My Ruin to You - Chapter 170

Those were the words Roseline had left him with in her past life. Perhaps because he was so high and mighty, he was terribly selfish. He knew exactly why she said those words, why her magic had spiraled out of control, yet he was only thinking of himself, wasn’t he?

“Your Highness should think about it too. How horrible it must be for me right now.”

“Don’t just say anything because you’re upset.”

“I mean it. I hated and was so terrified of being manipulated by Your Highness, it was more despairing than anything else, so I ended it all, and now we’re right back where we started.”

A red magic flickered in the eyes that were quietly gazing at Roseline. The moment she noticed it, the magic vanished, but it meant he, too, wasn’t in full control of his emotions. Valen repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist, then used his unbandaged hand to gently scratch his brow. The veined back of his hand covered half his face. He was silent for a while, as if soothing his emotions or catching his breath, and when he lowered his hand again, the crack was gone without a trace.

“You hate it and are scared.”

“…….”

“But what can I do? I’m dying because I find you so beautiful.”

His neat lips curved loosely. As if looking at something pretty, lovable, and precious.

Roseline, who had been glaring at Valen with intense eyes, felt her eyelashes tremble. He silently watched her expression crumble completely before continuing.

“I’m not asking you to marry me, nor am I asking you to bear my children.”

“…….”

“Just one month. Just do your work. Is that so difficult?”

“Then would it be easy?”

“Just show me your face. Once your training is over, I’ll send you back properly.”

“…….”

“You won’t have to be manipulated by me. I promise.”

“How can I believe you, Your Highness?”

It was then that Valen moved. He stood up, unfastened the dagger from his belt, and approached Roseline. Then, without giving her a chance to avoid it, he took her small hand and placed the dagger in it. A panicked Roseline struggled to pull her hand back, but he, without blinking, guided her small hand toward his heart. Enveloping her warm hand, he gritted his teeth, and muscles stood out along his sharp jawline.

“Here.”

The end of his voice cracked strangely. But Roseline, too stunned by having a dagger forced into her hand and its sharp blade pointed at his firm chest, didn’t notice.

“What… what are you doing?”

“I will become the collateral for my promise.”

“…….”

“Take it.”

His purpose achieved, he gave her small hand one final, tight squeeze before slowly pulling away. Her shocked glare lasted only a moment. Roseline looked down at her own hand. The bright red blood staining her knuckles and the dagger she had been forced to hold. There wasn’t a single thing she liked. Perhaps because he was someone who toyed with others’ lives, risking his own seemed like nothing to him, but it only made her feel more unsettled. And she kept finding her eyes drawn to the blood-soaked cloth on this outrageous man’s hand.

Disliking that, Roseline turned her head away as if averting her gaze and took a step back. Then, she placed the dagger on the table where he had been sitting just moments before.

“How could I possibly do such a thing? Unless I were to take my own life.”

“Roseline.”

“For now, I have no alternative but to follow Your Highness’s will, but you must keep your promise. The first time is always the hardest, after all.”

It was a veiled threat that if cornered, she might choose death again. It was a pity that shaking this man required staking her own life, but it was better than being utterly helpless and victimized without any recourse. Seeing the man’s previously composed expression instantly turn icy cooled her own churning emotions, if only a little.

But finding a weapon to wield against this man wasn’t entirely satisfying either. The sight of the blood, which had thoroughly soaked the cloth and was now dripping plink, plink onto the floor, haunted her. He followed her gaze to his own hand and let out a faint, blurry laugh.

“What, does it bother you?”

“No.”

Roseline immediately denied it and turned her head away. She heard a faint laugh but didn’t look back. The gaze fixed on her stubborn profile seemed like it would never leave. Roseline pretended not to notice, standing firm, but he drank in the sight of her face, as if memorizing it, as if he missed it. The persistent stare only faded when the silence was on the verge of becoming uncomfortable.

“Alright, I’ve heard what you have to say, Young Lady.”