Don't Get Caught By Your Husband! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11

Quick-witted Cindy grabbed her arm and pulled her to the right, blurting out,

“My lord asked you not to worry about anything tonight and get a good rest!”

Not to worry?

Belladonna looked at her with a puzzled expression, prompting Cindy to speak again.

“According to Lord Wolf, my lord has been away from the domain for quite some time recently due to weddings and such, so his workload has piled up. He managed to make time yesterday only because it was your wedding night, but for now, he’ll have to work late into the night.”

I see…

Belladonna nodded and headed toward her room.

She felt relieved, yet also somewhat sorry for him.

“My lord usually works late into the night anyway. And yet, he never seems tired—every morning, he’s the first person in this castle to wake up and do his dawn exercises.”

Cindy continued proudly, her voice brimming with admiration.

“We all agree that Gravlitah’s prosperity is entirely thanks to our lord! It was he who opened the new harbor to welcome ships and granted merchant guilds the freedom to trade!”

Escalion…?

He complained aloud about giving me the most barren land, yet apparently worked hard all this time?

Belladonna entered her room with a renewed sense of surprise.

Cindy removed the fur from her shoulders and opened the door to the steam-filled bathroom.

“We’ve been so worried among ourselves—working all alone with no woman around, we couldn’t guess whom our lord might bring in as mistress! But now that he’s brought such a beautiful lady like you, we’re truly overjoyed!”

“…”

Suddenly, Belladonna felt her heart sink.

She scoffed inwardly and stepped into the bathroom.

“No woman around?”

Right. Not just one woman—he probably had three or four already…

‘…Could this be lines Escalion told her to say?’

Grumbling to herself, Belladonna took off her dress and dipped her toes into the hot bathwater.

Ah, so warm…

All her fatigue seemed to melt away instantly.

“My lady, please relax and unwind inside! You might get thirsty, so I’ll bring you some cool tea. Just wait a moment!”

Cindy beamed and dashed out of the room.

Left alone, Belladonna stretched her legs out far and kicked the water as if venting her frustration.

‘What a hopeless playboy…’

Just moments ago, while strolling by the sea with him and leaning against him on their way back to the castle, she’d felt as light as air—but now that feeling had plunged straight into mud.

‘That’s exactly his skill! His technique for stealing women’s hearts!’

Belladonna stuck out her lower lip and crossed her arms.

She stared at the exotic-patterned tiles across from her, recalling what had just happened.

Hah! Honestly!

Does he think I’d fall for him so easily?

How many women has he charmed this way already!

“Only someone like me wouldn’t fall for it…”

Belladonna muttered under her breath, barely audible.

I almost let my guard down!

Frowning, she lifted her head and leaned her back against the edge of the bathtub.

“Sigh…”

He said he’d be busy from now on—actually, that was for the best.

She hoped they wouldn’t cross paths for a while…

Belladonna closed her eyes and exhaled small breaths steadily.

Though an inexplicable unease stirred within her, she shook her head firmly and pushed it away.

‘I really hope these three months pass quickly…’

She blinked up at the ceiling.

[This is the timeline separator]

“My lady, the most renowned jeweler and tailor from Grivblata have come to the castle.”

A few days later, Cindy entered Belladonna’s room with a bright smile.

Belladonna nodded to her and descended to the reception room via the central staircase.

“Duchess Diete, good day to you!”

“Good day, Duchess!”

“Good day to you!”

As she entered the reception room, a stout, short jeweler stood side by side with a relatively taller tailor couple, greeting her together.

Belladonna graced them with a perfect smile and gave a polite nod.

“Ahh…”

Upon seeing the saintess’s smile, they momentarily wore enchanted expressions before quickly snapping back to their senses and beginning to open the bags they’d brought.

“Now, now! Without further delay, let me show you right away! I’ve selected a few of the latest trending jewels from Grivblata.”

“And we’ve brought these as well! This dress features the capital’s popular lined design, and this cape is accented with lace specially ordered from abroad.”

Ohh…

Belladonna looked down at the dazzling array of items suddenly spread before her.

Not only in her past life, but even as the Saintess, she’d never once personally chosen what she wore.

‘Back then, I just wore whatever the Pope picked out or whatever the maids handed me…’

“Do you perhaps have a preference?”

I don’t really have a preference…

Seeing Belladonna’s troubled look, Cindy, who’d been standing behind her, quickly stepped forward and spoke.

“Preference? Come on! Can’t you tell just by looking at our lady?”

“Uh…?”

“Isn’t it obvious she’ll look stunning in anything? We went out of our way to invite the most famous artisans in Grivblata—how could you not even know that?”

“Ahh…”

“I-Indeed!”

Flustered, the jeweler and tailor couple fumbled with their items.

“Just prepare your finest and most beautiful pieces.”

Ah, no!

Belladonna, who’d been quietly listening nearby, hastily grabbed Cindy’s wrist.

Where would we even get the money for that!

Besides, I’m… leaving in three months! I can’t let him waste money like that!

Something reasonable will be more than enough!

“Ah—yes? Oh… Understood.”

Did she actually understand?

Belladonna eyed Cindy suspiciously.

Cindy turned back to the jeweler and tailor couple with a serious expression.

“He says cost doesn’t matter—just finish as quickly as possible.”

“Oh, really?”

“We’ll do our absolute best! Just leave it to us!”

No way!

Belladonna frantically shook her head and gripped Cindy’s wrist tightly.

Just then, the jeweler, who’d been flipping rapidly through his sketchbook, stopped at a certain page.

He turned the sketchbook toward Belladonna and Cindy and said,

“How about using that top-grade ruby you purchased last time to make a pair of earrings this time?”

Last time?

Belladonna froze mid-motion, still holding Cindy’s wrist.

Last time…?

“What?! What on earth are you talking about!”

Cindy shot up from her seat with a sharp cry, snatching the sketchbook from the jeweler and swiftly slamming it shut.

Her face had gone deathly pale as she shouted,

“When did our lord ever purchase such a ruby? Are you confusing him with someone else?”

The jeweler finally snapped out of it, blinking rapidly as he glanced nervously at Belladonna.

“Oh dear… Yes! My mistake—I confused him with, uh, that foreign merchant who bought it…”

“Really…! If you’re going to make such blunders, we can’t do business with you anymore!”

“I-I’m so sorry! My memory’s just not what it used to be…”

The jeweler looked deeply embarrassed, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists on his knees.

He must be really flustered…

Belladonna glanced up calmly at Cindy, who still stood rigidly in place.

‘Cindy really can’t lie at all…’

With a small sigh, Belladonna pointed to the pen held by the tailor’s wife and reached out her hand.

“Y-Yes? Here…”

The tailor’s wife instinctively handed over the pen, which Belladonna took with a smile and began writing on the sketchbook the jeweler had set down.

[Luxury items aren’t necessary. Just select a few practical pieces sufficient to get through this winter.]

“But…?”

[I’ll give you plenty of time, so please don’t overexert yourselves.]

“My lady…”

As she sat down, Cindy muttered unhappily.

Belladonna turned to the jeweler and tailor couple across from her and offered them her signature radiant smile.

“Oh, Saintess…”

“If the Saintess wishes it, we’d be honored…”

The couple looked as though they’d received divine grace, then slowly nodded as they met her gaze.

“Your consideration for us is truly beautiful.”

“Indeed, the Saintess is unlike anyone else…”

Unlike anyone else, my foot…

Maintaining her smile, Belladonna nodded once more.

[This is the timeline separator]

“My lady…”

Cindy glanced at her cautiously before speaking.

Belladonna looked back with a seemingly carefree smile.

They’d come out to the castle garden to personally see off the jeweler and tailor couple.

“P-Please don’t pay any attention to what the jeweler said earlier!”

Cindy, if you act like this, how can I not worry?

Belladonna nodded wearily.

“Our lord is not that kind of man…”

What kind of man, exactly?

By now, Belladonna was genuinely curious about who the woman was—the one to whom Escalion had gifted expensive jewels and even brought to the castle.

As she watched the carriage drive away, Belladonna turned and glanced up at the second-floor window.

‘Come to think of it—is that man even in the castle right now? Could he have gone to meet her again…?’

She stood still for a moment, gazing upward at the window, then slowly turned away.

‘…It’s none of my concern.’

After all, in three months, she’d be leaving Grivblata.

And by then, the whole world would surely know the identity of the woman he’d been hiding.

But still…

‘…Why do I feel so bad?’

“My lady, are you all right? Is something bothering you?”

Cindy, standing beside her, looked up with anxious eyes.

Out of habit, Belladonna smiled and shook her head.

“…”

No! Wait!

Of course I feel bad! He married me, yet keeps another woman he truly loves?

What kind of two-faced behavior is that—dishonest to both women?

Where on earth did he sell off his knightly honor!

“My lady…? Wait, are you running a fever all of a sudden…?”

Cindy reached toward Belladonna’s forehead.

Her hand felt wonderfully cool against Belladonna’s skin—it seemed she really was running a fever.

Yes, exactly!

I’m so angry I’m burning up—burning up!

Belladonna took a deep breath, trying to calm the furious boil inside her.

But then…

‘Why am I suddenly so dizzy?’

“My lady! Are you okay? Your whole body is burning up!”

Cindy cried out, panic-stricken.

Though standing very close, her voice sounded distant, buzzing faintly in Belladonna’s ears.

Belladonna slowly blinked, her legs giving way as she collapsed downward.

“Aaah! My lady! Someone, please help!”

Belladonna saw Cindy clutching her arms and calling out to those around her.

But even that grew fainter, fading away until everything vanished into darkness.