My Ruin to You - Chapter 125

Yes or no.

It was a straightforward question with a simple answer—nothing difficult about it. Valen’s expression was as inscrutable as ever. Yet, even this simple response gave her pause. She really ought to have held more of a grudge.

“Yes.”

Still, Roseline nodded. Rather than stumbling over her words with unnecessary explanations, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let her forehead thud against his solid shoulder. Nuzzling against him like a petulant child, she heard a sigh-like chuckle. It meant His Highness was in an exceptionally serene mood.

“Clever of you.”
“You were the one who taught me, Your Highness.”
“I don’t recall teaching you to sweet-talk me.”
“If it displeases you, I’ll step away.”

Roseline lifted her head as if to withdraw coolly. The moment she tried to pull her forehead from his shoulder, a firm pressure pushed down on the back of her head. The arm around her waist also tightened.

“Why must you always be so impatient?”

Though his tone was chastising, laughter laced his words. Instead of answering, Roseline hugged his neck tightly. Then she waited in silence, steadying her breath, until he chose to continue.

“Schnitzel isn’t here, Roseline.”

His voice alone made it impossible to discern the truth. Roseline straightened and met his gaze. The arm around Valen’s neck slackened slightly.

“Did she leave for the capital?”
“Most likely.”
“How did you know, Your Highness?”
“I sent a knight this morning.”
“Why?”
“Indeed. Why, I wonder?”

When he parried with ease, Roseline furrowed her brows, her expression sour, as if she’d bitten into something unripe. He studied her pinched face before letting out a quiet laugh.

“I intended to send her away before you could look for her. Since she left on her own, it saved me the trouble.”

After pushing Schnitzel out of the county, it seemed he had planned to placate Roseline by saying, She’s already gone, if she came searching. Since he hadn’t outright refused her request, she’d have no reason to resent him, and with the two never crossing paths, there’d be nothing to fret over. Truly, he was a man who left nothing to chance.

Even now was no different. Revealing his plan might have been a gentle warning—a reminder that everything unfolded within the framework he designed. In other words, it was his elegant way of teaching her that no matter how much she struggled, she remained in the palm of his hand.

“I don’t believe you.”
“About what?”
“You could be lying, saying she isn’t here when she is. How could she leave in this downpour? It’s not like the carriage has wings…”

Though she grumbled under her breath, not a trace of anger showed on Valen’s fine features. Instead, his curved eyes brimmed with affection, as if even her complaints were endearing. Generally, he cherished moments like this—the vitality flickering across her composed face, Roseline chattering away without restraint.

“So, what do you propose we do?”

His questioning voice was unbearably affectionate. Valen cupped Roseline’s cheeks with both hands and bit her lower lip. Though she flinched momentarily, instead of pushing him away—the worst possible choice—she retaliated by sinking her teeth into his lips in return.

It should have hurt, but he only laughed softly before sliding his tongue past her slightly parted lips. The slick sound of their kiss filled the air, and just as the hand roaming her back grew more insistent, Roseline pressed lightly against his chest. With a final smack of his lips, as if reluctant to part, he withdrew smoothly.

“Take me to the inn.”
“Does the carriage have wings now?”

Valen threw her own words back at her. It also meant the snow had piled too high to move—a sensible conclusion.

But Roseline wasn’t interested in checking an empty room. Separate from her concern for Schnitzel’s well-being, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip. She needed space outside the mansion, beyond Valen’s watchful gaze. More precisely, she needed someone who could answer the questions swirling in her mind.

“Is it too far to walk?”

Praying Valen would play along, Roseline blinked up at him.

◇◇◇

For once, luck was on her side.

As they left the mansion, Roseline genuinely thought so. She had expected Giorno to be excluded from escort duty due to the blacksmith incident and Roycen because of his academy ties, leaving only the taciturn Merrick and Edan—and she had guessed exactly right.

The entire way to the village, Valen never once let go of her hand. Whether the shock of her kidnapping still lingered or not, he reacted sharply to even the slightest disturbance. If her grip loosened even a fraction, he immediately pulled her closer, his gaze turning icy. When Roseline grumbled about her sweaty palms, he spread his arms and offered, Then let me carry you. Preferring to avoid that, she quietly held onto his hand instead.

“Shall we head straight to the inn?”

He gestured toward the row of modest buildings with his eyes as he asked. Roseline shook her head.

“No.”
“Then where?”
“The relic shop.”
“Why?”
“You’ll understand when we get there.”