In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 117

“At first, yes. Seeing a woman who looked so much like the one I loved, dying right before me—it shook me. But later, no.”

His gaze, which had been fixed on the air, soon turned to Bellona.

“I was grateful to her for filling my emptiness, for soothing my wounded heart. Even at this age, a man has a childish side. She comforted that part of me. How could I not be moved, even if it had all been a lie?”

“……”

“You turned me into this and used me to corner the Empress, so you’re still my enemy. But I want to thank you for sending me Olivia. Thanks to you, I had the first peaceful days of my life, however brief.”

Seeing the sincerity on his face, Bellona felt an unexpected wave of emotion.

She had merely used him as bait to drive the Empress into a corner, and yet he thanked her.

She couldn’t fully understand what he was feeling now—but looking at the man showing such honesty, she felt oddly unsettled.

They now served different masters. Unlike the past when they had been on the same side, now they were enemies.

“I hold no personal grudge against you, Marquis. But I won’t be offering any apologies, either. Still, I will guarantee her safety. If you wish, I can even relay your feelings to her.”

“No need. Though I cherished her, I’m not foolish enough to bare my heart to someone who deceived me.”

For a man on the brink of death, his expression was calm—as if he had already resigned himself to everything.

After nodding and falling into brief silence, Bellona suddenly asked an unexpected question.

“Do you have no message for His Highness the Crown Prince?”

The man’s face stiffened briefly before letting out a bitter laugh.

“Didn’t expect you to ask so directly.”

He spoke with a wistful expression.

“I can’t help wondering what might’ve been, if you and I had chosen the same lord.”

Recalling a sliver of the past, Bellona let out a light chuckle.

“We’d have made a fine pair of comrades.”

Though in the end, it still would’ve ended in betrayal.

He must have known even then that the Empress would abandon her. Yet he had never warned her.

Despite all they’d gone through together.

Still, she didn’t particularly resent him for it.

Had she been in his place, she wouldn’t have betrayed Caelus either.

So she decided not to harbor any more grudges.

“I heard you saved my son.”

Though she knew he was deliberately avoiding any mention of Impes, Bellona brought it up anyway.

Rumors were already beyond control—truth no longer mattered.

“Sir Haylis reminded me a lot of you.”

“Then he must be lacking in many ways.”

“I found his innocence rather endearing.”

Surprised by the unexpected comment, he blinked.

“He said he owes me his life. So I plan to collect.”

Understanding her meaning, Graeme slightly furrowed his brow. Then, composing his face, he looked at her with a resolute expression.

“Instead of taking a life debt, why not take the child himself? He’s not like me—he’s clever and warm. He’s a bit fragile from lacking parental affection, but I believe Your Grace can raise him into someone strong.”

“You say we’re enemies, yet you want to entrust your son to me?”

“As a parent, I simply hope my child meets a good teacher. You’ll see soon enough—parents can be shameless when it comes to their children.”

Seeing the man smile so naturally gave her a strange feeling. It was as if he already knew which way things were tilting.

That’s why he was making such a request—to save his son, at least.

“I’ve said all I came to say. Thank you again for coming.”

Standing behind the bars, he gave her a polite bow.

There was no point asking more—he clearly wouldn’t say anything that could hurt the Empress.

Bellona turned to leave, but an odd sense of unease tugged at her.

Just as she began to turn away, he called out to stop her once more.

“Please… have mercy on the Crown Prince—no, on Impes. He turned out this way because of me. So—”

“You seem to think we’re quite close, judging by how much you ask of me.”

When Bellona suddenly snapped, he gave a wry smile.

“Even I’m not so shameless as to make demands without offering something. Please… be careful of Her Majesty the Empress. She’s after your child—”

It happened in an instant.

A storm of heavy footsteps approached, and in burst Impes, furious.

He hadn’t expected to see her here. He froze briefly, then quickly stepped forward, shielding Bellona behind him and staring directly at Graeme.

Bellona, startled by the sudden intrusion, glanced behind her and saw a flicker of red hair along the stairwell wall.

Mona.

She clicked her tongue. It seemed Mona had told him something unnecessary and dragged him here.

She shot the woman a sharp glare, but Impes soon spat out words thick with contempt.

“You filthy bastard—how dare you disgrace me like this?”

“……”

“You should’ve just run off with that lowly wench. Or died on the spot!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Bellona took a step back and watched the two men closely.

Now that she looked, the two actually resembled each other quite a bit.

‘How did I not notice before?’

Of course, she’d never seen them this close together in the past. And even if she had, such an outrageous truth would’ve never crossed her mind.

“Mother’s clearly lost her mind too. To think she’d personally go after scum like you! This is all your fault. You should’ve never been born!”

The face that had remained calm all this time slowly twisted.

It was understandable.

What father could bear to hear such cruel words from his own son?

And yet, Graeme tried desperately to protect the Empress to the very end.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty bears no fault. I’m the one who deceived her. The one who—”

“You still have more to say? Fine. For daring to deceive Her Majesty and mock me—you deserve to pay.”

Impes suddenly reached through the bars and grabbed Graeme by the collar, yanking him violently.

For a moment, Bellona considered whether to intervene.

“Let me end this filthy tie with my own hands.”

Then—it happened in a flash.

“Urgh!”

No one saw where it came from, but Impes had pulled out a dagger and repeatedly stabbed Graeme in the abdomen.

“Die! Just die, you bastard!”

Graeme’s wide, bloodshot eyes locked on Impes’s distorted face as blood gushed from his mouth.

He grabbed the man’s shoulder tightly as crimson poured out.

Bellona stood frozen, unable to react to the scene unfolding before her.

A son murdering his father—it was a shock even to her.

Just then, the knights burst in.

But Impes, completely unhinged, continued stabbing Graeme until they finally managed to restrain him.

The moment they pulled him away, Graeme—soaked in blood—collapsed with a thud.

The stench of blood hit hard.

Bellona’s vision swayed as nausea and dizziness rushed in.

Net rushed over and supported her.

“Your Grace!”

“Hah-hah-hah…!”

Suddenly, Impes broke into maniacal laughter.

Then he glared at the fallen Graeme and spat.

“Filthy bastard.”

Graeme’s convulsing body slowly went limp. A moment later, his hand dropped lifelessly to the floor.

“Your Grace, let’s leave.”

Impes finally seemed to notice Bellona again and turned.

He stared at his blood-soaked hand, wiped his face, and cursed again.

“Damn it!”

Net stepped in front of Bellona protectively, wary of Impes’s unstable demeanor.

Impes’s bloodstained face shifted toward her.

Tears welled in his eyes, a look of pain and sorrow contorting his features. He staggered toward her.

“Bellona, it’s not true. Those are all lies. There’s no way I’m that bastard’s son.”

“Stay back.”

Net reached for his sword, warning him.

But Impes continued forward.

“Step—”

“Speak from there. Do you not realize I’m carrying a child?”

At her sharp warning, Impes froze in place.

“Ah… I must be insane. What have I just done… in front of you…”

His tone turned desperate.

“The baby… Is the baby alright?”

Bellona’s face twisted at the disgusting words.

She couldn’t stand another second. She was about to reveal everything—until someone stepped into view.

A cold face appeared on the stairs, frowning at Impes, then scowling fiercely at Bellona.

“What is going on here—”

The Empress’s gaze shifted toward her son. Then she stopped, eyes fixed on the bloodstained shoulder beyond him.

Her eyes widened in shock. She blinked rapidly, then collapsed to the floor.

“W-what is this…”