Don't Get Caught By Your Husband! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
“Saintess?”
Standing breathless before the entrance to the dining room, a maid emerged and looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
Belladonna quickly composed her expression and offered the maid an elegant smile.
“Oh, Saintess… His Holiness the Pope is waiting for you.”
The entranced maid personally pushed open the dining room door.
Belladonna slowly stepped inside and looked toward her adoptive father, seated at the dining table.
“Belladonna, you’ve arrived.”
He asked in a low voice, still holding a water glass.
Belladonna gracefully bowed in greeting to the Pope with a natural gesture and then took her seat across the long dining table.
As she reached for her cup, glancing at the Pope’s expression, a dignified voice spoke again.
“Ah, could you wait a moment before eating? I’ve invited someone to join us today.”
Someone?
Belladonna rolled her blue eyes once and nodded.
It wasn’t unusual for someone to accompany the Pope at meals. In any case, Belladonna simply needed to eat quietly while letting their conversation pass through one ear and out the other.
‘I’m hungry…’
Belladonna glanced at the appetizing dishes on the table and licked her lips.
Whoever you are, please hurry up.
Knock knock.
Just then, a knock sounded from behind.
Ah, they must have arrived right on time.
Belladonna rose from her seat to greet the Pope’s guest and turned around. She fixed on her usual bright smile and looked toward the slowly opening door.
Most likely another high-ranking noble visiting the Pope for political reasons…
“…!”
Huh…?
Belladonna’s eyes widened as she stared at the massive figure entering through the door held open by the blushing maid.
“Lord Diete. Welcome.”
The Pope stepped forward and extended his hand.
The tall man who had just entered the dining room and was now naturally shaking hands with the Pope…
Was the very man who’d been calmly napping under a tree just moments ago. That—that intruder…!
‘Oh no…’
Belladonna couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, her heart pounding as she slowly took him in.
He stood a head taller and far more solidly built than an ordinary man, with jet-black hair falling naturally over his forehead and dangerous golden eyes gleaming beneath.
Though he’d worn simple, form-fitting clothes under the tree earlier, he now wore a formal uniform—presumably out of respect for the Pope.
Though he hadn’t properly fastened the buttons.
“I come to pay my respects, Your Holiness.”
When he spoke, a pleasant baritone voice flowed out.
“Bella?”
The Pope turned his head toward Belladonna, who stood frozen in place.
At his call, Belladonna finally came to her senses and quickly pulled at the corners of her mouth into a smile.
She bowed slightly to show him proper respect.
Ah… I think I’m ruined…
“Hahaha! This is my one and only daughter, Belladonna. Your striking appearance must have momentarily stolen her wits.”
“It seems I’m the one who should be losing my wits—not the Saintess.”
The man replied, locking his gleaming golden eyes directly onto Belladonna.
Belladonna felt as if she were being pulled into the depths of his gaze; her breath caught, and she swallowed hard.
What… what kind of look is that…?
Sweat trickled down her back as she strained to keep her smile steady.
Ha… hahaha…
“Hahaha! You flatter her too much. Please, do sit. Our carefully prepared meal will get cold.”
The Pope let out a hearty laugh, turned, and gestured toward the table.
He guided the man to his seat and then crossed back to his own.
Belladonna also sat down, carefully aware of the man now seated a short distance away.
Surely… he couldn’t have heard my voice earlier.
He couldn’t have.
He couldn’t have… right?
“As you already know well, my daughter cannot speak.”
Wait—why are you jumping straight into that?
Belladonna snapped her head up, startled by the Pope’s abrupt statement.
Feeling inexplicably guilty about what had just happened, Belladonna quickly glanced at the man seated beside her. He lifted his wine glass to his lips but gave no reply.
“…”
Sensing her gaze, he abruptly averted his eyes.
Their golden eyes briefly met, startling Belladonna so much she quickly turned her head away.
“Though my daughter is lacking in many ways… I hope you’ll regard her favorably.”
Huh? What exactly are you talking about—with me right here?
Frustrated and anxious, Belladonna fidgeted with her hands beneath the table.
Perhaps because she feared he might have overheard her voice, she felt unusually uneasy—unlike her usual self.
Slowly, she reached for her water glass and brought it to her lips.
My throat’s burning… it’s burning…
“Truthfully, I’d already made up my mind on the way here.”
A low voice came from the man beside her. Both the Pope’s and Belladonna’s eyes snapped toward him.
He set down his wine glass with an easy motion and began speaking.
“Even I cannot possibly marry someone whose face I’ve never seen.”
“Pfft!”
Belladonna, mid-sip, spat the water straight out of her mouth.
The clear liquid soaked not only her place setting but her entire dress as well.
“Saintess! Are you alright?”
The maid standing behind her immediately rushed over with a dry cloth to dab her wet clothes.
Belladonna, her face burning red, nodded.
“Bella, are you alright? You must have been quite startled.”
The Pope looked at his daughter with concern.
But she could easily detect the subtle reprimand hidden within his worry.
Belladonna bit her lower lip once, then quickly lifted the corners of her mouth to signal she was fine. She also offered a grateful smile to the maid diligently wiping around her.
“My apologies for not giving you prior notice.”
You really are quick about this, Your Holiness…
The Pope immediately turned his indifferent gaze away from her and fixed it on the tall man before him.
“Does that mean I should take your words as a refusal?”
Belladonna, having now roughly pieced together what this lunch was about, thought to herself: Whether it’s a sudden marriage proposal or whatever—since he’s refusing, that’s truly fortunate.
She had no desire whatsoever to become entangled with this unnervingly mysterious and intimidating man.
“Ah, that’s merely what I thought up until I arrived here.”
The man spoke again, his voice still calm and relaxed.
There seemed to be a faint note of amusement laced within his tone.
Noticing that subtle emotion, Belladonna squeezed her eyes shut tightly. Surely not… right?
“Then that means…?”
“Now that I’ve met the Saintess in person, I find myself wanting to slap my former self—the one who came here intending to refuse.”
Upon hearing the man’s reply, the Pope’s face gradually brightened.
The man turned toward Belladonna and gave her a charming smile.
All the maids standing in the dining room gaped and blushed at his handsome appearance—but Belladonna couldn’t afford to.
His burning gaze was that of a predator who’d just spotted its prey.
After silently staring at Belladonna for a moment, he slowly spoke.
“If you’ll permit it… I’d like to accept your marriage proposal.”
“…”
“I dare say I wish to form a deep marital bond with the Saintess herself.”
Belladonna clenched the corners of her trembling lips.
She couldn’t tell if her smile still looked as beautiful as usual.
Ah, this intruder… I’m starting to think he wasn’t actually asleep earlier…
[This is the timeline separator]“Belladonna.”
The dining room now empty except for the two of them—the man who’d maintained an air of ease and freedom the whole time had already left.
After sitting silently for a long while, the Pope finally spoke.
Belladonna gave a small nod.
“Escalion Diete. Two years ago, His Majesty granted him a ducal title, territory, and an enormous fortune—he’s a common-born war hero, they say.”
“…”
“Marry that man.”
Yes, I heard you the first time…
Belladonna lowered her head, her expression troubled. Marriage to a man she’d never seen before—it was all so sudden.
The Pope, still holding his wine glass, clicked his tongue once and continued.
“Lately, the Vatican’s finances have been in shambles. Devotees who once generously donated large sums are dwindling, and people’s interest just isn’t what it used to be.”
Isn’t that just because you indulge in extravagance, Your Holiness…?
Belladonna thought to herself, then looked up at the Pope with her most concerned expression.
“The Church needs change.”
Is that change… my marriage? Belladonna momentarily failed to control her expression and frowned.
“Escalion Diete. Do you understand why I, your beautiful and wise daughter, chose that rude and lowborn man as your husband-to-be?”
The Pope brought his wine glass to his lips as he asked, then began chuckling with a sinister smile.
Belladonna looked at him with dark, somber eyes.
Did people even know this was the true face of the Pope, whom the citizens of Eleanor Empire revered so deeply?
“I plan to squeeze a generous dowry out of that country bumpkin who has wealth but no idea how to spend it. After the wedding, you’ll go live on his estate—and just endure it for three months.”
A dowry…?
The sum a prospective husband paid to his bride’s family, varying greatly depending on the woman’s lineage.
As the Pope’s only daughter… the amount would surely rank among the highest in the entire Eleanor Empire.
“Three months later, we’ll find fault with him, file for divorce, and claim not only the dowry but a substantial alimony payment as well.”
At the Pope’s words, Belladonna frowned again.
Divorce after three months…? What on earth is he talking about?
“Belladonna. Doesn’t it seem a waste to let Astanya’s one and only Saintess become just another man’s woman? The nobles want you. And I must continue using you.”
The Pope spoke slowly, then drained his wine glass again with a twisted grin.
Red liquid trickled from the corner of his mouth, looking vulgar and messy.
“Don’t worry about the divorce—I’ve already received word through my confidants. And if, during your brief marriage, you somehow provoke him into striking you, all the better. That’d give us one more valid reason.”
“…”
“A hefty dowry and alimony. Plus, public sympathy for a Saintess returning home after being abandoned by a promiscuous husband. That’s how we’ll catch two rabbits with one stone!”
Having finished his explanation, the Pope cackled gleefully and rocked his body back and forth, delighting in his own clever scheme.
If this isn’t being sold off, then what is…?
Belladonna clenched her fists tightly on her lap. How on earth did the Saintess endure a life like this…?
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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Chapter Comments (2)
Belladonna is thrilled to see the sea, but she’s also surprised by her husband Escalion’s attitude towards her. The story unfolds, revealing different facets of their personalities.- Without Belladonna realizing it, she’s slowly forming fond memories with Escalion, but doubt lingers. The painting of the two of them is leaving a lasting impression on her.
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