In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 18

The strong arm wrapped around her waist tightened, making her heartbeat resonate clearly against his chest. Despite herself, her hands, which had inadvertently rested against his chest, clenched with tension.

She tried to push him away, but her strength was no match for the man’s muscles, honed by years of training. It wasn’t as if she could recklessly fight back against a member of the imperial family, either.

Bellona soon chose to relax her entire body, adopting a more compliant stance.

“It seems even you have moments of trembling,” he remarked.

“You must be pleased now, having subdued me not just with your rank but with your strength as well.”

“It’s too soon for that. How could I be satisfied with just holding onto a worthless body like this?”

His sinister smile sent a wave of unease through her. She had never expected to see this side of him, a man praised for his gentle and upright character. The way he appeared now was no different from the sight of a knight worn down by an ill-fated destiny before her regression.

“You look regretful.”

“Would you let me go, then?”

“I can’t do that. How could I release the prey I’ve caught?”

His lips twisted into a sneer, and his bright yellow eyes gleamed with madness.

“I’ll ask you one more time. This is your last chance, so think carefully before you answer.”

“……”

“Will you truly follow me?”

Finally, the words she had been waiting for escaped his lips. There was no reason to hesitate. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

“Tell me what you want.”

“Will you grant my request?”

“I’ll only grant what I want to grant.”

His arrogant response made a bitter laugh slip through Bellona’s lips. Suddenly, she saw Impes’s face overlapping with his. Had she been too quick to trust him based on mere rumors?

A doubt began to creep into her mind—maybe the despicable character she had seen in him before wasn’t just the result of his unfortunate circumstances. Perhaps, like Impes, his nature was inherently vile.

If that were the case, it meant he might not see her as a knight but merely as a woman to warm his bed. Or worse, maybe even then, he had only pretended to offer her a hand, hiding his true intentions.

The imperial family was always like that.

Even so, she wanted to take his hand. If she could use him to exact revenge on Impes and the Empress, she was willing to abandon her sword and act like a courtesan if necessary. That was how singularly focused Bellona was on her goal of revenge in this life.

“You’re lost in thought.”

“I will follow you. I will become your dog and help you reclaim what was taken from you.”

“……!”

“So use me as your sword. If you wish, you may even take me as a woman. Discard me once I’ve served my purpose. All I ask is that you allow me to help you. But on one condition.”

“…Condition?”

“Your Highness must show a will to take the throne. Promise me you’ll go with me to my final destination.”

Her gaze, too resolute to be called desperate, made Caelus’s face harden. The grip of his strong arms slowly loosened. He released her, letting out a deep sigh as he looked up at the ceiling, massaging his temples as if he had a headache, and then closed his eyes tightly before opening them again.

When he looked at her again, his eyes were cold and emotionless. “If I refuse, will you go to Impes?”

“Yes.”

“And even if I ask what your true purpose is, you won’t answer honestly, will you?”

“No.”

“Then it seems I have only one choice.”

Staring intently at Bellona, he suddenly drew the sword from her waist. In a commanding voice, he issued an order, “Knight Bellona Riknis, hear my command.”

With wide eyes, she dropped to her knees with the precision and formality of a knight, bowing her head.

He had finally made his choice—her sword and her vengeance.

“From this moment on, Bellona Riknis belongs to me, Caelus Perekinon. Will you obey?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“In return for your loyalty, I will grant you what you desire.”

A strange thrill ran down her spine, as if the opportunity for revenge was now within her grasp.

“A knight’s vow cannot be broken, even by death. Do you accept this?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

With every word he spoke, Bellona had to bite down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep her emotions from overwhelming her.

“Good. That concludes the knight’s oath.”

As she kept her head bowed, Bellona’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. Even if it was an informal oath, he should have returned her sword to her, but he still held it in his hand.

When she slowly raised her head, Caelus let out a faint laugh.

“Rise.”

His expression and tone had both changed. As a feeling of unease swept over her, her face grew cold and distant. Caelus approached her, bending down on one knee to meet her eyes.

“Shall we get to the heart of the matter now?”

“……!”

“You’re going to Camirus with me, so prepare yourself. We won’t be returning for a while.”

“My sword…”

As she hesitated, glancing doubtfully at the old sword he still held, Caelus, as if it was no longer needed, casually placed it beside her. Bellona’s eyes trembled with confusion as she stared at the sword.

At that moment, Caelus gently lifted her chin. His gaze was filled with the exhilaration of having conquered something.

“I don’t need a dog. I need a person.”

“……!”

“And so, you will go to Camirus not as a knight, but as my Grand Duchess.”

“What…?”

Bellona’s eyes widened in shock, unable to process what she had just heard. What on earth was he talking about?

As if anticipating her reaction, Caelus kindly explained, delivering a mental blow. “You said you wanted to help me. So, become my wife and assist me. After all, I can’t satisfy my desires with a mere dog.”

Slowly, as the shock began to subside, Bellona’s pupils started to focus. She finally understood what he was saying.

Though he had phrased it gently and indirectly, the conclusion was clear—he wanted her to serve him every night.

Given his status and pride, he couldn’t bring himself to touch a mere subordinate. So, to avoid any gossip, he planned to establish a legitimate relationship, allowing him to indulge in her as much as he pleased.

A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

Well, I suppose he’s better than Impes.

Unlike Impes, who had only offered empty promises, Caelus was at least willing to make her a legitimate Grand Duchess, even if it was in name only.

Her gaze, now heavy with thoughts, turned to Caelus. Even though she understood his intentions, she wanted to hear it directly from him.

She wanted to hear his dirty intentions with her own ears, so there would be no misunderstandings, no emotional wavering.

“What do you expect of me as your Grand Duchess?”

“To support me.”

“I said I would be your sword.”

Her cold response made Caelus’s eyes harden. “Didn’t you say you would become my loyal dog? And didn’t you also say that I could take you as a woman if needed? I believe you promised to do whatever it takes to help me.”

“That was…”

“Then do everything. Whether I treat you as a woman or as a dog, just follow along obediently. That was our promise and the vow you just made.”

She had been too naive.

She had been so consumed by her desire for revenge that she had failed to see the trap right in front of her. She had meant to say that she would sacrifice her body for her vengeance, not that she would offer herself entirely.

But to support him? To become his Grand Duchess?

It was the complete opposite of the life she had led so far, and the very thought of it made her feel dizzy and nauseous.

“When we reach Camirus, we’ll have the wedding first. After that, I’ll tell you what your duties will be, so wait patiently.”

For a moment, Bellona’s face lit up with hope.

“Duties? So, being your Grand Duchess is just a duty?”

“If you truly wish to be my wife, then so be it. I’ll fulfill my role as a husband.”

“Is this a sham marriage, then?”

Seeing her rekindle a glimmer of hope, Caelus’s eyes narrowed. He realized that, deep down, this woman, a knight to her core, held no other expectations or emotions as a woman.

As if the thrill had worn off, his hand, which had been holding her chin, dropped away. He stood up and, with one hand in his pocket, looked down at her arrogantly.

“You can think of it as a sham or a duty. Just don’t forget that you must obey whatever I command.”

“I understand.”

Seeing her green eyes sparkle with renewed determination, Caelus couldn’t help but feel a bit irritated.

She really does seem to view this as just another mission.

“Very well. You can go now. I’m sure you have a lot to prepare.”

She retrieved the sword he had placed on the floor and was about to turn and leave when Caelus suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

Startled, Bellona’s eyes widened, but he just clicked his tongue and dragged her toward the sofa.

“Sit.”

“……?”

“If you won’t listen when I ask, I’ll just give you orders from now on.”