My Ruin to You - Chapter 134

“I never thought this would be the end. Even I’d find that too unsatisfying.”

“Good. Wait for me. I’ll come for you soon.”

“Take your time. I’d rather not see you.”

Grind. The sound of teeth clenched in menace hummed low in the air as Valen’s grip tightened around Roseline’s hand—hard enough to crush bone. But the moment her face twisted in pain, the pressure vanished as if it had never been there, his hand withdrawing.

“Take her. Don’t lay a finger on her.”

He stepped back and barked the order at the knights. After a brief hesitation, they bowed and flanked Roseline, guiding her with exaggerated courtesy, as though escorting her not to a cell but to her chambers.

Roseline glanced over her shoulder at Valen, rooted in place like a nail driven deep. His face was blank, stripped of any discernible emotion—yet the shadows under his eyes and the droop of his lashes made him look… wounded. That, she hadn’t expected.

◇◇◇

And so began her wholly unanticipated imprisonment.

The palace dungeons were another world compared to the opulence above. Rough stone walls exhaled chill, and light barely seeped in. Yet Roseline’s cell was conspicuously lavish, thick wool blankets, plush pillows, even an oil lamp—far from the usual straw-strewn pits.

Leaning against the wall, Roseline calculated who would visit first—the Emperor or Valen. She hoped for the former. If the Emperor came, she’d plead for exile.

Not that she trusted him. He was wise, but the empire’s peace depended on the Grand Duke’s power; he couldn’t afford to alienate Valen outright. Still, there was no harm in asking.

Valen would be busy scheming her release. This was her only chance.

But if he came first… Well, she hadn’t decided yet. She’d planned to grovel, play repentant, butter him up before needling him where it hurt—but deception wasn’t so simple. Deliberately wounding him felt less satisfying than she’d imagined, especially after that strangely stricken look he’d worn.

“I don’t know. I’d rather he didn’t come at all.”

Sighing, she flopped onto the cold floor—

“Miss…!”

A whisper slipped through the bars. At first, she thought she’d imagined it. That voice had no business being here.

“Oh, my poor, poor miss!”

But the tear-thickened, whimpering tone was unmistakably Lina’s. Roseline shot upright, whirling toward the cell door.

“Sniff… Miss, it’s me! Oh heavens, how could this—!”

Lina had collapsed to the floor, clutching the iron bars as she sobbed uncontrollably. Roseline’s eyes widened as she scrambled forward on her knees. Immediately, Lina thrust her arm through the gaps to seize Roseline’s hand.

“H-how did you get in here?!”

“The Marquis pulled strings! Sniff What kind of nightmare is this? You, spreading the plague? This is slander, wail—!”

“Shh! I’m not the only prisoner here,” Roseline hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. Lina jerked her head around, wiping tears as she scanned the dungeon. Roseline noted absently that Lina’s dress was oddly lavish—more befitting a noble’s daughter than a maid. Probably borrowed from Lady Schnitzel.

This tangled mess might be bleak for Roseline, but perhaps it was a blessing for Lina. Serving the marquis’s household would mean better treatment, an easier life.

Most importantly—anywhere Valen couldn’t reach her was safety.

“I’ll be fine. Get out of here.”

“How can I leave when you’re—sob—locked up like this?!”

“And what’ll you do if you stay? Break in with me?”

“If I could take your place, I’d do it a hundred times over!”

“Look at you. Your ‘miss’ is Lady Schnitzel now. She’ll treat you better than I ever did—attach yourself to her properly.”

Roseline steeled herself and pried Lina’s fingers loose. The moment she did, Lina’s sniffles erupted into full-blown wails. Why is she—? Flustered, Roseline reached through the bars to soothe her—

“Miss… Lady Schnitzel—hic—she’s… gone.”