Ugh…!

At Escalion’s touch, Belladonna flinched greatly and shrank back.

Though unintentional, the area Escalion had grasped was severely wounded.

Ah, it hurts……

Escalion, even more surprised by Belladonna trembling and shrinking back, quickly pulled away.

“Ah, sorry….”

No, that’s not it…!

Belladonna belatedly shook her head and tried to soften her expression, but her untreated thigh continued to ache.

“…..”

The heated atmosphere instantly cooled.

Escalion took a step back, moving further away from her, and exhaled the breath he had been holding.

He frowned as he brushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you….”

“…..”

“Damn it, I didn’t mean to do this as soon as I saw you. I didn’t come looking for you for this.”

No, I didn’t dislike this physical contact! Belladonna waved both hands.

Her actions just now would have appeared to anyone as if she was frightened and avoiding the intensifying physical contact.

But she couldn’t very well lift her skirt to show the wound on her thigh to clear up the misunderstanding.

Escalion raised the back of his hand to roughly wipe off Belladonna’s makeup that had smeared on his lips.

“You didn’t need to try so hard to endure it.”

I wasn’t enduring…!

Belladonna sighed, frustrated that her true feelings weren’t getting through.

Just how much more clearly do I need to say it? How much I like you, how happy I am that you came all this way, how I feel right now…!

This cursed voice! When will it come back!

Escalion, who had been staring at Belladonna who was about to burst, opened his mouth.

“What kind of reunion time is this for a married couple.”

“…..”

“You tremble and can’t stand it even when I touch you like this.”

Aaagh!

Belladonna screamed inwardly.

Was Escalion always this frustrating?

Did something happen in Gribblata while I was gone? Did someone recite 100 reasons why I must hate you or something!

Belladonna quickly turned and grabbed the paper and pen from the side table.

[I didn’t avoid you, I was just surprised because it’s been so long.]

“…..”

[I meant it when I said I missed you. What reason would I have to lie to you now?]

Escalion raised his eyes silently after reading the words. His golden eyes were still full of distrust.

Ugh, I guess this is my karma…..

[I understand you can’t trust me since you got hit hard from your perspective. I know you must have been greatly disappointed this time too, since I said I’d return to Gribblata after the birthday celebration but there was no news even after almost two months, but I had my reasons.]

Writing out her frustrated inner thoughts like this seemed quite brazen…

Belladonna stared blankly at the words she had written, then quickly added one more sentence at the end.

[I’m sorry for making you wait.]

“You don’t need to be sorry….”

Escalion groaned as he pressed his forehead.

He couldn’t understand himself why he kept saying strange things contrary to his feelings.

He thought that maybe something had twisted from the moment he found her standing among the thin, white male priests upon arriving in Astanya.

Certainly, I like this… Is it scary?

Escalion lowered his head slightly to look at his own body.

Even to his eyes, which had no interest in such things, he appeared to have a threatening appearance opposite to the priests of Astanya.

“Ah, damn it.”

Damn that Scarlet.

He cursed his half-sister in his mind as he moved his feet.

“Let’s go to the Pope’s office for now. If we stay here any longer, I think I’ll go crazy.”

[You came to return the divorce papers, didn’t you?]

Belladonna quickly scribbled on the paper and held it up in front of Escalion’s eyes.

Escalion raised one eyebrow as he read her writing.

“I’m just returning what you left behind.”

[No. I said I won’t divorce.]

“Who said anything? I just came to return it.”

[If you give that to Father, then it’ll really be irreversible……]

“Bella.”

Escalion grabbed Belladonna’s wrist as she was writing. He looked directly at Belladonna and opened his mouth.

“I only said I came to return the divorce papers. It’s right to return it to you since you left it behind. I never said I was going to give it to His Holiness the Pope, so what are you saying?”

Ah…..

Belladonna belatedly blinked her eyes.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

Escalion merely intended to greet Pope Pronance about coming to Astanya, and from the start planned to return the divorce papers to Belladonna, not him.

“I have no intention whatsoever of involving His Holiness in matters related to you. Our problem is just our problem. A problem between us as a married couple.”

“…..”

“If you understand, guide me to the Pope’s office.”

Escalion said firmly.

Belladonna, who had been staring blankly at him, reluctantly nodded.

She couldn’t very well stop him from even greeting the Pope.

[This is the timeline separator]

“The Lord of Gribblata, Sir Escalion Diete and his knights have come to visit.”

When Timothy, who was guarding the front of the office, spoke in a loud voice, the door inside opened.

At the action signifying permission, Timothy quickly moved away from the door and made way for Escalion, Belladonna, Hazel, and Graham.

Pope Pronance, who appeared as the papal office door opened, spoke with an exceedingly benevolent smile to them.

“Welcome, Sir Diete. And all the other knights as well.”

“We are honored to see you, Your Holiness.”

Escalion bowed his head in courtesy with a pleasing baritone voice.

Following him, Hazel and Graham also bowed at the waist.

“Thank you for welcoming us so warmly despite our sudden visit.”

“No, rather, it is more of an honor for me. Well, let’s exchange more detailed greetings later, and come this way for now.”

The Pope said, indicating the seats already set up inside.

As Escalion, Hazel, and Graham entered in order and Belladonna was about to follow them inside, the Pope raised his arm to stop her.

Huh?

“Belladonna, you don’t need to come in.”

W-why not me? Belladonna raised her head with a puzzled face.

Then, a crack that others couldn’t see appeared on his face that had only looked benevolent.

Belladonna was startled and opened her eyes wide as she detected that dark light he showed when he was violent towards her.

“I heard you were tired because believers kept coming all day today, wouldn’t it be better to go to your room and rest?”

“…..”

“And anyway…”

He turned to look at Escalion sitting down in the prepared seat inside and whispered very softly so that he couldn’t hear.

“…what use is there in having someone who can’t speak come in.”

Ugh…..

Belladonna clenched her fist and bit her lower lip.

What on earth are you trying to say…? Are you going to make another deal about me without me again? Like when you made the contract marriage I didn’t know about?

“Yes, that would be better, right? Then do that. I hope you get plenty of rest.”

Even though she hadn’t given any answer, the Pope smiled as if he had heard an affirmative reply and closed the door.

Belladonna silently stared at the door that had slammed shut right in front of her. Her arms trembled involuntarily with cold anger.

“Um, Saint?”

Just then, Timothy, who had been standing a few steps behind, approached.

Belladonna took a deep breath and composed her expression before turning around.

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

Shake shake.

Belladonna shook her head at him who was showing her kindness and plopped down on a long bench not far from the entrance to the papal office.

If they won’t let me in, I’ll just wait until they come out!

It was better to grab him and clear up any misunderstandings as soon as their conversation ended, rather than letting misunderstandings pile up between them when she didn’t know what the Pope would say to Escalion.

‘That way I can return to Gribblata as soon as possible!’

Belladonna anxiously bit her lip as she sat in her seat.

“Then may I also sit beside you and wait?”

Without even turning to look at Timothy who asked cautiously, Belladonna nodded.

Soon, she felt him carefully sitting down in the seat next to her.

“…..”

A strange silence flowed.

Belladonna was staring blankly at the floor when she unconsciously put her hand in her pocket.

I’m bored…..

Just then, there was a rattling sound from inside. Huh? What’s this?

When she thoughtlessly pulled out what her hand touched and looked at it, she saw the small bottle she had found earlier in the confessional.

Ah, right. I forgot to leave this in my room.

“Oh? That’s…”

At that moment, Timothy, who had been sitting quietly in the next seat, opened his mouth.

Hm? Do you know what this is?

“Isn’t that the tonic the Saint usually enjoyed drinking?”

Tonic…? This?

Belladonna gently shook the liquid inside the small bottle and looked at it carefully.

The Saint hid tonic in the confessional? On purpose?

“You used to drink it quite often before, but recently it seemed like you weren’t drinking it so I was worried if you were okay, but I guess you had it set aside separately.”

Hmm….. So you’re saying this is what the Saint used to enjoy drinking.

It seems she usually prevented her body from weakening by drinking this, since her strength would probably decline if she used a lot of holy power.

No wonder! Lately, as I kept using holy power, my healing power wasn’t the same as before and my body felt weak, I should have found this and drank it earlier!

Belladonna looked down at the bottle feeling somewhat aggrieved.

Then was that key just for a drawer containing the Saint’s personal belongings? There was only this one bottle… Did she drink all the rest?

“After drinking it, you always looked much better. I thought it must be quite effective.”

But is it okay for me to just drink this when it’s not mine? Even though it’s the Saint’s belongings…

However, lately she could feel that her body and holy power weren’t the same as before, so her desire grew.

‘If I just drink this, will I be able to return to my original condition? I want to heal all the wounds on my body that I haven’t fully healed yet…’

Belladonna glanced at Timothy who was still smiling.

‘Besides, if even Timothy knows about it to this extent, there must be someone who makes this, right? So if I drink just one bottle…’

Having finished her thoughts, Belladonna slowly opened the lid of the bottle.

After hesitating briefly, she brought the bottle to her lips and gulped down the liquid inside.

I don’t care anymore!

‘Ugh, it’s bitter…! I guess medicine that’s good for you is supposed to be bitter!’

Belladonna wiped her wet lips as she put down the empty bottle.

“Please give me the empty bottle. I’ll throw it away in the trash for you.”

Ah, thank you!

Just as she was holding out the empty bottle to Timothy without much thought, she felt the background slowly spinning.

Soon, she felt dizzy.

‘Huh?’

Her hand holding out the empty bottle to him shook violently and seemed to split in two.

Um… What’s going on?

Belladonna blinked her eyes blankly.

Though unintentional, her eyelids closed and opened very slowly as if they weren’t her own.