In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 113

Bellona, who had woken up late, quietly watched the man reading a book leisurely on the sofa.

She was grateful that he stayed by her side every morning until she awoke, but part of her also felt uncomfortable.

He had many responsibilities, and it was as if he were wasting time because of her. On top of that, his increasingly excessive protectiveness was starting to weigh on her.

Being treated with such reverence for the first time in her life felt unfamiliar and made her feel shy, even a bit uneasy.

But she couldn’t just tell him to stop.

If she asked the man—who was already on edge from suppressed desire—not to even do these things, he would surely sulk.

These days, she was beginning to understand, just by observing Graeme, how a once-obedient man could change if he got hurt.

So yes, part of her did worry. What if Caelus changed, too?

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. But one never knew what might happen.

Having already suffered a deep betrayal in the past, Bellona had no choice but to be cautious about everything.

“You’re awake?”

Their eyes met just as he turned to look at her. He seemed surprised to see her already sitting up.

Soon, he curled his lips into a gentle smile.

In the past—and even when they’d met again across time—it had been rare to see him smile. Lately, though, he smiled so often it felt almost excessive.

It still felt a bit awkward, sometimes even strange, but her heart would always flutter.

“Your face is turning red again.”

Grinning slyly, the man approached her.

“Every time I smile, your face turns red.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Oh, really? Your face is practically about to explode. Do you like me that much?”

He sat beside her naturally and began stroking her belly, which had become a habit now, as he shamelessly spoke.

When Bellona quickly covered her cheeks and gave him a pouty glance, he shrugged with a mischievous expression.

She muttered in retaliation, “So that’s why you keep smiling like that?”

“Yes. It feels good seeing you flustered because of me. It’s like you’re so overwhelmed with love for me you don’t know what to do.”

“I wasn’t flustered.” Bellona pouted, her lips jutting out, and he grinned again.

“So it’s true—you really do love me.”

Her face immediately flushed again. She widened her hand to cover her cheeks even more and pressed firmly so he wouldn’t see.

Trying to act nonchalant, she avoided his gaze, but Caelus suddenly burst into loud laughter.

After laughing for a while, he gently smoothed the wrinkle between her brows and murmured softly, “What’s the point of covering your cheeks? The rest of your face still belongs to you.”

“Stop it.”

Bellona’s voice was growing increasingly grim, yet he continued teasing her without pause.

“You’re surprisingly cute. Sometimes you really are like a child.”

“I said stop.”

“Why? I said you’re cute.”

She felt goosebumps rising all over her. Cute? Like a child?

She’d never heard anything like that in her life.

Unable to endure it, Bellona’s expression twisted, and he let out a soft chuckle before placing a light kiss on her lips.

Then, out of the blue, he said something unexpected.

“The Empress wants to see you.”

“What…?”

“She’s been pestering me since morning with messengers.”

Her widened green eyes turned toward the window.

“It’s already midday.”

“Right? There’s no reason we have to rush off just because she called. So I waited until you woke up.”

Just as his lips moved in again, Bellona quickly pressed her hand over them, frowning.

“And you’re only telling me now? I’ve been up for a while. You should’ve woken me earlier.”

“The Empress’s orders mean nothing compared to my wife’s sleep.”

Of course he’d say that.

Bellona’s brow furrowed deeper. Instead of focusing on the conversation, he kissed the palm covering his lips like it was a game.

Just as she was about to roll her eyes in disbelief, something soft wiggled against her palm.

“Your Grace!”

He suddenly furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh.

“I didn’t know I was such an impatient man. And what am I supposed to do when even your nagging is seductive?”

Whether it was blame or self-deprecation, he continued to grope her chest with the hand that had been on her belly.

At this rate, she began to wonder if he’d really been a virgin.

With no concern for dignity or restraint, the man’s behavior was maddening.

Annoyed, Bellona grabbed his lascivious hand and pressed it to her lips.

She didn’t plan to fight him off anyway, so she might as well mess with him.

Planting little kisses the way he did, she whispered, “Is this seductive, too?”

“That one’s seriously dangerous.”

The deep flicker in his golden eyes soon revealed lust. His glistening gaze crept closer, as if he might devour her at any moment.

The hand that had been on her chest now rubbed over Bellona’s lips, heating the air in an instant.

Even Bellona’s heart, which had been intent on teasing him, reacted helplessly. It was only natural.

How could she not tremble with a man this attractive right before her eyes?

Their lips were close enough to feel each other’s breath. Her heart raced like it might burst. Just as she was about to close her eyes—

“Ahem! Pardon the interruption.”

At the unexpected voice of an intruder, Caelus’s face twisted at once.

Both their heads turned simultaneously. Pierced by their sharp stares, Akon cleared his throat and darted his eyes around nervously.

“Did you just barge into the Grand Duke and Duchess’s bedroom?”

As the cold voice fell, Akon shrank and offered an excuse. “I didn’t mean to peek. The door was open, so I couldn’t help but see.”

“Then you should’ve pretended you saw nothing and disappeared. How clueless are you?”

“The Empress’s palace sent someone again. What was I supposed to do? I had to report it.”

Akon put on a pitiful face as if to say he was wronged.

Bellona, embarrassed by the scene, glared fiercely at the man who hadn’t even locked the door, then shot up from the bed.

“I’ll go wash up.”

As she turned cold in an instant, Caelus let out a deep sigh. He then turned his scolding gaze to his oblivious subordinate.

“If you lack tact, you should at least have good situational awareness. Can a man like that be expected to devise proper tactics?”

“…If nothing else, I’m certain of one thing—my lord has changed, and it’s honestly frightening now.”

“What?”

Akon, unable to suppress his concerns, replied bluntly, “Please change slowly. I can’t even keep up, let alone adjust.”

“You—!”

“Well then, I’ll be going. The knights’ training awaits.”

He gave a quick bow and hurried off without looking back, while those sharp yellow eyes followed his retreating figure like arrows.

A dry laugh escaped Caelus. “I can’t even get used to myself—how could you? You’d best give up now.”

He glanced wistfully at his now-empty hands, then rose and began tidying the bed.

As he glanced toward the bathroom where she had gone, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

Bellona had changed. The once rigid and blunt woman now even played along with his teasing.

“Being pregnant isn’t such a bad thing after all.”

They say pregnancy brings emotional changes—and clearly, that was the case for her, too.

Fortunately, the change seemed to be for the better. At this rate, it felt like she might be the one to pounce on him first one day.

“I wonder what game I should play tomorrow to stir her up again.”

Humming to himself, Caelus entered the dressing room to pick out Bellona’s clothes—a new hobby of his lately.

***

“Your face is harder to see than the Emperor’s.”

The moment she saw her, Violentia launched a venomous jab. Bellona politely apologized.

“As you know, I’ve been unwell and could only now come to pay my respects. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Since news of her pregnancy had already spread throughout the palace, Bellona decided to speak plainly.

“You act like you’re the only one to have ever been pregnant.”

She had heard enough of the Empress’s biting remarks in the past—they didn’t sting anymore. Bellona simply responded with a smile.

After all, they had already laid their cards on the table. She came just to exchange basic pleasantries and see what the Empress was up to.

And maybe rattle her a bit.

To start, she casually took the seat across from the Empress without asking.

As expected, Violentia clicked her tongue with a displeased look.

“Lack of breeding must mean a lack of manners. And to think this is the Grand Duchess of the Empire.”

As anticipated, Bellona replied politely but without shame, “My body’s grown heavy, and I’ve been rude. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

She gently rubbed her still-flat belly with a sly smile.

“Brazen, aren’t you.”

“It seems I’m offending Your Majesty. I’ll be brief and leave after hearing why you summoned me.”

As Bellona offered no ground, Violentia’s expression quickly chilled.

She wanted to throw her out immediately, but she needed confirmation about a few things—and couldn’t afford to act rashly.

‘When is Graeme coming back!’

Taking out her frustration on the absent Graeme, she composed herself and finally got to the point.

“I summoned you because I have something to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Her sharp gaze narrowed. Bellona met it with ease.

“The child in your belly—whose is it?”

“I’m sorry, what do you mean by that?”

Bellona gave a short laugh at the absurd question.

But it didn’t stop there.

“Did you sleep with the Crown Prince? You were always flitting in and out of his quarters. Is that what led to this mess?”

Bellona’s face contorted instantly.