In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 129

Two weeks had truly passed in the blink of an eye.

And at last, the day had arrived.

The process of ascending to the position of Empress was arduous from the very beginning.

“Your Majesty the Empress, you mustn’t tilt your head.”

Having had her hair done up extravagantly and topped with a veil adorned with a multitude of jewels, her head kept falling backward.

On top of that, she wore several layers of clothing. With her body already feeling sluggish, moving around became even more of a struggle.

Bellona shook her head, thinking she’d rather be out doing early morning training—she could never do this twice.

“Everything is ready. I’ll bring something for you to nibble on, so please rest a bit, Your Majesty.”

As the acting head maid left the room, the maids who had helped with her preparations also filed out.

Only then did Bellona let out a deep sigh.

Preparations that had begun at the break of dawn had only just ended as the sun rose. She stared blankly at her reflection, now fully dressed.

Her own face, transformed as if she were a different woman, felt both unfamiliar and fascinating.

She had once lived every day soaked in sweat, never even wearing makeup. The thought that she now had to dress like this every day felt strange—and worrying.

“I wonder if I’ll even be able to walk properly like this.”

Just then, a knock sounded.

When she granted permission, Eshil carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

“Wow… Grand Duchess—no, Your Majesty. You look absolutely stunning.”

Eshil’s eyes were swollen, as expected—she must have cried a lot.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m okay. It’s all self-inflicted, after all.”

Understanding immediately, Bellona gave her a gentle smile. Eshil forced a bright expression.

“Still, I’m glad you went to see her.”

“…Stupid girl. Why did she chase such foolish dreams in the first place…”

Bellona clasped Eshil’s hand, which was once again brimming with tears.

She couldn’t tell her everything, so she simply patted the back of her hand to comfort her.

After all, Bellona bore some responsibility for Mona’s death.

Eshil, suppressing her tears, suddenly ground her teeth.

“I should’ve witnessed Ether’s end with my own eyes. I never imagined he had tormented Mona so terribly. And then to even try to kill Your Majesty!”

Right after the execution, Ether was found dead.

Caelus had said it appeared to be suicide, but Bellona suspected he had executed Ether himself.

Perhaps he had lied to spare her the burden.

But unlike with Mona, Bellona felt little emotion over Ether’s death.

She hadn’t planned to let him live anyway. In fact, she was grateful to Caelus for delivering punishment without her needing to ask.

“Ah, I’m sorry. On a day like this, I shouldn’t be so emotional…”

“If you understand that now, then do me a favor.”

Surprised by the word ‘favor,’ Eshil blinked.

“Become the head maid of the Empress’s palace.”

“Pardon?”

“If… you still dream of becoming a knight…”

As Bellona trailed off uncharacteristically, Eshil frantically waved her hands. “No! A-actually… I didn’t become a servant because I wanted to be a knight… I just needed the money, that’s all. A-anyway! That aside, someone like me couldn’t possibly be the Empress’s head maid… That position is usually for noble ladies…”

Despite her words, Eshil’s face suggested she secretly hoped for it.

Understanding her feelings better than anyone, Bellona gently encouraged her with a casual tone. “I’ll treat you well. I’ll even give you a high salary. Oh, and I’ll find you a husband too.”

“What?” Eshil was visibly flustered.

Bellona spoke up plainly, “Wouldn’t the Captain of the Guard make a fine husband? And being the Emperor’s direct aide, he probably earns quite a lot. If Sir Akon is granted a title, you’d become a noble lady yourself.”

“Y-Your Majesty! Th-that’s not…”

Eshil’s face turned so red it looked ready to burst, and Bellona couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Pretending not to care.

Not only Arina and Rondo—there had been a rosy tension between Eshil and Akon over the past few days as well.

It had been obvious ever since they’d had an argument at the Grand Duke’s estate.

“I-it’s really not like that—”

“Even if it is, that’s alright. Sir Akon is someone I can trust. And I’ll do for you what I did for Arina. You’re like a sister to me. So don’t worry, and dream freely about your future.”

“Your Majesty…”

Just as Bellona firmly held Eshil’s trembling hands again, a knock came and the door burst open.

“You had a visitor, I see.”

“Y-Your Majesty. I-I was just about to leave—”

As Eshil fumbled to wipe her tears and retreat, Caelus frowned.

“Am I that scary?”

Grumbling in a deliberately stern voice, Caelus made Eshil go pale on the spot.

“Th-that’s not what I meant—”

“Eshil’s just nervous because it’s her first time facing His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Ah, so it was fine when I was a Grand Duke, but now that I’m Emperor, I’m intimidating?”

“……!”

Like someone who’d died with eyes open, Eshil froze, unable to breathe.

Bellona, shooting a playful glare at the man teasing so mercilessly, comforted Eshil. “Stop it. She’ll think you’re serious. Look at how much she’s sweating.”

“She’s so innocent, I wonder how she’s supposed to handle Akon.”

Eshil’s eyes grew even wider—she clearly hadn’t expected him to know.

After stealing her composure with just a few words, he walked over to Bellona and kissed her cheek, then glanced sidelong at Eshil.

Then, with a completely random comment, he stunned her again.

“You should go now, Countess Betonio.”

“……!”

“Akon, the new Count, should be waiting outside.”

This time, even Bellona looked at Caelus with startled eyes.

“W-what do you mean…”

“Are you planning to stand there forever?”

“N-no! Then, I’ll be going!”

Eshil bowed deeply and darted away like an arrow. Caelus let out a quiet laugh as he watched.

Once they were alone, Bellona asked curiously, “Countess?”

“I gave Akon a countship, and since he’s planning to propose to Eshil, that makes her a countess. What, you don’t like it? Are you against it?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that, but… he’s proposing already? They haven’t known each other that long…”

“Time doesn’t matter when it comes to feelings. I once gave away my mother’s keepsake to a ragged knight I saw crying in passing because I fell for her at first sight.”

Ragged?

Bellona glanced at him sideways, then burst into a laugh.

“To think that ragged knight would become my Empress, this beautiful…”

He smiled, visibly moved.

“You look handsome too, Your Majesty.”

“How much?”

“Enough to make me want to propose on the spot.”

“…All that effort paid off, then.”

Though he tried to stay composed, his cheeks reddened slightly.

When she giggled, he frowned—not harshly—and growled playfully. “So when are you going to propose?”

“When you least expect it. I’ll ambush you.”

He suddenly looked at her seriously.

When Bellona met his gaze in confusion, he tilted his head and asked, as if truly curious, “Who are you, really? I thought Bellona Riknis was a quiet, stoic, cold woman. But the one I’ve met in this life sometimes seems like a completely different person.”

“So which Bellona Riknis do you like more?”

She raised one corner of her lips, pulling Caelus’s collar toward her.

Suppressing a laugh, he smirked just as boldly. “Maybe a more provocative Bellona Riknis?”

“Like this, for example?”

When she kissed him with an audible smack and smiled sweetly, Caelus’s brows knit together.

“Dangerous.”

“What is?”

“That kind of temptation.”

“You’re the one who said not to care about time or place. I lived too long as a knight, so I have this compulsion to obey every command I’m given.”

“Hmm, so that’s the kind of person you are. Good to know. In that case, since I’m also someone who keeps promises… I’ll gladly fall for my wife’s temptations.”

“Mmph!”

Suddenly grabbing her cheeks, he kissed her fiercely.

On a day like this, she’d been careful with her makeup and was just about to go out, so she’d dared tease him, only to get herself into trouble.

As expected, he was not someone to provoke lightly.

Especially after the heated night they shared two days ago with the imperial physician’s blessing, she’d clearly ignited the wrong fire.

As a result, Bellona had to endure Caelus’s intense kisses and desperate touches—then hurriedly fix her appearance again.

That wasn’t all.

It even caused a minor mishap with the coronation being delayed.

Even so, Bellona experienced the most overwhelming, strange, trembling happiness of her life.

After the solemn coronation ceremony, the two stood atop the imperial palace wall, waving to the roaring cheers of the citizens of the empire.

“Long live His Majesty Emperor Caelus!”

“Long live Her Majesty Empress Bellona!”

“Waaah—!”

She had heard such cheers many times during her days as the goddess of the sword, but today felt different.

Back then, her name hadn’t meant much. Now, it weighed with far greater responsibility.

Bellona’s trembling eyes scanned the citizens—then she suddenly turned to face Caelus directly.

The cheers quieted.

When Akon, behind them, raised his hand, even the murmurs faded into silence.

As Caelus looked at her in puzzlement, Bellona met his gaze quietly—then knelt on one knee and looked up at him.

His golden eyes trembled slightly, sensing what was about to happen.

Bellona held something out to him and, in a proud voice, declared, “To His Imperial Majesty, the esteemed Emperor of the Empire, Bellona Riknis de Fidentia proposes.”

“……!”

“Will you marry me?”