My Ruin to You - Chapter 159

Roseline slowly raised her head. The man silhouetted against the moonlight split into three, then merged back into one—it was chaos. After blinking slowly for a moment, she went “Huh?” and gestured, then her balance wavered as she tilted.

“Careful.”

He swiftly reached out and carefully cupped the back of Roseline’s head as she threatened to topple over. The cool touch against her feverish cheek felt refreshing, so Roseline leaned her face into the large palm. She rubbed her cheek against it as if burrowing in, then winced slightly at the rough texture of the hand, her brow twitching. She even sniffled like a puppy smelling milk.

Valen, who had offered his hand, simply watched Roseline with a quiet gaze.

“…Hot.”

After a long while, Roseline lifted her head with a thoroughly crumpled expression. Treating the now lukewarm hand that had cooled her heat like a bothersome insect, she pushed it away and then abruptly dropped her head.

“Ugh, damn, my head hurts.”

As Roseline groaned, clutching her throbbing head, Merrick, who had been watching from a few steps away, reluctantly approached. Hidden by Valen’s robust frame, Roseline was barely visible, but even from a few steps away, the smell of alcohol was overwhelming.

“I will take her back.”

Valen, who had been standing motionless while looking down at Roseline, raised a hand to stop him.

“Shh.”

“……”

“Her head is throbbing, you see.”

A faint laugh trailed his low, hushed voice. Merrick glanced at his back. Though bewildered by the unfamiliar behavior, the ever-loyal aide quietly stepped back. But the Grand Duke’s peculiar favor toward the insolent and rude young lady was not yet over.

“Young Lady.”

He knelt on one knee before the thoroughly drunk Roseline. Like a knight pledging fealty.

Merrick’s eyes widened unusually. Though his intention might have been to meet the eyes of the young lady too drunk to even hold up her head, he had never knelt even before the Emperor. Yet here the Grand Duke was, kneeling and looking up at a baron’s young lady who wasn’t even in her right mind.

“Célodienne.”

Valen tilted his head, studying Roseline. Insolently, there was no response. Just as he was about to move the hand covering her face—

“Ugh, what the.”

Roseline suddenly lifted her head and glared at him with unfocused eyes, straining to see. His hand, having failed its purpose, halted mid-air. Valen slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze fixed on Roseline’s blurred pupils.

“I hate even one, but there are three.”

Roseline shook her head as if disgusted, but unable to handle the throbbing pain, she soon clutched her forehead and groaned.

“What do you hate so much?”

“Have you no conscience?”

“I suppose I don’t.”

“Oh, so you know that too……”

As Roseline wobbled her head as if having discovered something fascinating, he, who had been watching her with narrowed eyes, let out an incredulous laugh.

“I wanna go.”

At that moment, Roseline shot upright. She desperately wanted to go anywhere to escape the sight of the loathsome figure swaying before her eyes, but her body wouldn’t cooperate, leaving her frustrated.

“You’ll fall.”

Valen, who had risen belatedly, grabbed the staggering Roseline’s arm. But her resistance was fierce. Not only did she jump and demand he not touch her, but her magical power also surged, forcing him to reluctantly release her arm. Merrick, watching, could only fret inwardly.

There were many eyes watching. Having just left the capital and arrived in Elgran, the duchy’s knights also became witnesses to this laughable spectacle. Eventually, Merrick quietly dismissed the waiting knights without his lord’s permission.

By the time the knights, blending into the darkness, disappeared without a sound, Roseline had also managed to take a difficult step forward. On a cool summer night with a breeze blowing, her swaying shadow moved slowly under the moonlight. Valen, walking a few steps behind, simply followed in silence. When her unsteady steps faltered, Valen also stopped; when Roseline staggered, his hand twitched.

“……Whoa.”

Roseline, who had been walking slowly but steadily toward the mansion, suddenly came to a halt. She briefly followed a “pebble” rolling under her foot with her eyes, then sat down in front of the “pebble” and began to sob. Valen, watching from behind, tilted his head slightly.

“Sorry. Did it hurt?”

“…….”

“How much must it hurt that you can’t even cry……. I’ll fix it.”