“Mmm…”

The small moan was gradually growing louder. At the same time, Belladonna’s brows furrowed.

Escalion moved his arm that had been stiffly frozen in surprise. Should he wake her?

“Huh…!”

But before his arm could move properly, Belladonna opened her eyes first with a rough exhale.

“Haa… Haa…”

Belladonna’s blue eyes were unfocused for a moment, then slowly began to fill with light.

Her tear-stained gaze could be seen lingering on the ceiling.

Slowly, her ragged breathing gradually calmed.

“…”

Escalion watched Belladonna without moving, clenching his fist resting on his knee.

After catching her breath for a while, Belladonna slowly turned her head.

The wet cloth he had placed on her forehead fell onto the bed with a soft thud.

Eventually, her blue eyes that had been circling around the fallen cloth reached him.

“…”

“…”

What, what is it?

Belladonna looked up at Escalion with a confused expression.

Why does he look so angry?

His eyes were cold, but somehow she couldn’t look away.

It had been a while since she’d seen his face, after their trip to the sea last time.

Their gazes remained locked.

Finally, Escalion closed his eyes first to avoid her gaze and spoke.

“Are you feeling better?”

“…”

He took a deep breath as if suppressing his anger, then slowly exhaled.

“They said it’s the flu. You had a high fever. Why didn’t you say you were sick sooner?”

The flu?

Belladonna slowly turned her eyes.

So earlier wasn’t just the fever spiking, but she actually had a fever…

Escalion, who had been sitting in the chair with his arms crossed, slowly stood up.

He trapped Belladonna’s body lying on her back under his arms and looked down at her.

“Are you going to say you couldn’t speak because you couldn’t speak?”

Belladonna slightly furrowed her brow.

What kind of wordplay is that…

“If you feel unwell, express that you feel unwell. If you’re uncomfortable, express that you’re uncomfortable. If you don’t want to do something, say you don’t want to…”

He paused for a moment to take a breath, then continued:

“If you can’t speak, then write it down. Like you did on my damn palm last time!”

Why are you so irritated…?

Belladonna looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

She couldn’t understand why he was so angry when she was the one who was sick.

Escalion was equally bewildered.

He kept exhaling rough breaths as if trying to calm his anger that had exploded without him realizing, then bent down and lowered his head towards her.

Thunk.

Escalion’s forehead lightly bumped against Belladonna’s.

“Damn, your fever is high. What do you mean it’s just a low-grade fever.”

Escalion muttered a small curse as he lifted his forehead from hers.

He picked up the wet cloth that had fallen onto the bed and rinsed it again in the cold water of the basin beside the bed.

Splash splash. Drip drip.

The sound of Escalion completely wringing out the wet cloth could be heard.

Waiting quietly, something was placed on her forehead and a cool sensation gradually spread.

‘That feels nice…’

Belladonna blinked her eyes, dazed from the fever, as she looked at him.

“I’ve never seen someone so weak in all my life.”

Escalion grumbled as he lowered his head.

“Was it the sea breeze from a few days ago that caused the problem?”

“…”

“Damn it…”

He cursed in a self-reproaching voice.

Even though he knew she was wearing thin clothes, even though he knew her wrists were not even a handful…

You stupid idiot…

Just then, Belladonna, who had been lying still, raised her hand and placed it on top of his.

At her palm, much hotter than usual, Escalion lifted his head to meet her eyes.

Belladonna pulled up the corners of her stiff mouth, paying attention to her expression.

I’m fine!

Escalion’s eyes trembled uncontrollably as he saw her smile.

“You…”

Well, what can you do.

The journey from Astanya to Griblata was long.

The cold wind by the sea was strong, and as you said, this body is weak.

I could get sick like this.

Anyway, even this was much more bearable compared to the illness that drove her to death in her previous life.

Belladonna shrugged and forced a smile again.

Escalion, who had been looking down at her, furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh as he lowered his head again.

Belladonna placed her hand on top of his head and gently stroked it.

‘I don’t know why, but cheer up, you.’

“…I don’t know who’s comforting whom.”

Can he really read minds?

Belladonna flinched in surprise and withdrew her hand that had been slowly moving on top of his head.

However, she couldn’t take it back completely.

Because he quickly grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips as he lifted his head.

“Don’t get sick.”

Escalion said as he kissed her slender fingers.

“I’ll be more attentive from now on.”

“…”

“If it’s really hard to speak, if it’s uncomfortable to express… Then just stay still. I’ll pay more attention.”

Escalion’s soft lips touching her fingers tickled every time he opened his mouth to speak.

And strangely…

It felt like even near her heart, which wasn’t touching him at all, kept tingling.

“So don’t get sick.”

Escalion said in a low voice.

Belladonna quietly gazed at his deep golden eyes fixed on her.

She couldn’t discern all the emotions dwelling in them, but at least he was worrying about her right now.

Belladonna slowly nodded her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

“My lady, how are you feeling today?”

As Cindy strode into the room and pulled back the curtains of the large window, the dark room was instantly filled with bright light.

After opening the window slightly for ventilation, she turned and approached the bed.

Belladonna blinked her eyes and slowly sat up.

“Let’s see…”

Cindy, who had come with the cool breeze, felt Belladonna’s forehead with her hand and spoke with a relieved expression.

“Ah, fortunately your fever has almost gone down! Are you thirsty? Shall I bring you a glass of warm water?”

Mmm, I am thirsty…

When Belladonna weakly nodded, Cindy quickly turned and went outside.

“Yes! Please wait a moment!”

Belladonna stared blankly at the door Cindy had left through, then slowly turned her head to look out the window.

The brightly incoming light felt unfamiliar yet welcome.

“…”

How many days has it been?

She narrowed her eyes and sank into thought.

Whether her body had truly become weak or not, she had been sick in bed for over 3 full days.

It seemed the Saint’s body was just as frail as her body in her previous life.

She didn’t remember clearly since she had mostly been asleep or lying down weakly, but Escalion seemed to have visited more often than expected to take care of her.

‘Is managing Griblata not as busy as I thought?’

While having this pointless thought, she heard a ‘knock knock’ sound from the open door.

‘Could it be?’

Belladonna turned her head in surprise.

Is it Escalion?

But at the doorway, Cindy stood smiling with a tray in her hands.

“Hahaha, I guess I forgot to close the door when I left? I brought some warm water!”

Ah…

Belladonna pulled up the corners of her mouth and nodded.

The momentary feeling of embarrassment and disappointment felt awkward.

“Are you not hungry?”

Cindy held out a steaming cup to her.

Belladonna took it with both hands and slowly shook her head.

Far from being hungry, her stomach felt bloated and she had no appetite.

“Oh my, this is when you need to eat a lot! You have to eat lots of different things to get better quickly!”

I know, but I have no appetite.

Belladonna silently lifted the cup to her lips.

As the warm liquid passed her lips and moistened her throat, she felt her bloated stomach gradually becoming more comfortable.

Cindy, who had sat down in the chair beside Belladonna’s bed and was gently rocking back and forth, glanced at her and spoke.

“You need to get better and healthy soon, so you can… exchange rings with our lord.”

“Pu… cough!”

Belladonna, who had been drinking the tea without thinking, coughed and lowered her head.

R-rings…?

“Oh my, are you alright? I’m so sorry, my lady! I shouldn’t have said such a thing first thing in the morning…!”

Cindy jumped up from her seat in surprise and looked for a dry cloth.

Belladonna wiped her mouth with the cloth Cindy brought her, wearing an embarrassed expression.

‘By rings…’

In the Ellineros Empire, newlyweds who had completed their wedding ceremony would hold a simple vow ceremony the morning after their wedding night, exchanging rings with each other.

The act of exchanging rings symbolized that they had become a true married couple, and also meant that they were now ready to have children together.

“I’m sorry. You’re still not feeling well…”

This is embarrassing…

Belladonna unknowingly blushed.

On the night she arrived in Griblata and spent her wedding night with Escalion, there had been no traces on the bed sheets and she had appeared fine, so it wouldn’t have been difficult to realize that nothing had happened between the couple.

But Cindy, I have no intention of exchanging rings with him in the future…

Cindy, who had thoroughly wiped Belladonna’s wet mouth and the surrounding blanket, spoke again.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, my lady… We just hoped you would hold the vow ceremony with our lord soon and stay in Griblata for a long time… I’m sorry if it was burdensome.”

Cindy lowered her head with a gloomy expression.

Belladonna stroked her arm and gave her a smile meaning it was okay.

After caressing Cindy for a moment, she lifted her head to look out the window.

“Winter will be in full swing soon…”

Cindy murmured as she looked out the window with her.

“The winters here are particularly harsh and cold. It may be much harder for you, my lady, who has only lived in Astanya with its warm climate year-round.”

She continued speaking while fiddling with Belladonna’s blanket.

“I’ll tell them to add more padding to your blanket in the bedroom. To make it thicker.”

Thank you…

Belladonna gazed at Cindy with moved eyes as she thoughtfully took care of her in various ways.

“But still, nothing is as warm as a husband’s embrace! If you get too cold, having frequent conjugal visits with the lord would be a good solution too! Eek!”

Mmm, I take it back…

Belladonna turned her head with a tired look.

She felt that Cindy’s nagging would also be a formidable obstacle over the next three months.