In This Life, I Will Be Your Dog - Chapter 99

Even after hearing it with her own ears, she still couldn’t comprehend what she had just heard. No, perhaps she simply didn’t want to understand.

If what she was thinking was true, then it really was a horrific situation.

But as if to mock Bellona, who tried to ignore it, memories that had long pricked like thorns began surfacing one by one.

The man who suddenly came and asked an ordinary knight like her to protect the emperor.

Even when someone like her dared to challenge him arrogantly, he had let it go as if he understood.

Not only that—when she asked to be taken in as his subordinate, he had gone so far as to command her to become his wife.

And that wasn’t all.

He always seemed to know everything, offering her advice in advance, acting with foresight even in situations she wasn’t yet aware of.

Piecing things together little by little, all the strange things she’d noticed before started to make sense.

She had felt a vague sense of doubt at the time, but never in her wildest imagination had she considered that he might have returned from the past.

To think such an overwhelming secret had been hidden behind all the insignificant moments she’d brushed off.

Suddenly, his words from a few days ago echoed in her ears:

“Even if I did something bad, even if I deceived you, even if a day comes when you hate me so much you could kill me, promise me you’ll stay by my side.”

Foolish.

He had hinted at it so clearly, and yet she hadn’t suspected a thing.

Her vision swam.

It was now undeniable—he must have known about her regression too. Otherwise, there was no way to explain all his actions thus far.

Since when had he known?

Her unease lasted only a moment before her chest began to burn with heat.

‘He knew everything and still pretended not to know—he lied to me all this time. Then, knowing everything I’ve done to him, he dared to whisper love to me and hold me in his arms? Why?’

Her hand gripped the doorknob tightly.

‘…So you planned to take revenge on me too.’

At last, the final puzzle piece clicked perfectly into place.

Of course.

Even if it had been under orders, it wasn’t the imperial family who had killed him—it was she who had taken his life. It was only natural he would want revenge.

And yet she had foolishly confessed her feelings to him. Just thinking of how absurd and repulsive that must have sounded to him made her stomach turn.

Her mind reeled from the shock, freezing her in place, when Net’s urgent voice rang out from afar.

“Your Grace! Her Majesty the Empress is on her way here!”

Startled, she released the doorknob, and the slightly ajar door slowly creaked open.

Through the widening gap, Caelus’ face came into view, eyes wide with alarm.

Seeing how shocked he looked only confirmed her suspicions.

Clenching her trembling hands, Bellona decided to focus on the situation at hand.

She rushed into the room and forcefully removed Caelus’ hand, which was choking Impes.

Equally stunned, he backed away weakly.

Only then did Bellona soothe the gasping Impes and quickly mix belladonna into a glass of water behind her.

“Your Grace, please drink this.”

“Huff… Bellona. That bastard, he—mph!”

Without waiting for him to finish, she tilted the glass to his lips and forced the liquid down, then swiftly emptied the remaining water in the flower vase and laid him down.

Leaning close to his ear, she whispered softly, “Your Highness, I won’t let Her Majesty the Empress or Marquis Graeme lock you in that wardrobe again. You believe me, don’t you?”

“Mm… Bellona, save me…”

“If Your Highness doesn’t abandon me, then I’ll protect you too. So you must trust only me. Rely on no one but me.”

“Mm—”

Repeating those words like a mantra, Bellona struck a pressure point before he could finish, knocking him unconscious.

Then, she slowly turned to face the man standing rigidly behind her.

His golden eyes, dimmed with confusion, quivered under her detached gaze.

“Your Grace, you came here urgently to retrieve me.”

“…Are you telling me to use you as an excuse to get out of this?”

“Compared to the sin I committed against you, this is nothing. So use me as much as you like.”

Understanding what she meant, Caelus could say nothing.

Seeing the utter coldness in her eyes, it felt like everything was already over.

At that moment, a sharp voice interrupted.

“What in the world are you all doing here!”

As they turned around, the Empress, who had arrived with the Imperial Guard, glared furiously.

Violentia, who pushed past the dazed Caelus and entered, checked on the limp Impes and widened her eyes viciously.

“Are you seriously trying to assassinate the Crown Prince in this sacred palace?”

Despite the Empress’s question, the two only stared at each other.

“So you’re staging a rebellion?”

“Rebellion, Your Majesty?”

At last, Bellona turned with a chilling expression and met Violentia’s twisted gaze head-on.

“Then what brings you barging into the Crown Prince’s chambers at this hour? And what about that mark on His Highness’s neck?”

A red handprint left by Caelus was clearly visible on Impes’ throat.

Even so, Bellona calmly lied without batting an eye.

“His Highness the Crown Prince summoned me, so I came. But whatever he had taken, he was not in his right mind.”

“Not in his right mind? What have you done to the Crown Prince!”

“That’s what I’d like to ask you, Your Majesty.”

With a sudden glint in her eye, Bellona curled one side of her lip and stepped toward Violentia. Then, as if sharing a secret, she whispered into her ear.

“What have you done to His Highness? Why did you feed him such poisonous herbs?”

“W-what? Grand Duchess! Are you trying to pin your crime on me?”

Violentia, who had remained composed until now, suddenly raised her voice in a furious scream.

Understandable, given the guilt weighing on her.

But this wasn’t enough.

Bellona, not letting go, seized the Empress’ wrist as she recoiled and whispered again, “When he was young, why did you lock His Highness in the wardrobe? And as a mother, what on earth did you do in front of him?”

Bellona’s tone lacked its usual politeness or respect. But the shock of her unexpected words rendered Violentia unable to even protest her rudeness.

Looking down at the stiffened Empress, Bellona took a step back and let out a light laugh.

Then she laid a cruel trap to corner her completely.

“Is His Highness truly His Majesty the Emperor’s son?”

“W-what are you saying…?”

Rumors always swell from a single doubt, regardless of the truth. And once they begin to spread, they behave like an uncontrollable plague.

The facts didn’t matter.

Just the spread of such a shocking question was enough to send the empire’s citizens into a frenzy.

Public attention would be consumed with the Crown Prince’s paternity, and the Empress would be condemned for her immorality.

Even if it was later revealed that Impes was truly the Emperor’s son, it wouldn’t matter.

When the time came, Bellona would just expose the weakness named ‘Graeme’ and corner the Empress again. Since she had decided to end her revenge quickly, she would play every card she had.

As expected, the murmurs of the knights stationed nearby began to rise, and the Empress snapped.

“You must be mad! How dare you say such a thing!”

“I’m simply repeating what His Highness the Crown Prince said. I’ve heard much more as well—shall I share all of it now?”

Bellona’s fierce momentum made Violentia’s bloodshot eyes glare without a word.

Just then, Caelus stepped forward and pulled Bellona behind him. “So there is something to it, isn’t there? If Your Majesty the Empress can’t offer any denial.”

Realizing his intent to turn the accusations into facts, Violentia scoffed and replied as if unbothered, “It’s not worth denying such a ridiculous accusation. Why should I dignify it with a response? And you, Grand Duke—you’re pathetic. Do you truly believe the Grand Duchess’ absurd lie after catching her with the Crown Prince?”

“Then we need only verify who’s telling the truth. If the Crown Prince isn’t mad, he wouldn’t have summoned the Grand Duchess and said such things about Your Majesty without reason.”

In that instant, Violentia’s expression turned to stone.

If the truth came out, her status and honor would be finished.

But if she tried to fabricate the situation, it would mean declaring Impes insane.

Now she stood at a crossroads between her own honor and her son’s safety.

Either path would spell ruin for her.