In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 114

Bellona silently watched the Empress spouting nonsense, then soon replied with a chilly smile.

“I don’t know how such a misunderstanding arose, but to believe such absurd claims… I’m beginning to worry your wits are slipping.”

“What did you say?”

‘This isn’t fun. Where’s the sharpness she used to have? If you’re this dull now, then the gifts I prepared for you are just going to be wasted, Violentia.’

“What did you just say?”

“I said it’s a ridiculous story.”

Knowing full well what the Empress meant, Bellona shamelessly repeated herself, looking at her with a gaze bordering on insolence.

Unlike the past, she found herself disappointed by Violentia’s foolishness, and her mood soured.

The Empress, clearly irritated by Bellona’s rude demeanor, glared coldly for a moment before restraining her anger and asking in an icy tone, “So you’re saying it’s not true?”

“I don’t have two lives. With His Grace the Grand Duke right beside me, how could I possibly do such a thing with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Then why did my son say such a thing? The Crown Prince clearly stated that the child in your womb was his—are you saying Impes lied?”

Bellona’s eyes instantly turned cold.

‘So, after rolling around with Mona like that, he’s come to that delusion?’

It was just like Impes, and the fact that he believed such a thing infuriated her.

It might be time to rescind Mona’s orders—he’d been brainwashed enough.

As for him, fine. But for the Empress to be swayed by such nonsense and summon her—she was just as idiotic.

She still didn’t know her own son.

It was laughable.

To think she once feared and served this woman with such loyalty.

Now she felt nothing but disgust at herself.

Suppressing her rising irritation, Bellona responded as politely as she could, “His Highness must have been dreaming. Or perhaps he mistook me for someone else.”

“Mistook?”

“You know well that His Highness’s mind hasn’t been sound.”

“Watch your tongue. Are you saying the Crown Prince of the Empire is mad?”

As Violentia roared in fury, Bellona smiled brightly and struck a nerve.

“I say it out of concern. You saw it yourself that day, didn’t you? What His Highness said when he summoned me. And how Your Majesty locked him in a wardrobe and said things too unspeakable to repeat—”

“Grand Duchess!”

“Now that I think about it, he must’ve been delusional then too. Of course, someone as noble as Your Majesty would never commit such vulgar acts. But now that I’ve been similarly misunderstood, I understand how it feels. I’ve cleared up my own misunderstanding, so please don’t worry too much.”

The Empress’s lips twitched with venom but said nothing.

When she defended him, she was quick to speak—but now, even when he was deemed a madman, she had no rebuttal.

She remained silent, knowing any response would only expose her.

Violentia, after all, valued her dignity above even her own son.

She had no idea what Impes was turning into because of her pride.

How amusing.

Bellona gave a faint smile, feigning pity.

The Empress’s red irises darkened. It had been a long time since Bellona had seen that look—she stifled a laugh.

‘So you finally want to kill me.’

Violentia always looked like that when she resolved to kill someone. Her bloodshot eyes would deepen to a near black, as if desperate to drink the blood of her target.

And now, she was looking at Bellona the same way. Her eyes seethed like waves dyed in blood.

“I was going to give you a chance.”

“What kind of chance, may I ask?”

“I’ve decided not to anymore. No point in saying it.”

“Please, do tell. Who knows? I might like it enough to become Your Majesty’s loyal dog.”

Violentia’s eyes narrowed. Bellona pushed a little further.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say myself, but if you take me as your dog, I’d be far more useful than most knights. The only reason I remained a regular knight was because of time. If I wanted to, I could’ve easily become a captain.”

“…Ha! I didn’t know you had a talent for comedy.”

Bellona, who had been beaming as she boasted, immediately shifted to an arrogant expression.

“I’m offering you an opportunity. If you keep me close, all the troubles plaguing His Majesty might disappear in an instant. Are you really going to pass up that chance?”

As she blatantly tossed out the bait, Violentia’s gaze wavered. But instead of responding, she suddenly burst into laughter.

“You’re quite sharp. No wonder the Crown Prince is so taken with you.”

“If Your Majesty has nothing else to say, I’ll take my leave. I’ve many things to attend to.”

Just as she tried to rise, that sharp voice rang out again.

“Sit down.”

Pretending to be reluctant, she settled back into her seat. As Violentia tapped her fingers on the table, she finally opened her mouth about the so-called opportunity.

“Marry Impes.”

Bellona’s eyes widened. Truly, this was completely unexpected.

“Surprised, are you? Understandable. After all, it’s hardly a position that compares to Grand Duchess.”

“Are you… serious?”

“Yes. Impes is throwing a fit, saying he won’t accept anyone but you. I’ve no other choice.”

Now even her tone had changed.

Bellona could only scoff. But her green eyes began to fill with fury.

In the past, they’d used someone like a dog to secure a place beside Impes, then discarded and killed them. And now, they were trying the same tactic again.

Just moments ago, she had resolved to kill her—yet now Violentia shamelessly extended a hand.

Having already faced the end of such madness once, Bellona trembled at the Empress’s consistent cruelty.

“Well? Do you like the opportunity I’ve offered?”

Bellona quickly composed her face and asked with an innocent look, “Then… does that mean I’d become the Empress?”

“……!”

‘As expected, difficult to answer. You never intended to give me that in the first place.’

She had predicted this, so she wasn’t fazed. But what she couldn’t tolerate was being offered the same rotten bait once again.

After a brief pause and a soft sigh, Bellona looked straight at Violentia, her expression hardened.

“Have you heard the rumors?”

At the sudden change in topic, Violentia frowned. But the word rumors clearly piqued her interest.

“Rumors?”

“They’re all over the capital. You haven’t heard? Then I suppose your subordinates haven’t been doing their jobs.”

As she sneered, Violentia’s eyes narrowed fiercely.

“It would be best if you looked into it personally. I could never speak such scandal about the imperial family aloud…”

Her face darkened, and she clenched her fists tightly.

She looked like she was dying of curiosity but was too prideful to ask.

Likely, she had enough to be suspicious about. Even without hearing more, she could guess the rumors were about herself or Impes.

But this wasn’t the end.

The real gift Bellona had prepared for her was just about to be unwrapped.

“Oh, by the way… is Marquis Graeme well?”

“What?”

As expected, her expression cracked further than before.

Feigning ignorance, Bellona presented her gift with a look of pure innocence.

“He seemed to be desperately searching for someone, but I haven’t seen him around lately. I thought maybe he’d found who he was looking for.”

Violentia’s brow furrowed.

She had revealed that they were watching him. It was only natural for her to look like that.

But there seemed to be more to the Empress’s expression now.

Just as Bellona had intended.

‘Did you catch the meaning, Violentia? Someone as clever as you should know exactly what I meant. If not, that would be truly disappointing.’

Bellona stared at her with hopeful eyes.

Violentia must have still believed Graeme was searching for the soothsayer.

She had no idea he’d become wholly enamored with someone else.

A mysterious woman who looked just like her.

And now that Bellona had said he hadn’t been seen lately, Violentia—sharp as she was—would surely begin to suspect something.

With her impulsive personality, she would either confront him or start following him.

Assuming, of course, she understood what Bellona was getting at.

This was the true gift Bellona had prepared.

And she prayed earnestly:

That Violentia would trail after Graeme and witness the passionate scene with her own eyes.