In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 61

The heated atmosphere from the bedroom seemed like a dream, but in the office, the air was cold.

Unlike her usual composed demeanor, Caelus’s expression showed no signs of softening.

“I have to go anyway. I’m just leaving a bit earlier. What’s the problem?”

Seeing her pretend not to understand, Caelus swallowed back words he couldn’t bear to say.

He had been uneasy about leaving Bellona at the imperial palace even when he wasn’t certain of her true purpose. Now that he knew her intentions, he absolutely couldn’t let her go.

Bellona was the kind of woman who would use her body as bait to achieve her goals if needed.

He hated the fact that she was stubbornly insisting on going without knowing why he was so anxious, why he felt this way because of her.

But he couldn’t force her either, and the thought of that made him seethe with frustration.

He even wondered if it might be better to reveal everything and try to stop her.

If that could solve the problem, he would have said it already.

Caelus believed that the events of the past would only serve as poison between them, and he intended to keep his knowledge of his regression a secret until his death.

If she found out that he remembered everything, Bellona would surely leave him.

Whether it was out of guilt or betrayal.

Even after their sweet love a few hours ago, Bellona still gave off the feeling that she would eventually leave.

He had forced her to swear loyalty with nothing but the word “command,” but his life, filled with betrayal and hardship, left him unable to find solace in just a few words.

A man steeped in a life of misfortune found it that much harder to trust someone.

He admitted his feelings for Bellona had grown, but the truth was, he still couldn’t fully trust her.

Even though she was in his embrace now, he never once forgot that she could fly away at any moment like a cold-hearted bird.

“Your Grace.”

He didn’t want to face the stubborn woman who still refused to give in.

“We’ll talk later.”

“Why can’t you trust me? Do you still doubt my skills? I—”

“It’s not because I don’t trust your skills!”

In the end, he shouted, his voice filled with anger he could hardly contain. His golden eyes flashed with barely restrained fury.

Bellona’s face twisted with both bewilderment and frustration. She couldn’t understand why he was being so stubborn about something that had to be done anyway.

“Haa… Enough. I really want to be alone.”

Bellona, silently watching the man repeatedly refuse further conversation, finally stood, bowed quietly, and left the office.

“Damn it!”

Caelus ground his teeth, glaring at nothing but empty space, struggling to control the emotions that were becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

***

“Ugh… I’m dying here. Mona! Bring me some water.”

Having barely fallen asleep at dawn after enduring a rough night with a man drunk and filled with lust, Mona forced her aching legs to carry her as she fetched water.

“Here you go.”

Ether glanced at her bleary-eyed appearance and clicked his tongue. “Look at yourself. At least clean the sleep from your eyes before you bring something. You dirty slut.”

Mona, who had been silently watching the man look her up and down in disdain, frowned as she turned away, holding the empty cup.

Who is he to call someone else dirty?

The man who used to practically live in front of the mirror hadn’t bothered to wash or dress properly since losing an arm.

Not only did he live drunk every day, but whenever he got drunk, he would pounce on her like a beast.

At first, because she loved him, she had accepted it all, simply feeling sorry for him.

But as the violence and verbal abuse grew worse day by day, she no longer had the strength or the heart to endure it.

What hurt the most was when he mistook her for someone else.

On nights when he was more drunk than usual, Ether would call her Bellona, hurling insults and hitting her.

He would strangle her, threatening to kill her, and become even more brutal.

He was sickening to her now, a man who couldn’t even recognize her face, mistaking her just because of a similar hair color.

“Hey! Bring me clothes.”

“Where… are you going?”

“Why are you asking? What’s it to you if I go somewhere? Going to hide again and spread your legs for some other guy while I’m gone?”

When Mona had barely returned from the underground prison of the imperial palace, Ether had already lost an arm.

She couldn’t bring herself to tell the man who had barely survived what had happened during that time. She didn’t want to burden him with more worries when he was already losing his sanity over his condition.

But then, not long after, he began accusing her of meeting other men, taking his frustrations out on her, pouring all his anger onto her constantly.

She had considered telling him the truth, even belatedly, but seeing how he had become a completely different person, Mona simply kept her mouth shut.

“Damn servants, knights, or women. They’re all the same in the palace. That’s why you cozied up to me, too, isn’t it? Trying to get ahead.”

Ether smirked, tapping Mona’s hardened cheek, then scratched his dirty foot.

“Still, our Mona’s got luck, huh? Landing a guy like me.”

“…Yes.”

Rather than provoking him and inviting more abuse, Mona chose to remain compliant.

“If you understand, go get the wash water and clothes instead of just standing there! Move it!”

Dodging the man who raised his hand threateningly, Mona darted out.

Reaching the washroom in one sprint, she collapsed onto the floor, muttering curses.

“Filthy bastard, useless scum. Does he still think he’s vice commander?”

As she spewed out insults, another person came to mind, and she vented her resentment on them, too.

“Should’ve just killed him. Why only cut off an arm and leave me to deal with the rest? Eshil, you’re wicked, too. Leaving me alone and escaping.”

Staring blankly into space, as if her mind had snapped, a voice suddenly came from behind.

“Are you Mona, the servant?”

Slowly turning her head, Mona’s eyes widened. She quickly stood and bowed her head, and a cold voice spoke an unexpected name.

“The crown prince has summoned you.”

“Pardon?”

The chamberlain’s eyes swept over her clothes with a look of disgust.

“Dress appropriately and come quickly.”

“…Yes.”

Watching the chamberlain’s retreating figure, Mona’s eyes were filled with mixed emotions.

She was nervous, not knowing why the crown prince was suddenly calling for her. On the other hand, if what Bellona had said was true, that she had served the prince…

Her heart raced.

‘Could it be that His Highness remembers that night?’

As she blushed and touched her warm cheeks, Bellona’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.

“If you choose to save Ether’s life, I’ll tell His Highness the entire truth—that it wasn’t me, but you, who served him that night. And that Ether was behind it all.”

The crown prince believed that the woman with him that night had been Bellona.

There were even rumors throughout the knights that he treated her like a lover when he came to the knights the next day.

And there were rumors of a love triangle with Prince Caelus.

Everyone in the palace knew that Impes had lost his mind because Caelus had taken Bellona from him.

So perhaps…

‘Maybe I should just tell the truth. That I was the woman that night. If there’s a problem, I can just blame Ether for everything.’

Her amber eyes darkened. At that moment, Bellona’s voice echoed in her mind again.

“The consequences you’ll face will be far more horrifying than you imagine. Don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”

Her hopeful eyes were quickly filled with fear.

‘If he finds out he slept with a servant like me, he might kill me on the spot.’

“Report to me on every move the imperial family makes. Of course, that includes Ether as well.”

Recalling Bellona’s final order, Mona’s face twisted in irritation.

“Bellona Riknis. I didn’t think you had it in you, but you’re a cunning bitch.”

Tugging roughly at her reddish-brown hair, Mona suddenly looked down at it.

It was a bit darker than Bellona’s, but this red hair had kept her from being caught after sleeping with the crown prince. Though she had suffered many times at Ether’s hands for it.

“Do I look that similar? Enough for him to mistake me for her?”

Her amber eyes shone with ambition again. With that, Mona hurried to her quarters, grabbing her favorite dress.

It wasn’t a gown, which was a shame, but it was at least clean and decent, so she dressed herself neatly. She unbraided her twin plaits and smoothed her hair down with her hands.

Seeing her reflection, a natural smile appeared.

If she had worn a gown, she might have been as beautiful as any noble lady.

“Still, I’m better than Bellona.”

Her uplifted heart swelled even more. For some reason, she felt that with this appearance, she might even be able to seduce the crown prince.

Mona softened her sharp eyes, crafting a bashful smile. She picked up her skirt slightly, bent her knee, and smiled brightly.

“Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince. Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

A seductive smile spread across her freckled face.