In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 60

From noon, the Grand Duke and Duchess’s bedroom was filled with a heated atmosphere.

As if forgetting everything that had happened from morning until just a moment ago, the only thing left in their eyes was the joy of satisfying lovemaking.

Feeling her warmth, which had now become quite familiar, Caelus’s complicated thoughts disappeared as if his mind was empty.

He kissed Bellona’s forehead and cheeks repeatedly, his love for her evident in his every action. Bellona, who had finally caught her breath, turned from lying flat and wrapped her arms around his firm abdomen.

Momentarily bewildered by her unfamiliar behavior, Caelus then smiled contentedly, drawing her closer into his embrace.

It was a peaceful afternoon.

He felt as if he could fall asleep like this.

Strangely, holding her made him feel drowsy, as though he had found rest after achieving everything he had hoped for.

On the day they first shared physical intimacy at the palace, he had slept so deeply that he wouldn’t have noticed if someone carried him off, all because of this sense of contentment.

He was truly enchanted.

“I feel like sleeping.”

“Take a nap.”

“I’d like to, but the matter you started is a big one.”

Bellona’s drowsy eyes suddenly snapped open. Her flushed face, still hot from their passion, showed her dismay as he smiled gently, tapping her sharp nose.

“I told you not to leave any room for mercy. If you’d just killed them, their wealth would have naturally fallen into your hands, but now you’ve made things cumbersome.”

“If we kill them recklessly, other nobles will rebel—”

“Then kill those who rebel, too. What’s there to worry about?”

Though he was smiling, Bellona’s expression hardened, knowing his words weren’t lies.

‘Was he planning to kill all the nobles from the start?’

It made no sense to eliminate all the nobles, who were the pillars of the nation, regardless of their loyalty.

It was the imperial family’s duty to protect the people, but it was the nobles’ duty to carry out the imperial family’s commands. If all the nobles were killed, the people would have nowhere to voice their grievances. They couldn’t dare to bring their complaints directly to the imperial family. Most of all, Caelus’s approach to dealing with matters puzzled her.

Had he always killed those who displeased him, even in the past?

“Why, do I seem cruel?”

His question pierced her thoughts, and Bellona answered honestly.

“It’s unlike Your Grace.”

“How did you perceive me?”

“I heard you were fair and gentle.”

“From whom?”

“…Rumors.”

She dodged the question, and he let out a laughter filled with an unknown meaning.

“So, are you disappointed that the rumors weren’t true?”

“Rumors are just rumors. I was only a little surprised, not disappointed.”

“But then, why does your tone suggest otherwise?”

“Ah…”

The face that had regained its original calmness turned red once again.

Who was calling whom “unlike themselves”?

He laughed aloud at her rare display of cuteness, pulling her soft body tightly into his embrace, resting his chin on her small head.

A long sigh escaped him, with a hint of serenity in it.

Feeling her breaths against his chest, Caelus smiled lazily.

He didn’t know why, but just talking to her made him so happy.

Just her saying that she wasn’t disappointed had sent shivers through him.

“What should I do?”

“……”

“I’ve fallen for you so deeply that I’d willingly give you my heart if you asked, even at the risk of my life.”

Bellona closed her eyes in response to his lament, whether it was resentment or helplessness.

She listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat, silently taking in his earnest confession and adding it to her list of sins.

Suddenly, he lowered his head, kissing her forehead as he whispered, “My life is now in your hands.”

When she raised her head slowly, his golden eyes gazed at her intently, holding a certain meaning.

“How does it feel? To hold the life of this insignificant man?”

“It makes me happy.”

‘Because this time, I can protect you.’

To his surprise, her unexpected answer made his expression twist subtly.

“Are you being sincere?”

“Yes. So, even if I must sacrifice my life, I will protect you. Because Your Grace’s life is my happiness.”

“…Do you perhaps want to make me emperor and become empress?”

He had asked her this question in the past as well.

Did she wag her tail like a dog for the imperial family in hopes of becoming empress?

He had sneered then, mocking her as if he felt regret.

At the time, she had thought he was belittling her, attributing it to a man embittered by misfortune taking his anger out on her.

But now, as his woman, she wondered if perhaps, at that moment, Caelus had been sincere.

Though he had cruelly ordered this marriage, he had consistently treated her as a person, a knight, not a dog, both in the past and now.

That wasn’t all.

Though he had taken her body without hesitation, Caelus had never changed, only becoming gentler and more considerate.

He had promised to fulfill his role as her husband, and he was doing so more than adequately.

Maybe that was why she now felt a foolish yearning.

“If I wanted it, would you make it happen?”

“If I become emperor, of course, you will be empress. I simply want to know your true feelings.”

Bellona suddenly gave a bitter smile and sighed deeply. “I don’t wish for it. I prefer the life of a knight.”

At her honest answer, his handsome brow furrowed. “You say you want to make me emperor, yet you don’t want to be empress? Does that mean if I become emperor, you plan to leave me?”

“It means I wish to be Your Grace’s knight.”

‘If I get another chance, I will live as your dog until I die.’

His expression showed clear dissatisfaction, as if her answer wasn’t what he had hoped for.

“It seems I must take your vow of loyalty again.”

“What do you mean, ah…!”

Suddenly, Caelus lifted her onto him, biting into her cascading red hair with a mischievous smile.

“Your duty is to stay by my side until death. Of course, as my wife.”

His large hand grasped her buttocks, revealing his desire once more.

“So swear again. Swear that you won’t run away while holding my heart.”

“Hmph!”

As his hands grew more brazen, Bellona answered with a pitiful expression.

“I swear… Ah…!”

The air in the room, which had momentarily settled, instantly heated up again.

***

Caelus, who had spent the entire day holding Bellona in his arms, hurriedly reviewed the piled documents like catching up on delayed homework.

At that moment, Akon rushed in urgently.

“Your Grace!”

Seeing Akon’s grave expression, Caelus’s golden eyes, still warm from earlier, turned sharp.

“A message has arrived from Fidentia.”

“What is it?”

“It is an order for you to attend the imperial hunting event, along with the Grand Duchess.”

“…They’re starting the hunting event already?”

Caelus’s eyes narrowed.

Why had the timing been moved up?

The imperial hunting event was held every year around the time when the cold winds began to blow.

But it was hard to understand why they were suddenly holding it now, while the warm southern winds were still blowing.

“What should we do? In this case, the Grand Duchess will need to go to the palace first.”

It was a disaster.

He had planned their departure with the hunting event in mind, but now everything was tangled.

“Even if we rush to finish preparations, Her Grace will have to stay alone at the palace for a few days. She can’t stay with us until then, either.”

“Haa…”

The sudden change in circumstances made him frustrated.

He couldn’t postpone the long-prepared expedition, but he also couldn’t let her go to the palace alone.

If he postponed the expedition, it might jeopardize the chance for the Valensis Knights to regain their former glory. Though the situation was one he had experienced before, there was no guarantee of success if the timing changed.

Yet, he couldn’t send Bellona into danger by herself, either.

His anxiety rose again.

Just the thought of her going to the palace made his nerves feel like they were about to snap.

“Your Grace, what will you do?”

Akon, who knew what Impes intended to do to Bellona, could not hide his unease.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no answer.

If they departed as planned, they might lose Bellona.

On the other hand, choosing Bellona might make it uncertain whether they could secure Fidentia. Both were choices Caelus could not afford to abandon.

Just then, a knock sounded, and the door burst open.

Startled, the two men turned their gaze, only to see Bellona enter demurely, cutting through his worries at once.

“I will go ahead. Just assign two knights to accompany me.”

Caelus’s expression twisted fiercely.