In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 32

Who wouldn’t realize that this was a calculated move to ruin Caelus’s reputation, who had long garnered the trust of the nobles and knights?

Though it was true, Bellona had no intention of simply accepting it. She had planned to let things slide today, but she found herself unable to remain silent any longer.

Bellona, who had been bowing her head the entire time, slowly lifted her gaze. At that moment, as she looked at Violentia’s face, she was reminded of the Empress mocking her before her death, and her heart felt like it was being consumed by burning flames.

An overwhelming impulse surged within her—to sever that slender neck and crush the head beneath her feet, ensuring that Violentia would never be able to laugh or command her again.

Her clenched fists tightened behind her back, causing sharp pain from her swollen palms. The pain jolted her back to her senses, and she quickly regained her composure.

With her head lowered again, Bellona responded respectfully, “I have chosen to serve a lord who knows how to properly wield my sword.”

“What? Are you saying that the Crown Prince does not know how to use your sword properly?” Violentia’s voice, thick with fury, lashed out.

Bellona looked up, meeting the Empress’s gaze. It seemed that Caelus’s recklessness had rubbed off on her. She no longer felt the need to remain passive.

Bellona decided to relay Impes’s absurd words to Violentia, with some embellishment, knowing exactly how the Empress would react.

“The Crown Prince offered me the position not of a knight but of a mistress. However, I did not come to this palace to become anyone’s mistress.”

“What—what are you saying?”

Violentia’s face turned bright red in disbelief. The same face that had been mocked the Prince’s dignity began to contort with embarrassment and rage.

Bellona, who had been watching Violentia with indifference, continued in a surprisingly loyal voice that sent a chill through the Empress.

“If Your Majesty is willing to accept a lowly knight like me, I will gladly serve His Highness the Crown Prince. However, I will not be content with just that position.”

Her words made it clear that she was aiming for the position of Empress. Violentia’s face twisted with fury.

At that moment, Caelus, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up, “How long has it been since you accepted my proposal, and already you plan to replace me as your husband? As Her Majesty said, you truly have no manners.”

Caelus’s words, adding fuel to the fire, caused Violentia’s eyes to widen in shock.

He had regained his composure after witnessing Bellona’s boldness, and now he wore his usual serene expression, a smirk playing on his lips.

“As you can see, she’s quite the beauty for a knight. I couldn’t help but fall for her charms, though I tried to restrain myself until we reached the Grand Duchy. However, it seems Impes has feelings for her as well.”

Violentia’s eyes trembled at his words.

“So, in order to prevent Impes from pursuing her further, I may have exaggerated a bit. I didn’t expect him to run to Your Majesty so quickly. It seems Impes was more serious about her than I thought, considering he sought Your Majesty’s help.”

The Empress, who had been so determined to push forward with her accusations, suddenly fell silent.

It had seemed odd from the start that Impes, not one to lose his composure over such matters, had been acting out of character ever since arriving at the Empress’s palace. After all, he wasn’t the type to throw a tantrum over losing a single knight.

As Violentia’s sharp gaze turned to Bellona, Caelus took the opportunity to provoke her even further, his devious side showing as he pressed on.

“If I hadn’t intervened, Impes would have used his position as Crown Prince to take her by force. And what would have happened to his reputation after that?”

“Are you saying you did this for Impes’s sake?”

“Of course not. I merely acted to protect the imperial family’s dignity.”

For a moment, Caelus’s golden eyes flashed dangerously.

“So you should be thanking me. If I hadn’t acted, Impes might have chased her like a mad dog, even going so far as to feed her forbidden poison in order to satisfy his desires.”

At Caelus’s confident tone, Violentia’s face paled. Forbidden poison?

“Prince, what are you talking about?”

“Oh, I suppose calling him a mad dog was a bit much. I take that back.” With a polite bow, Caelus smiled widely, exposing his teeth.

Violentia’s hand, tightly gripping the hem of her dress, trembled with rage. Her original plan had been to disgrace Caelus, accusing him of stealing her son’s knight and punishing Bellona for betraying her lord.

She had even intended to use this incident to strip Caelus of the nobles’ and knights’ support. But now, she couldn’t push the matter any further. In fact, she was the one who had been humiliated instead.

Knowing her son’s reckless nature, Violentia found herself unable to refute Caelus’s remarks, especially after hearing the mention of the “forbidden poison.” Her eyes reddened with fury as she tried to maintain her composure.

‘Impes, you fool!’

Though Violentia wished to crush Caelus right then and there, she knew exposing Impes’s disgraceful actions would only harm her own son. The Crown Prince’s reputation would be tarnished, and that would inevitably affect her position as Empress as well.

Suppressing her rage, she swallowed hard, unwilling to let Caelus see her vulnerability.

Caelus, seeing her struggle to maintain control, pressed further, this time pretending to comfort her with words that only stoked her anger.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Once we reach the Grand Duchy, Bellona and I will marry. That should help calm Impes’s obsession with her, don’t you think?”

“…Hah! Marry a mere knight? You’ve truly lost your mind.”

At her disdainful remark, Caelus’s expression turned cold. “She may be a knight now, but soon she will be the Grand Duchess and a member of the imperial family. As long as I remain a royal, her status is irrelevant. So please, refrain from insulting the woman who will become my wife, lest you find it difficult to take responsibility later.”

“Are you threatening me, Prince?”

“Rise.”

At Caelus’s sudden command, Bellona, who had been kneeling respectfully, stood without hesitation. Without a moment’s pause, Caelus wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled warmly.

“Please do visit the Grand Duchy, Your Majesty. It would be a great honor to have you attend our wedding.”

“Hah! Do I look like I have that much free time?”

“You did call me your son earlier, so I extended the invitation out of courtesy. But if you’re too busy, I understand. Instead, take good care of Impes. If he continues to act like a wild colt, things could get complicated for both of us.”

“Prince!”

“Well, I believe everything that needed to be said has been addressed. I’ll take my leave now. Safe travels back, Your Majesty.”

With that, Caelus offered a polite bow, his arm still around Bellona, before turning and walking away without hesitation.

Bellona, glancing back briefly at Violentia’s shocked face, let out a small breath and whispered under her breath, “Why did you provoke her like that?”

“Of all people, you’re asking me that? Do you think a lowly knight can act so boldly in front of the Empress and walk away unscathed?”

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

“…Hah!” Caelus let out an incredulous laugh at her audacity. “You really think you have multiple lives.”

“I act this way because I believe in Your Highness’s protection.”

Her calm response made Caelus stop in his tracks. After ensuring that Violentia had indeed left, he released her and turned to face her.

“What makes you think you can keep provoking me like this?”

“I trust only in Your Highness.”

“If you really believe that, then stop pushing my limits.”

“If my words have displeased you, I won’t say them again.”

“Hah, you’re driving me crazy.”

Her ability to shake him so effortlessly was utterly bewildering. Every time he thought he had the upper hand, she would suddenly distance herself as if nothing had happened. It was as if she was playing with his emotions, and Caelus couldn’t decide whether she was doing it intentionally or not.

He had intended to slowly win her over, to make her fall for him. Yet, it seemed he was the one being swayed. The forbidden fruit he had tasted was far more intoxicating than he had imagined, and now he felt as though he were being punished for his indulgence.

Even now, the image of her red lips lingered in his mind, making his body heat up uncontrollably. Just as he was on the verge of losing control, Bellona’s next words doused the flames.

“Where is Mona right now?”

“She’s being held in the underground prison of the prince’s palace.”

“I would like to see her.”

“She still needs to be punished.”

“I thought Your Highness had already forgiven her.”

“Who said that?”

At his sudden defiance, Bellona let out a small, unexpected laugh, though she quickly covered it.

Caelus frowned, his irritation evident. “Are you laughing at me?”

“…No.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

That was a good question.

Bellona wasn’t entirely sure why she had laughed. Perhaps it was the stubborn expression on Caelus’s face that reminded her of someone else. Whatever the reason, the laugh had slipped out unintentionally.

“I apologize.”

Feeling a bit flustered, she turned her face away, her cheeks growing warm. Caelus, who had been watching her intently, suddenly turned and began walking toward the prince’s palace without another word.

He seemed thoroughly angered.

Chastising herself for her mistake, Bellona belatedly followed after him.