In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 47

Bellona, who woke up early in the morning, glanced at her siblings, who were sleeping tightly clinging to each other, and couldn’t help but smile. Even though they fought constantly when they were awake, moments like this reminded her that they were inseparable siblings.

Perhaps her absence had made them this way. Since they had always been alone together, they had no one else to fight or lean on but each other. Swallowing the bitterness rising in her chest, Bellona gently pulled the blanket back over them.

“After such a strenuous journey yesterday, you must be exhausted.”

If things had gone according to plan, they would have spent an extra day resting in the Kingdom of Kellicus. But for some reason, Caelus had pushed on and gone straight to the Grand Duchy. Though it had been a grueling schedule, Bellona found it preferable. After all, she had no desire to linger in a place filled with painful memories.

She pushed aside her dark thoughts and rose from bed. Suddenly, the door flew open, and the pale-faced Eshil rushed in.

“Sir Knight!”

“Shh!”

Bellona hurriedly covered Eshil’s mouth before her loud voice could wake the children. Fortunately, they were still lost in their dreams. Once she had calmed down, Bellona turned her gaze to the panting Eshil.

“What’s going on?”

“Ha… you need to… just come downstairs and see for yourself.”

Bellona stared at Eshil’s trembling violet eyes, as if she had seen something unspeakable, and quickly followed her out. As they walked through the halls, Bellona couldn’t help but glance around at the mansion, which she had barely looked at the night before due to exhaustion.

The further they walked, the darker Bellona’s expression became. There were signs that the place had been touched by human hands, but dust and grime had accumulated everywhere, indicating that the cleaning had been poorly done.

‘Who on earth was managing this place for it to be in this state?’

Surely, they must have heard that the lord of the castle was coming, yet they had the nerve to welcome him in such a condition.

‘I need to meet with the butler first,’ Bellona thought, still unable to shake off her old habits. Her sharp eyes quickly took in all the problems around her

In the past, there wasn’t a single detail related to Impes that didn’t go through her hands—she had even personally taken care of his undergarments. From his bedroom to the spaces where he ate and relaxed, she had redecorated and changed everything based on his mood countless times.

She had done everything a handmaid or wife would have done for him. In that sense, it was true that Impes trusted and relied on her deeply, which was why rumors of their impending marriage had spread as if it were a certainty—until that event happened.

Even though much time had passed, the habits she had acquired over the years remained, and her rigid personality that demanded perfection in serving her lord made her anger rise. Her eyes, which had grown cold from frustration, suddenly fixated on one spot.

A large window, stained and spotted from being left uncleaned for too long, caught her attention. Not only that, but there were no curtains to block out the sunlight. No wonder the place felt so eerie, as if ghosts would appear at any moment.

While it wasn’t as bad as the impression she’d gotten the night before, there was no shortage of things that needed fixing. Her expression grew even colder. It seemed she needed to lay down the law with the staff.

Her pace quickened. If the cleaning was in such a state, she feared what the meals might be like. It would be best to check things out before Caelus’s temper was soured on his first day as Grand Duke.

Hurrying downstairs, Bellona came to an abrupt stop as she entered the dining room. Her eyes widened at the unexpected sight before her.

“You’re up early. I was just about to come and wake you,” Caelus said casually.

She stared at the scene before her in disbelief. “What… what is going on here?”

“Preparing breakfast. What else would I be doing?”

“No, I mean… why are the knights here?”

The knights, who should have been out in the training ground by now, were instead standing in the kitchen, wearing aprons and cooking.

Dumbfounded by the absurd sight, Bellona frowned and stormed over to Caelus.

“Where are the servants? Where is the butler? Why are you alone here?”

Caelus simply shrugged his shoulders. Bellona, interpreting his nonchalance as cluelessness, unconsciously reverted to her old manner as commander.

“These idiots…!”

At the sound of her rare outburst, his golden eyes widened in surprise. He buried his face in the newspaper, clearly stifling a laugh.

“Your Highness, I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

Caelus grabbed her as she angrily turned to leave, clearly ignoring him.

“Where are you going?” he repeated.

“To find the servants—”

“There are none.”

Bellona furrowed her brow in confusion.

Caelus folded his newspaper and grabbed both her hands, pulling her closer, as if trying to console a stubborn child.

“There are no butlers or servants here.”

“How is that possible?”

“Why not? With so many knights around, why would we need extra hands? Everyone can just do what they’re good at.”

“Knights are supposed to train, not this kind of work!”

Caelus found her unusual reaction amusing rather than annoying, and he smiled softly as he explained again.

“Of course, knights are supposed to train. But don’t you think they’d get bored if that’s all they did? After all, they’re human before they’re knights. They each have their own skills and hobbies. What’s wrong with letting them do what they enjoy?”

“Your Highness, that’s… that’s absurd—”

“Besides, I have you to take care of me. What do I need a butler for? So let’s just leave this as it is.”

His words were neither a command nor a request, and Bellona swallowed the words she had been about to say.

Had it always been like this in the past? During wartime, knights would take turns cooking. But this was neither a battlefield nor a war.

She could not accept his reasoning. Now, she understood why the castle was in such a state of neglect.

Did that mean this would continue in the future as well? That couldn’t be allowed.

It wasn’t because she needed a maid or a butler to serve her once she became the Grand Duchess. No, it was because she couldn’t bear to see the man who would soon become the emperor of the Fidentia Empire live in such squalor.

If she hadn’t known, she might have overlooked it, but now that she did, there was no way she could let it go.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and Caelus, watching her, chuckled quietly.

“You’re being stubborn again.”

“I’m not. This situation is unacceptable. I can’t allow Your Highness to live like this.”

Her expression made it clear she would not back down, and Caelus tilted his head slightly, narrowing his sharp eyes in disapproval. He seemed displeased.

But before Bellona could open her mouth to protest again, he suddenly pulled her close, his breath tickling her ear.

“If you’re so intent on taking care of me, why not focus on the bedroom we’ll share? Didn’t you say your duty as Grand Duchess is to support me?”

Bellona’s green eyes darkened as she realized the meaning behind his words. In other words, he was telling her to focus on their sleeping arrangements and nothing else.

Anger bubbled up inside her, her frustration mounting as he refused to understand her sincerity. Finally, a defiant thought crept into her mind, and she decided to jab at his weakness.

“I didn’t realize the only place I could serve Your Highness was in the bedroom. I had hoped to serve you throughout the castle. I suppose that was my mistake.”

As she made to pull away, indicating that she had nothing more to say, his grip tightened around her hand. His eyes darkened as he looked at her with understanding, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

“Throughout the castle?”

“……”

“Are you sure you can handle that?”

“If you allow me to bring in servants.”

Caelus felt conflicted. He was irritated by her attempt to use her body to get what she wanted, yet tempted by the offer. His lower half was already stirring with desire.

“So, you’re determined to go against my wishes, aren’t you?”

“Please understand that it’s only out of my desire to serve you well, Your Highness.”

Their gazes locked, tension thick in the air. Neither of them seemed willing to back down, and it felt as though the taut string between them might snap at any moment.

In the end, it was Caelus, with more to lose, who gave in first. But that didn’t mean he was going to make it easy for her.

“Fine. But first, I’ll need to see proof of your loyalty.”

“……!”

He tugged her even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“After everyone falls asleep, meet me at the training ground.”

Bellona’s eyes widened at the unexpected command. Was he asking her for a duel? Her heart started racing, excitement surging through her at the thought of crossing swords with him again.

Just as she was about to reply, Caelus suddenly stood up, hastily leaving the dining room as he threw out a final order.

“Just keep that in mind and eat your breakfast quietly as it’s served.”

Bellona, forgetting for a moment that she was supposed to attend to his meal, watched his figure retreat into the distance, a subtle smile forming on her lips.