In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 70

Bellona, looking down at Mona who bowed politely, tilted her head slightly.

Mona’s demeanor had noticeably changed.

It was as if she had taken off a mask; there was no longer an innocent and timid girl in her amber eyes. As Bellona approached, Mona straightened her upper body and looked up at her.

“Your eyes have become quite arrogant during this time.”

“That can’t be true. I’m still afraid of you, Sir Knight.”

When Bellona stepped a little closer, swallowing a hollow laugh, Mona’s eyes finally wavered slightly.

“Then why are you the one who came as the crown prince’s messenger?”

“I became a maid to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The extent of Mona’s resourcefulness, which was beyond her expectations, made a laugh escape Bellona’s lips.

“Impressive, Mona. Does Ether know?”

“Of course.”

“Ha, you continue to surprise me.”

“But I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you, sir. His Highness the Crown Prince still doesn’t know about that day.”

Seeing Mona confidently laying all her cards on the table as if she had something she could rely on, Bellona narrowed her eyes.

“So, what is your report?”

Mona glanced at Net standing behind her.

“Net, step back for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Net obediently followed her order and moved away.

When Bellona looked at her, signaling her to speak, Mona began talking as if she had rehearsed it.

“It seems there’s a spy for Her Majesty the Empress among the Grand Duchy’s nobles.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know that much. I only saw a note being delivered to Her Majesty by a knight from her palace, saying it had arrived from Camirus a few days ago.”

“Did you see it yourself?”

“Yes, but I couldn’t find out the contents of the note because His Highness ordered everyone out.”

Bellona stared intently into Mona’s unwavering eyes. “Why should I believe you?”

“That’s for you to decide, sir. I’ve only kept my promise.”

“Are you afraid I’ll tell Ether about that day?”

“No. Sir Ether is no longer a weakness of mine.”

Had she betrayed Ether already? Was it because of Impes?

Though expected, Mona’s cunning demeanor still took Bellona aback. How could such a child have put on such an innocent act for so long?

Even after witnessing Mona’s true nature with her own eyes, it was hard to believe.

When Bellona had first met her, she had genuinely thought Mona was kind and gentle. But if that too had all been a planned act…

‘You are truly a terrifying child.’

Perhaps even more so than Ether.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress wish to see you tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Apparently, the two have been getting along so well lately that they retired to their chambers early.”

“Did His Highness the Crown Prince tell you to say that?”

“Yes.”

Staring at Mona, who seemed to have no intention of hiding anything, Bellona frowned, feeling a strange unease.

“I’ll escort you to the crown prince’s palace, Your Grace.”

She addressed Bellona in a way that drew a line, making it clear she was no longer Bellona’s informant but now a maid to Impes.

“I’ll need to change clothes, so go ahead and inform him of my decision.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“And come to my former quarters at ten tomorrow night.”

“Understood.”

Bellona watched Mona comply obediently before turning away.

Just as she was about to return to the prince’s palace, a voice filled with malice cut through the air.

“This time, make sure you kill him.”

“…Who?”

“You know.”

Letting out a laugh with Mona still behind her, Bellona was about to walk away again.

“Sir Ether is currently not in the palace. He left with the knights on orders from Her Majesty.”

For a moment, Bellona’s gaze turned cold. She turned back, her expression sharp.

“Not on the crown prince’s orders, but on Her Majesty’s?”

“Yes.”

Then, tilting her head, she stared directly at Mona. “You could have hidden that from me.”

At this, Mona stepped forward and revealed her ambition. “Now that it has come to this, I want to have my own dream too, even if it’s a poisoned chalice.”

“Do you want to be the crown prince’s lover?”

“No way. Would I betray Sir Ether just for that?”

“Then, are you aiming to become the empress?”

Mona, who had been revealing her true intentions without hesitation, clamped her mouth shut this time, as if Bellona had struck a nerve.

Letting out a hollow laugh, Bellona looked at Mona with a refreshed expression.

Though it was absurd, the determination in Mona’s eyes—eyes filled with the intent to achieve her grand dream—was almost admirable.

“Tell me what you want from me. If our interests align, I may consider helping.”

With a conciliatory tone, Bellona asked. Mona, staring at her, gave a faint smile.

“I will cooperate with whatever you wish, Your Grace. Just guarantee my safety in return.”

“So Ether has shown his true colors. But do you think eliminating him will help you achieve your dream?”

“I’ll take care of my dream myself. Just keep the promise you made to me. All I want is for the secret of that day to remain and for Ether to be gone forever.”

Chills ran down Bellona’s spine at Mona’s unwavering determination.

What could drive a person to change so completely? Would obsession with power truly drive someone to ask for the death of the one they loved without hesitation?

Bellona knew better than anyone what awaited Mona at the end of the path she was taking, yet she remained silent.

She had neither the desire nor the reason to tell Mona.

More importantly, Mona wouldn’t listen to anything now, no matter what Bellona said.

Someone consumed by greed would have their eyes closed and their ears shut.

It was, after all, the path Mona had chosen and the fate she would have to endure.

Bellona decided to simply watch Mona’s end unfold slowly.

“I’ll give you my answer after observing your behavior for a few days.”

“Then, I’ll return and convey Your Grace’s message to His Highness.”

Mona bowed deeply before turning to leave.

Only then did Net, who had been waiting at a distance, approach. Bellona, still watching Mona’s retreating figure, gave Net a brief order.

“Bring Nobert to me once everyone is asleep.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Bellona’s eyes flashed sharply.

Ether, who had left with the Imperial knights.

‘Where could you have gone?’

***

Dressed elegantly in a gown, Bellona stood in front of the crown prince’s palace, her expression hard.

Her mind was cluttered.

Before she went to the Grand Duchy, she had planned to do whatever it took to seduce Impes and sway his heart. But today, upon realizing her own feelings, she hesitated to cross this threshold.

Impes had surely concocted some wicked scheme for tonight. Perhaps he had even poisoned the food again.

The kind of man who couldn’t stand losing, who had to have whatever he wanted, would do anything to possess her.

It was an excellent opportunity to win Impes’s heart, but she couldn’t take a step forward because the image of another man kept flickering in her heart.

The promises she had made to him and his pleas also weighed on her conscience.

“Your Grace, you do not look well.”

Net’s worried voice snapped Bellona back to reality, and she took a deep breath.

It was an unavoidable situation. If that was the case, she had no choice but to face it head-on.

“I’ll go inside, so you carry out your task.”

“…Understood.”

Bellona checked the dagger strapped to her thigh one more time before ending her internal struggle and stepping into the crown prince’s palace without hesitation.

The steward, who recognized her, widened his eyes momentarily before bowing.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for you, Your Grace.”

“Announce me.”

With her shoulders straightened and her face emotionless, Bellona looked at the door to the guest room.

Just as the steward was about to announce her, the door suddenly flung open.

“Finally, you’re here.”

The man, as elaborately adorned as if attending a banquet, ran a hand through his gleaming silver hair and pursed his lips.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Unlike when she was a knight, Bellona greeted him with a casual nod while silently watching him scan her in the dress.

His lips curled higher and higher, clearly betraying his indecent intentions.

“You look beautiful. Almost disgustingly so.”

“Will you keep me waiting at the door?”

“Of course not. Please, come in, Grand Duchess.”

Impishly sweeping his arm in an exaggerated bow, Impes opened the way for her.

Though he had already revealed his true nature, Impes maintained a semblance of formal politeness as he pulled out her chair, flashing an alluring smile.

Bellona did not refuse his courtesy.

Once he had gracefully stepped back, he took the seat across from her, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

“For some reason, I’m nervous. I feel like a fool meeting my first love again.”

“I didn’t know Your Highness had such a pure side.”

“It seems you’ve even changed the way you speak since becoming the Grand Duchess.”

“Receiving overflowing love seems to have made it natural. After all, I am a woman before I am a knight.”

The man’s smiling expression hardened for a moment. Soon, Impes shook his head, raised his wine glass, and forced a smile.

“It seems Caelus treats you well.”

“Forgive me, but I must decline the drink. His Grace wouldn’t like it.”

At her firm refusal, the elegant mask of Impes crumpled slightly.

He took a sip of wine calmly and set the glass down, tilting his head slightly.

“Why do I feel like you’re provoking me? As if you want me to be jealous.”

“Are you jealous?”

He leisurely spun the wine glass on the table, letting out a small laugh.

“Indeed. I’m jealous. So much so that I want to rip that elegant dress to shreds and lay you down on this table.”

The man, whose red eyes gleamed as if to prove he wasn’t joking, slowly rose from his seat.