In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 11

Until recently, Caelus was the crown prince of the Fidentia Empire. However, his misfortunes began to unfold one after another from a young age. It all started with the untimely death of his mother, Empress Minelia.

Afterward, the Emperor remarried, and the new Empress bore a son. This new Empress, Violentia, driven by her own ambitions, persecuted the young Caelus in order to make her own son, Impes, the crown prince. Not only did she torment him, but she also sowed discord between Caelus and his father, the Emperor.

Caelus struggled against the misfortunes that seemed to have been orchestrated against him. Thanks to the Emperor’s will to protect his young son, Caelus managed to endure. But recently, he was ultimately stripped of his title as crown prince.

Perhaps if the aging Emperor had been a bit more vigorous, if he had wielded enough power to suppress the Empress, Caelus might still have held his position. Yet, his unfortunate fate remained unchanged, no matter how much time had passed.

A dangerous glint suddenly appeared in Bellona’s eyes. Yes, what if I made him the Emperor? Just as my fate changed, perhaps his could too. After all, that position was originally his. It was only taken from him because he lacked power.

She resolved to restore everything to its rightful place. To do that, reclaiming his position would be the first step. If that were accomplished, casting Impes and the Empress into hell would not be difficult.

He must harbor just as much resentment as she did. However, she knew all too well how perilous and grueling the journey would be. It might even lead to civil war, and lives could be lost—whether Caelus’s, her own, or others’. The Empire could be plunged into chaos.

But now, none of that mattered. As long as she could bring down the Empress and Impes, nothing was out of reach.

The issue was Caelus’s will. Having faced countless threats to his life, he had become hardened and ruthless with each fall. But not now. The man standing before her still retained the dignity of a crown prince.

As she stared into space, lost in thought, a dark shadow fell across her. Startled, Bellona looked up to see Caelus standing before her.

“Rise.”

His cold voice made her chest tighten. Strangely, at that moment, the memory of crossing swords with him in an attempt to kill him surfaced like a distant recollection.

Steeling herself, Bellona slowly stood and met his gaze. His eyes were devoid of recognition, indifferent and emotionless.

“Go down and wait,” he said, his tone as detached as if addressing a mere knight.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A bitter smile crept across Bellona’s face as she turned away. To make Caelus Emperor, she first needed to get closer to him. The best way to close the distance would be to capture his interest. In the previous life that was now long past, he had been drawn to her swordsmanship and had approached her first. And swordsmanship was what she was most confident in.

If that’s what it takes, so be it.

Bellona descended to the training ground, gripped her wooden sword tightly, and turned around. Caelus, after a brief conversation with Impes, walked up to the platform reserved for the imperial family and took his seat with a confident stride. Impes, unable to contain his rage after whatever had been said, stormed out of the training ground.

At least that was a relief.

The man who still appeared resolute gave her a glimmer of hope. Their eyes met across the distance. His striking golden eyes, sharp and vivid, passed over the knights preparing for their trial and locked onto her.

Bellona stared intently at Caelus, making a silent vow.

In this life, I will be your dog. I will sweep away anyone who stands in your way. So use me to become Emperor, and I will use you to complete my revenge.

***

Bellona had returned to her quarters to prepare for the final trial that would take place tomorrow. Only after Eshil, who had been fussing over her, had left, did she regain her composure.

“Ha…”

Her head throbbed from the whirlwind of events that had transpired. She still found it hard to believe what had happened. Yet, she could no longer deny the reality of the situation—she had seen it all with her own eyes.

Her subordinates, brought back to life. Impes, extending his hand to her. And Caelus, appearing before her, unharmed.

Had the gods given her time for revenge? Or had they sent her back to repent for the life she had lived?

Whatever the reason, she knew one thing for certain: once again, her hands would be stained with blood.

As Bellona set down the wooden sword she had been holding, a hollow laugh escaped her lips. Just a few sparring sessions, and her palms were already blistered. The sight of her smooth palms, once hardened with calluses in her previous life, made her feel weak.

At this rate, she would die before she could even think of revenge. Strength training had to be the first priority. She needed to restore her former body before she could make any plans.

She stood and retrieved a small dagger from the drawer. She was about to pop the bothersome blisters and begin training when—

“How does one who cannot even care for themselves intend to care for others?”

The unexpected voice made her hand tremble. She slowly turned her head to find Caelus standing at the door. He entered the room uninvited, his expression as emotionless as ever. Taking the dagger from her hand, he examined its sharp blade closely.

“Were you planning to cut your flesh with an unsterilized blade?”

“…I was only going to burst a blister,” she replied, her brows furrowing at the involuntary response. She had been so flustered by his sudden appearance that she had let her guard down.

As she tried to pull her hand away, he suddenly grasped her wrist, causing her small fist to tense.

“Open your hand.”

“I can do it myself. Please, let go.”

“Then consider it an order.”

His uncharacteristic stubbornness caught Bellona off guard once again.

Glancing at her stiff expression, Caelus let out a short sigh. “It is merely a superior checking the wound of a subordinate. There’s no need to look at me like that.”

“And what look would that be?”

Despite her bold question, Caelus’s expression remained unchanged, though his tone lightened slightly.

“A look that says, ‘What does it matter to you?'”

“…If you’ve noticed, then let go.”

Her direct words made Caelus’s finely shaped brows twitch ever so slightly.

Sensing a misunderstanding, Bellona clarified her statement. “I mean, please release my hand.”

As she attempted to pull her hand away, his grip tightened, causing their hands to stretch taut in the air. The situation felt like a silent battle of wills, and Bellona, realizing the futility of resisting, relaxed her hand first.

There was no need to strain the relationship with unnecessary stubbornness, especially when she needed to get closer to him.

Finally, Caelus loosened his grip, though his gaze remained inscrutable.

“You don’t seem to find me intimidating, Sir Bellona.”

“……!”

“It seems you no longer consider me your superior since I was deposed as crown prince.”

Only then did she realize her mistake. Despite the passage of time, her long habit of being a commander was hard to break, especially given their historically antagonistic relationship.

But now, she had to adapt. Bellona Riknis was no longer a commander but just a common knight.

Quickly correcting her posture, she bowed her head and asked for forgiveness. “Please forgive my rudeness.”

As if he hadn’t brought it up just to hear her apology, Caelus brushed it off with a light laugh.

Then, he calmly opened a nearby medicine box, took out a bandage, and began wrapping it around her hand. As he did so, he revealed the reason for his visit.

“Then, will you grant me a favor?”

A favor? From a man who had just issued an order?

If he gave her an order, she, as a mere knight, would have to follow it. So why had he asked for a favor?

Curious, Bellona glanced up at him before answering formally.

“Please, tell me.”

After securing the bandage, Caelus finally released her hand and met her gaze with a serious expression.

“May I ask you one thing first?”

“Yes.”

“Do you truly wish to become the vice-commander?”

The question wasn’t difficult to answer. But Bellona hesitated, trying to discern his intent.

“Is it a difficult question?”

“No, it’s not.”

With an equally emotionless face, she looked directly at Caelus and answered honestly, “I’m still deciding.”

“You seem to be overconfident in your abilities.”

Despite the hint of sarcasm in his words, Bellona didn’t flinch as she revealed her true intentions. “The vice-commander position is not what I desire. It is merely a stepping stone toward the path I wish to take.”

“May I ask where that path leads?”

“I will become the loyal dog of the master I wish to serve. And I will place them at the highest position. That is my destination.”

Though she knew her words were dangerous, Bellona spoke without hesitation, testing his reaction.