Don't Get Caught By Your Husband! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Belladonna, having finished her late breakfast, returned to her room with Cindy’s help, washed herself thoroughly, and put on fresh attire.
Today was the day she would tour the castle under Wolf’s guidance and listen to an explanation about the territory.
“My lady, did you sleep well?”
Belladonna nodded with a smile.
“Last night, an unexpected north wind blew, causing the temperature to drop sharply. I worry that I didn’t prepare thicker blankets for you in time—was your bed too cold?”
Cold?
Belladonna rolled her eyes as she recalled the previous night.
Far from being cold, Escalion had been pressed tightly against her, making her feel hot and stifled instead.
She shook her head and smiled once more.
“That’s good to hear. Then, please follow me this way.”
Wolf gave a gentle smile and led her outside.
“Grivlata inherently has a cold climate. Irregular north winds prevent tender sprouts from ever getting a chance to grow.”
Belladonna followed his explanation and looked down at the territory visible beneath the castle.
Indeed, it was a desolate land where one could hardly sense any lush greenery.
“Because of this, farmers here mainly cultivate crops that can thrive even in harsh weather, and they obtain other necessary produce through trade with merchants from the south.”
Then commerce must be quite developed here.
Belladonna quietly raised her hand and pointed toward the distant blue sea glittering in the sunlight.
That’s the sea…?
“Yes, indeed. Fortunately, since the sea isn’t far from here, active caravan movements take place regularly through the port.”
Wolf went on to explain in detail Grivlata’s sociocultural characteristics, geography, climate, and history.
Though she couldn’t grasp everything, she felt this place possessed a unique diversity that made it more than just a cold and barren region.
“This way, please. This is the armory, and if you go around that way, you’ll find the stables. Thanks to the recent purchase of several horses, the stables are now full, and a foal was even born a few months ago.”
Oh, really!
Next time, I must ask to see the foal.
Belladonna loved all animals.
“And if you continue straight down this path, you’ll reach the blacksmith’s forge, and if you keep going along that road…”
Wolf, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
As she followed him around the building, she heard shouts resembling battle cries from a group of men.
“Ah! It seems they’ve just started their morning drills. This is the Grivlata Knights’ training grounds.”
Where Wolf pointed, rows of knights were seen swinging wooden practice swords.
Among them were some familiar knights who had traveled with her from Astanya, as well as several she’d never met before.
And moving among them was…
“Today, it seems the lord himself has come to assist the trainees’ practice. What an unmatched honor for those lads.”
It was Escalion, walking with an arrogant swagger, lazily twirling his wooden sword.
‘So he’s always like this, even normally.’
Belladonna sighed inwardly as she watched the man who behaved however he pleased, wherever he went.
Perhaps because he hadn’t been born a noble but had received his title as a commoner, he exuded a carefree freedom one couldn’t sense in other knights.
‘To put it kindly, he’s just not bound by convention.’
Belladonna stared silently as he playfully swung his wooden sword and easily deflected a trainee’s surprise attack.
His casual gesture of flipping the sword and tapping a young knight’s forehead with the hilt looked both friendly and relaxed.
‘Ah.’
How long had she been staring at him? He, who had been sparring with the young knights in the distance, suddenly turned his head toward where Belladonna stood.
Could it be their eyes had met?
Feeling suddenly embarrassed, Belladonna tugged at Wolf’s sleeve.
“Yes? Ah—shall I show you around other places as well, my lady?”
“Have you eaten?”
Huh? When did he get here so fast!
Escalion, who had appeared beside Belladonna in an instant, asked with a smirk, his voice slightly breathless as if he’d run over.
“Then I’ll take my leave…”
Quick-witted Wolf bowed respectfully toward his lord and quietly slipped away.
Belladonna tightly clutched his sleeve and nodded toward Escalion.
“M-My lady?”
Wolf, whose sleeve Belladonna had grabbed, turned around with a puzzled expression.
Wolf? Where are you going? You still need to continue showing me around the castle!
Belladonna gave him a gentle smile.
Escalion, who had been silently observing her, raised his eyebrows and pulled up the corners of his mouth.
“Ah. You want to tour my castle, then? If that’s the case, I’ll personally explain everything for you.”
No, no! Not you! I want Wolf! Wolf should do it!
“You heard him, didn’t you? Then please let go of my sleeve now, my lady…”
Wolf looked down helplessly at his crumpled sleeve trapped beneath Belladonna’s hand, his eyes filled with discomfort.
Belladonna shook her head and refused to loosen her grip.
No, my lord—you must be busy.
“I’m not busy at all.”
Escalion answered bluntly.
What? Are you reading my mind?
Still, Belladonna stubbornly refused to look away from Wolf.
Even though they’d shared the night together, she remained unsure whether he actually knew she could speak—making her feel only awkward.
‘And if I’m going to keep refusing to share a room with him, I’d better avoid getting too close unnecessarily…’
“My wife is quite stubborn.”
Escalion firmly pulled Wolf’s sleeve from her grasp.
Ugh…
“Go on now.”
“Y-Yes…! My lady, then I’ll take my leave.”
Seizing the opportunity, Wolf quickly hurried away from the spot.
Belladonna watched his rapidly disappearing back and immediately took a step to follow.
If that’s how it is, then I’ll just…
“Where are you going? Didn’t you ask for a castle tour?”
Instead of answering, Belladonna looked toward the training grounds behind him.
“Those guys train perfectly fine on their own even without me. I only came out today because I felt rather stiff.”
“…”
“I’m not such a heartless husband that I can’t spare time to show my wife around the castle.”
Having spoken, he grabbed Belladonna’s hand firmly and started walking.
“What places did Wolf explain so far? Where haven’t we visited yet?”
I can’t speak, you fool…
Belladonna glared at the back of his head.
Yet, somehow looking quite pleased with himself, he didn’t actually seem to expect an answer.
“Have you been to the stables?”
The stables…? Wolf had briefly mentioned the place as they passed by earlier, but they hadn’t actually gone inside.
When Belladonna shook her head, Escalion immediately turned right.
They bypassed the blacksmith’s forge and headed toward the stables located at the rear of the castle.
“My lord, my lady, good day to you!”
Servants who happened to be moving hay bales bowed respectfully toward them.
Escalion gave a vague wave in acknowledgment of their greeting and briskly led Belladonna inside.
He took her all the way to the innermost part of the stables, where the largest and most intimidating black stallion stood, and finally released her hand only when they reached its stall.
Wow… it’s huge…
“Be careful.”
Escalion said as he placed a saddle on the large horse.
Huh?
Before Belladonna, who had been quietly gazing up at the horse beside him, could react, her body suddenly lifted into the air.
Wha—what?!
In an instant, Belladonna found herself seated atop the horse, looking down at Escalion with a dazed expression.
Afraid she might fall to the ground, she instinctively wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck.
“It’ll startle the poor beast if you do that.”
Belladonna quickly straightened her posture and sat upright.
In stark contrast to Belladonna’s frightened and flustered expression, Escalion—the one who had just hoisted her onto the horse—looked perfectly composed.
Satisfied, he glanced alternately between his horse and his wife, then grasped the reins and began walking.
Following his steps, the horse slowly moved its legs.
The elegant clatter of hooves echoed through the spacious stables.
‘W-Wow…’
Belladonna, riding a horse for the first time in her life, gazed down with sparkling eyes at the glossy mane.
So cool…
Escalion carefully watched behind her, making sure she wouldn’t fall, as he cautiously guided the horse out of the stables.
“My lord, are you planning to go out for a bit?”
“Yes. We’ll be back shortly.”
“The paths aren’t fully frozen yet, but there are many spots that have started to thaw. Please be careful!”
The stable hands cleaning inside waved and bowed toward them.
Once they reached an open area, Escalion briefly dropped the reins and nimbly leapt onto the horse behind Belladonna.
Belladonna, who had been mindlessly looking downward, stiffened completely as she felt his body press tightly against her back.
‘W-Wait… we’re riding together…?’
“Hyah!”
Escalion firmly seized the reins again and tugged them sharply downward.
The clever horse instantly bolted forward at his command.
Belladonna, caught off guard by the sudden acceleration, leaned back against his chest.
Whoa! That startled me!
“If you feel too cold or dizzy, tell me.”
His low voice rumbled through her back.
Belladonna nodded.
‘Wait a minute—this isn’t a stable tour at all! Where’s he taking me all of a sudden by putting me on a horse!’
The horse carrying Belladonna and Escalion swiftly passed through the castle gates and galloped out into the open.
He skillfully turned the horse’s head and guided it toward the opposite side of the territory.
Belladonna couldn’t properly open her eyes due to her hair wildly whipping about in the wind.
She shook her head repeatedly to clear her vision and tried to figure out their destination.
‘Ah.’
Only when the glittering sea unmistakably drew near did she finally realize where he was headed.
‘…The sea.’
Escalion tightened his hold on the reins, and the horse, which had been galloping endlessly, gradually slowed its pace.
Soon, they were on a sandy beach where their feet sank deeply with each step.
Belladonna gazed out at the vast ocean sparkling under the sunlight.
“Have you ever seen the sea before?”
She quietly shook her head.
So this is the sea…
Belladonna stared in awe at the waves that kept surging forward, only to slip away just as quickly as they came.
Unfamiliar bird calls reached her ears, and the briny scent—something she’d only ever smelled faintly from freshly caught fish—tickled her nose.
“Whoa, whoa.”
Escalion brought the horse to a complete stop and leapt down with a firm step.
Turning around, he looked up at Belladonna and held out both arms.
“Would you like to come down?”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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.
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)