Escalion, who pressed his body on top of me, felt heavy.

Belladonna’s head, which was gradually pushed back, touched the carriage wall.

With nowhere left to go, Belladonna opened her mouth.

“Why… Why are you doing this?”

At her very small voice, Escalion tilted his head to one side and spoke.

“In case you try to run away again.”

“I-It’s not running away, I tell you!”

“I can’t trust you anymore.”

Belladonna squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

What are we doing now! In broad daylight! In the carriage returning to Griblata! What if someone sees or hears…!

“What are you thinking about to close your eyes like that?”

“…!!”

Belladonna opened her eyes again.

Oh, is that not it?

“That’s not…”

But before she could open her mouth to offer a proper explanation, he lowered his head and blocked her lips with his.

Belladonna felt her breath catch as she received his breath.

A moist sound echoed in her ears.

Feeling her body rapidly heating up, Belladonna stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his thick neck.

This can’t be happening, in a place like this…!

“We will depart now.”

From outside, Graham’s voice could be heard shouting.

The vibration of the carriage rattling forward could be felt through the lying body.

Belladonna twisted her head to receive his breath even more deeply.

Their desire for each other was so intense that they couldn’t easily separate their bodies.

“…Mmph.”

As the carriage entered the portal and a feeling of nausea arose, Escalion finally pulled his lips away.

Belladonna looked up at him with a thoroughly softened gaze, feeling regret.

Escalion opened his mouth towards Belladonna with a reddened gaze.

“I wondered what you were thinking, but it seems you had the same thought as me.”

“…”

When she could only blink her eyes without being able to say anything due to being speechless, Escalion curved his eyes and let out a low laugh.

“I won’t torment you anymore. You might feel dizzy inside the portal.”

Belladonna frowned and pushed away him who was still on top of her.

Escalion retreated more easily than expected and raised his upper body.

“Stay lying down like that. You can sleep if you want.”

As if you could sleep?

Belladonna glared not unkindly at him who was leaning his head against the carriage seat and pulling at the corners of his mouth, then relaxed comfortably on the violently shaking seat.

Whether due to the carriage passing through the portal, or that man sitting calmly beside her gazing at her with an intense look, or because of Timothy and Tina left behind in Astanya, she really was starting to feel dizzy.

Belladonna forcibly pushed away her complicated thoughts and closed her eyes.

It’s cold…!

“It’s refreshing.”

I said it’s cold!

Belladonna shivered all over as she watched Escalion’s back as he leapt out of the carriage. How can he say this is refreshing, really?

As soon as the carriage passed through the portal and arrived in Griblata, an enormous cold enveloped her.

With the bitter cold felt to her very bones, it felt like her head was ringing on its own.

“Someone bring Bella a coat.”

Escalion, glancing back at Belladonna who was looking outside with a frightened face, said to someone.

Soon, a thick coat was placed in his hand.

“Bella, come over here and put this on.”

Belladonna moved her steps towards the outside where the cold wind was blowing fiercely.

Escalion pulled her out of the carriage and simultaneously put her into the coat he was holding.

Belladonna quickly slipped her arms into the coat to survive.

“I didn’t know you were such a quick person.”

Escalion said in an amused tone.

Belladonna clung close to him and moved her steps towards Griblata Castle visible before her eyes.

“My lady!”

“My lady!! Have you arrived?”

“Welcome back, my lady!”

As soon as they stepped into the lobby inside the castle, servants came running one by one to greet them.

Belladonna smiled brightly at them, feeling glad.

I’m so glad! Everyone is just the same!

“My laaady…!”

At that moment, someone’s long cry was heard from afar.

When she turned her head, she saw Wolf looking at her with an unbelievable expression.

He seemed frozen in place for a moment, then soon ran towards Belladonna.

“My lady! Is it really you? Is it true that you’ve returned to Griblata? Is it true that you’ll continue to be with our lord? Are you really not going back to Astanya ever again?”

Wolf, one at a time…

At the tremendous questions pouring out at her, Belladonna blinked her eyes slowly.

“Wolf, don’t torment my wife who just arrived.”

Escalion, who had finished a brief conversation with the knights, appeared and pushed away the teary-eyed Wolf with his thick arm while wrapping his arm around Belladonna’s shoulders.

Oh, if you push him that hard…!

But Wolf, who was pushed back hard, smiled happily without seeming hurt or particularly surprised.

“Ah, I’m sorry, my lady! I was too glad and committed a discourtesy. It’s late, please go up and rest quickly! Shall I have Cindy prepare hot water? I’ll prepare bath attendants as well.”

“Prepare the hot water, but no bath attendants are needed.”

“Understood! Then the hot water…”

“To my room.”

Wolf’s face lit up very brightly at Escalion’s answer.

He blinked his eyes sparklingly with emotion, then quickly turned around and called for Cindy.

Belladonna watched his retreating figure and smiled slightly.

Wolf was the only person in Griblata Castle who knew that she and Escalion had almost divorced.

So he must be so happy that I’ve returned like this…

Thinking that, she felt both apologetic and grateful at the same time.

“We’ll continue the emotional reunion tomorrow.”

At that moment, Escalion grabbed Belladonna’s waist and moved towards the stairs.

Almost being dragged in his arms, Belladonna went up to the upper floor.

Escalion, who naturally brought Belladonna into his room, sat her down on the bed.

The maids who had followed right behind them quickly entered the bathroom and began preparing the bath.

From inside the bathroom, the sound of turning on the faucet with a creak and water falling into the bathtub could be heard in order.

‘Escalion’s bed…’

Belladonna lowered her gaze while stroking the familiar texture of the blanket with her hand.

Perhaps because of his scent deeply permeated in the bed, her heart pounded pleasantly.

‘I really came back…’

Belladonna let out a low breath.

Like returning home after a very long journey, she felt relaxed and comfortable as if she might fall asleep at any moment.

“What’s taking so long?”

But Escalion, who was standing there just waiting for the maids to come out of the bathroom, didn’t seem to feel the same way.

He kept pacing around the room, ruffling his hair as if anxious.

Watching him unable to stay calm, Belladonna also felt a strange tension rising again.

Since he told Wolf that no bath attendants were needed, it seemed he intended to bathe her himself. Then after that…

Thinking about what might happen afterwards, her face flushed on its own.

“We’ve finished preparing the bath, my lord.”

“Good work. You may go.”

At Escalion’s words, the maids who came out of the bathroom bowed their heads and filed out of the room.

Among them, Cindy was seen winking at Belladonna just before leaving the room.

Wh-What…!! At her mischievous reaction, Belladonna’s face flushed even redder.

“Bella, take off your clothes.”

As soon as all the maids had left, Escalion said.

Th-This quickly?

Belladonna looked up at him in surprise as he was already crossing his hands and swiftly taking off his top.

Wh-Why are you in such a hurry right after arriving like this…?

As Belladonna fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, Escalion approached her in one step.

“I said take them off quickly.”

“I-I will…”

Belladonna answered in a small voice after checking that the door was tightly closed.

“Need help?”

“Ah, no. I’ll…”

Belladonna stood up from where she was sitting and pulled down her dress.

As she untied the waist string and pulled the dress down from her shoulders, the dress fell to the floor, having lost its strength.

Having become dressed in only a short, thin chemise reaching her thighs, Belladonna lowered her head, wondering if she should take that off too.

While she was hesitating, Escalion came close and lifted her up.

“…!”

Startled, Belladonna instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Escalion walked into the bathroom with big strides without saying anything.

As they entered the bathroom filled with hazy air, hot and humid air embraced her.

Escalion, who approached the bathtub, put her into the water with a very careful touch.

Belladonna slowly immersed her body in the water, starting from her toes.

“Tell me if it’s too hot.”

“It’s just right.”

“That’s good.”

Thinking he would follow right in, Escalion who had spoken briefly instead turned around and sat down on the bathroom floor.

Belladonna looked back at him with a puzzled face.

“Aren’t you… coming in?”

“You wash comfortably.”

“Then why were you in such a hurry?”

“You were cold. I had to quickly put you in hot water when you were shivering.”

He said as he leaned his head against the bathtub and stretched out his legs to sit.

Is that all…? It felt like the expectation that had swelled up in her chest was deflating.

Belladonna muttered, feeling somewhat deflated as she splashed the hot water with her palm.

“If you weren’t going to come in together, you could have just asked for bath attendants…”

“How could I ask others when your body is in that state?”

Belladonna looked down at her thighs, chest, and forearms still full of long scars and dark bruises. Ah, so that’s why…

Come to think of it, Escalion had only wholesome intentions considering her health, but it seemed she alone had all sorts of lewd imaginations in her head.

Realizing that fact, she felt very embarrassed belatedly.

Belladonna blushed and bit her lower lip alone. I’m crazy…! What on earth was I thinking by myself!

She thought it was fortunate that Escalion was turning his head away.

“…”

As she moved her body slightly under the hot water, the sound of the full water overflowing from the bathtub and falling to the floor could be heard.

Belladonna swallowed hard and glanced at the back of Escalion’s head.

“Escalion.”

“…”

“Escalion.”

“Speak.”

He answered a beat late. His low voice, mixed with fatigue, echoed in the bathroom.

Belladonna gathered her courage and lightly grabbed the hem of his clothes near his shoulder.

“Do you want to… come into the bathtub?”

“…”

“Since we’ve already drawn the water, shall we bathe together?”

Soon after, he lowered his head deeply and let out a groan.

Belladonna muttered in an even smaller voice.

“The water is really warm…”

“You really… Are you doing this on purpose knowing I’m holding back?”

Finally, Escalion, who let out another groan, slowly got up.

He turned his head towards Belladonna.

Meeting his face flushed red to his ears and his deepened golden eyes, she felt her mouth go dry on its own.

Belladonna looked up at Escalion putting his hand on his pants button, feeling dizzy.