In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 22

As Bellona barely managed to steady her swaying body, Impes, who had been casually sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up as if genuinely startled and approached her.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“You called for me, Your Highness…”

“And what’s with your hand?” Feigning concern, Impes alternated his gaze between her bandaged hand and her pained expression.

“That… ha, ha…”

As Bellona’s breathing grew increasingly labored, Impes’s lips twitched into a barely noticeable smirk. Quickly concealing his sinister smile, he pulled Bellona into his arms, supporting her faltering body.

“You don’t look well at all. Sit down for now.”

After seating her on the sofa, he hastily poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her. Bellona accepted the cup without resistance, but her face contorted as she made a desperate request.

“Your Highness… I apologize, but may I return to my quarters for today?”

“Where do you think you’re going in this state? Your face is flushed—you must be seriously ill.”

His voice was full of apparent concern, but his hand slyly crept around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

“What exactly is wrong with you…?”

He drew out his words as his true intentions began to surface. His hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, slowly slid downward, exploring her body.

The sensation was as revolting as if insects were crawling all over her, but Bellona suppressed her disgust, leaning her face against his chest.

“Ha… Your Highness… may I use the bathroom?”

“The bathroom? Why?”

“I need to splash some cold water on my face… I’m sweating so much…”

As she made to stand up, Impes predictably stopped her, gently guiding her back down. “I’ll fetch a towel for you. In your condition, you might collapse before you even reach the bathroom.”

He moved leisurely toward the bathroom, and as his back disappeared from view, Bellona’s eyes flashed with sudden determination.

As soon as Impes was out of sight, Bellona retrieved the powder she had taken from Mona and poured it into the glass of water he had given her. She quickly stirred it with her finger.

Moments later, as footsteps approached, she wiped her damp hand on her clothes and leaned back on the sofa.

Impes returned with a towel, his arm slipping naturally around her neck as he pulled her into his embrace. Holding her weakly in his arms, he gently wiped the sweat from her brow.

He hadn’t changed at all—his shamelessness nearly made her laugh. This was exactly how he had always been, showing a false tenderness to lull her into a false sense of security before gradually revealing his true nature.

“What did you eat to end up in this state?”

Though his voice was laced with concern, the excitement in his tone was unmistakable. His warm breath tickled her as he leaned in closer.

A moment of silence hung in the air.

Impes’s eyes gleamed with a predatory glint as he watched her heavy eyelids flutter. Satisfied that she was sufficiently dazed, he let a lazy smile curl his lips as he dropped the pretense.

“You poor thing. If only you had obeyed me from the start, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Ha… Your Highness…”

“Yes. I’ll give you one more chance. But this time, you’d better give me the answer I want.”

Her half-lidded green eyes slowly focused on him.

“Whose sword do you intend to become?”

“Your sword… I will… ha…”

As she trailed off, seemingly out of breath, a flicker of impatience crossed Impes’s face. He stroked her cheek, repeating his question.

“You want to be my sword, don’t you?”

“Yes, Your Highness…”

“Then I can assume you’re ready to give me everything?” Determined to leave no room for doubt, he pressed her further.

Bellona, struggling to lift her heavy eyelids, placed a hand on his cheek and, with a pitiful expression, pleaded, “But promise you won’t abandon me…”

“Don’t worry. I never abandon my own. In fact, I plan to cherish you even more.”

At his reassuring words, a faint smile appeared on Bellona’s face, as if she were moved. Her reaction brought a bright smile to Impes’s face as well. She then wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling his chest as if in a show of affection.

In the past, Impes had begun feeding her this poison to test her loyalty. But at some point, it became more about breaking her spirit, turning her into something he could mold to his liking.

He used it to make their encounters more depraved, to transform her from a stoic, rigid woman into one who would cater to his every whim. He was a man who relished such displays of submission and seduction.

“I didn’t know you had this side to you.”

With a low chuckle, Impes reached out to touch her, only for Bellona to gently push his hand away, her voice pleading.

“Ha, Your Highness. I’m so thirsty… could I have some more tea?”

Now confident in his victory, Impes lifted the cup without suspicion and brought it to her lips. Bellona, her eyes still half-lidded in feigned weakness, gazed at him seductively as she slowly sipped the tea.

After draining half the cup, she suddenly pulled him close by the neck. His eyes widened in surprise, but he willingly leaned in, and Bellona, watching his lips intently, pressed hers against them without hesitation.

As his lips parted slightly, she poured the liquid from her mouth into his, all while holding him tightly by the neck to prevent him from pulling away. She entwined her tongue with his, ensuring he swallowed every drop.

Once she was certain he had swallowed it all, Bellona broke the kiss, panting as if she were out of breath.

“Ha…”

Impes’s brow furrowed in displeasure, as if annoyed by the sudden end of their kiss. Misinterpreting his reaction, Bellona quickly adopted a fearful expression, apologizing profusely.

“I-I’m sorry. I acted out of turn…”

For a moment, he seemed to regain his senses, turning his head as if to scold her, but then he cupped her chin and made her face him again.

His gaze, tinged with lust, locked onto hers. But even then, he maintained a facade of patience, his voice soft and coaxing.

“It’s alright. You’re mine now, so I’ll forgive you no matter what you do. Go on, try to seduce me more.”

“Your Highness…”

Bellona, now nestled in his embrace, let her eyes flash with cold determination.

The poison would take effect soon. She had mixed in a substantial amount, so it wouldn’t be long before the effects became apparent.

She just had to endure a little longer…

As long as she could keep him distracted until he lost control, the poison would fully take hold.

It was aggravating to have to endure his filthy touch for a little longer, but if it meant trapping him, she could bear it.

As his lips approached hers once more, Bellona wrapped her arms around his neck, feigning breathless excitement. Though this was the method she had chosen to administer the poison, she couldn’t stomach the thought of kissing him again.

In hindsight, she should have simply offered him another cup of tea. Just as she began to regret her choice, Impes suddenly grabbed her breast with a large hand.

Startled, Bellona instinctively twisted his wrist, but Impes’s voice, sharp with anger, pierced her ear.

“Ha, you insolent wench. You spiked the tea, didn’t you…?”

Between his curses, his breath came in harsh pants—the poison was spreading. His grip on her breast tightened painfully, but Bellona, gritting her teeth, leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“I merely shared the gift Your Highness bestowed upon me. In return, I promise you a very enjoyable night.”

Already too far gone to notice the change in her voice, Impes let out a low laugh before biting down on her neck.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t disappoint me. If you fail to meet my expectations, I swear I’ll punish you for your insolence by cutting off your head…”

“Don’t worry, just leave everything to me. Tonight, I’ll be your courtesan. So, please, look only at me. Feel the depth of my devotion to you.”

Her hypnotic words seemed to dull his senses further. His body grew limp, yet his eyes, clouded by the poison, glinted with a sinister light.

As if he were seeing some hallucination, Impes suddenly grabbed a fistful of her red hair. Then, just as he was about to yank her roughly toward him—

Thud!

A heavy, dull sound echoed through the room, and Bellona’s eyes flew open in shock.

Before she could fully register the ominous shadow that loomed over them, Impes’s limp body slumped to the floor.

Confusion flooded her mind as her wide eyes darted to the source of the sound, only to find a pair of fierce golden eyes glaring down at her with murderous intent.