In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 51

Caelus let out a short sigh.

Only then did he understand why she had sparred with the knights.

In the past, trusting in the cold-hearted nature of Akon, he hadn’t paid much attention, and now it had led to this situation.

Even though he knew Akon treated allies and enemies alike with sharp precision, he had assumed that, since they would be living together as comrades now, as commander, Akon would naturally embrace them as well.

However, it seemed that even for someone as loyal as Akon, it was difficult to fully accept those who had just become knights of Impes as allies. Especially since they were no longer just rivals but now clear enemies.

Moreover, they were practically prisoners captured while trying to attack Bellona, rather than knights brought in by her. It was no wonder it had been difficult for him.

Bellona, having witnessed the entire situation firsthand, couldn’t help but step in.

Given her past personality of looking after her subordinates, she couldn’t just stand by seeing her former underlings discriminated against.

A woman too soft-hearted to kill them and brought them all the way here, as if they were her own, could not simply ignore her former subordinates.

‘I was too complacent.’

At that moment, Rondo returned.

Behind him, the knights who had been spending their time came running in haste.

Bellona’s gaze, which had been waiting for Akon’s response, turned to the approaching group.

Her sharp eyes quickly gauged the number of knights, and her gaze narrowed slightly.

‘Too few. Like this, we won’t even be able to conquer a small territory.’

Seeing the number of knights, which seemed smaller compared to the past, Bellona’s expression darkened.

The knights, lined up in perfect formation, revealed a grim determination, as if they were about to march into battle.

When Caelus raised his hand, the knights all bowed in unison without a single flaw.

The Imperial knights, who had been standing awkwardly, also took a knee, glancing ahead.

Just as Bellona was about to belatedly kneel while standing alone, Caelus suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her close, and spoke while wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“Show your respect. She is to be my wife, whom you must protect with all your lives from now on.”

***

Akon, who had earlier displayed such ominous eyes, was now restless.

Though his reaction was not incomprehensible, the expression on Bellona’s face, standing across from him, was contorted with discontent.

Why did he have to reveal it now, turning an able knight into a fool?

Moments ago, when Caelus called her “my wife,” the entire training ground fell silent as if doused with cold water.

The knights, frozen in shock as if they’d forgotten how to breathe, alternated between looking at Bellona and Caelus with widened eyes.

Then, breaking the quiet, the sound of a blade dropping to the floor echoed from somewhere.

Turning her gaze, Bellona saw Akon’s shocked face, so stunned that he even dropped his sword, and realized that this sparring had lost all meaning.

As expected, Akon was in no state to spar now. Who would dare point a sword at the future Grand Duchess?

Bound by his own words, Akon barely managed to stand in the training ground, but his hand holding the sword wavered, tracing circles on the ground.

Glancing at Caelus, who had caused this whole situation, she saw him sitting there nonchalantly, as if watching an entertaining play.

Behind him, the knights were seated in a row, their faces alight with excitement, eager for the sparring to begin.

Bellona was not in a good mood.

She felt like a bullfighter forced into a fight, one deemed “the flower of the festival.” A cruel matador tasked with striking down a cow that stood trembling, as if it might cry at any moment.

“Ha, are you going to keep standing there like that?” she asked in a cold voice, irritation rising.

Startled, Akon responded in a strange expression that was neither a smile nor tears.

“Must we really—must you really do this…?”

He instinctively switched from his habitual informal speech to formal, stealing nervous glances with an embarrassed expression.

Seeing her expression grow colder, Akon only exacerbated her anger.

“The Imperial—I mean, the knights that… um, Grand Duchess brought, I will officially admit them into the Knights of Valensis. Ah, with my heart as well. So, this sparring…”

Unable to add “please,” he looked at her pleadingly.

Akon’s forehead was already covered in cold sweat as he stammered, not knowing how to address her properly.

But Bellona’s face hardened for a different reason.

Grand Duchess?

The moment she heard the title “Grand Duchess,” goosebumps rose all over her.

She never imagined she would hear that title directed at her, one she had spent her entire life using to address the imperial family.

It was only then that she realized whose hand she had taken and how her position had changed.

She had truly become part of the imperial family.

In name alone, she was now a true member of the imperial family.

A fiery blaze erupted in her chest.

But she couldn’t tell what this feeling was.

Was she happy? No, that didn’t seem right. Was she sad? That wasn’t it either.

She simply felt strange and bewildered, like a puppet forced to dance in ill-fitting clothes.

Moreover, knowing that from now on all the knights would address her that way, despite it being nothing more than a relationship bound by orders and duties, made her feel like a swindler deceiving everyone.

The whole situation felt extremely awkward and uncomfortable.

The feeling that came from recognizing and preparing oneself versus being acknowledged by others was completely different.

The weight of that title felt as if it was pressing down on her mind and body.

Because of that, even though the ceremony wasn’t held yet, being called “Grand Duchess” already grated on her nerves.

Perhaps just being called by her name would feel more comfortable.

“What are you two doing just standing there? Are you dueling with your eyes?”

A sharp voice pierced through her chaotic thoughts. Startled, Bellona and Akon turned their heads simultaneously.

Seeing her face, now drained of color, he stood up.

“Judging by your states, it seems today’s sparring is off,” Caelus said, attempting to end the situation.

Hearing this, the once-dull expression on Akon’s face instantly brightened.

But Bellona still wasn’t in good shape. Her hand gripping the sword was trembling slightly, and her eyes were red.

Caelus, who had been watching her intently, suddenly glared at Akon and reprimanded him. “What on earth did you say to make my wife end up like this?”

“Your Highness! How could I possibly—”

“Excuse me, Your Highness. I will take my leave.”

Unable to bear staying there any longer, Bellona hastily left the training ground, knowing full well it was rude.

***

Caelus stood by the window, his expression dark.

He wanted to go and ask her what was wrong, but he thought it was best to leave her alone for now, so he waited with patience.

Still, his curiosity only grew.

‘Why did she suddenly react like that?’

She had been excited, like a predator before prey, right before stepping into the training ground.

Her normally composed expression had darkened abruptly the moment Akon said something.

It wasn’t anger but rather fear that seemed to have enveloped her.

No matter how many times he replayed Akon’s words in his head, there was nothing that seemed to warrant such a reaction. Even if Akon had hurled rough insults, Bellona would have just scoffed.

Yet Bellona, a woman unafraid of even death, had shown fear.

Why?

He couldn’t make sense of her emotions at all. Even if he asked, she would likely keep her lips sealed tight, like an oyster.

Feeling frustrated, Caelus shot a glare at Akon before turning his gaze back to the window.

Behind him, Akon stood anxiously, stealing nervous glances at his clearly irate lord’s broad back.

He felt a pang of resentment. If only he’d been told earlier, he wouldn’t have made such mistakes.

Not knowing she was to be the Grand Duchess, he’d not only spoken down to her but had also looked at her disrespectfully and made her spar with his subordinates.

Moreover, he’d ignored the Imperial knights she brought along and let her catch him in the act.

And that wasn’t all.

He had even tried to humiliate her by suggesting a sparring match, so now he couldn’t see how to recover from this situation.

He felt wronged, stifled, anxious, and also utterly confused as to what was going on.

Even though he obeyed since his lord said so, he couldn’t understand it.

Who was his lord, after all? He was the man who would one day rule the great Fidentia Empire.

Even though he was no longer the Crown Prince, the fact remained that he was still an imperial family, a legitimate son, and the current emperor’s child.

Though exiled to the frontier, he had still been granted the title of Grand Duke.

Many nobles still followed him, and he had close to a thousand knights who served him.

Someone like Caelus could easily have chosen the daughter of a great noble house as his consort.

But why? Why on earth?

Suppressing the question that he couldn’t voice aloud, Akon couldn’t hide his regret.

If a noble lady who could support his lord had become the Grand Duchess, his lord’s future would have been a little smoother.

A conversation he’d had with Caelus suddenly came to mind.

“The most radiant flower on the battlefield. A delicate wildflower that blooms even more beautifully in a pool of blood.”

“The wildflower of the battlefield.”