In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 103

The face that once bloomed like a flower now bristled with sharp thorns.

Lopez had never forgotten the humiliation of that day—not for a single moment.

The man who flirted with another woman right beside her, and the lowly wench who dared to seduce him right in front of her eyes.

Rationally, she had wanted to call the whole thing off, just as her father had advised. But her feelings for Impes had grown beyond her control, and in the end, she accepted the marriage.

So what if he was missing a couple of fingers? As long as she could see that beautiful face every day, that kind of handicap meant nothing.

“Still, Your Highness, you’ll have to pay for insulting me. Again and again.”

Lopez quickly hid her cold smile and entered the crown prince’s palace with graceful steps.

As she walked down the corridor behind the attendant waiting for her, she noticed a woman approaching from the other end. Thinking it was just a maid, she kept walking—until she abruptly stopped in her tracks.

Something about the approaching woman gave her an inexplicable chill.

Red hair, petite frame.

Despite that, there was a sultry air about her that seemed likely to draw the gaze of many men.

The moment she saw her, a particular woman came to mind.

‘The Grand Duchess.’

Their build and features were clearly different, but the red hair and the aura she gave off… in the dark, someone might mistake her for the Grand Duchess.

‘Ugh, how annoying.’

Seeing a woman like that near the Crown Prince’s quarters made her blood boil. She thought she’d feel better once she got rid of that face from Impes’s side.

She glared sharply at the woman who calmly walked past her. Unable to hold back, she finally spoke.

“You there—”

Just then, the attendant ahead called to her.

“Lady Lopez of the Louvre family, His Imperial Highness is waiting for you.”

Her pink eyes sparkled as they shifted back to him.

Lopez, about to resume walking, turned her head again.

‘Why do I feel so unsettled?’

Only after the distant figure had disappeared from sight did she let out a brief sigh and turn away.

She quickened her pace, vowing that once she became the crown princess, she’d make sure to get rid of that woman first.

When the waiting attendant opened the door, Lopez stepped into the crown prince’s bedchamber with a smile like one painted on.

A foul smell pricked at her nose.

She instinctively covered her nose and looked toward the man half-reclining on the bed, her face twisting in distaste.

He looked slightly gaunt, as if he’d lost weight in just a few days. The hunting festival must’ve truly worn him out.

‘But how can he still look so handsome, even like this?’

Her foolish heart fluttered again.

With what seemed like slightly less flesh than before, the man exuded a kind of decadent beauty.

Delicate and beautiful, he stirred a woman’s carnal desires easily.

She gazed at him blankly, entranced. As their eyes met, she quickly lowered the hand from her nose and held the hem of her skirt.

“Lopez Edana greets Your Imperial Highness.”

Blushing in embarrassment over the belated greeting, she flushed deeply.

But instead of responding, he simply looked at her—and then, without warning, reached out his hand.

Startled by the unexpected gesture, Lopez hesitated for a moment before stepping lightly toward him.

Just as she came to a stop before him, Impes suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Lopez, thrown against him, looked at him in shock.

As she floundered to say something, his lips abruptly pressed against hers, and his soft tongue slid between her slightly parted lips without warning.

Startled, she struggled, but he quickly laid her down—and without asking, slipped his hand into her dress.

Stunned, Lopez gasped. But at his blatant caresses, her wide eyes grew hazy, and her stiffened body quickly melted.

Touched by a man for the first time, her innocent body crumbled helplessly.

The small hands that had gripped his shoulders now wrapped around Impes’s neck.

***

Mona, standing stiffly with tension, kept glancing at Caelus as she reported.

“I confirmed that she went in.”

“Did she see you?”

“Yes, she was watching closely. And she even called out to me as I passed.”

“And then?”

“The attendant called her just then, so I managed to slip away.”

Listening silently, Caelus scowled as if something displeased him. Startled, Mona quickly lowered her head, but his irritated voice rang out.

“Can’t you do something about that ridiculously long hair? It’s driving me insane.”

At his words, Mona quickly gathered her loose hair and braided it roughly behind her back.

Bellona glanced at the man who was nitpicking for no reason, her expression tinged with bitterness—she had a good idea why he was acting this way.

‘He must be displeased seeing Mona mimic my appearance.’

“But, Your Grace…”

Cautiously calling her, Mona glanced nervously at Caelus before asking with concern:

“Are you really going to let His Imperial Highness marry that woman?”

At Mona’s absurd question, Bellona drew a cold line. “You’re misunderstanding something. I don’t have the power to stop it. What grounds do I have to interfere in the crown prince’s marriage?”

“Then!”

“That’s why I’m giving you a chance. You said you could take care of it if I gave you just that much. You were the one who proposed the deal, weren’t you?”

Though Mona twitched her lips, full of things to say, she couldn’t open her mouth any further.

Those fierce golden eyes were staring her down as if they could kill.

“As you know, we don’t have much time. So make sure to tame him properly. Make Impes trust you enough to go against the Empress. If you don’t want to lose him, use whatever means necessary.”

‘Do what you do best. Just like in the past.’

“Yes.”

Seeing the gleam return instantly to Mona’s eyes, Bellona stifled a bitter chuckle. The way she snapped back to form made her feel absurdly reassured.

She knew all too well how sly and shameless this girl was.

“If you’re done reporting, then leave.”

At Caelus’s cold dismissal, Mona quickly bowed and retreated. As soon as she left, Akon entered, as if he’d been waiting.

“There’s been a message from Sir Lycaon. The herbs should arrive by tomorrow.”

“Really?”

The man’s long-darkened face brightened. Bellona, equally eager, grabbed his hand with a flushed expression.

“And the chamberlain?”

“He should be getting ready.”

“Then let’s finally begin properly.”

“Let’s.”

Matching smiles rose on both their faces.

Cruel and chilling smiles.

Seeing it, Akon tilted his head with a strange expression.

There was something uncanny about how the Grand Duke and Duchess were starting to resemble each other.

“I should meet the soothsayers first.”

“Let’s go together tonight.”

“Where are they now?”

“They’re staying outside the palace. I’ve arranged a separate residence.”

She nodded, as if to say she understood.

Since revealing to each other that they had returned from the past, Bellona and Caelus had redefined their relationship and completely revised their individual plans.

Now that they were working together, there was no need to take roundabout paths.

Above all, they no longer needed to deceive each other or work in secret, which drastically sped things up.

On top of that, the incident at the hunting festival—plotted by the Empress—had handed them a perfect opportunity. It almost felt like the heavens were helping them.

“What’s Ether’s condition?”

“He’s regained consciousness, but his state isn’t great.”

“Losing both arms as a knight—it must feel like the end of the world.”

At Caelus’s offhand remark, Akon frowned as if his own arms had been cut off. With a short laugh, Caelus gave a lighter command.

“We’re meeting the soothsayers tonight, so keep an eye on both sides.”

“Yes, but…” trailing off, Akon glanced at Bellona and cautiously asked, “Shouldn’t we summon the knights from the Grand Duchy?”

“Why?”

Caelus replied casually, prompting Akon, who looked troubled, to keep glancing at Bellona.

Sensing why he was acting that way, Caelus said in a composed voice, “Don’t be so hesitant. Just speak freely. We’ve decided to share everything from now on.”

“Huh?”

Eyes wide in shock, Akon quickly looked away in embarrassment. After all that insistence that nothing should be revealed to her—now everything was out in the open?

He should’ve told me sooner.

Feeling unfairly anxious all by himself, Akon pouted.

“So, what were you going to say?”

“Ahem. Isn’t this a good time to take control of the palace altogether? Wouldn’t it be easier if the knights from the Grand Duchy were here? If we’re going to confront the Imperial Guard—”

“You’ve got a good sense for timing, but no strategy. A commander of knights shouldn’t be outdone by a regular knight…”

“What?”

Scowling, Akon’s eyes naturally turned to Bellona.

When she gave a subtle nod, he quickly looked away and stared at his lord with a resentful face.

Caelus’s mouth twitched slightly.

If Akon had known her true identity, he wouldn’t be making that pitiful face.

Satisfied with the secret only he knew, Caelus chuckled lightly.

In rare good humor, he explained in a gentler tone, “Your thinking is right. But the method is wrong.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Is it worth burning down the whole house just to get rid of a few bugs? It’s enough to corner them and apply poison.”

When Akon blinked in confusion, not understanding the metaphor, Bellona gave a small shake of her head and changed the topic.

“The Valensis knights have something to do.”

“What is it?”

“They’ll take turns making nighttime visits.”

“Pardon?”

At Akon’s even more confused expression, she gave him a sly smile.

“There’s a rumor we need to spread. Everyone must be exhausted from standing guard all this time. This is the perfect chance to go out and have a drink. His Grace will cover the cost.”

The two men looked at her with expressions of entirely different meanings.