence.

Someone who only exerts divine power when they need it to solidify the papal state’s position.

Someone who listens to the unspoken troubles of nobles and wealthy commoners, receiving large donations in return.

Someone who must remain by their side, whole and beautiful, whenever they need her.

‘That’s why they’re so desperate to take me back to Astanya.’

“If you’re finished speaking, please leave now.”

Escalion, who had been standing behind, stepped forward and spoke.

He pulled up the blanket covering Belladonna, tucking it securely under her chin.

“My wife needs to rest now.”

“Ah, y-yes of course! Ah, thank you for showing me around Griblata today, my lord.”

Nicholas tried to change the subject to break the frigid atmosphere.

But when Escalion didn’t respond at all and only continued arranging the bed where Belladonna lay, he clicked his tongue and stepped back.

Belladonna watched as he glared at Escalion with a hardened expression.

He can’t say anything to his face, but glares like that from behind as if it’ll bore a hole in the back of his head.

“Then… rest well. Both you, my lord, and you, my lady.”

In place of Escalion who still gave no reply, Belladonna nodded her head.

Nicholas, who had been standing still with his jaw clenched, finally turned and strode out of the room.

I’ve never seen that kind of expression from him before…

Belladonna blinked as she stared at the door where Nicholas had disappeared.

In Astanya, he had been second in authority only to the Pope.

He who had always been arrogant, impudent, and rude to everyone except believers, to think he could make such a humiliated expression.

Somehow it felt satisfying.

“All of you leave as well.”

At Escalion’s words, Wolf, Cindy, and several other maids who had been lined up on one side of the room bowed their heads and headed outside.

Left alone in an instant, Belladonna quietly looked up at him.

Are you perhaps going to scold me too…?

Escalion, who had dismissed everyone, sat down heavily in the small chair beside the bed without hesitation.

Sitting in the place where the doctor had been, he leaned his large body against the backrest and quietly gazed at Belladonna.

What, why…

As she uncomfortably shifted her gaze here and there, his voice suddenly rang out.

“Even while being treated like that, do you dislike Griblata that much?”