Favion, who spotted Cindy running over like an excited child, bowed to Belladonna.

“It seems it’s not the right time today, madam. There will be other opportunities in the future. I wish you happiness no matter what happens.”

Then, before she could react, he put on his robe hood and quickly walked towards the garden.

He walked towards the entrance without looking around.

Huh…..

As she stared blankly at the retreating figure of the magician, Cindy, who had approached unnoticed, put a hat on her head and tied a ribbon knot under her chin while saying:

“It looks like the magician said his final farewell to you, madam? He was a bit old, but his skills were decent, right? There! It suits you well. Let’s go over there!”

Belladonna nodded.

As she moved along, led by Cindy’s hand, she turned her head once more to look at where Favion had disappeared.

“……”

Can that magician really be trusted?

She felt anxious and tense about the fact that he had instantly realized she wasn’t the real saint, but on the other hand, she also felt a very faint sense of relief at that fact.

It was strangely comforting to know that she wasn’t the only one in this vast world who knew such an enormous secret.

Perhaps… I might be able to learn why I ended up like this through him?

Belladonna stared at the spot where Favion had disappeared for a long time before turning her head away.

It felt as if a small storm had just passed.

And she also had the feeling that an even bigger storm was waiting to follow.

[This is the timeline separator]

“It’s unbearably hot.”

Escalion grumbled as he completely took off the thin shirt he was wearing and threw it away.

Even in Griblata where icy winds blew fiercely, he sometimes slept with all his clothes off.

Someone like him couldn’t possibly find this place with a much higher average temperature comfortable.

Inside the new couple’s bedroom at the Sirlenia villa, Escalion reached out to find Belladonna’s hand and pulled it onto his cheek.

“How is it that my wife can be so cold even in such a hot place?”

Feeling like she had become a cool washcloth to soothe his heat, Belladonna blankly looked up at him.

As he fiddled with Belladonna’s hand, he subtly pressed his body closer.

“Hold me. You’re largely responsible for making me hot.”

Belladonna stretched out her arms without hesitation and embraced him.

His broad, hot shoulders filled her narrow embrace and then some.

Escalion, held in her arms, gently murmured as he pressed his lips to Belladonna’s nape.

“Why are you so docile today?”

Belladonna silently closed her eyes and hugged him even tighter.

Ever since meeting Favion earlier, an inexplicable anxiety had been constantly gnawing at her.

She felt like she wouldn’t be able to bear it if she didn’t do this.

“…Did something happen?”

Noticing Belladonna’s heart beating faster and louder than usual, Escalion asked as he lifted his head.

His deep golden eyes, full of worry and affection, were fixed on her.

Looking into Escalion’s beautiful eyes, a sudden wave of sadness washed over her.

Waking up again in the Saint’s body after the painful fever and death.

In fact, it was a kind of blessing that could be considered joyful enough if one chose to see it that way.

Although the Saint’s life wasn’t happy either, at least she was alive and breathing.

Belladonna had lived day by day, enduring, unable to die again or become the true Saint.

‘I thought at least it was better than my previous life. Even if I lived like this and eventually returned to normal and died… I thought it wasn’t so bad.’

But after meeting Escalion, she was gradually developing desires.

The desire to never return to Astanya where the Pope was.

The desire to run away from everything that was a burden and caused her pain.

The desire to ignore everything and… continue to be with him.

‘When you look at me like that… it keeps making me feel different things.’

Belladonna carefully exhaled to calm the emotions rising to her throat.

“Why are you crying?”

Escalion asked in a low voice as he watched her.

Huh? I’m not crying…

Plop.

At the same time, a tear that had gathered without her noticing rolled down her cheek and fell onto the back of his hand.

He looked down at the droplet that had fallen on the back of his hand for a moment before raising his eyes again.

“…Which bastard was it. What did that magician say again earlier?”

As his face gradually hardened, Belladonna hastily shook her head.

Ah, why am I suddenly crying…

Sniff. She inhaled through her nose.

“Then? Is it because you came here and it’s not as nice as you thought? Just wait a few days. I’ll change everything exactly as you want…”

Escalion said as he raised his hand to wipe away the tears rolling down Belladonna’s cheeks.

His palm, which couldn’t be called soft due to the calluses here and there, moved clumsily over her face.

Belladonna raised her arm and placed her hand over the back of his.

She nuzzled her face against his palm that had stiffened momentarily, leaning into it deeply.

Escalion’s hot warmth was giving her a sense of stability.

She could feel her anxious heart gradually calming down, at least in this moment of leaning on him.

She wanted to hug him even tighter, to dive into his broad embrace.

“Bella.”

Escalion muttered in a low voice.

“When you cry, I don’t know what to do.”

“……”

“It feels like my head is broken. What should I do? What should I do to make you stop crying?”

Belladonna blinked her eyes slowly. Being close to him like this, her heart was in the process of finding stability.

There’s no need to do anything separately…

Just being together like this, he was enough of a comfort.

“Tell me anything, okay?”

Anything…?

At that moment, the bottle of wine Wolf had left on the nightstand entered her field of vision.

It was what Wolf had left behind earlier when he briefly visited to check if there was anything uncomfortable in the new room.

Belladonna slowly raised her hand to point at the wine bottle.

Escalion, following the movement of her finger, immediately frowned.

“Alcohol? You want to drink alcohol?”

Nod… Belladonna nodded slowly.

I was thinking of trying it…

Escalion turned his head to look down at her with suspicious eyes.

“Do you even know how to drink? I don’t think the Pope would have let his only daughter drink alcohol.”

I’ve never tried it before but… She rolled her eyes.

Wouldn’t it be similar to grape juice? If not, then never mind.

“…Well, I suppose it’s not bad to drown your sorrows in alcohol when you’re feeling down.”

Eventually, Escalion muttered softly as he sat up completely and reached for the nightstand.

He grabbed the corner of the nightstand and pulled it closer to the bed, then picked up the wine bottle on top with one hand and uncorked it.

With a cheerful ‘pop’ sound, the sweet scent of grapes wafted out.

Oh…

Escalion skillfully flipped over two wine glasses and poured them half full of wine.

He handed one of them to Belladonna and said with a worried face as he looked down at her:

“Don’t try to drink it all at once. Start by savoring the aroma, then slowly wet your tongue.”

Slowly savor…!

Belladonna, who received the wine glass with both hands, looked down at it with a determined expression before abruptly bringing it to her lips.

Then, Escalion pulled the glass away from her again and said:

“Hey now. We should toast first.”

Ah, I see!

Belladonna quickly clinked her glass against his with a ‘clink’.

Finding it cute, Escalion chuckled.

Can I drink now?

Belladonna, who had been watching Escalion’s reaction, saw him smiling and bringing the wine glass to his lips, so she did the same.

Sniff sniff.

A much stronger and more concentrated aroma than grape juice tickled her nose.

Belladonna tilted the wine glass with anticipation and wet her lips.

‘…It’s delicious!’

Belladonna’s eyes sparkled as she stuck out her tongue to savor the wine that had lightly coated her lips.

It had a deep and rich flavor that was on a completely different level from grape juice.

She hurriedly tilted the glass again and took a sip of wine.

“Aren’t you drinking too quickly?”

Escalion, who had already completely emptied his glass and put it down, asked as he looked at her.

Look who’s talking, you’ve already finished yours…?

Feeling a small sense of defiance, Belladonna bravely gulped down the remaining wine.

Whew…! At this rate, it’s just like delicious juice, right? Maybe I’m more of a drinker than I thought?

“Is it palatable?”

Nod nod!

“I’ve just now discovered that my wife is a born drinker.”

Escalion chuckled as he picked up the wine bottle and poured more into his glass.

Give me some too!

When Belladonna held out her empty glass in response, he asked with an incredulous expression:

“You want more? Why don’t we just sleep?”

Shake shake!

“You’re already flushed like this, yet you’re insisting on drinking more?”

Escalion said as he pressed the back of his hand to her cheek.

Her soft cheeks, which had somehow become warm and were now radiating heat, were cute.

Give me more! Belladonna kept urging him, shaking the glass she was holding up and down.

“I give up.”

Escalion shook his head as he filled her glass.

Belladonna brought it back to her lips with a bright smile.

“Look at how your eyes are all unfocused as you smile. Anyone can see you’re a novice drinker having alcohol for the first time today.”

Belladonna ignored his words and gulped down the remaining liquid.

As he said, her eyes were becoming more and more unfocused, the corners of her mouth were gradually lifting, and her mood was steadily improving.

Is this why people drink alcohol? The feeling of floating wasn’t bad.

It felt like all the serious concerns she had been pondering until just a moment ago were now trivial matters.

Belladonna blinked her eyes as she exhaled deeply.

“Now that’s really enough.”

Escalion took away Belladonna’s glass, which had once again emptied in an instant.

Belladonna looked at him, licking her lips in disappointment.

“Why were you crying? Tell me now.”

Escalion asked as he held out his palm.

She blinked at the large palm for a while, then instead of spreading her fingers on it, she plopped her cheek onto it.

Escalion could be felt supporting her in surprise.

“Bella, are you drunk by any chance?”

“……”

Belladonna rubbed her warm cheek vigorously against his palm.

She loved Escalion’s rough palm that had been giving her comfort and warmth until just a moment ago.

“…Alright, let’s just sleep.”

A voice that sounded like it had given up descended on her head as she clung and nuzzled against him.

At his voice, Belladonna lifted her head that had been buried in his palm.

Escalion’s face came into view, looking down at her with a troubled expression, his ears tinged red.

His golden eyes that were always kind.

Welling up!

Once again, emotions suddenly surged.

When Belladonna pouted her lips, Escalion was startled and approached her.

“Why suddenly? Did I do something wrong? Don’t tell me it’s because I didn’t give you more alcohol?”

Shake shake…

Is this what it means to be drunk, emotions running wild…

The only difference from earlier was that now she was crying not because she was sad, but because she was grateful and happy towards him.

Grateful for him always being kind.

Belladonna slowly stretched out her arms, pulled his hands, and placed them on her cheeks.

Their wavering gazes locked onto each other.

“Bella.”

Finally, Escalion’s lips parted. He asked with a lowered gaze:

“…Shall I comfort you?”