In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 112

The footsteps that had been darting nimbly through the alleyways in a mask came to a sudden halt in the darkness.

At the end of the alley, something pale lay sprawled on the ground, faintly stirring.

As he slowly approached, he found a woman collapsed on the cold pavement, trembling all over.

She looked as though she’d just escaped from somewhere—wearing only a sheer negligee and barefoot, her feet were covered in blood.

But what caught his attention was none other than her hair.

Even in the darkness, her silver hair glowed with a soft radiance, as though it had absorbed the moonlight.

Graeme, as if spellbound, knelt down and reached for her neck.

She still had a pulse—thankfully, it didn’t seem life-threatening.

“Miss, are you alright?”

As he gently pulled her shoulder, her lifeless, pale face was revealed, and his hand flinched.

For a moment, he went blank at the sight of that porcelain face, lit as if only her face had caught the light. Her unfamiliar features overlapped with the woman he loved.

‘I must be losing my mind from lack of sleep.’

Clicking his tongue, he collected himself and lightly patted the woman’s cheek.

“Miss, please wake up! Hey—”

Just then, the woman’s eyelids slowly fluttered open. And the moment he saw her eyes, his heart sank.

Crimson irises stared back at him, and it was as if he were bound in chains, unable to move.

For a fleeting moment, it felt like Violentia—as a young lady—had appeared before him.

He knew she wasn’t the one, but his heart pounded all the same. That’s how closely this woman resembled Violentia in her youth.

Still half dazed, he was suddenly grasped by a cold hand that clung to his as she pleaded.

“I’m… hungry. Please, help me…”

His sharp brows furrowed. Normally, he would’ve walked right past without a glance.

But now, he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. He couldn’t shake off the hand clutching his.

Was it because she resembled Viola?

His brow crumpled all at once.

‘I can’t even turn away a woman who looks like you, and yet you…’

Grinding his teeth, he recalled the humiliation he suffered at the Empress’s palace days ago.

He despised himself for continuing to carry out her orders day and night, even when she hadn’t called for him since.

Even now, as a middle-aged man, he couldn’t seem to correct her fickle nature. He felt like a fool.

Suppressing the fury boiling inside him once again, he wore a blank face and picked the woman up.

She said she was hungry—he only meant to feed her and send her off. Besides, if left alone, she would clearly meet a worse fate than starving.

Just crossing paths with him was a stroke of luck for her—this alley was dangerous.

“Where’s your home?”

“I have none… My husband tried to kill me, so I ran away…”

Only then did her appearance make sense. What kind of scum had she been living with to end up like this?

He was about to speak again when he scowled and closed his mouth.

He’d done more than enough already, acting out of character.

It was so late that not a single restaurant was open. After surveying the area, Graeme had no choice but to carry her into a shabby inn.

The innkeeper, still drowsy, stared wide-eyed at the pair. A man in dark clothes with only his eyes visible, carrying a woman who looked half-dead—it was understandable.

Then, the woman buried her face in Graeme’s neck and said something absurd.

“Honey, I’m so cold. Please…”

A sweet fragrance suddenly rushed up his nose.

Without realizing it, Graeme lowered his head to her forehead.

The scent was so intoxicating it made him dizzy. He inhaled deeply—then suddenly wrinkled his face.

“Ah, goodness… I must still be half-asleep. P-please, come this way.”

Mistaking them for a married couple, the innkeeper quickly led them to a room.

Yet something about the woman made Graeme feel a vague sense of unease. He glanced down at her with sharp eyes.

The woman, head bowed, looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t want to cause you trouble.”

With a brief sigh, he finally moved. Entering the room the innkeeper had shown them to, he ordered food, then laid her on the bed and opened the window wide.

He needed to air out the scent that had clung to him. Covered with an old blanket, the woman bowed her head with an innocent expression.

“Thank you… I’ll never forget this kindness.”

“Enough. I’ve ordered food, so eat and rest. I’ll let you stay a few more days—find a place to go in the meantime.”

Having said his piece, he turned away coldly. At that moment, a pained moan stopped him.

“Ah…”

When he quickly turned his head, she was groaning, clutching her bloodied foot.

“Ha…”

Letting out an annoyed sigh, he finally unfastened the bag from his belt and approached her.

“I’m alright…”

“Like hell you are.”

He replied bluntly and took out bandages and antiseptic. After examining her foot, he brought over a damp towel.

“Even if it hurts, bear with it.”

“Yes.”

Each time he heard her delicate voice, a strange tightness gripped his chest. She resembled Violentia in appearance, yet was completely different.

‘Why is she getting under my skin like this?’

It annoyed him that he kept acting out of character for a woman he’d just met. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to treat her harshly.

As he gently applied the antiseptic, he noticed her small, pale hands clenched tightly into fists. It must have hurt—there were so many wounds.

With a soft exhale, he leaned down and blew on her foot.

Only then did her tiny, clenched fist relax slightly. Graeme continued carefully, finishing the disinfection with soft breaths.

He wrapped the bandage neatly and was about to rise when a soft hand suddenly clasped his rough one.

The moment their eyes met—his blue with her crimson—he froze instinctively.

But the red eyes looking at him now were not scornful like usual. They were gentle and shy.

“My name is Olivia. If you tell me your name, I’ll be sure to repay this kindness.”

“…Yuka. It’s Yuka.”

On impulse, Graeme gave his middle name. He regretted it instantly.

“Sir Yuka, may I ask one more shameless favor?”

“…Go on.”

“Could you come see me again? Just once more?”

Graeme’s blue eyes trembled faintly.

***

While Bellona was finishing her meal and taking medicine, Mona arrived early in the morning. Her wide eyes suggested she’d come with big news.

“Speak.”

Despite the blunt tone, Mona began chattering excitedly, like sharing juicy gossip with a close friend.

“Late last night, Lord Graeme entered Her Majesty the Empress’s chambers. And then, right after he went in, there were… sounds!”

“Mona.”

Startled by Bellona’s cold tone, Mona quickly covered her mouth and glanced nervously at Caelus.

Letting out a dry laugh, Caelus stood and muttered sarcastically, “Must’ve been delightful.”

Bellona frowned as he came closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“I’ll join the knights for training. Get some rest.”

Not knowing whether to take his words as a report or complaint, Bellona shot a sidelong glare at poor Mona.

After Caelus left, Mona let out a big sigh.

“So?”

“So, what else? It’s obvious. The marquis must’ve gone all out—Her Majesty couldn’t get up this morning.”

“And the marquis? Still in the Empress’s palace?”

“No, I heard he left at dawn. Which is strange. He usually stays there at least two days.”

A faint smirk tugged at Bellona’s lips.

Using what she’d learned of Graeme from observing him up close, and what Caelus had told her days earlier, she’d set a trap he couldn’t easily escape.

And sure enough, he’d fallen into it.

Of course, the real credit for this operation went to Akon. Even Bellona had been startled when she first saw the woman.

The two resembled each other so much, one might think they were long-lost sisters.

With such a perfect lead actress, Bellona even gave her a name resembling Violentia’s, devoting great effort to this scheme.

Thanks to Anna’s experience in the theater and her fearless performance, the plan had to succeed.

By placing a woman with Violentia’s face in front of a man who had served her his whole life, showing obedience where he’d been scorned—she thought it might just shake him.

And her prediction was right.

Still, it was too early to celebrate. This was only the beginning.

‘The real question is—when will Graeme seek her out again?’

That question was answered sooner than expected.

That evening, a report came in: Graeme had entered the inn where Anna was staying.