In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 15

In truth, she couldn’t understand it at all. Why was he acting like this all of a sudden? In the past, she had never had such encounters with Caelus. Sure, they had crossed paths occasionally, but they had never shared personal conversations, nor had there ever been an opportunity to do so.

The first time he showed any interest in Bellona was when they met on the battlefield, not as the prince, but as the Grand Duke of Camirus. Of course, even then, it was her swordsmanship that caught his eye, not Bellona as a woman.

So why was everything so different in this life? Both Impes and Caelus were acting in ways she hadn’t expected.

Could it be because I’ve shown my past skills? Did he recognize that my abilities are beyond those of a mere common knight?

“You must really think I’m a fool,” Caelus said suddenly.

“Please don’t be unreasonable,” she replied.

“Your insolent expression and tone are proof that you think I’m a fool.”

“That’s just your inferiority complex speaking. Don’t blame me for the fact that your position has changed.”

Her blunt honesty made Caelus’s thick eyebrows knit together fiercely.

It wasn’t hard for her to be obedient. After all, it was a habit she had cultivated over many years. Of course, she could have played along with him, just as she had with Impes. But she deliberately provoked him.

If she didn’t do this, she wouldn’t even be able to hold his attention. She needed to stay in his mind, in his thoughts, until the day Caelus reached out to her, just as he had in the past.

“May I finally give my answer?”

“…Ha, fine. Let’s hear what excuse you’ve come up with.”

“My goal is not His Highness the Crown Prince. Therefore, my performance was not to become the Crown Prince’s dog.”

“……!”

“Also, I didn’t intend to deliberately tarnish the honor of my comrades, but even if that’s what happened, I don’t feel sorry for it. Their lack of skill is not my fault.”

Judging by the way his brow twitched, it seemed he had much to say. But Caelus, perhaps intending to hear her out, remained silent.

Matching his unkind courtesy, Bellona threw his harsh words right back at him. “There was someone else who tried to seduce another by degrading the honor of a knight with pitiful skills. Though it seems that person failed in their attempt.”

Caelus’s expression changed with each of her bold responses. His yellow eyes, which had narrowed in anger, now gleamed with a dangerous light.

As her lips pressed firmly together, signaling she had finished speaking, Caelus, his face now rough and dry, raked a hand through his hair and looked at her in disbelief.

His face showed that he had many questions, but he didn’t seem to know where to start. His lips moved as if he were about to speak, but no words came out.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“…Seduce? No, who is it that you intend to serve?”

“I don’t believe I’m obligated to tell you that.”

Despite openly revealing her intentions, he still didn’t understand. She had no more words for him.

Caelus’s face twisted in frustration once more. It was as if they had finally made some progress in their conversation, only to hit another dead end.

“If you’re done, I’ll take my leave.”

“We’re not finished yet.”

Bellona sighed softly, maintaining her upright posture as she stared blankly at the space above his upper lip.

It wasn’t just because she was exhausted from exerting herself earlier; the mental strain of dealing with two men back-to-back had drained her to the point where she didn’t have the energy to face him directly.

“…Go ahead.”

“Join the Imperial Guard. I’ll speak to the commander—”

“No.”

Her firm refusal left Caelus momentarily speechless.

Her sharp green eyes met his gaze directly. “As I’ve told you before, I will choose my master. Even a dog has the right to choose its owner. If the master refuses, then there’s nothing more to say.”

“Hah! You’re truly stubborn. If I’d known it would come to this, I would have just given you an order.”

“You already asked me a favor. And I’ve decided not to grant it.”

Their gazes locked in a tense standoff, neither willing to back down.

Caelus, who had been letting out frustrated sighs, finally ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to calm himself. Then, closing his eyes briefly, he opened them again and spoke in a more measured tone.

“The Imperial Guard is treated better than the Imperial Knights. Plus, all you have to do is protect His Majesty, so the work isn’t even that hard. So why are you refusing?”

‘Because the master I wish to serve is you.’

“Besides, you’ve already turned down the position of vice-commander, and you’ve trampled on the pride of your fellow knights. Do you really think those who already look down on female knights will just let you be?”

‘I can endure something like that. Though I won’t simply sit back and take it.’

“I can’t understand why you’re refusing such a good opportunity.”

“Why are you trying to send me to His Majesty’s side?” Bellona asked, finally responding.

Caelus’s expression turned serious at her question. “Because with your skills, I would feel comfortable entrusting His Majesty’s safety to you.”

“There are plenty of skilled knights in the Imperial Guard.”

“Of course, there are. But people’s loyalties are fickle, and you never know when that shallow loyalty might shift to someone else.”

“And yet, how can you trust my loyalty? You know well what’s in my heart. Yet you would still entrust His Majesty’s safety to me?”

Caelus’s face froze for a moment, then twisted into a bitter smile. With a deep sigh, he spoke with a pained expression, “I’m leaving the palace soon. So I want someone I can trust to stay by His Majesty’s side. And I want that person to be you.”

“……!”

“That’s why I’m asking you. If a knight as steadfast as you were by His Majesty’s side, I could leave with peace of mind.”

So he’s already planning to go to the Grand Duchy.

It was an event from so long ago, and it hadn’t concerned her at the time, so Bellona didn’t remember exactly when Caelus had left for the Grand Duchy.

Still, she had thought there would be more time. Her plan was to shake Impes’s confidence while Caelus was still in the palace. And then, when he truly needed her, she would leave Impes behind and follow Caelus to Camirus.

She wanted him to feel, even if just a little, the bitterness of losing something he was certain belonged to him. Knowing Impes’s nature, he would surely go mad if Caelus took her away from him.

But now, there was no time for that. Moreover, she hadn’t even secured Caelus’s favor yet. Although he acknowledged her skill, Caelus wanted her to serve not as his subordinate, but as a protector for the Emperor.

Her plan was falling apart. Bellona’s expression grew grim as she bit her lip hard.

“Even after all I’ve said, are you still going to refuse my request?”

His tone was so earnest it almost sounded desperate. Bellona closed her eyes tightly.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind.

The image of the man who had ordered her to protect the Emperor until the very end remained vivid in her memory.

In the end, she had lost her life because she couldn’t uphold her honor, and because she owed him her life, she had gone to protect the Emperor, only to lose her life in the process.

It wasn’t Caelus’s fault, but the injustice of it all still stung. If she hadn’t gone there, if she hadn’t known anything, perhaps she wouldn’t have died such a senseless death. She wouldn’t have seen the horrific sight of her young siblings lying dead.

Yet here he was, in this life, once again asking her—no, commanding her to protect the Emperor.

“Hah…” Bellona let out a deep sigh as she slowly opened her eyes. Her green eyes, now filled with an unreadable depth, locked onto him as if she had made up her mind.

“Then please grant my request first.”

“What is it?”

His eyes gleamed as if ready to grant her anything she wished.

There was no more time to play it safe. This was her only chance to secure him.

Suddenly, Bellona drew her sword from her waist and knelt in the posture of a knight. Resting the sword across her palms, she held it out to him, bowing her head.

“Please take me as your subordinate. From the beginning, the master I chose was you, Your Highness.”

Caelus’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this.

Slowly lifting her head, she met his trembling golden eyes and revealed her true intentions without hesitation. “I will become your loyal dog. Take me in and order me to protect His Majesty. Then I will follow your command.”

“……!”

“If you refuse, then I will also refuse your request. And I will take the Crown Prince’s hand.”

She meant it.

If he didn’t want her, she would go to Impes as planned. She would sacrifice herself to bring him down with her.