Belladonna looked up at him quietly as if in a dream.

Is it really… Really Escalion?

Even seeing him right in front of her, she couldn’t believe it.

The fact that he was now in the Papal State of Astanya, and standing right in front of her, truly felt like a dream.

As she stood there unable to do anything, feeling as if her breath would stop, Escalion tilted his head askew and spat out.

“I wasn’t expecting you to jump into my arms in joy, but should I be grateful you’re not turning tail and running away?”

His tone was displeased, without any sign of joy as he said this.

But despite his negative reaction, Belladonna still couldn’t move a step.

Escalion’s uniquely rough and dangerous aura, languid gaze, and scent seemed to envelop her.

“I’m not here to catch you, so why don’t you relax?”

At his low voice, Belladonna came to her senses and slowly looked him over.

With his dark skin and enormous build, he exuded a wild charm, looking completely out of place in the Papal State.

Faced with Escalion whom she had longed for so much, she felt the desire to jump into his broad embrace right away.

Just as she was about to move her legs, Hazel’s voice was heard from behind Escalion.

“Commander, why don’t we greet the Pope first? It would be proper etiquette to pay a courtesy call.”

And only then did she notice Hazel and Graham standing behind Escalion.

Belladonna blinked in belated surprise.

Oh, there were other people here!

“My lady, it’s been a while. You must have been very busy lately!”

Graham said with a grin.

“Since it’s our first time at the Papal State, we got a bit lost. We tried to ask passersby for directions, but instead of helping, crowds just kept gathering…”

Come to think of it, that chaotic atmosphere earlier…

It wasn’t unreasonable for the priests to be startled and running about, given that guests from Gribblata, and the Saint’s husband at that, had arrived and were roaming around the Papal State looking for the Saint and the Pope.

Wait. So, what should I do now? Should I just follow him and run away? Ah, that wouldn’t work, would it?

Now that Escalion was actually in front of her, she couldn’t calm down.

As Belladonna still couldn’t gather her wits and was flustered, Roji whispered in her ear on her behalf.

“I hear the Pope is currently in his office.”

Ah…

Belladonna swallowed hard.

In her heart, she wanted to grab Escalion’s hand right away and return to Gribblata, Pope or no Pope, but his expression was so stern when she glanced up at him.

He must be angry that I didn’t return for over two months after loudly declaring I would…!

Belladonna sighed, feeling frustrated that she still couldn’t speak even after he had come all the way here, tired of waiting.

Escalion, who had been staring at her intently, suddenly blurted out.

“Do you hate it that much?”

What? Belladonna jerked her head up. What on earth was he saying she hated…

“Hey, Commander! Let’s go greet him first.”

At that moment, Hazel grabbed Escalion’s broad shoulder and stepped forward.

“My lady! I’m sorry, but could you please guide us to the Pope? We came so suddenly without notice, so we should at least say hello.”

Belladonna nodded reflexively and turned around.

She walked towards the building where the Pope was, following the path slowly cleared by the priests gathered around them.

As she walked bit by bit, she finally felt her mind clearing.

Belladonna glanced back at the three men following behind.

‘Why did Escalion suddenly come all the way to Astanya?’

Is he really angry that I didn’t return? Could it be that he came to take me back?

I hope that’s the case…

Just then, Escalion, noticing her gaze, spoke up.

“I didn’t come to catch you, I came because I have something to return.”

Something to return?

Though she didn’t know what it was, somehow those words made her anxious, sounding like he wasn’t going to take her back to Gribblata.

At that moment, Graham, walking behind Escalion, spoke up.

“Looks like the lady’s been busy too. Well, we can take our time sorting things out and bring her back!”

“That’s right! If we explain things well to the Pope…”

“Bella is not going back.”

Escalion cut off Hazel’s words midway.

At his words, not only Belladonna but also Hazel and Graham were all startled and stopped in their tracks.

“What? What do you mean?”

“Then why did you come all the way here? We thought the lord himself came to bring the lady back, that’s why we followed!”

“I told you, I have something to return.”

“Who comes all this way in person, with just two elite knights, to return an object! In the Ellineros Empire where the postal system is so well developed!”

Escalion frowned as if annoyed by Hazel’s chattering beside him.

He ran his hand through his hair irritably and nodded to the men who had stopped in place.

“Shut up, and let’s go.”

“…”

Hazel and Graham moved their legs with dissatisfied faces, but Belladonna still didn’t move.

So I… won’t be returning to Gribblata?

As she stood firm in place while leading the way at the front, no one could move.

In turn, Escalion, looking down at the back of her head, hardened his face.

Hazel and Graham, positioned behind the couple, hesitated while exchanging glances, then spoke in small voices.

“H-How about giving the couple some time for reunion before meeting the Pope?”

“That’s right! The lord and lady must be seeing each other after quite a long time, s-shall we leave them alone for a moment to have a private conversation?”

“Let’s do that! Yes! Then we’ll take a little walk around here! Wow, the Papal State of Astanya is really impressive!”

“Yes, it’s really impressive!”

As Hazel and Graham disappeared, fidgeting, Belladonna raised her gaze.

Escalion, meeting her eyes, opened his mouth uncomfortably.

“They’re doing unnecessary things.”

But Belladonna didn’t think they had done anything unnecessary.

She reached out and grabbed his thick arm tightly, turning around to walk.

Belladonna really wanted to talk with him.

Regardless of what thoughts brought him here, Belladonna wanted to return to Gribblata with him.

“Where are you going?”

Escalion asked, moving along as she held onto him.

It wasn’t a question expecting an answer from her, who couldn’t speak anyway.

Belladonna silently led him into the building and up to where her room was located.

She judged that they wouldn’t be able to talk quietly outside the Papal State with so many priests still glancing at them.

“This is…”

My room!

Belladonna entered the room without hesitation, pushed Escalion inside, and closed the door behind her with a thud.

Escalion’s expression changed subtly as he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

“You’ve become bold while we were apart?”

Belladonna just stood there looking at him for a moment, then rushed at him.

Escalion reflexively caught Belladonna as she suddenly jumped into his arms.

“What is this…”

Only when she felt the warm body temperature, rich scent, firm muscles, and smooth skin did it feel real. Belladonna kept burrowing into his embrace that she had missed so much.

Escalion really came here…

“Wait a moment. I appreciate the warm welcome, but first let me put this down…”

Escalion spoke in a troubled voice as he tried to separate himself.

Belladonna tensed her whole body, not wanting to let go of him.

But for Escalion, removing Belladonna from his body was as easy as plucking a leaf.

Having finally detached Belladonna from himself and meeting her eyes, he asked.

“…How have you been? Since the end of the birthday celebration, I mean.”

Belladonna raised her finger and wrote on his palm.

‘I. M.I.S.S.E.D. Y.O.U.’

Escalion frowned as he read the letters.

Words of sincere agreement, that he had felt the same and perhaps even more so, nearly burst out through his throat, but he barely managed to collect himself.

He couldn’t know her true feelings from just letters.

And perhaps such feelings of his could be a burden to her who wanted to stay in Astanya.

Escalion deliberately spoke in a gruff voice.

“You seemed pretty content for someone who missed me.”

‘I. W.A.S. P.R.E.T.E.N.D.I.N.G.’

“You’re a good actor then.”

Escalion grumbled in response.

Belladonna looked at him quietly, seeming unchanged, then slowly reached out to place her hand on his cheek.

Escalion flinched noticeably as he looked down at her.

Belladonna bit her lower lip, thinking his lowered golden eyes looked quite stimulating.

The atmosphere surrounding them changed rapidly.

“…”

Finally, Escalion, who had been maintaining eye contact with her, covered his eyes with a deep sigh.

“You know. Right now you’re a bit…”

“…”

“No, I must be crazy for thinking that. Maybe we should just leave here and meet the Pope first…”

Escalion couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because Belladonna was carefully removing his hand that forcibly covered his eyes.

Below the large palm, golden eyes with a different heat than before were revealed.

His Adam’s apple moved up and down greatly as he met her gaze.

“Bella.”

Belladonna took a step closer to him as he stared at her intensely.

At the same time, Escalion moved his upper body, cupping her cheeks and bending down.

Her standing body was pushed back in an instant as their rough breaths intertwined.

Belladonna closed her eyes tightly and surrendered herself to him.

The hot breaths continuously flowing in made her mind feel distant.

Soon, the room was filled with sensual sounds.

Belladonna spread her hands wide and stroked Escalion’s broad back.

His body, full of small muscles, undulated greatly up and down.

“Haa…”

Escalion, who had briefly separated his lips, furrowed his brow and exhaled a low breath.

His reddened eyes formed an erotic contrast with his dark skin.

Escalion, looking down at Belladonna with a half-dazed gaze, roughly grabbed the back of her thighs tightly with his hands.