In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 86

“And that’s not all. Unable to hide her lowly birth, she shamelessly seduced the Crown Prince right in front of his future fiancée. Do you even know what rumors are spreading among the nobles? They say the Grand Duchess is aiming for the position of Crown Princess and has been frequenting the Crown Prince’s chambers!”

As if intending to spread the rumors even further, the Empress’s loud voice drew the attention of passing courtiers.

She surely knew that her words also tarnished the Crown Prince’s reputation, yet she did not hesitate to use her own son as bait to paint Bellona as an immoral woman.

Suddenly narrowing her eyes, Violentia sharpened her tone. “Could it be that the Grand Duchess coveted the Crown Princess’s position so much that she harmed the Crown Prince? I heard that all the nobles and knights present at the scene were slaughtered by the Grand Duchess. Are you saying it wasn’t you who took advantage of the chaos to cut off my son’s hand?”

Caelus, who had found it unbearable to listen any longer, was about to step forward when Bellona, wearing a bitter smile, suddenly approached Violentia.

“I can completely understand how much pain Your Majesty must be in. His Highness has suffered so greatly that anyone would feel the urge to blame someone. But to lend an ear to such unfounded rumors… I worry that the shock has clouded your judgment.”

“W-what did you say?”

“How could a mere knight like me possibly kill so many knights? I was so terrified by the monstrous creatures that I could barely move. If His Highness had not arrived when he did, I would have been in grave danger as well.”

Shuddering as if recalling the horrific scene, Bellona wrapped her arms around herself with a distressed expression.

“Of course, as a knight, I deeply regret that I could not fully protect His Highness. It is a shameful failure for me, and I have no excuses. However… I did manage to sever the arm of the one who targeted His Highness, thereby saving his life. I believe I have fulfilled my duty to the best of my ability. Yet instead of gratitude, Your Majesty is choosing to suspect me… How unfair.”

The Empress was left speechless by Bellona’s dramatic display, while Caelus, watching her cunning performance, barely held back a laugh.

However, the true purpose behind Bellona’s act was only just beginning.

“Your Majesty, we must first uncover the mastermind behind this incident. Ah, you have heard about the sinister sorcerer who was present, haven’t you? Surely, someone must have orchestrated this, commanding both the sorcerer and Sir Ether.”

At Bellona’s resolute statement, the Empress’s expression hardened.

“This must have been a scheme targeting the imperial family. Considering that nobles were also attacked, it could very well be an attempt to expose the imperial family’s incompetence to the entire empire. That is why we must uncover the truth at any cost. Most importantly, this concerns the safety of Their Majesties. Even with my humble abilities, I will devote myself entirely to protecting you.”

Bellona’s solemn demeanor left the Empress at a loss for words, her lips merely trembling.

With a seemingly genuine expression of concern, Bellona suddenly grasped Violentia’s hands and earnestly declared, “Please, do not worry. His Highness and I will protect Your Majesties. To that end, from today onward, the Valensis Knights will be stationed at the Empress’s palace.”

“What?”

“The Imperial Knights must protect the Crown Prince, and the Royal Guard must watch over His Majesty. That leaves me with the duty of ensuring Your Majesty’s safety.”

Before the flustered Empress could even protest, Bellona turned to Caelus with an apologetic look.

“I apologize, Your Grace. I acted on my own without seeking your approval to deploy the knights. But… you will permit it, won’t you?”

At the sight of her playful smile—one he had never seen before—Caelus suppressed a smirk and turned his gaze to the Empress.

“Why would permission be necessary? Protecting Her Majesty, the Empress, is an obvious duty. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?”

With Caelus now backing Bellona, Violentia bit the inside of her cheek in frustration.

It was clear to her that the Grand Duke and Duchess had conspired to keep a close watch on her.

Just as she was about to refuse, Bellona delivered yet another blow.

“Your Majesty, I was already planning to visit you. Since we have met like this, may I make a request?”

Stunned by their relentless approach, the Empress had no time to react before Bellona struck her with an even heavier blow.

“Please arrange a meeting with the Marquis of Rihylde.”

At the sudden mention of Graeme’s name, Violentia’s face turned ice cold.

***

In the past, Bellona had overseen even the private lives of the imperial family, making her more aware than anyone of the relationship between Graeme and Violentia.

Despite having earned a noble title thanks to the Empress’s favor, Graeme’s role was ultimately not much different from Bellona’s.

He not only served Violentia at night but also became her instrument, often staining his hands with blood.

The only surprising thing was that, while Violentia trusted no one, she placed absolute faith in that man.

Bellona had no way of knowing the depths of that trust, but she had always assumed that Graeme would be by the Empress’s side in this life as well.

Unlike before, when their relationship was of little concern to her, this time it had become a valuable card to play.

If used well, the Empress’s greatest weakness—her illicit lover—could at least shake her once-unshakable position, even if not deal a fatal blow.

As expected, Bellona had already confirmed with Nobert that Graeme had practically moved into the Empress’s palace after the hunting festival.

And just yesterday, Mona had visited with an interesting new proposal.

The information she had brought wasn’t immediately useful, but it was a card that could prove valuable in the future, so Bellona had readily accepted.

Before cornering Violentia, Bellona first wanted to gauge the true depth of trust between the two.

Let’s see who betrays whom first.

Between your son and your lover, who will you choose?

A sly smile formed on her lips, but her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a grumbling voice.

“Can’t you give me a heads-up before you start causing trouble? I can never predict what you’ll do next.”

“Ah, it was a sudden development, so I didn’t have time to inform you. My apologies.”

Caelus abruptly stopped and shot her a disapproving look. “When are you going to drop that stiff way of speaking?”

As she gazed up at him in silence, he clicked his tongue and roughly raked his fingers through his hair.

“You really are quite the actress.”

“Did I make a mistake again?”

“The mistake was mine. My wife was just accused of having an affair with another man, and instead of refuting it, I stood there like a fool, unable to say a word. How incompetent of me.”

It seemed she had wounded him once again.

Though it wasn’t her intention, she had been too focused on pressing the Empress to even consider his feelings in that moment.

Despite her guilt, an odd sensation swelled within her.

Why did she feel this strange discomfort?

It almost felt like… jealousy. As if she were envious of Impes.

Just then, someone approached.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

It was the chamberlain.

Both of them quickly schooled their expressions and resumed walking.

“What of His Majesty?”

“He was quite distressed over the matter and retired early.”

Just as Bellona was about to reprimand the chamberlain for once again blocking their meeting with the Emperor, Caelus strode forward without hesitation and spoke casually.

“Then I should at least check in on him before I leave. Ever since returning from the Grand Duchy, I find myself missing my father terribly—it nearly brings me to tears.”

“Your Grace!”

“No need for you to bother. I’ll open the door myself. You can go about your business.”

Ignoring the chamberlain’s protests, he coolly dismissed him and pushed open the Emperor’s bedroom doors without waiting.

Bellona, quickly following behind him, furrowed her brows.

The Emperor, who was supposed to be resting due to exhaustion, was instead sitting blankly on the sofa.

The chamberlain, startled, rushed in after them, but Bellona blocked his path, her voice cold as she issued a warning.

“It seems it’s time for you to retire as well. If you’re so incompetent that you don’t even know what your own master is doing, then it would be wise to step down.”

The chamberlain, unable to retort, stood frozen in shock.

Leaning in closer, Bellona whispered just low enough for him to hear, “You should choose your allegiances wisely if you wish to spend your later years in peace. Like me.”

The man stiffened at her chilling words.

She shot him one last sharp glare before turning away—only for the Emperor to suddenly burst into a furious shout.

“I told you never to come back!”

Despite the presence of his son, the Emperor, his face contorted with rage, continued to point angrily at empty space as if he couldn’t even see Caelus.

“How dare you show your face here, Minelia?! Return to your palace at once!”

Bellona’s gaze turned ice cold as she looked toward the chamberlain.

Caelus, standing motionless, simply stared at his father in silence.