In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 125

For once, Caelus, rarely shaken, moistened his parched lips.

Even someone who remained composed under most circumstances couldn’t manage his expression this time.

What had he heard, and from whom?

‘How does that bastard know about that?’

“Your Grace!”

At Akon’s call, Caelus snapped back to his senses, and his gaze instantly turned cold.

How Impes knew didn’t matter.

He was about to die anyway.

Staring at Impes with a razor-sharp glare, he soon let out a scoff.

Then, suddenly, he stepped down from the platform and climbed onto the execution stage with long strides.

In the tense silence, the crowd watched the two men with nervous faces.

Caelus looked down at the smugly grinning Impes, who acted as though he held a great secret.

He knelt on one knee and met his gaze.

At that, Impes grinned mockingly.

“Scared?”

“As if.”

“Just wait—I’ll be back soon.”

“Come whenever you like. Though I wonder if you even know how to return.”

At those words, Impes’s brow subtly furrowed.

“Should’ve kept it safe. You really might’ve come back.”

“What are you talking about?”

Smiling faintly, Caelus pulled something from his coat.

Then he held out his hand in front of Impes’s face and opened his fingers one by one.

A necklace clinked into view, dangling in midair with a mysterious gemstone sparkling in the light.

“The way back.”

“……!”

“Recognize it?”

“W-why do you have that?!”

Furrowing his brow, Caelus replied, “Mona gave it to me. But where did you pick it up?”

“Give it to me!”

“Tell me where you found it, and I’ll consider it.”

Grinding his teeth, Impes hesitated before muttering something strange, “It was inside my dress uniform.”

“This necklace was?”

“No, just the stone. I don’t know who put it there. I only noticed it in the inner pocket after I dressed.”

For a moment, Caelus’s eyes narrowed.

“I told you. Now give it.”

“You really want to come back that badly?”

“Of course. I won’t lose like this again. I’ll make Bellona mine next time, too.”

Hearing Impes’s declaration, Caelus sneered. “You’ve already lost your chance.”

“What?”

“I don’t know who whispered what to you, but since you seem to get the gist, I’ll give you one truth.”

Drawing close to Impes, Caelus spoke the one truth he would share.

“In the past—you’re the one who killed her. That’s why Bellona hates you more than anyone.”

“……!”

“So if you do come back, pray to God to erase her memories. Otherwise, no matter how many lives you repeat, you’ll never win her heart. Not even pity.”

Leisurely stepping back, Caelus straightened up.

“Farewell, Impes.”

With a faint smile, Caelus turned his cold eyes on the convicts.

Then, with a stern yet dignified voice, he declared, “Violentia Orgo is hereby stripped of her position as Empress and demoted to commoner. Though already deceased, for the crime of threatening His Majesty’s life, the criminal’s corpse shall be cast beyond the city gates to be devoured by beasts.”

“Caelus! You dare—!”

“Furthermore! Impes Ortus is also stripped of his position as Crown Prince. The criminal shall be beheaded, and his head hung beside his mother’s so he may watch her corpse be consumed by beasts!”

As Impes thrashed and screamed, Akon ordered the knights to gag him and pin him down.

His crimson eyes, mad with rage, gleamed wildly. Bloodshot to the edges, he stared daggers at Caelus as if to kill him.

Even without hearing, it was clear what curses he was spewing.

But it would change nothing.

In this life, his fate was sealed.

“All remaining criminals shall be beheaded and their bodies returned to their families.”

The plaza erupted into chaos.

Turning away, Caelus looked upon the crowd watching in shock and added one final statement.

“On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, I, Caelus, promise the citizens of the empire this: never again shall such disgrace befall the imperial family. Together with the nobles, I will do all in my power to ensure you may live better lives. So I ask you now—live this life in happiness.”

At Caelus’s heartfelt words, the plaza grew silent. It was the first time a member of the imperial family had spoken such words directly.

Everyone gathered in the plaza was at a loss for words. But in the eyes of those who gazed at Caelus, the same emotions rose.

Moved hearts, joy, and deep trust and respect.

Then, someone shouted loudly.

“Long live Prince Caelus!”

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

With a sudden surge of excitement, thunderous cheers erupted.

Some wept, others beamed with wide smiles, all raising their hands to chant Caelus’s name.

Seeing the people like that, a faint smile also appeared on Caelus’s face.

It was sincere.

He truly wished for everyone to live this one life—perhaps their only one—in happiness.

Soon after, behind the joy and celebration, the stench of death crept in. The people of the empire now fixed their cold gazes on the condemned.

Criminals with blades at their necks shut their eyes tightly. Even then, Impes alone kept his eyes wide open, murmuring unintelligible words.

When Akon raised his hand, Impes’s trembling pupils froze.

Everyone held their breath; the silence was chilling.

“Execute them!”

As Akon’s booming voice fell, a single tear dropped onto the dry wooden platform Impes was staring at.

At the same time, a thud shook the earth. Screams rang out from all directions. The stench of blood scattered swiftly.

Crows perched on the execution platform flapped up into the sky, then circled back, spreading their wings and hovering as if stalking prey.

A severed head rolled across the floor, eyes still open, and came to a stop facing Caelus.

From the blood-red eyes, as if weeping blood, tears that hadn’t yet fallen ran down the bridge of the nose.

Caelus watched Impes’s end to the very last moment—on Bellona’s behalf as well.

It was finally over, and yet, an inexplicable emptiness lingered as he continued to stare at those lifeless, crimson eyes.

And he repeated to himself:

‘It’s over. This wretched revenge… has truly come to an end.’

***

“How is your health? Are you well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

While Caelus presided over the execution, Bellona had been summoned by the Emperor for a private audience.

He still looked frail, but far better than before, which brought some relief.

Though it was an awkward and uncomfortable meeting, Bellona gazed firmly at the Emperor. It was her way of consoling herself for failing to protect him in the past.

It was the only way to sever the karma of the past and all the lingering ties that had followed.

Now that all vengeance was complete, a new life had to begin.

After asking about her health, the Emperor fell silent, then suddenly let out a short sigh and spoke, “So blood truly can’t be deceived. Seems even your taste in women resembles mine.”

“I am sorry.”

That was all Bellona could say, so she bowed her head out of habit.

The Emperor, frowning slightly, soon let out a helpless laugh. “You’re alike in that too. She would always lower her head and say she was sorry, even when she’d done nothing wrong.”

Bellona had a good idea who he meant.

Gazing into the air as if recalling distant memories, Celios’s eyes grew distant.

Then sighs like laments escaped his lips one after another.

“I failed to protect anything. Not this nation, not the woman I loved, not even my precious son. I couldn’t even protect my own body. How truly incompetent I am.”

“……”

Bellona had nothing to say, so she quietly listened to the Emperor’s lament.

Then, after a moment of silence, he suddenly changed the subject.

“I’ve heard you’re quite skilled with a sword. They say everyone calls you the ‘goddess of the sword.’”

“That’s an exaggeration. It’s just a rumor blown out of proportion.”

“Surely not every knight invented such a tale. So, do you plan to keep wielding the sword?”

At that, her previously composed expression wavered. Seeing it, Celios gave a faint smile.

“So you do plan to continue.”

“I’m sor—”

“No need to apologize. There’s no rule that an empress must not wield a sword.”

Bellona, who had been lowering her head, suddenly widened her eyes.