My Ruin to You - Chapter 160

Roseline channeled magic into the poor frog she had stepped on. But unlike her impatient heart, the transformation magic kept misfiring, causing problems. The frog turned into a field mouse, then a beetle, then a cat, before finally returning to its original form.

Valen, standing a few steps behind, simply watched silently. Only when Roseline, having finished her task, stood up and staggered from dizziness did he reach out. Pulling her off-balance body into an embrace, he turned his gaze to Roseline in his arms.

“……I hate this, really.”

Roseline muttered as if reciting a verse, then closed her eyes.

◇◇◇

The next morning, Roseline woke to a splitting headache and was met with news more dreadful than the pain itself.

“……What?”

“His Highness the Grand Duke brought you back, my lady!”

Lina, holding the emptied water glass, wore an oddly excited expression. As if she had been waiting for Roseline to wake up, she chattered endlessly about what she had witnessed the previous night. Removing the praises of Valen and summarizing the key points, the story was that he had carried Roseline back, which was utterly surprising.

“This can’t be.”

It was a disaster. From the fact that her memory of last night was completely cut off to this strangely familiar flow—nothing was to her liking.

“What kind of nonsense is this…….”

Roseline roughly tousled her hair. Lina, scolding her to stop because it would make brushing difficult, muttered, “You might become the Grand Duchess, so you must maintain your dignity,” and hummed a tune.

“Grand Duchess? Are you crazy?”

“Love is supposed to be crazy, you know.”

“Who’s in love?”

“You, my lady! That esteemed person personally carried you back. Didn’t he also move you when you fainted at last year’s banquet? This is already the second time—don’t you understand what this means?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh my, our young lady is so innocent, what should I do?”

Lina couldn’t hide her excitement. Roseline tried to compose her dazed expression and sternly warned her not to say such things outside, but it didn’t seem to sink in.

Only after sitting her down and repeating it multiple times did Lina wink and ask if she thought she was a fool. Then, she was busy praising Valen again—how handsome he was, how strong he was to carry Roseline without showing any sign of strain, and so on.

After chattering for a long time about things Roseline didn’t want to hear, Lina suddenly widened her eyes and clapped her hands as if she had forgotten something important.

“Oh right, look at me forgetting my mind! His Highness left a message. He said you must come to see him as soon as you wake up.”

“…….”

“He also said that if you don’t come this time, he will consider it an act of disobedience.”

It essentially meant she had to go no matter what. While being dressed by Lina, Roseline tried to think of a way to navigate this situation, but nothing came to mind.

Is this how the condemned feel on their way to the river of death?

Once ready, Roseline trudged with slumped steps toward the annex. The manifestors were staying at the residence of the governor who managed the imperial territory. Unlike the bustling main building, the quiet annex was calm and serene. The further she got from the noise, the more an inexplicable anxiety began to smolder within her.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Yes, it has been a while. His Highness is waiting, so please come inside.”

Merrick handled the guidance. His tone was polite, but his fleeting gaze was icy. As a knight who would lay down his life for Valen, he seemed to still hold a grudge over the rudeness in the guest room. Such remarkable loyalty.

As she glanced at Merrick’s back and grumbled inwardly, they soon arrived at the reception room. Tap, tap. With a neat knock, Merrick announced Roseline’s visit and opened the door. Roseline, having clenched and unclenched her fist once, stepped into the reception room. One unexpected detail was that Merrick also entered with her.

She briefly glanced at Merrick standing behind the Grand Duke before Roseline offered a appropriately measured bow, slightly lowering her head.

“I greet Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”

May glory follow you.

She wasn’t generous enough to offer blessings to someone she disliked, so she kept the latter part to herself. He, seated with his back to the sunlit window, scrutinized Roseline from head to toe before finally gesturing for her to sit. She considered sitting in the farthest corner, but worried it would only draw unnecessary attention, so she perched on a moderately close seat.

“You came today.”