In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 110

Maybe it was because of the whirlwind of emotions they’d just been through.

The way they looked at each other had clearly changed from before. The constant unease had vanished, leaving only solid trust behind.

Perhaps that was why Bellona’s face was uncharacteristically full of life. She was more at ease now than she had ever been.

On the other hand, Caelus wasn’t doing so well—though in a different sense. He rubbed his dark-circled eyes and couldn’t concentrate on the meeting, sighing over and over.

“Your Grace, shall we take a short break?”

It was just a simple question, but her voice sounded oddly tender today, and Caelus scrunched his nose.

“I’m going to lose it.”

“This is why you should’ve slept. Want to close your eyes now, even just a little?”

“Haa…”

He let out a deep sigh, leaned his head against the sofa, and covered his eyes with one hand.

Bellona, knowing exactly why he was acting like this, kept silent, unable to think of anything to console him with.

In the end, a self-mocking voice spilled from him.

“I’m a terrible father.”

“You’re not.”

“Honestly, at that moment, I really resented it.”

His uncharacteristic sulking nearly made Bellona laugh.

Last night, things had escalated while they kissed. Having gone several days without intimacy, both of them quickly became excited.

Just as he was about to lose all restraint like a beast, Bellona stopped him. He only then realized she was pregnant—and his face crumbled like the sky had fallen.

In the end, he had to settle for kissing her alone. Bellona, exhausted, fell asleep, and he had to spend the night calming his pent-up frustration.

All night long, he resented the fact that she was pregnant. And when she told him it would be months before they could be together, the world turned yellow before his eyes.

He hadn’t even been able to touch her properly these last few days. If he’d known it would turn out like this, he would’ve clung to her every night, alliance or not.

Pride had gotten the better of him, and now look at the state he was in.

Only now did he feel a bit sorry toward the child.

So obsessed with Bellona, he hadn’t even properly greeted the life growing inside her, nor had he really thought about it.

To be honest, when he first heard the news, it felt like getting hit in the head. He hadn’t felt joy or anticipation at all.

Even after that, he was so fixated on the fact that Bellona had tried to leave him that he never spared a thought for the child to come.

He had no time to feel tenderness.

And frankly, even now, it was the same.

It still didn’t feel real that his child was inside that flat stomach. He wasn’t overcome with joy like others might be.

He’d never particularly liked children, and all he felt was concern at the thought of Bellona suffering through childbirth.

Right now, nothing mattered more to him than Bellona.

But of course, he couldn’t show these thoughts in front of her.

Despite everything he’d said, Bellona clearly cherished the child more than he’d expected.

He let out another deep sigh and gently rubbed her still-flat belly, thinking:

‘Well, if it’s come to this, I hope it’s a daughter who takes after Bellona.’

As he pictured a child with Bellona’s features, the corners of his lips finally lifted, and he closed his heavy eyes.

It was the first time in a while he felt peace.

***

Crimson irises flared.

Violentia clenched her fists with a darker expression than ever.

“It might not be true. Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.”

“No, it’s certain. That was definitely morning sickness. Who else would know it better than me?”

Her complexion had been pale, and she’d reacted the moment she smelled food. There was no doubt.

“If that woman gives birth to a boy, it’ll be a major problem. That’s Caelus’s child. Do you think His Majesty would just sit by quietly?”

“But how did His Majesty come to his senses? Wasn’t he still taking the medicine?”

At Graeme’s question, the Empress’s crimson eyes narrowed sharply.

“It means there’s a traitor. A few days ago, the maid who used to deliver his medicine suddenly disappeared.”

“What? In the imperial palace?”

“It’s one of two things. Either she was kidnapped, or she dared to betray me and fled.”

The sound of grinding teeth escaped through her clenched jaws.

Things had started to unravel. Someone was deliberately sabotaging her flawless plan.

And they were doing it carefully, from beneath the surface, tampering with each piece one by one.

Violentia had a hunch who was behind it.

It had started with the hunting festival.

She had clearly ordered Bellona’s death. But suddenly Ether had gone berserk, and Impes returned missing a few fingers after acting arrogantly.

Was that all?

The sorcerer had vanished, and her sister disappeared without a trace as well. The maid who used to deliver medicine to the Emperor suddenly disappeared, and within days, the Emperor had come to his senses.

The biggest headache of all was Impes.

The once docile son who obeyed everything she said had suddenly changed. He no longer responded even to discipline.

Could this really be a coincidence?

Impossible.

At the center of it all was Bellona.

A lowly knight she hadn’t even known existed suddenly began to stand out and was now ruining everything.

“Insolent wench. I should have killed her back then.”

“You could still kill her now.”

At Graeme’s casually spoken words, Violentia’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s so difficult about eliminating a pregnant woman?”

“How do you expect to kill her when Caelus is glued to her side like that?”

“There are many ways. It’s not like His Majesty has only one or two people loyal to him in this palace. Might be a good time to snip the roots altogether.”

The fierce distortion in her face slowly turned into a smile. “You’re right. If I’m determined to kill her, there’s nothing stopping me. Above all, the child in her belly must be dealt with. If that child is born, unimaginable consequences will follow.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. All I ask is that Your Majesty find a way to keep the two of them in the palace for a while longer.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

Her eyes glinted coldly.

“Oh, and it seems the soothsayers are in the capital.”

“The capital?”

“It looks like they’re hiding somewhere outside the palace. Reports say they passed through the main gates, so they must be hidden somewhere close.”

Violentia, tapping her desk as if deep in thought, suddenly raised an eyebrow.

“Then that Ether brat might be with them.”

“Shall I capture them?”

“No. Wipe them all out while you’re at it. The soothsayers and that brat too. Dogs that have tasted another master’s hand can’t be retrained. Kill them the moment you find them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At last, Violentia’s expression brightened, and she reached out to caress Graeme’s cheek seductively. Smiling smoothly, the man licked her lips as if he’d been waiting for it.

Just as he was about to embrace her—

The door suddenly burst open. Startled, Graeme jumped back and quickly straightened his clothes.

“Who dares barge in like this—”

Her furious shout stopped short, her expression twisting. The cheerful face of Impes that had entered quickly turned cold.

Twisting his lips, he looked between Graeme and his mother and sneered.

“This room feels unusually hot. I just walked in and I’m already sweating down my back.”

“Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Mother. Seems I’ve intruded without knowing. So, will there be another lesson today?”

“Impes!”

As the mother and son clashed, Graeme let out a small sigh and bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave now.”

He greeted like a loyal subject and was about to leave—when Impes suddenly blocked his path.

“Looks like you only have eyes for Her Majesty, Marquis. Not even a greeting for the Crown Prince. What’s a lowly paramour doing forgetting his manners?”

“…My apologies. I greet Your Imperial Highness, the noble Crown Prince of the Empire—”

“Save it. I don’t take greetings from filthy mutts.”

“Crown Prince! What kind of vulgar language is that!”

At her scolding, Impes scoffed in disbelief.

“Oh? So you’ll defend a dog that only knows how to wag its tail in bed, and make me the vulgar one?”

“Impes!”

“Well, I understand. I suppose a mutt who serves with his body is more lovable than a useless son.”

Watching Violentia tremble, Impes chuckled to himself.

Graeme stiffened but bowed politely again and tried to leave—only to be stopped by Impes once more.

“Actually, I have something to say.”

Dropping his smile, he turned a murderous gaze on Violentia and warned coldly:

“Do whatever you want—but you’d best not lay a finger on Bellona.”

“You’ve gone mad.”

“Perhaps. But to me, she’s more important than a mother who doesn’t treat her own son better than a stray dog. So I hope you’ll understand.”

Seeing her son looking more unhinged than ever, she clicked her tongue and asked, “What about that woman bewitched you so badly? You know full well whose she is.”

With a loud clap, Impes drew attention like making a grand announcement.

After a dramatic pause, he smirked and declared, “Bellona is pregnant.”

“……!”

“Surprised?”

As Violentia’s face twisted with dread, Impes leaned in like sharing a secret and whispered:

“It’s mine, you know.”