In This Life, I'll Assist You (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
If I had no goal, I could have cut Lahert’s and Medea’s throats the moment I learned the truth. But I did not. Because I have a purpose.
Saving the North and its Grand Duke, Zion Belfast.
And living a life different from my previous one.
These are things I cannot achieve through the ways I have learned and lived until now.
The Grand Duke of the North just now gave me the rope to take my first step. So I must hold onto it well.
I do not wish to cause even the slightest harm to His Grace. Thus, it now falls to me to persuade the South.
“Lady Medea, I ask that you refrain from touching what is mine again.”
The Grand Duke spoke. His lips still curved in a smile, but his eyes did not laugh. Overwhelmed by that immense pressure, Medea trembled.
Once the Grand Duke closed the door, only Medea and I remained in the room.
“Explain to me what has happened, Bella.”
Medea growled lowly.
I knelt on one knee before her—the very same posture I had taken before her in my previous life, just before my death.
“My lady, do you truly believe everything the Grand Duke said? I am still Bella of yours and yours alone.”
“Hah! And you expect me to believe that now?”
“Since the age of five, when my earliest memories began, you have been my sole master. You alone treated me as a human being; you alone called me friend.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Her anger remained, though her voice had softened slightly.
I kept my head bowed and did not relax my posture.
“I wished to stay by your side as long as I live—until the day you ascend to the highest place.”
“…….”
“But… on the day the Grand Duke of the North entered here, I realized something. Watching Jasmine of the South crushed beneath Northern hooves, I finally understood.”
Recalling the memory of that crimson victory parade—something I desperately wished to forget—Medea stiffened.
I lowered my head even further.
“Perhaps the place I belong is not beside you in comfort. Maybe I must go somewhere harsher, more dangerous, to truly protect you.”
Medea’s red eyes searched mine.
“It may be impossible to raise my master higher without trampling the North underfoot.”
“Bella. Speak plainly.”
“Hearing the people’s cheers, I thought: the North will become a threat to my master. To defeat them, we must plant our own among them—but placing someone from the South within their ranks is exceedingly difficult.”
I lowered my voice even more.
“Perhaps the Grand Duke’s visit is a gift from heaven. To seize this opportunity, what should I do? Yes—I must become the Southerner planted among them.”
I lifted my head and met Medea’s gaze.
“I resolved to earn the Grand Duke’s trust.”
“Then why did you bring up poison to the Grand Duke?”
“I do not know the full extent of your and His Grace the Grand Duke of the South’s plans, but there is nothing to lose in warning him to beware of poison. If he avoids it, he will credit his own caution. And if he suffers from it, he will remember my warning. Either way, he will remember me, however lowly I am—so I had no choice but to take that gamble.”
“I did not use poison on the Grand Duke.”
“…I suspected as much. It must have been his own staged act.”
“Then why did you not consult me first?”
“Should it fail, the blame must end with me alone.”
Medea fell into a long silence.
I endured that silence, then added one final sentence.
“If you cannot trust me, then kill me. I will gladly accept the punishment for deceiving my master.”
She sank deep in thought. After a long while, she finally spoke.
“Did you know the Grand Duke of the North would do something like this today?”
“I was startled—but in truth, it may be for the better. Now I can become a double agent.”
“D. O. U. B. L. E. A. G. E. N. T.”
Medea rolled the words on her tongue, savoring their taste.
“I could feign loyalty to the North and extract their secrets. Might that make me more useful to you, my lady?”
I looked up at her, posing it as a question.
She tested me with her next words.
“Why do you wish to be of help to me?”
“I hope for a world where lineage does not dictate worth—where character and ability determine one’s right to the throne. The world you will create, my lady.”
I spoke honestly. The Grand Duke of the North is a man who possesses both character and ability in full measure.
Medea’s crimson eyes widened in shock. Did she recall that I had once spoken these very words to herself?
“These words may well deserve death—but this is what I truly believe, my lady.”
“…That is an admirable thought, Bella.”
Her voice trembled faintly, thick with an emotion I could not name.
“Bella, I will reconsider once more the arrangements concerning you and Father. Perhaps there is a way….”
She lowered her voice further.
“…to carry out this double-agent mission without sending you away.”
“That would be best, but I will follow your decision. Should I be exposed and meet my end, all blame will rest on me alone.”
“Admirable indeed.”
Medea seemed genuinely impressed.
She knelt and embraced me, then pleaded as if begging.
“I will never, ever abandon you, Bella. So please—survive.”
After she left, I whispered softly.
“It is I who will abandon you, Medea.”
My voice was too quiet for anyone else to hear.
[This is the timeline separator]The next morning, someone knocked at my door.
None of the Southerners would knock so politely.
I opened the door to find the Grand Duke of the North standing there—dressed in simple black trousers and a white shirt, his attire casual and comfortable.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest from sheer surprise.
“W-What brings you here, Your Grace!”
Without thinking, I barked out the words like a soldier—and instantly regretted it.
“I meant to speak respectfully—it just came out loud. Forgive me, Your Grace.”
Why do I keep doing this…?
Whenever I stand before the Grand Duke, I blurt out nonsense like a broken clock.
Surely he must think me a fool.
“Heh, hahaha.”
Suddenly, the Grand Duke burst into laughter. For just an instant, his deep blue eyes softened toward me like a calm lake.
“You sound just like a broken alarm clock.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Oh dear—I’ve spoken out of turn. I came to inform you that you will accompany me back to the North. From today, you are my subject—the one thing I have ever truly desired. That is why I came myself.”
“…….”
“Why so silent? And what is that expression for?”
I stammered before finally managing words.
“Could you… close the door, please?”
The Grand Duke looked at me curiously, but complied, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
I collapsed right there where I stood.
All strength left my body. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
The Grand Duke asked, flustered.
“Are you truly so unwilling to go with me?”
“No, no—it’s not that at all.”
“…….”
“Why me? Why did you save me?”
The Grand Duke’s gaze sank once more into the depths of a blue lake.
“Saved you…? Was it really that?”
Unaware, I wiped my runny nose with my sleeve.
“My apologies.”
“Hmm. You seem useful in many ways.”
He lowered his voice.
“You said you received assassin training, yes? The North needs capable knights—more the better. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Thank you for placing your trust in me.”
“I never said I trusted you. Not yet.”
He spoke matter-of-factly.
It seems the Grand Duke’s talent lies in delivering painful truths with such calm indifference.
“We depart tomorrow morning. Can you ensure you won’t die or get injured before then?”
“Of course.”
At my immediate reply, the Grand Duke nodded.
“Your Grace…?”
I called out again as he turned to leave.
“Yes?”
“There is… one request I would like to make.”
“What is it?”
“Might you take one more person with you—to the North?”
“?”
I moved the blanket in the corner of the room. Beneath it lay the Yellow Caterpillar, still unconscious.
Seeing the caterpillar, the Grand Duke gave me a questioning look.
“This child was accused of being Medea’s poison assassin—his tongue was cut out and he was left for dead. He trained alongside me as an assassin… a boy from the North who longed for home. I do not even know his name, but I know he is innocent. He was punished for siding with the North—attempting to assassinate the Black Worm—Ah! Sir Arcadia.”
“I already knew he was innocent.”
The Grand Duke spoke gravely.
“He survived, then.”
“He lives. His breath grows stronger by the hour.”
“I see.”
“Your Grace—you already knew he was innocent. Does that mean you truly staged the whole incident?”
I could not contain my curiosity any longer, so I asked.
After a brief silence, the Grand Duke replied.
“Yes. It was the North’s own poison I carried. I drank it myself.”
I was stunned.
“But why…?”
“To save Arcadia.”
Zion Belfast answered, meeting my eyes with that same detached calm.
I could only swallow hard—I understood his meaning instantly.
This man had risked his own life to save his subordinate.
He knew it was a battle he could not win otherwise.
“A boy from the North, you say. What is his name?”
“…I don’t know.”
“I see. Then I shall give him one. Keep him alive—I will take him with us.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Remember this: I do not yet trust you. I will be watching.”
“Yes.”
I bowed deeply before him.
It is fine if you do not trust me.
Because I trust you.
That afternoon, I joined the Northern knights’ procession departing from the South.
[Do not forget your promise to me, Bella. You are mine.]Those were the words Lady Medea repeated once more when she summoned me before my departure.
Looking back, I saw Medea standing at a window of the main keep, gazing toward me. Pushing the cart hiding the Yellow Caterpillar, I bowed to her. She smiled in relief.
‘I’m sorry, Medea—but I won’t keep any promises to you. I will never forgive you.’
Turning away, I saw the Northern knights’ procession advancing toward the wide horizon.
Far ahead, at the very front of the column, stood the Grand Duke’s back.
My hand rested on my mother’s dagger, hidden at my side—the blade I had stolen from Medea’s room before leaving.
‘Mother, I have finally gained my freedom. In this life, I shall live by my own will. I shall live by my own choices.’
On the distant horizon, the red sun was rising.
Zion Belfast’s black hair fluttered in the wind atop his black horse. He turned to look back.
His beautiful face, bathed in sunlight, held blue eyes that seemed to capture the sun itself.
In my heart, I spoke to him.
‘You are the Empire’s only noble truly worthy of your station.’
You, who died walking the righteous path.
You, who risked your life for your own subordinate.
Even if I were given countless lives to live again,
I could never dare emulate the life you have endured.
Shield of the Empire. Hero of the battlefield, scorned by the Emperor.
Perhaps what matters more than bloodline is the worthiness of one’s liege.
No matter how many times I am reborn, I will never possess that worthiness. My sins—having killed so many—will not vanish simply because I am a princess.
‘Therefore, Grand Duke Zion Belfast—I will save you in this life. I will ensure you become the heir to the childless Emperor. Not a villainess like Medea, but you—the worthy one—shall take that throne. Until that day, I shall become your loyal servant, one whom you can trust with your back unguarded.’
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
They are deeply concerned and confused and hurt from the past….they just can’t overcome their fear from the past…it is deeply rooted…it will take time…in the mean time they are hurting each other…and Arcadia is also feeling twisted inside…what are all they can do…
This chapters sentences were really weird to read so maybe someone should proofread to verify. It was a lot of broken up words to complete a sentence. like they were talking on a radio.
why did we switch into caller her a he again. Does anyone Proofread. I love the novel but I really wish that you guys would pay better attention. I paid for this novel, I expect it to atleast be done correctly