Chapter 17. Year-end Festival (2)
Escallion looked at Belladonna’s finger pointing at him and answered.
“If you’re asking about my wish… I don’t want much. I hope we get one or two more good horses next year, and that lots of tasty fish come through the new port.”
Escallion shrugged.
Wow, that’s really simple.
Belladonna shook her head, realizing she expected too much.
I should also wish for something simple…
“Ah, one more thing. I hope there isn’t a useless war. I don’t want the emperor to call me to fight again.”
Escallion looked at her very seriously.
“Now I have a wife, so I need to value my life. I can’t go to war and make you a widow all of a sudden, right?”
His warm, golden eyes looked at her.
Belladonna stared up at him, forgetting even to nod.
His deep gaze mixed with hers.
Every time this happens… I don’t know what I’m feeling.
“Go on and write your wish.”
Escallion pointed to the sky lantern she was holding.
Ah… right, I was supposed to write my wish.
Belladonna looked at the lantern in her hand.
‘So… my wish is…’
She moved the pen toward the lantern, but started worrying again.
“Just write what’s on your mind right now. If you think too hard, you won’t decide. Write it and let it go.”
At that moment, what popped into her head was… that she didn’t want to go back to the Pope.
‘Sigh…’
She always told herself that after three months, she’d return to Astanya and live forever as the Pope’s only daughter and the holy saint.
If that happened, she would lose her freedom and spend her life listening to people’s heavy confessions.
‘I don’t want that…’
Belladonna breathed out quietly.
She wanted the three months with Escallion to end quickly, but at the same time, she wished they would never end.
‘My feelings are so mixed up…’
She glanced at Escallion standing next to her.
He was looking up at the sky, watching others send their lanterns with wishes.
Seeing his calm side, Belladonna finally made up her mind and started writing quickly.
‘Tap, tap.’
She finished her wish and tapped Escallion to get his attention.
“Did you finish?”
Escallion called a young seller and took the lantern from Belladonna.
The seller came with matches to light it.
Escallion read the wish on the lantern and frowned.
“What is this?”
That’s my wish!
Belladonna looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Should I light it and let it fly now?”
The young seller asked.
Escallion nodded, not looking very happy, and handed over the lantern.
The seller lit the bottom and released it at the right moment.
The pale blue lantern floated up into the sky.
“So the saint doesn’t listen to other people’s wishes, huh?”
“You stole my wish and wrote it down yourself.”
Well… it just happened that way…
Belladonna ignored him and watched the lantern fly away.
The writing on the lantern drifted up with it.
[May peace fill the whole world. May there be no sad or painful goodbyes.]
After sending up the lantern, Belladonna kept enjoying the festival with Escallion.
They listened to street musicians, ate more snacks, watched a play about the goddess Elieza, and picked out small gifts for Cindy and Wolf.
‘This is fun…!’
Belladonna smiled happily, following Escallion everywhere.
“Hehe…”
“Wait! Beautiful lady! I’ll draw your portrait for only 20 blang!”
A young artist waved at Belladonna and Escallion with a big easel.
A portrait?
Belladonna slowed down, interested, and Escallion saw her.
“I’m really fast! It won’t take long!”
“Do you want to try?” Escallion pointed at the artist.
Belladonna shook her head quickly.
She had never had a portrait before—not in her old life, because it was too expensive, and not as a saint, because there was never a chance.
She didn’t really want one now, either.
But she remembered—there were no portraits of Escallion in the castle, either.
It felt like a tiny responsibility.
At least for three months, she was the lady of the house.
Belladonna pointed at Escallion.
You get the portrait!
“Draw my portrait?” Escallion asked.
Belladonna made a big rectangle shape with her hands to show a frame and pretended to hang it on the wall.
Escallion watched her and spoke.
“Hang it in the castle?”
Belladonna nodded. Yes! You figured it out!
Escallion thought for a second, then led her to the artist.
She followed, feeling proud.
Escallion stood in front of the easel and asked,
“A portrait of me and my wife. How long will it take?”
Me?
Belladonna wanted to watch the artist draw Escallion, but stopped when she realized she was included.
“One hour is enough! But since it’s both of you, it will be 40 blang.”
“The price doesn’t matter, but make it fast.”
Escallion grabbed Belladonna’s wrist and pulled her to the other side of the easel.
Why me? I don’t want this!
“Sorry, but I only have one chair. I’ll draw your husband first, then you. Later, I’ll put you together on one canvas—”
“No need.”
Escallion sat in the only chair, then pulled Belladonna onto his lap.
What! Let me go!
Belladonna kicked her feet, but Escallion was too strong.
“Is this okay?”
“If you keep moving, the artist can’t draw, right?”
So unfair…
Belladonna stopped moving and looked at the artist.
Escallion smiled, holding her waist.
“Let’s start.”
“If you get bored, lean on me.”
Not a chance.
Belladonna shook her head with a bored face.
The artist studied their faces and began painting quickly.
Belladonna sat still, feeling nervous.
Can I move a little? I’ve never done this before…
But as she sat, she started noticing Escallion’s strong legs, his hand on her waist, his sharp jaw, and the warm scent from his breath.
Her heart started to race.
Why am I so uncomfortable?
“Are you okay?” Escallion suddenly asked.
Belladonna jumped in surprise and shook her head.
She forced herself to look at the artist and stay still.
An hour felt as long as half a day. Finally, the artist stopped painting and turned the easel around to show the finished picture.
“What do you think?”
Wow…
Belladonna stared with her mouth open.
‘This is good enough to hang in the castle hallway!’
The painting showed Escallion’s confident look and Belladonna’s calm expression.
The artist even painted their plain clothes as fancy ones, and left out Belladonna’s bunny ear muffs.
Thank you for not painting the bunny ears…
“My wife likes it. Keep the change,” Escallion said.
He tossed a gold coin to the artist.
The artist caught the coin and bowed deeply.
“Thank you!”
Escallion stood up and waved.
Suddenly, someone from the crowd came over and picked up the painting.
What? Who is that? How long has he been following us?
Belladonna looked at the stranger.
He took the painting and tucked it under his arm, turning away without a word.
Just before he disappeared, he whispered something to Escallion.
Escallion’s face immediately turned serious.
“Haa…”
He sighed and looked at Belladonna with a troubled expression.
