In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 123

As he gently sucked on her slightly parted lower lip, he pressed one more kiss with a smacking sound and let out a small laugh.

“Must’ve been from that time. I couldn’t get that dirt-covered little knight out of my head. You looked so pitiful, crying like that.”

As Bellona stared intensely at the man, uncertain whether he was joking or sincere, her expression turned bitter.

“So I killed the one who wiped away my tears with my own hands.”

“Bellona, it was nothing but cruel fate. But if you still feel indebted in your heart… repay me in this life.”

“How?”

Suddenly flashing a sly smile, he buried his lips against her ear and murmured, “Get into the stable phase quickly. That way I’ll survive.”

As Bellona blinked in confusion, not understanding what he meant, the man kissed her again and smirked.

“I’m looking forward to our nights.”

His thick tongue tickled her lips, then gently slipped inside. Realizing what he meant, she frowned at his indecent intent, yet still opened her mouth obediently.

It felt strange, and her chest ached to think that he had briefly stayed in the days when she had been most like Bellona Riknis.

If she had served him as her lord from the beginning, perhaps that tragedy would never have occurred.

She might not have become his woman as she was now, but as a knight who shared swords with him, she would’ve lived a happy life.

Caelus, after all, was a dignified monarch who knew how to value his subordinates. But he had soon left for the Grand Duchy, leaving no chance for that future.

As he said, their strange fate must’ve already been decided long ago.

Still, she was glad.

That she could hold his hand this time.

That she came to love him.

That a miracle happened…

Feeling his warm breath, she closed her eyes. Her lashes dampened.

Then, an urgent knock splashed cold water on the heating mood.

Caelus scowled and pulled away from her lips with a growl.

“Who is it!”

“Your Grace! Th-the Empress! The Empress is dead!”

At the unexpected news, their faces fell at once.

***

The Imperial Palace was in chaos.

Three people had died overnight.

The biggest shock was the Empress’s death. With her execution nearing, wild speculation surrounded her sudden passing.

Nobles whispered that her pride couldn’t bear the shame of the guillotine and she had taken her own life.

Citizens said that God Himself had judged her for her crimes.

But the truth was different.

“It appears to be murder.”

Akon pointed to the red marks around the Empress’s neck.

A vivid line marked Violentia’s pale neck, as if she had been strangled with a thin cord.

“Who was assigned to guard this area last night?”

“Knights from the Royal Guard.”

“Arrest everyone who was on duty yesterday.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Caelus looked down coldly at Violentia’s pitiful corpse.

A woman who once acted as if she feared nothing in the world had met the most miserable and disgraceful end.

To think she’d caused so much death and suffering, only to die like this.

Suddenly, he remembered when he had first seen her as a child.

Adorned in luxurious hair ornaments and a dress glittering with jewels, she had shone from head to toe. But the most vivid thing about her had been her red eyes, gleaming like a predator eying prey.

He remembered being so afraid when that haughty face looked down on him that he forgot to breathe.

And the words she had whispered as she clutched him tightly still lingered.

“Pretend to be dead. Then at least I’ll spare your life, Crown Prince.”

And yet she had stolen his position and sent assassins again and again, trying to end his life.

‘So, were you satisfied back then? Did it please you to finally kill me?’

Looking at the woman lying cold and alone without husband or child, not even pity or sympathy rose in him—only a bitter laugh.

And yet, an odd emptiness crept in.

“To die where the lover you cherished so much also died—it might be a happy death for you. Congratulations, Violentia.”

With a sneer, he turned away with a now-chilled expression.

“Cover it up. No one is to enter.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

As he stepped out of the imperial prison without hesitation, he saw Bellona standing there, her expression hard.

“I told you to lie down.”

“What happened? Is she really dead?”

“Yes. Looks like murder. We’re searching for the killer.”

“Who could’ve…”

“We’ll know soon enough.”

As he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, Net came rushing in.

“It seems certain that Mona and the Chamberlain were killed by the Crown Prince.”

Glancing at Bellona, Caelus issued the order as if it were nothing.

“Hand them over to their families.”

“Mona has no family.”

At Bellona’s subdued voice, Caelus’s hand on her shoulder tightened.

As she slowly lifted her head, he gave a soft smile.

“Do as you wish. If you want her fed to the beasts, I’ll do it. If you want her burned, I’ll see to it.”

After a moment of thought, Bellona gave a wry smile and looked up at Caelus.

“Just bury her. Eshil might want to visit someday.”

Though clearly displeased with the decision, he eventually nodded with reluctance.

“Deliver the chamberlain to his family. Bury the servant on the hillside beyond the city gates.”

“Yes.”

“Has there been word about Impes?”

“Yes. He came to around dawn.”

“Seems I was too merciful.”

Trying to lighten the mood, he spoke jokingly, but Bellona couldn’t bring herself to smile.

It felt like something was still lodged in her chest.

And oddly enough, it was because of Mona.

When she first saw Mona, she had intended to use her and kill her without mercy, just as she had once suffered.

Even with time rewound, Mona’s nature hadn’t changed—past or present, she remained the same.

So Bellona had thought there would be no hesitation in killing her again.

But perhaps because Mona had carried a child, just as she did, her death didn’t sit right with her.

‘Foolish Mona. In both lives, you were used and discarded because of your greed, only to die in vain.’

“Bellona.”

“……”

Sensing her mood, Caelus tried to steady her wavering heart.

“It’s not your fault. That woman brought it on herself. Don’t waste your heart on it.”

His firm words made her feel foolish.

Why had she become so soft?

She had once been ready to kill everyone with her own hands and even take her own life.

What did the death of a single servant matter? She had acted on her own again and suffered the consequences.

and suffered the consequences.

Bellona pulled herself together.

“Tell the knights to be ready after dinner. Tonight, we’re going to Count Louvre’s estate.”

She looked at Caelus, surprised by the sudden change in schedule, but he simply gave a gentle smile.

“No need to drag it out any longer. The timing is right. Let’s end this—and give ourselves time to rest. Both you and I need time to heal.”

Having been granted full authority by the Emperor, Caelus no longer intended to wait.

And indeed, everything was ready.

There was no reason to delay.

With Lycaon leading the way, most of the influential noble families had been won over. Those who resisted would simply be crushed.

All that remained was to eliminate the last two targets: Impes and Count Louvre.

So why did it still feel so unreal? Why was this lingering unease so persistent?

Tonight, the revenge she had longed for would finally be complete.

By morning, the world would be turned upside down.

And yet…

“Bellona, I have one request.”

Suddenly taking both her hands, Caelus met her gaze with a serious expression.

She looked up at him with concern. He pulled her gently into an embrace and said reluctantly, “On the day of Impes’s execution… I don’t want you to be there.”

“……!”

“I know how much it means to you. But I can’t bear the thought of him dying with you in his sight.”

‘You’re scared too, aren’t you? Just like me… afraid the world might turn over again.’

At last, she realized what had been weighing her down.

There was no rule that a miracle couldn’t happen twice.

And God, after all, was fair to everyone.