In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 55

The season seemed to be changing, as the night, wrapped in darkness, felt quite chilly compared to the sunny day. Perhaps it was because of the tense aura of the two people standing face to face.

“You look even more beautiful without the veil.”

“I didn’t realize this was Your Grace’s taste.”

“I had it made like this just for you.”

The man smiled lasciviously, his gaze languidly sweeping over her toned legs beneath the short skirt. He had considered dressing her in a lavish, elegant gown like other noblewomen, but he feared it would make her uncomfortable, so he had designed this dress with care.

It was the right choice.

This look suited her better. With her alluring sensuality combined with the fierce presence of a swordswoman, she looked so beautiful and striking that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“It seems I’ve chosen the perfect wife.”

“It seems you don’t see the sword in your wife’s hand.”

“Surely you won’t commit the crime of stabbing your husband before our wedding night.”

At his playful words, Bellona’s expression hardened for a moment.

Suddenly, that night flashed before her eyes.

The image of the man who died, blood pouring from his body, came back to her vividly.

As the horrific scene replayed in her mind, her hand gripping the sword’s hilt trembled slightly.

Noticing her change in expression, Caelus abruptly raised his sword. His voice, now cold and stern, snapped her back from the past.

“Don’t get lost in futile thoughts while I’m in front of you. Focus only on me.”

“……!”

“Stay sharp. I’m going to give my all in wielding my sword from now on. It means I won’t go easy on you, for the sake of our passionate wedding night.”

His earnest warning brought her back to reality, and her mind regained its composure.

Bellona adjusted her grip on her sword, tilting her head provocatively as if warming up her body.

“This won’t be an easy duel. I’m very much looking forward to our wedding night as well.”

When she said “our” with a playful grin, her pure white dress fluttered in the air as she launched an unexpected attack. Caelus blocked her strike effortlessly, frowning.

“Attacking suddenly like that is unfair.”

“Being unfair is just another tactic for victory. So don’t act spoiled.”

As she quickly retreated and resumed her attack stance, a strange smile spread across both their faces. Just crossing their swords briefly was enough to send shivers down their spines.

They could hardly believe that they had returned to this moment, sharing the thrill of the duel. It was exhilarating.

The intensity between them flared again, their gazes far from that of a newlywed couple. If it weren’t for their ceremonial attire, it would have been no different from their past in the Kingdom of Kellicus.

Bellona’s next leap into attack put an end to their conversation. The two swung their swords in earnest, letting their blood boil with excitement.

Their back-and-forth exchange was fierce and intense. Though there was a risk of injury, there was no hesitation in their movements.

The only difference from the past was that their blades carried no killing intent.

Still, the uncontrollable exhilaration was evident on their faces.

The sound of their swords clashing, the weight behind each powerful strike, was so electrifying that they couldn’t stop.

How much time had passed?

The cold air of the training ground, in the dead of night while everyone else slept, had grown warm and stifling from their relentless exchange.

It was Caelus’s sly tactic that finally ended their sparring.

As he hugged Bellona tightly from behind, panting, he let out a faint laugh.

“It seems I win.”

“That’s unfair. You looked at my undergarments.”

“Didn’t you say being unfair is just another tactic? I was merely stating a fact.”

Bellona clenched her teeth, recalling his words from just moments ago.

“Your undergarments keep distracting me. How unfair.”

With her movements growing more intense, her short skirt had fluttered, revealing her undergarments. The moment Caelus commented on it, her frenzied swordplay had hesitated for just an instant.

He hadn’t missed that opportunity and subdued her, leaving her captured in his embrace.

The exhilarating moment had ended anticlimactically. Though disappointed by the unresolved outcome, her heart still pounded in excitement.

She had expected an easy victory, but contrary to her expectations, Caelus’s skills were as formidable as they had been in the past.

His abilities were nearly identical to their final duel in the past. If he hadn’t ended it, she might have lost.

Had he been training all this time? Or was he simply a natural-born monster?

As she caught her breath, he suddenly sucked on her nape.

“Your Grace!”

“Even your sweat tastes sweet, my wife.”

Bellona struggled to free herself from his embrace. In response, he tightened his grip, whispering seductively as he moved his hands lower.

“A captive should behave properly.”

Suddenly, another voice echoed in her mind.

“If I win, will you come to the Grand Duchy with me as my captive?”

‘Am I destined to be this man’s captive after all?’

Stifling a laugh, she stopped resisting and tried to placate him.

“Please let me go for a moment. I have something for you.”

“If you’re planning another surprise kiss, forget it. I’m not always going to fall for it.”

“If you don’t let me go now, I won’t give it to you.”

At her ultimatum, Caelus reluctantly released her, suspicion written all over his face.

Finally free, Bellona took a deep breath and removed the white gloves she was wearing.

Her hand, now bare, was cupped as if holding something.

His curious gaze watched as her small hand slowly opened, and his eyes quivered slightly.

In her sweaty palm lay a sparkling jewel. It was a necklace set with an emerald that matched her eye color.

Bellona approached him, who still seemed bewildered, and naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.

Even during this moment, Caelus, bending awkwardly to accommodate her, quietly allowed her to clasp the necklace around his neck.

She held him for a little longer, enjoying his rigid state.

“Ha…”

Unable to hold back, he finally let out a sigh, and she pulled away, hiding her smile.

Looking down, Caelus stared at the necklace lying over his white cravat, his face dazed.

He was utterly stunned by the unexpected gift.

“When did you…”

“It may not be much for Your Grace, but I hope you’ll accept it as a token of my feelings.”

A few days ago, when she first met the madam who had dressed her today, Bellona had ordered both the dress and jewelry.

She had wanted to give him something even better, but all she had was the leftover money from the palace budget he’d given her. This was the best she could do.

“If you don’t like it, you can just put it in a drawer—”

“I’ll never take it off. If I die first, make sure it gets buried with me. That’s an order.”

His extreme reaction left her momentarily stunned before she suddenly burst into laughter.

Once again, Caelus’s face overlapped with Marca’s.

She finally understood why she was laughing at this moment.

“Are you mocking me again?”

Unlike before, she didn’t hide her smile as she answered honestly, “I’m laughing because Your Grace looks cute. You look just like Marca when you’re like this.”

He frowned as if he hadn’t heard what he wanted, his cheeks gradually turning red.

Seeing his contradictory expressions and reactions, Bellona couldn’t help but laugh out loud once more.

She felt inexplicably elated.

She didn’t know why.

She just felt happy, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

“I was going to be a gentle husband just for tonight, but I can’t do it.”

Caelus headed for the bench, put on his discarded jacket, then returned to her and took her hand, leading her swiftly out of the training ground.

She knew where they were going, and what was going to happen, yet Bellona followed him willingly.

Then, suddenly, he stopped, set her against a wooden pillar, and pulled something from inside his jacket.

It was a luxurious velvet pouch.

“I forgot to give this to you. You should’ve distracted me better.”

Bellona’s eyes widened. From the pouch emerged a tiara made of diamonds and gold.

Holding the tiara, he gazed at it wistfully, whispering softly, “This belonged to my mother. Please cherish it.”

“Your Grace!”

“I’d prefer a kiss over a refusal.”

Seeing his earnest expression for the first time, she couldn’t speak any further. Though she knew it wasn’t something she should accept, his sincere gaze made it hard for her to refuse.

No, she shamelessly wanted to accept it. For today, she thought, perhaps she could set aside her burdens and be truly happy. Even if it was just a role, without real love, tonight, she could pretend she was loved, and that didn’t seem so bad.

If it added one more sin to the list of deceiving him, what difference would it make? It would only make her future punishment a little harsher.

Bellona decided to embrace the romantic wedding night he had prepared.

Her gentle hand caressed his cheek. As she slowly lifted her head, his smiling face drew closer.

Soon, without either knowing who started it, their lips met like magnets.

Their true wedding night had begun.