In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 74

Bellona silently observed the opening ceremony of the hunting festival, one she hadn’t attended in a long time.

The atmosphere of the imperial grand training ground was heated with the confidence of the knights and nobles vying for the honor of being titled “the Empire’s best knight” and the fervor of those who came to cheer them on.

A bitter smile crept onto her lips.

Though she had spent so much time in the palace, she had never once participated in this event. The hunting festival was, after all, a celebration exclusively for men.

Back then, even as the knight commander, she found the unyielding tradition dissatisfying. But now, it all felt meaningless.

“Your Grace, the Crown Prince is arriving.”

Turning her gaze, she saw Impes in the distance, escorting a lavishly adorned lady and exchanging greetings with the nobles.

Bellona’s expression instantly cooled.

‘Lopez Edana.’

In her past life, nearly every malicious rumor about Bellona had originated from her lips.

Lopez was the daughter of the powerful Louvre family, one of the most influential noble families in the Empire, and had been almost certain to become the Crown Princess. Her beautiful and graceful demeanor earned her the utmost respect wherever she went.

Then came Bellona, a mere knight who suddenly became the Crown Prince’s mistress. It was no wonder Lopez had been enraged.

That wasn’t all.

When rumors spread that the knight-turned-mistress might even be appointed as the Crown Princess, Lopez eventually resorted to despicable acts against her.

If it weren’t for Bellona’s swordsmanship, she might have been utterly ruined by hired thugs…

Reining in her emotions, Bellona rose from her seat. She watched indifferently as the pair approached, her eyes meeting Impes’s momentarily.

The man she had met in private the night of her arrival at the palace now flaunted his escort of another woman while his eyes discreetly followed Bellona.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah, Grand Duchess, welcome.”

As they exchanged formal pleasantries, Lopez suddenly stepped forward. Lifting her dress elegantly, she bowed gracefully.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am Lopez Edana, daughter of Count Louvre. Please, call me Lopez.”

Her coquettish smile nearly made Bellona scoff aloud. Hiding her irritation, she returned the greeting.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Lopez.”

Bellona swallowed her laughter as she observed the woman’s innocent, smiling face, but the persistent gaze she felt drew her attention.

She glanced over to see Impes smirking faintly, shrugging his shoulders as if avenging himself. His expression seemed to ask how she was feeling.

Bellona answered his silent question with a refreshingly bright smile.

Seeing her radiant smile for the first time, Impes’s playful expression momentarily faltered before he chuckled and pulled out a chair for Lopez, feigning gentlemanly behavior.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Not at all.”

All eyes turned to them as Impes’s courteous act sparked whispers among the nobles.

Seating a noblewoman in a place reserved for the imperial family was tantamount to signaling her as his intended Crown Princess.

“Grand Duchess, how have you been?”

As soon as he sat, Impes began with an overly casual greeting, his smile tinged with lewdness. Delighted to match his childish provocation, Bellona responded willingly.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t been well. I suppose that night we shared was too brief—I haven’t been able to sleep since, as I keep thinking about it.”

Her blatant answer caused Lopez’s hand, holding her teacup delicately, to tremble slightly.

Though Bellona had expected such a reaction, she found Lopez’s still-naive demeanor in this lifetime surprisingly refreshing.

Impes, seemingly caught off guard by her reply, furrowed his brow briefly before letting out a light laugh. Amused by their dangerous exchange, he continued without hesitation.

“Had I known, I would have asked for more time.”

A quick glance showed Lopez’s pale face flushing a deep red, resembling a white lily blooming.

Bellona knew the cunning woman couldn’t be oblivious to the meaning behind their conversation. She couldn’t help but wonder when the vile nature hidden behind that innocent face would resurface.

‘Will she send filthy thugs my way again, as she did then?’

Suppressing a scoff, Bellona continued the conversation even more boldly.

“If you were to invite me again, I’d gladly visit Your Highness’s chambers.”

Impulsively leaning forward, Impes’s wide eyes reflected his surprise at her unexpected reply. It seemed he had even forgotten the woman beside him as he urgently asked,

“Tonight, perhaps?”

“Your Highness!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Lopez abruptly stood, her raised voice drawing the attention of the nobles once again.

Impes, his brows slightly furrowed, looked up at her with cold indifference as she stood, her fists clenched tightly.

“What is the meaning of this rudeness, young lady?”

Bellona averted her gaze from Impes, who scolded Lopez, and met Lopez’s furious glare. Her face twisted as though she were staring at something vile.

“C-chambers… What nonsense is this…?”

“Oh, did I say ‘chambers’? I must have misspoken since the guest room is right next to Your Highness’s chambers.”

Lopez’s pale pink eyes momentarily gleamed with malice. Bellona, sensing that Lopez’s nature hadn’t changed from the past, gazed at her with a lighter expression.

Suddenly, memories of Lopez’s words from long ago resurfaced in Bellona’s mind.

“Your gaze is offensive. How dare a mere knight.”

Lopez had once appeared with a group of rough ruffians, forcing Bellona to kneel as she gazed down at her like one would a bug. That disdainful gaze was etched into Bellona’s memory.

Though revenge hadn’t initially been in her plans, Bellona felt that repaying a small portion of what she had endured wouldn’t hurt.

Suppressing a scoff, Bellona’s face turned serious as her sharp eyes lifted.

“Your gaze is incredibly offensive. How dare a mere noble.”

“Do you really think someone like you can come between His Highness and me?”

“Are you interrupting a conversation between members of the imperial family?”

“……!”

“I’ll show you your place today, you vulgar wench.”

“I can’t fathom what kind of vulgar imagination a young lady of a great noble family must have to behave so rudely toward me.”

Vulgar.

Unable to outright curse in such a setting, Bellona instead deliberately echoed the humiliating words Lopez had once used against her.

Lopez’s face grew even redder as Bellona’s unrestrained accusations poured forth. With numerous eyes on her, the supposedly innocent noblewoman seemed on the verge of tears. Yet, gritting her teeth, she retaliated.

“Did you just call me vulgar? Do you even know who I am to say such a thing?”

“Didn’t you introduce yourself as the daughter of Count Louvre? Or did I mishear you?”

Bellona’s mocking tone pushed Lopez to her limit. Her bloodshot eyes filled with fury as she shouted, “I will soon be this Empire’s—!”

“Enough, young lady! Hold your tongue!”

Impes interjected abruptly, his irritated face directed toward Lopez.

Shaken by the man who didn’t even bother defending her, Lopez’s fragile frame trembled.

A tense silence hung between the three when a booming voice echoed from somewhere.

“His Majesty the Emperor is arriving!”

The gathered nobles quickly rose from their seats, their attention shifting away from the scene.

Bellona also stood gracefully, casting a subtle smile at Lopez, who continued glaring daggers at her.

Having lightly warmed up by toying with the naive noblewoman, Bellona’s expression grew cold. Now, the real battle was about to begin.

As the Emperor and Empress entered, all the nobles bowed their heads. Impes, who had been standing composedly, stepped forward to greet the imperial couple.

“Your Majesty, you have arrived.”

“Yes.”

The interaction between the Emperor and Impes resembled that of a lord and vassal, devoid of any affection, causing Bellona to tilt her head in curiosity.

“Enjoy yourselves,” the Emperor announced.

The nobles expressed their gratitude and gradually returned to their seats.

Fixing her gaze on the Emperor, Bellona’s expression hardened.

His pallid complexion and weary gaze reminded her of the last time she had seen him—on the day he departed for the final war. His current appearance felt eerily similar to how he had looked then.

As their eyes met, Bellona’s breath hitched at the glint in his golden irises. Before she could process it, Violentia stepped forward, whispering something to the Emperor before leading him to the podium.

It was clear that Violentia had been obstructing her efforts to meet with the Emperor.

Yet, beyond that, an inexplicable foreboding gnawed at her.

With a grave expression, Bellona scanned the Emperor, Empress, chamberlain, and guards. At that moment, Impes leaned in, whispering close to her ear.

“We could have been just as close as they are. Such a shame.”

“Is that Your Highness’s answer?”

“I haven’t made a decision yet. But how much of your words should I believe?”

Bellona cast a fleeting sidelong glance at the smirking man before facing forward again and replying nonchalantly, “I finally understand how you feel now, Your Highness.”

“How I feel?”

As her voice dropped to a near whisper, Impes leaned even closer, straining to hear.

Like a pair of clandestine lovers, Bellona cupped her hand near his ear and whispered softly, “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Her flirtatious demeanor froze Impes for a moment, but soon he burst into loud laughter.

At that instant, every pair of eyes turned toward them.