My Ruin to You - Chapter 153

Satisfied?

Roseline stared back at Malsen with a bland expression. Malsen, who had been looking at Roseline with wide-eyed surprise as if she hadn’t expected it, beamed and eagerly grabbed her hand.

“My, so you do have a lover. I’ve been so rude to you all this time, Young Lady. I also wanted to get along well with you, you know.”
“Yes.”
“We must talk about your lover in detail sometime.”
“Ah, yes.”
“There will be no more trouble from me in the future. I swear it on my honor.”
“Yes, thank you.”

Having never seen Malsen be this kind, not even across two lifetimes, Roseline felt a bit scared. What do I do? It’s a lie.

With Malsen pressuring her to swear in front and Valen watching intently from behind, she had blurted it out without thinking of the consequences. I don’t know. If she asks who the lover is, I’ll just have to say it’s an unrequited love.

“You said you’d take my advice to heart.”

At that moment, a low, drawn-out voice poked at the back of her head. Roseline flinched, and Malsen put on a surprised expression as if she had just noticed Valen. She then abruptly dropped Roseline’s hand and stepped aside. It was a spot with a clear view of Valen.

“Greetings to His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke. May the light of glory follow you.”

As Malsen and the two other young ladies paid their respects, Roseline, who had been looking down at her own hand discarded like trash, slowly turned around.

“You really don’t understand what you’re told, do you.”
“……”
“One might even think you’re doing it on purpose.”

Was it about five paces away? Valen stood at a distance that was neither far nor close, watching them loftily. His gaze lightly swept over their similarly styled hair before he moved. Roseline also reluctantly bowed her head. Noticing the ribbon that had become messy again, he let out a short laugh.

“Do your best. I have a feeling you’ll be very entertaining.”

Valen murmured softly as he passed by Roseline. By the time Roseline cautiously raised her head at his words, left behind like an echo, he was already far away.

“Y-Your Highness! Allow me to escort you…!”

Malsen hurriedly followed after Valen. The two young ladies who followed her like shadows went with her. Left all alone, Roseline mulled over his words. It didn’t take long to understand.

“Huh?”

It seemed like a rebuke—why can’t you understand, after I personally warned you that drawing attention by showing dislike only makes me notice you more? Wasn’t that the reason their eyes kept meeting at the banquet, and why his baseless proposal had turned her insides out? While everyone else was busy prostrating themselves and serving him the moment they saw him, she alone was making sour faces, so it was only natural his attention would be drawn.

“This can’t be happening.”

I should have managed my expression better. Regret came too late, and there was nothing to be done about it now. Even if she could go back in time, she had no confidence she could have smiled brightly and acted unfazed. Avoiding him altogether is the best plan, but if we do meet again, I must be careful. She felt a sense of urgency to behave properly, as she had not the slightest desire to pique Valen’s interest.

◇◇◇

When she returned to the lecture hall, class was already in full swing. Roseline tiptoed back to her seat on her heels. Perhaps the rumor of the Grand Duke’s visit had spread, as students sitting in pairs or trios at the long wooden desks glanced back, scrutinizing Roseline’s expression. Her usual, impassive face did not satisfy their curiosity. By the time Roseline took her seat next to Schnitzel, the interested gazes had scattered, losing interest.

“His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke is here,” Roseline whispered, leaning in and glancing toward the podium. It was a Mind Fortification class, and on the central table of the podium, a human model lay neatly arranged. Behind it, a young noble, presumably called upon, was casting magic on the model with a tense expression.

Since emotions significantly influence magical power, the goal of this class was to train students to manage their emotions even in extreme situations. The model would read the caster’s heart and summon an illusion of the subject of their deepest emotions. Upon contact, some would face a person they wanted to avoid, others a being they feared, and still others a past they held with love and hate.

In other words, while it appeared as a featureless human model to others, the caster themselves was essentially wrestling with healing someone they couldn’t bear to see.

“I know.”

Schnitzel pointed with her chin toward a corner of the podium. Professor Fernbre, who was teaching the class, was watching the young noble with a serious expression. She was a woman in her thirties who had taken good care of Roseline in her past life. In the past, she had left the academy for some reason after a proposal from the academic society; looking back, Roseline suspected it might have been Valen’s doing.

“‘His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke has honored us with a visit, so let’s all participate with even greater effort today,’ she said. They rushed out right after hearing that.”

This time, she gestured with her chin toward the empty seats of Malsen’s group. Tsk tsk. She even added a clicking sound with her tongue.

“Well, it’s not like I particularly want to know, but if you’re dying to tell me, I’ll listen.”